“Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgandy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Happy California Wine Month! Benchmark Wine group is proud to be based in Napa, the heart of the American wine industry, and we are thrilled to toast to the Golden State’s finest wines.
California and its people have always had a deep admiration for the wild and fruitful land that speckle our great state. Here in Napa, we are extraordinarily fortunate to celebrate the native tribes that once lived on the hallowed grounds of our vineyards, like the Patwin and the Wappo people. We carry their history, as well as the history of Californian pioneers, like George C. Yount and Charles Krug, and go forward with their passion in every grape we grow. California is not a place, but rather a mindset, a hopeful feeling that always seems to keep us coming back for more. The Golden State is not only our home, but the home to many who carry with them the dreams and ideas of a rugged freedom that has ingratiated itself into the soul of our wines.
California Wine is no different from the California spirit. Both are filled with promise, and are willfully and stubbornly made. Wines from CA represent the best of the best, the highest agricultural caliber. The California landscape and climate is unforgiving, and our grapes are grown in conditions that can only the most resilient can persevere through. Grapes grown in California are drenched in determination, and we are excited to celebrate California Wine Month by highlighting some of our favorite California Wines that encapsulate the ever endearing ingenuity of the Golden State’s Spirit.
Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lampyridae Vineyard 2006
Beringer Vineyards was founded in 1876 by German immigrant brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, who pioneered innovative winemaking techniques including gravity-flow facilities and hand‑dug wine caves. During Prohibition, Beringer remained operational by producing sacramental wine, and after Prohibition ended, they helped launch the region’s wine tourism by offering public tours.
Today, Beringer Vineyards stands as a celebrated landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a California Historical Landmark, and is still producing top-tier wines and preserving its rich legacy.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1994 1.5L
Chateau Montelena was founded in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs and housed in an iconic stone chateau. They are best known for the Chateau’s dramatic revival under Jim Barrett and Winemaker Mike Grgich in the early 1970s. It’s 1973 Chardonnay famously won the 1976 Judgment of Paris, catapulting Napa Valley wines into international fame. Still family-owned and led by Bo Barrett, the winery continues to produce refined, terroir‑driven wines amidst its historic gardens and stone buildings.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Launched in 1986 by real estate agent Jean Phillips on a modest Oakville vineyard, Screaming Eagle leapt to cult fame with its debut 1992 Cabernet release, which earned a near-perfect 99 points from Robert Parker. Its allure? Ultra‑limited production, exclusivity, and astronomical demand, which was exemplified by a 6‑liter bottle fetching US $500,000 at auction. Now owned solely by billionaire Stan Kroenke, the estate remains locked away from tourists, accessible only via a protracted mailing list and fiercely coveted allocations.
Harlan Estate Proprietary Red 2015
Founded in 1984 by H. William “Bill” Harlan, Harlan Estate was born from a bold vision to craft a “California First Growth” atop virgin forested hillsides in Oakville. After planting began in the late 1980s, its first commercial vintage, 1990, wasn’t released until 1996, but it made a legendary entrance. Known for obsessive vineyard care down to the individual vine and rigorous selectivity, the estate produces only two wines: the flagship Harlan Estate and a second wine, The Maiden. Today, under the stewardship of his son Will Harlan, the estate continues to define Napa cult Cabernet through its age-worthy depth, precision, and quiet pedigree.
Cheers to the Golden State! Shop our full California Collection here.
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