French Colombard Takes Root at the BENOM Estate
October 16, 2026
On September 8th, 2026, we celebrated a moment years in the making: the first harvest from the BENOM Estate. In the early morning hours, we brought in our first two varieties, Syrah and French Colombard, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our estate vineyard.
While Syrah is a familiar part of the BENOM portfolio, French Colombard has a story all its own. This lesser-known white grape has a long history in France and a particularly meaningful connection to Arnaud.
Early in his wine journey, while still living in France, Arnaud discovered a producer near his home whose French Colombard quickly became a favorite. At a time when he was just beginning to explore the world of wine, this particular variety stood out. Its freshness, character, and distinctive expression left a lasting impression. Years later, when the opportunity came to establish our own estate vineyard, French Colombard was a variety Arnaud wanted to revisit. What began as an early favorite in France has now become part of the future of BENOM.
Getting to Know French Colombard
If you haven't heard of French Colombard, you're not alone. Originally from southwestern France, this lesser-known white grape has been grown for centuries, traditionally playing an important role in the production of Cognac and Armagnac, two of France's most celebrated brandies.
Its naturally high acidity makes it particularly valuable for distillation, but that same characteristic also gives French Colombard its appeal as a wine. Known for its bright citrus flavors, fresh aromatics, and lively acidity, French Colombard produces vibrant, refreshing white wines with plenty of character.
Today, the variety is particularly associated with the white wines of southwestern France, where it is often blended with other grapes or bottled on its own. While it may not have the name recognition of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, French Colombard offers a distinctive expression with a character that sets it apart.
Why Plant French Colombard at the Estate?
One of French Colombard's defining characteristics is its ability to retain natural acidity as the fruit ripens. Finding the right balance between ripeness and freshness is particularly important for this variety, which makes the cooler climate of our estate an exciting place to explore its potential.
Located in the Willow Creek District, right along the edge of the York Mountain AVA, our estate benefits from its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the cooling influence of coastal breezes. These conditions help moderate summer temperatures, allowing the fruit to ripen gradually rather than being pushed along by prolonged heat.
For French Colombard, that slower development offers the potential to build flavor and aromatic complexity while preserving the lively acidity that makes the variety so distinctive. It's a balance we're looking forward to exploring as we learn more about how the variety's character responds to our vineyard.
Of course, every site has its own personality, and we're only beginning to discover how French Colombard will express itself at the BENOM Estate. But the first signs are incredibly encouraging. With our inaugural harvest now in the cellar, we're already excited by the freshness, aromatics, and character we're seeing in the fruit and early stages of winemaking. It's a promising first glimpse of what this vineyard can produce, and we can't wait to see how the wine continues to develop.
For us, planting French Colombard is both a connection to Arnaud's early years in France and an opportunity to bring something different to the BENOM portfolio. It's a variety with a rich history, a personal connection, and now a promising beginning at our estate. We're excited to see where this first vintage takes us and, eventually, share it with you.
