(Fort Myers, Fla. – September 13, 2011) — Hailed as a rising star among California estate vineyards, Benovia Winery has been selected as Signature Vintner for the 2012 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. The Wine & Food Fest will be held at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club on February 24 and 25, 2012.
Owned by the husband and wife team of Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane and their partner, Winemaker Mike Sullivan, Benovia Winery handcrafts fine Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Zinfandels using grapes grown in three unique vineyards┬álocated in California’ Russian River Valley AVA and Sonoma County AVA. Since its establishment in 2005, Benovia Winery has been earning high praise from both wine enthusiasts and publications. Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast , Ken’s Wine Guide, and International Wine Cellar all rate Benovia’s wines among the best that California has to offer.
“In terms of wine making, Benovia Winery is much like children we strive to help through the Wine & Food Fest,” says Dr. Steve Machiz, chairman of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s sponsoring organization, SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. “Young and filled with incredible promise. Coupled with the quality and variety of the wines that Benovia Winery brings to our event, this promises to be an extraordinary event.”
As signature vintner, Benovia wines will be featured at the festival’s Grand Tasting and Auction on Feb. 25, 2012. They will also be featured at one of the festival’s private chef vintner dinners on Feb. 24, 2012.
The owners of Benovia Winery embrace the concept of sustainable farming at all of their vineyards, and take it a step further at the historic Cohn Vineyard, which is farmed organically. By using sustainable farming practices, Benovia Winery is expressing responsibility to its neighbors, as well as future generations.
About the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest
The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children. One of Southwest Florida’s most successful fundraising events, it raised more than $1.2 million in 2011. For more information, visit swflwinefest.org or call 239-278-3900.
