Set amidst the magical Santa Rosa Plains in the heart of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, Benovia Winery is family-owned and dedicated to making exquisite, small-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Committed to sustainable farming, Benovia’s vines are planted in high-density to conserve natural resources and produce balanced, elegant wines. Founded in 2002 by the husband-and-wife duo Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane, and co-owned by the accomplished Winemaker Mike Sullivan, Benovia derives its unique name from a harmonious fusion of Joe and Mary’s fathers’ names: Ben and Novian.

Winemaker and Co-Owner Mike Sullivan approaches winemaking with a discerning strategy. He attunes himself to what the vineyards are saying, what the grapes are saying, observes nature’s unfolding rhythm each year, and carefully observes the wine during fermentation. Sullivan, a California native, was raised in the beautiful Russian River Valley. Hailing from a lineage of cultivators, his family is a proud owner of a vineyard where he dedicated his summers to tending, during the pursuit of his enology degree.

Having earned accolades such as “Winemaker of the Year” and “Wine Personality of the Year,” Mike prioritizes crafting wines that encapsulate the essence of both the location and the moment. In his perspective, no wine better mirrors its unique sense of place and time than that of Pinot Noir.