Vineyards

We believe in conscientiously farmed natural and sustainable vineyards, and attempt to let the grapes develop as untouched as possible. Let the Napa sun and Mother Nature do their work.

Our Bengier Dry Creek Vineyard is found at 4204 Dry Creek Road in Napa, California. The Oak Knoll soils for our vineyards are primarily sedimentary gravelly alluvial loams, with an alluvial fan washed down from the Mayacamus Mountains by Dry Creek. Tucked at the foot of the Mayacamus Mountains, the slightly sloping land tends to be cooler than most of the Napa Valley due to late afternoon shade, producing lower brix but higher, more balanced TA grapes. We have 2 ½ acres devoted to Ribolla Gialla, a unique varietal from northern Italy; another 3 ¼ acres of Cabernet Sauvignon; and a dash of Tocai Friulano for spice. We purchased the vineyard in 2014, and have carried on the same fine traditions and varietals that have historically made this a special vineyard in Napa Valley.

Steve Matthiasson manages the vineyard. Steve oversees the seasonal cycle from pruning to harvest, and Bazan Vineyard Management provides vineyard personnel.

We owe the vineyards’ founding to George Vare, an innovator in Napa Valley wines. After a successful career in the wine business, George Vare co-founded Luna Vineyards and pursued Cal-Ital wines—Italian grapes in California terroirs. This led to his fascination with the varietal Ribolla Gialla. George started the Ribolla Gialla in this vineyard in 2001, grafting budwood from Josko Gravner (a winemaker from Friuli, Italy) onto his rootstock. You can learn more about this fascinating history here.

The vineyard is planted primarily on 101-14 rootstock, with about 7% using 3309C rootstock.

BFV combined map large size B cp
Ribolla Gialla grapes at harvest 2 sm
Cab grapes at harvest 3 sm
2020 Napa Harvest 02
06-Removing leaves from the Ribolla Gialla sm

Created with a love for vines