Maisie Lyman

Viticulture, enology, and social equity researcher and writer based in Northern California.

Benchmark Wine Blog •

Napa Valley: America's Top Wine Region

In the world of fine wine, “the Valley” almost universally refers to Napa Valley. A small city 50 miles north of San Francisco lends its name to the storied Napa County and the famed Napa Valley AVA. Join us for a walk through the stony, hallowed halls of wine history and find out what makes Napa Valley America’s Top Wine Region. Napa Valley’s roots take hold with Spanish Missionaries, well versed and self-reliant in slaking their thirst with wine, planting Mission grapes across California. It’
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Cabernet Sauvignon: Rise of a Wine Legend

In the world of wine, few names command as much attention as Cabernet Sauvignon. With its bold flavors, robust structure, and ability to age gracefully, Cabernet Sauvignon has become synonymous with excellence from First Growth Bordeaux to Napa Valley Cult Wines. Behind every bottle lies a rich history that spans centuries and continents in pursuit of perfection. Join us as we embark on a journey through time to uncover the fascinating story of Cabernet Sauvignon, from its humble Bordeaux origin
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Jayson Woodbridge - The Hundred Acre Visionary

Twenty-three years ago, Jason Woodbridge arrived in Napa. He had no winemaking education or experience, yet set out on a mission to make exceptional Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. He’s since built Hundred Acre Wines into a Cult Wine brand. Each bottle boasts a 4-digit price tag and 5-year waiting list. To date, Hundred Acre stands as one of the most gossip-ripe brands in the Valley. Jayson’s reputation pegs him as outspoken, contrarian, and driven. His wines garner acclaim for their opulence, grandeur

Fight the Fight - Dame Lise Asimont

Scientist, farmer, winemaker, parent, and wine industry unicorn - Lise Asimont conquered and climbed a formidable career path. Showcasing her trademark pairing of regal pragmatism and charismatic poetry, my conversation with Lise offers a glimpse of what it really takes to survive with one’s ambition sated and humanity intact in a world neither designed nor eager to accommodate the presence of powerful women. Let’s hear her story. —Written by Dame Maisie Lyman

Wine Pro Picks, March Edition!

View this email in your browser The ultimate international wine, this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot carries all the glamor of Bordeaux with the easy charm of Tuscany. This 20th-anniversary bottling is both modern and cozy, delicious now and age-worthy. It’s got everything we want right now and for the next 7-10 years at an under-$100 price point which means you can enjoy it more than once this year and next. We don’t take our marching orders from James Suckling, but we’re

Wine Pro Picks, February Edition!

View this email in your browser Because we can’t get enough of it. Truly. And we’re pretty sure you’ll love it as much as we do. So if you buy 6 bottles or more, then we’re pleased to discount your order 10%. At $54 per bottle, you’ll join our wine buyers to enjoy the lowest price in the country! We didn’t miss the memo on pairings, so absolutely pop a bottle with your favorite wild boar ragu and fresh pasta or slow simmered pork stew. But if you’re looking to accentuate the gloriously fres

Wine Pro Picks, January Edition!

View this email in your browser Named for a priest, made in an honorific style that entrances with elegance, and tasting like the Second Coming of Borgogne; Father John offers Pinot Noir’s fabulous hat trick of being stunningly good, highly sought after, and wonderfully difficult to find. Behold: Vigneron Nicholas Moloney will transform your view of Sonoma Pinot Noir. These 3 bottlings represent Anderson Valley’s overarching freshness and vibrancy, Comptche Vineyard’s racy avante garde grac

Wine Pro Picks, December Edition!

View this email in your browser Palmer & Co stands as one of the oldest grower houses in Champagne. Formed after World War II by 7 growers to rebuild the local industry and re-establish a standard of quality, we’re thrilled to see Palmer & Co re-enter the US market with its quality-focused cooperative and emblematic cuvees. This stunner is all Chardonnay from Villers-Marmery and Trepail (both Premier Crus in the Montagne de Reims area). So the laser focus and seductive elegance come in well unde

Wine Pro Picks, November Edition!

View this email in your browser Savennieres is a rare find in the US market and it is absolute catnip for wine professionals thanks to its food friendly nature, rousing flavor profile, and ballet-light touch. With precious few producers making this stunning style, the Roussier family in Savennieres grows vivacious wine. Chateau Pierre-Bise delivers stunning poetry in a bottle for all to enjoy, and we fully intend to share that beauty. “Textured, mineral Chenin Blanc with decades of aging po
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Visit Sonoma Valley - Fresh, Seasonal Luxury

Planning your visit to Sonoma Wine Country? Prepare to be awed and inspired by Sonoma’s fresh local lifestyle! Our team enjoys planning and brainstorming your visits to Sonoma Valley. But we know that you may already be here or want to plan on the fly. So we put together this guide to Sonoma’s delicious delights. The Madrona’s private estate is a historical gem originally built in 1881 in Healdsburg. More recently, Jay Jeffers, a famed San Francisco designer, refurbished the property for a gra
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Part II: The Best Of Sonoma County

Riding on the wings of our previous blog post, in which we listed for our clientele our recommendations for the top Napa Valley luxury hotels, resorts, and dining destinations, we now turn to Napa’s larger but more laid-back counterpart, Sonoma County. More expansive a land mass, Sonoma County is almost double the size of Napa and grows far more grapes and produce of all kinds in various conditions. The casual West Coast agrarian lifestyle is pervasive in every small town of the county – from th

Wine Pro Picks, October Edition!

View this email in your browser This month’s pro picks are designed for a fully immersive experience. So lets lead in with fresh, warm baguette, soft butter, and fried green tomatoes topped with crab salad that sets off the glamour and succulent beauty of that Pierre Jean Villa St. Joseph Saut de L`Ange Blanc Roussanne. Set the scene with your favorite album (we’re partial to Laura Mvula’s Sing to the Moon). As the sun sets, and the firepit is prepared, enjoy a cozy transition to Moroccan spiced
Benchmark Wine Blog •

The Best of Napa Valley

It is no wonder that Napa and Sonoma Counties draw visitors from all over the world. The vineyard-lined hillsides and valleys, towering redwood and eucalyptus forests, rugged Pacific coastlines, and Mediterranean climate lure visitors like a Siren’s call. These wine country destinations are also home to some of the most indulgent and luxurious getaways, replete with Michelin-starred restaurants and some of the most sumptuous hotels and resorts in the United States. As Benchmark Wine is America’s

Wine Pro Picks, September Edition!

View this email in your browser Ripe and vibrant strawberries and black cherries lead the nose of this Sangiovese into an elegant, lifted palate of bramble berries, youthful but ripe tannins, seamless acidity, and silken texture. Brunello level quality at a fraction of the price, it’s fitting that Casanova di Neri could produce such a stunningly tasty wine for this price. Yes, it’s older vines – 45 years average, to be sure. Of course, it’s the exceptional soils of the southern end of Monta

Wine Pro Picks, August Edition!

View this email in your browser “There is no better expression of the all-conquering chardonnay than the full but tense, limpid but stony wines it makes on the heavy limestone soils of Chablis.” - Hugh Johnson These 50+ year old Chardonnay vines sit on tons and tons of Kimmeridgian limestone soils where, with a southwest facing aspect, the Pinson Les Preuses hits the unmistakable clean precision of Chablis. This glass marries grandeur and purity, perfectly paired with the saline beauty of o
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Champagne Champagne!

“Champagne, Champagne the wine divine, makes me forget my troubles. One dollar worth of wine. Four dollars’ worth of bubbles!” – Old English Champagne toast It’s hard not to be captivated by the roiling fizz and sparkle of Champagne. Tiny bubbles rise through our glass and transport aromas reminiscent of freshly baked pastries, almonds, apples, and cream. And then, there is that first sip with the velvet mouthfeel and all those audacious bubbles bursting on our palates. It is no wonder it has b
Benchmark Wine Blog •

Considering Oregon and California Pinot Noir

“Pinot Noir country. My grape. The one varietal that truly enchants me both stills and steals my heart with its elusive loveliness and false promises of transcendence. I loved her, and I would continue to follow her siren call until my wallet – or liver, whichever came first – gave out.” – Rex Pickett, Sideways In the 2004 movie Sideways, the main character, Rex Pickett, describes his great love affair with not a beguiling woman but Pinot Noir. In one fell swoop, this movie and its proclaimed

Wine Pro Picks, July Edition!

View this email in your browser Mayacamas has one of the most historied cellars in all Napa Valley. Tucked in the Mayacamas mountain range, on Mt. Veeder, this property dates back to the 1800’s. Their cellar contains large barrels and foudres from the '20s which they still use today, and it is said to have even been in use during prohibition by bootleggers. Mayacamas gives us wines of unfaltering character. Using their ultra-neutral oak is just one of the ways they pull this off. The 2020 C
Benchmark Wine Blog •

The Napa Valley AVAs

When oenophiles say they love Napa Cabs, it is a bit deceiving. Why? Because Napa, the appellation, is comprised of 16 sub-appellation AVAs. Each of the Napa Valley AVAs has distinct terroir attributes and nuances due to ancient volcanoes that once existed here. Pre-historic seabeds which enveloped the area, prolific tectonic activity, undulating valleys, and multi-leveled elevations. Vineyards are also planted in all aspects, depending on whether they sit on the West side of the valley or the E
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