Spring 2025 Newsletter

June 26, 2025

As spring evolves into summer, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a season of growth and momentum. Spring brought a renewed sense of energy, and with it, a series of exciting milestones. From grafting the vineyard and witnessing budbreak to bottling our 2023 reds and releasing new wines, it’s been a season of meaningful progress. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back and sharing everything we’ve been working on.

BENOM Estate News: We've Officially Completed Grafting!

This spring marked a major milestone at BENOM — one that’s been years in the making. After planting 20 acres of rootstock last summer, we completed the next critical step in establishing our estate vineyard: grafting. It’s an age-old practice in viticulture, but one that still amazes us.

Grafting allows us to customize what grows above and below the soil. The rootstock (the base of the vine) is selected for its resilience and adaptability to soil conditions. The scion (the top part of the vine) is chosen for the fruit it produces. By joining the two, we create a vine that thrives in our unique vineyard site while producing the precise varieties we want: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, and a few other surprise varieties.

Each step of the process is done entirely by hand. Each rootstock is cut just above the ground and the scion is carefully shaped to match, then slotted into place and wrapped with grafting tape to hold it steady. Over time, the two pieces grow together into a single, unified vine. This is incredibly meticulous work, however, a skilled team of just four people was able to graft all 30,000 vines by hand in just eight days! Every cut, every wrap, and every connection had to be exact to give these young vines their best chance to thrive.

Why graft instead of planting fully formed vines? Grafting gives us more control. It allows us to select rootstocks that are best suited to our vineyard’s specific soil and climate, while tailoring the varietals and clones on top for flavor, style, and structure. It’s also faster and more efficient to plant and irrigate rootstock first, then graft once the plants are established.

As the team completed the grafting process this spring, we couldn’t help but think about the future. These vines are the foundation of something we’ve dreamed about for a long time — an estate program that reflects our vision from the ground up. This spring brought us one step closer to realizing that dream, and we are proud to share it with you.

Winery update: the 2023 vintage is now in bottle

It's been a busy spring in the winery. We've just bottled the 2023 reds, and we couldn't be more excited about what's to come. This is a vintage that’s already generating a great deal of anticipation. With vibrant structure and remarkable depth, the 2023 Origin, Les Deux Frères, Lapsus and Le Vingt will make their debut in our fall club allocations. In the meantime, this summer offers the perfect opportunity to revisit the 2022 vintage, before we transition to the next chapter.

Your Summer Guide to the Family Wineries

Looking to explore Paso Robles this summer? We’ve curated the perfect itinerary to visit our family of wineries—starting in Tin City at BENOM, then heading west to the hillside estates of Clos Solène and L’Aventure. Each offers a distinct expression of our shared roots, and together they tell a story of connection, craft, and character.

Some know us as the French Mafia of Paso Robles. Others might call it the French Connection. Either way, there’s no denying the bond that ties BENOM, Clos Solène, and L’Aventure together. It all began when Guillaume Fabre came to Paso Robles from France for a harvest internship at L’Aventure, where he trained under Stephan Asseo. Not long after, Guillaume convinced Solène to join him, promising to one day name an estate in her honor. That dream became a reality with the founding of Clos Solène in 2007. At Guillaume and Solene's wedding in France, Guillaume’s brother Arnaud met Stephan’s daughter, Chloé. The two later married and planted roots in Paso Robles, deepening the family connection even further.

Today, each winery has its own identity, shaped by passion, precision, and heart. At the root of it all, we’re one family—and we invite you to experience that with us this summer.

Start Your Morning at BENOM in Tin City:

The Place: Our Tin City Tasting Room offers a relaxed, modern experience with elevated yet approachable hospitality.
The experience: Join us for a seated, private tasting of a curated flight. Our current lineup starts with the L’Essor Rosé, followed by the 2022 red wines, and finishes with Contrast, our Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc blend.
What to expect: A dedicated host will sit with you and walk you through the story of each wine, the history of BENOM and our exciting plans for the future.
Insider tip: Tin City is home to more than just tasting rooms and wineries! After your tasting, head to Etto Pastificio for fresh pasta or swing by Negranti Creamery for sheep’s milk ice cream.
Book here: https://benomwines.com/

Spend the early afternoon at Clos Solène

The Place: A 15-minute drive west transports you from Tin City’s energy to the tranquil countryside. Clos Solène’s patio is surrounded by vineyards and steeped in Guillaume and Solène’s story.
The Experience: Choose from a Private Tasting, a guided Estate Excursion, or a Wine & Cheese Experience, each offering a unique lens into the estate.
What to expect: Sit on the patio and take in the views of the surrounding vineyard while you taste through a distinguished flight of wines and learn about the history and love story at the heart of Clos Solène.
Insider Tip: For a deeper connection to the heart of Clos Solène, book the Estate Excursion, offered Mon–Fri at 10 am, to tour the vineyard by Polaris, explore the barrel room, and soak in spectacular views.
Book here: https://www.clossolene.com/

Wrap up a perfect day at L'Aventure

The Place: Just minutes from Clos Solène, L’Aventure offers sweeping vineyard views, a polished tasting patio, and a rich winemaking legacy. The estate is known for bold blends that push the boundaries of traditional winemaking.
The Experience: Choose from a Discovery Tasting of current releases, a Library Flight in the caves, or the Champagne Flight, featuring their partnership with Thiénot Champagne.
What to Expect: A guided, educational tasting led by your Estate Educator, featuring estate-grown Rhône and Bordeaux-style blends that reflect both terroir and ingenuity.
Insider Tip: Ask for a peek inside the caves - it’s one of the most impressive cave spaces in Paso Robles!
Book here: https://www.aventurewine.com/

Summer + Fall Events

- August 1st & 2nd -

Fall Member Appreciation Party

Be among the first to taste the highly anticipated 2023 releases — Les Deux Frères, Le Vingt, Origin, and Lapsus — paired with seasonal bites from Chef Jeffrey Scott.

Reserve Tickets

- November 7th & 8th -

Save the Date: Fall Winemaker Dinners

An intimate fall dinner featuring a five-course menu thoughtfully paired with our most special wines. Tickets and more details coming soon.

2025 Events

A Collection of Our Favorite Spring Vineyard Photos

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the vineyard, marked by budbreak, blooming wildflowers and lush green canopies reaching toward the sun. It's a time of energy and renewal, both above and below the soil. We've captured some of our favorite moments from this season to share with you.