About Benovia
Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson never met, yet they raised their
children with similar old-fashioned values. Hard work brings its
own rewards, they would say. Be the best at what you do. Surround
yourself with good people, and let them get to work. And never,
ever produce anything that wouldn't make you proud.
With such similar family backgrounds, it's no wonder Joe
Anderson and Mary Dewane would eventually find each other and
marry. Together, they began a journey that led them to found a
winery that would make them, and their fathers, proud--proud enough
that their label pays homage to the two men, Benovia.
Their journey also inspired them to assemble the best possible
team of respected winemaking veterans. They recruited Bob Mosby as
general manager and found the perfect partner in Mike Sullivan, one
of northern California's top winemakers, and someone who shares
their passions. With Mike as coowner and responsible for the wine
making, they recruited Daniel Roberts as winegrower and
viticulturalist, and Tucker Catlin as vineyard development
director. Then they brought on Tina Alves as operations manager,
Chris Kangas as vineyards manager, and Nick Finarelli as Enologist
to bring even more depth to the winery's operations. They are good
people, and together they make an even better team: a team of
accomplished professionals with more than 150 years of collective
experience producing some of California's best wines.
"At Benovia, our team is an extension of an extraordinary
family," says Joe, "a family that eats, drinks, and breathes a
lifelong passion for wine."
That passion led to the purchase of the renowned Cohn Vineyard
atop a mountain near Healdsburg, where the couple lives, and led to
a new winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The journey
will continue with an exciting new Pinot Noir vineyard near
Freestone, and the Martaella ranch (named after Joe and Mary's
mothers), surrounding the winery itself.
Joe and Mary have invested in all the right things to make
Benovia flourish-vineyards with unique terroir and a well equipped
winery. But their most important investment is people.
"We see these people as the soul of Benovia," says Joe. "Mary
and I trust in their passion and in what they bring to the wine.
They expect a lot of themselves, and they expect it from each
other. We like to call them 'Benovians.' I think our fathers would
be proud of them.