Benson Vineyards Estate Winery

About Winery and Wines

Benson Vineyards Estate Winery is family owned and operated. Paul & Kathy Benson from Mill Creek, WA (mom and dad) fell in love with Lake Chelan while vacationing with their two son's Scott & Jeff in the late 1970's. They soon made their vacation cottage into a full time residence after Paul retired in 1996. In retirement Paul and Kathy visited many wine growing areas. After several enjoyable and fact finding trips to the Okanagan wine region of British Columbia, they began talking seriously about growing grapes in the Chelan area. After nearly two years of research and joining the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, they asked both sons to join the exciting new adventure! Paul and his son Jeff began removing the existing apple orchard and preparing the property for wine grapes, while son Scott left his promising career in industrial engineering to go back to college and receive a degree in viticulture and enology. By 2002 they had planted 23 acres of vineyard to 10 different vinifera grape varieties. In 2004 the story really began with the first harvest! The winery is 100% estate, and currently has 7 red and 4 white varieties planted. The tasting room doors opened in the spring of 2005 with only a few wines to share...but that was only the beginning! Today when you visit the friendly tasting room there are over 12 different wines for you to sample...but not at the same time mind you! Today we are producing a little over 5,000 cases annually and our award winning wines are sold directly from our tasting room and online. You can also find our wines here in the valley at the finest restaurants and local wine shops.