Winemaker, Joe Benziger
Joe Benziger has been the winemaking artist behind the Imagery Artist Collection Wines since their inception in 1985. Together with original artist/curator Bob Nugent, Joe has taken an idea that married his special wines with the art world's most renowned contemporary artists and turned that vision into one of the most unique and respected ultra-premium wine collections produced.

From the intense, powerful Petite Sirah to the almost cult-like White Burgundy, the complexity of the wines come from the simplicity of the winemaker's approach. Joe believes in doing everything himself - everything. From selecting the vineyard sites and working with the growers - which he does in tandem with vineyard director Mark Burningham - to greeting arriving grape trucks, managing the crush pad, punching down round the clock, monitoring fermentations, hand selecting barrels and creating final blends - these are Joe's wines.

And this is Joe's winery. He has overseen the installation of what has to be called a winemaker's playground. The state-of-the-art facility at the new Imagery Estate Winery is designed to offer an extraordinary level of control and gentleness. Tank temperatures are regulated to heat or cool on demand to ensure precise fermentation temperatures and the tank sizes vary broadly to allow for block-specific fermentation protocols. Computerized tracking and archiving allow Joe to chronicle the viticulture and winemaking for a given vineyard block or varietal lot from vintage to vintage.

Both the Imagery Artist Collection wines and the yet to be released Imagery Vineyard Collection wines reflect Joe's passion for taking the path less traveled; for attempting the new rather than the rote. Making wines from unusual varietals or from single vineyards is a bit riskier - less of a safety net than with more common varietals or broader appellation sources - but more rewarding.

When asked about his thoughts on art and wine, Joe enthuses about the real beauty of the artist labels that have been created for the Imagery Artist Collection wines. He is proud of the fact that the original works of art on display in the gallery are an example of the family's commitment to sustaining a special cultural niche. He is emphatic that "…this is more than a pretty label, this is a coalescence of the arts, showcasing the artistry of the grower, the winemaker and the fine artist."

Joe lives in Kenwood, California, with wife Diane and daughters Kelly, Jamie and Jill.