Our Patch of Heaven: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

  • Oregon Wine Awards gives three Double Golds to our 2019 Pinots

    2019 Estate: 98 Points
    2019 Symphony: 97 Points
    2019 Three Tuxedos: 96 Points

    Kudos to winemaker Andrew Kirkland!

  • James Suckling awards 2019 Symphony Pinot Noir 95 Points

    2019 Estate Pinot Noir and 2019 Three Tuxedos Reserve Pinot Noir 94 Points
  • A new Block of Pinot Meunier has been planted for our traditional method bubbles program

    ‘Touch’s Pasture’ becomes Block 10 directly in front of tasting grounds
  • The 2022 vintage is safely in barrel & tank in our brand new facility

    It’s amazing watching these wines evolve
  • We’re doing our first Syrah sourced from the Rocks District AVA in Oregon

    Release set for 2024 but already showing the savory/saline/umami wine qualities from the basalt cobbles
Benza Vineyards Oregon Soil

It was nature at its most fierce. Ocean floor upheaval forced by the pressure of plate tectonics. Volcanic eruptions with flowing basalt. Hundreds of thousands of years of glacial retreat creating blistering winds that deposited airborne soils along the northeastern part of what is today the Chehalem Mountains – the upper end of the Willamette Valley.

“We’re glad we didn’t live here back then. But happy with the results of nature’s turmoil.”

Grapes on the vine
White arbor with white fence and flowers

The geologic furor has given us a unique gift: deep Laurelwood soils on top of volcanic Jory soil. Together they allow for our vines to express some of the very best Oregon has to offer. Flavors that are rich, spicy and bold in expressions of dark cherry fruit for our Pinots and bracing acidity and floral notes for our Chardonnays. In June 2020, in recognition of these unique soil types, the TTB created a new AVA called Laurelwood District.

Our 15-acre patch of heaven is located only 35 minutes from downtown Portland, next door to Ruby Vineyard. We hope you’ll come see us when it’s time!

-Ron Benza & Trish Damkroger

Bin filled with red grapes
Bottle of Benza 2019 Symphony Pinot Noir
2019

Symphony Pinot Noir

Bottle of Benza 2018 Sparkling Brut
2018

Sparkling Brut

Bottle of Benza 2019 Three Tuxedos Pinot Noir
2019

Three Tuxedos Pinot Noir

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