Welcome to the Benchland Blog, the official blog of Michel-Schlumberger, a Benchland Wine Estate high on the hillsides above Dry Creek Valley!
If this is your first exposure to Michel-Schlumberger, welcome aboard. If you are an old friend of ours, welcome to a new facet of the Estate. You are invited to ‘discover’ Michel-Schlumberger in a dialogue posted here with members of our team - hopefully this will lead you to discover us in person up at this incredible Estate. We are located on the Western edge of Dry Creek Valley, high up in the hills in a natural amphitheater well off the beaten trail. Trust me, it is one of the most special places on earth!
Our physical estate consists of two ranches totaling 100 acres. About 83 of those are planted to 15 different varietals, farmed organically on steep hillsides overlooking Dry Creek Valley. Geologically, geographically, and climatically, when it comes to terroir…we have it in spades! As Winemaker Mike Brunson says, “You can’t beat the terroir out this place with a stick.”
But as distinct as our physical terroir is, and as complex and identifiable the wines born of this Estate are, our ‘cultural’ terroir may be the thing that brings you back to the winery over and over again, and drive you to bring friends with you as you share in your new discovery.
The Estate is vibrant and alive as we care for our organic garden, tend to our bees, pick and press our olives, station our mobile chicken coop throughout the vineyard, herd sheep to mow our native grasses without machines, work to restore Wine Creek (a creek flowing through our Estate that is one of the few remaining native Salmon & Steelhead spawning creeks in Sonoma County), feature the work of local artists in our Tasting Salon, promote locally grown foods at our special events, stage local musicians on Friday evenings in the Summer, and of course, tour the Estate & taste some truly world class wines.
At the heart of all of this is our people. And our people will be the heart of this blog — you’ll meet Tony – our Vineyard Biologist and Organic Mentor; Mike — Winemaker & Organic Vineyardist making unparalleled wines from an unparalleled Estate; Jay — the head of tours, tastings and all things Retail; Brooke — Event Coordinator to the stars and all around ‘party expert’; and a host of others who make up the finest winery team ever assembled (ok — I’m slightly biased). And of course we’ll hear from Jacques Schlumberger – proprietor of Michel-Schlumberger, visionary of the Estate, and passionate wine lover, bee-keeper & Franco-phile.
To me, there is no place on Earth like Michel-Schlumberger. You are cordially invited to experience us virtually in this blog, physically at the winery, and spiritually every time you open and enjoy a bottle of our wine.
Welcome to the Benchland Blog — come on up — the view is great!
