Our Winemaker - Imagery Estate Winery

Best Woman Winemaker

40 Under 40

Meet Jamie

Growing up between her family’s two Sonoma wineries, it’s no surprise that Jamie Benziger is blazing her own trail in the wine industry.

As a kid, Jamie was always on the move, whether it was playing soccer, riding her horse, or running around with her two sisters, Kelly and Jill. Later, while studying marketing at Loyola Marymount University and working summers selling tour tickets at the winery, Jamie realized she wanted the family business
to be her future. To get back to wine country,

Jamie transferred to Sonoma State University to complete her marketing degree and added wine business to her studies. She interned in marketing with Gundlach Bundschu Winery during school but it wasn’t until her first harvest working the lab at Benziger that Jamie realized her heart was really in winemaking.

Since then, Jamie has had incredible opportunities to continue learning the chemistry of fine wine working in the wine labs at St. Francis and Bogle, traveling to New Zealand to work harvest at Villa Maria, and get her hands dirty in the field at Enterprise Vineyards.

Returning home to Sonoma in 2015, Jamie had the opportunity to work alongside the most incredible winemaker she knows; her Dad, Joe Benziger. Mentored by her father and just as adventurous, Jamie is passionate about taking Imagery to a broader audience.

In December 2017,
Joe retired and Jamie took the reins as Winemaker. As the second-generation winemaker at Imagery, Jamie has been on a roll. Not only was she named the 2019 Best Woman Winemaker in the International Women’s Wine Competition, she was also included on Wine Enthusiast’s list of 40 Under 40 Tastemakers.

Traditional
Varietals with a
Little Twist