Jamie Benziger, Winemaker, Imagery Estate Winery
"Dad didn't raise daughters, he raised drinking buddies!" As soon as second generation winemaker Jamie Benziger uttered those words, I knew our wine tasting would be even more fun than most.
If you're a fan of wines from Sonoma, the Benziger name and the family's high-quality organic wines are bound to be familiar. In the 1980's Joe Benziger, Jamie's father, wanted to branch out from the family business and created a sister winery, Imagery Estate Winery.
Crafting wines that are familiar yet unconventional, Imagery blends traditional varietals with a twist. Have you ever tasted Chardonnay blended with a dash of Chenin Blanc? Or what about Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of Muscat? These unexpected yet delicious blends exist in the Imagery universe.
Joe Benziger retired in 2017 and told Jamie, the second-born of his three daughters, 'It's your turn now. You got this." Indeed, she does. Not only was Jamie born into a winemaking family and has years of hands-on experience earned at the Benziger estates in Sonoma, her pursuit of wine knowledge led Jamie to spend time working at other wineries, including in New Zealand. Jamie has paid her dues and proven herself more than prepared to lead Imagery towards a fabulous future.
Jamie describes Imagery Chardonnay 2017 ($17) as the "patio pounder of Chardonnays." Mostly Chardonnay (90%) with a kiss of Chenin Blanc (10%) to make it pop, this minimally oaked white wine is pleasingly juicy with vibrant flavors of green apple, citrus, and melon. A real crowd-pleaser with a tasty twist!
Sauvignon Blanc (85%) blended with Muscat (15%), Imagery Sauvignon Blanc 2017 ($17) is a welcome alternative to aggressively zingy Sauvignon Blanc wines. The dry Muscat adds great texture that softens the lemon, lime, and grapefruit flavors.
Imagery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($20) gets a sassy kick of spice from the addition of Petite Sirah (15%). Juicy and earthy with mouthwatering flavors of blackberry, pepper, clove, and toast; this is a fantastic BBQ wine.
If you're planning a trip to Sonoma, Imagery welcomes visitors for tastings. Their portfolio is quite expansive and includes everything from Albariño to Viognier. Art is also an important part of Imagery's identity and over the years they have commissioned original label artwork from many well-known contemporary artists. The entire collection contains works of art by more than 300 artists and around 60 pieces are on view in the gallery.
