Comments on: Benton Family Vineyards

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Thu, 01 May 2025 22:18:41 +0000

Just now got a couple 2013 Oakville Avatars. Excited to try a new wine.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:17:31 +0000

I was a club member for many years. In fact, it was my first wine club membership. I met with Daniel Benton at his home with friends a few years ago in Yountville and he gave a wonderful tasting. He told the story of upgrading the tasing room and then the pandemic hit. He cared about his staff and kept them on payroll but eventually had to close. The Croze Cabernet Coombville and the Croze Merlot are fantastic wines that I treasure. I have a couple Croze Avatar 2015 remaining in my rack as well for special occasions.

The Croze Smith-Whooten web page exists with a few remaining wines but I havent seen any updates or new releases in years. It was a winery that didn’t survive pandemic. Hope Daniel can bring it back someday.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 16:14:49 +0000

Gary – its been far to long! If I recall correctly, we met up at your place in Yountville. Gosh, that has probably been 12-15 years ago. Hope things are going well. ~ Dave

By: Gary E Wooton

Gary E Wooton — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 15:58:23 +0000

I must say that this was a refreshing overview of
croze and Smith Wooton Wines. I would point out that the Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc was intended to be an 80th birthday present for my mother whose maiden name was Smith. All was well until she demanded that we had to have it available for her friends to buy as she wasn’t going to give hers away. Thus was born my second label.

Gary Wooton

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 16:43:08 +0000

Sherrill, Sorry for the 4 year late reply. Things move slowly when you are on wine time and are trying to visit, taste and write about every single winery and producer in the world-famous Napa Valley. Croze is the groove you find in the staves of a wine barrel where the head of the barrel fits in. Perhaps a tribute to their lengthy oak aging program. Gary or Daniel might be able to clarify. If you ever get a chance to visit a cooperage do so – I’ve been to a few over the years, most recently to Silver Oak’s cooperage in Higby Missouri earlier this year.

By: Sherrill Kruse

Sherrill Kruse — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 00:17:23 +0000

how did you get the name Croze?
doing family research and looking for Croze in Sacramento with Gagnon in their family