Jan 20 at 7pm-Tra Vigne - 1050 Charter Oak Ave, St. Helena, CA

Join Benessere's winemaker, Jack Stuart, on this special night featuring a delicious dinner, pairing the Italian cuisine of Tra Vigne, one of our favorite local restaurants, with our Italian varietal Napa Valley wines. Accompanying Jack will be our own Certified Sommelier, Eric Hensel, leading an engaging presentation, Napa Valley Rocks, which digs into what makes the Napa Valley America's premier winegrowing region.

We explore the unique geological formation of the valley, learn why its climate is ideal for grapes, identify historical milestones, and enjoy the tradition of the wine and food experience. Limited space. Reserve by January 16 to kimber@benesserevineyards.com or (707) 963-5853 ext 101. $95 per person general admission, $85 for Wine Club members.

To find Benessere wines in local restaurants, and information about lodging partners, click here for a printable PDF.

Medal winners in the recent 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2007 Sangiovese
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2011

2009 Pinot Grigio
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2011

Dedicated to producing the highest quality Italian varietals, Benessere Vineyards brought in consulting winemakers for both Piero Antinori and for Angelo Gaja, quarterly, for over 12 years. The wines are stunning, showing true varietal character while expressing the climate, sunshine and ripeness of Napa Valley. Their success has been featured in Wine Enthusiast, Decanter Magazine, Connoisseur's Guide, Wall Street Journal, Wine Advocate, San Francisco Chronicle, Santé, Southbay Magazine and Salon.com.

2006 Phenomenon ~ Gold
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2010

2007 Muscat di Canelli Frizzante ~ Gold
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2010

2008 Pinot Grigio
“Benessere Vineyards in the Napa Valley makes the single greatest New World Pinot Grigio I have ever tasted. The wine is jam-packed with tropical fruits -- mango, papaya, pineapple, with a long, complex, rich and dry finish. Benessere's Pinot Grigio has redefined the category for me,”
–Steven Kolpan, Professor and Chair of Wine Studies at the CIA, Hyde Park, NY

2006 Black Glass Zinfandel, Estate Napa ~ 93 pts Wine Enthusiast
A mighty good Zin that shows again how beautifully Napa Valley can ripen this difficult variety. Made from the winery’s St. Helena estate vineyard, this wine has the classic structure of a fine Cabernet, but with Zin’s plummy, wild berry and spice flavors. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

2005 Phenomenon ~ 92pts Wine Enthusiast
Quite a good wine. It’s luscious in creamy flavors of blackberries, cherries and toast, and also beautifully balanced. You feel the elegant interplay of oak, tannins and acidity. Should develop over the next 6–8 years. — S.H. (12/15/2009)

2006 BK Collins Old Vines Zinfandel ~ Wine Enthusiast
Spicy and briary, suggesting wild forest berries, nettles, chamomile, bitter greens and black pepper. Drink this exotically dry, tannic wine with roast lamb prepared with garlic and rosemary. — S.H. (4/1/2009)

2007 Muscat di Canelli Frizzante ~ Wine Enthusiast
Kudos to Benessere for making this different kind of wine in Napa Valley. With 2.8% residual sugar, it falls into the dessert category, although it’s not overly sweet. Refreshingly low in alcohol, its peach, lemon candy, honeysuckle and vanilla flavors are brightened with crisp acidity and a little bit of fizziness, hence the name. — S.H. (6/1/2008)

2008 Muscat di Canelli Frizzante ~ Wine Enthusiast
Beautifully clean and fresh, with zesty orange and vanilla flavors and a slight fizziness. Nice with carrot cake, fresh fruit or on its own. — S.H. (9/1/2009)

2008 Rosato, Napa Estate ~ Wine Enthusiast
Nice color, a pretty-in-pink hue with streaks of peach blush and gold. Easy to like, showing citrus, raspberry, spice and vanilla flavors balanced with crisp acidity. — S.H. (9/1/2009)