The Spirit of Benovia, a WWII-era airplane, will also participate in several flyovers to honor veterans, first responders and healthcare workers
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (May 20, 2020) – Joe Anderson, chairman and co-founder of Benovia Winery, is pleased to announce that the winery has just released the 2018 vintage of its popular Pinot Noir, Liberation. The wine is available for $50 per bottle, and $10 from each purchase will be donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which honors and supports defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. Additionally, for each bottle sold, The Anderson Family Foundation will contribute an extra $5 to the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Originally created to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, this is now the third vintage of Liberation, which has rapidly become a highly sought-after Pinot Noir for gifting and collecting. The first two vintages sold out quickly.
Anderson also owns a WWII-era airplane called The Spirit of Benovia, which he and his pilot, Jeff Coffman, flew to Normandy last year to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. On Memorial Day The Spirit of Benovia will join 17 other historic planes in formation, as they honor veterans in Southern California and healthcare workers who are risking their lives daily to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The squad will fly over nearly two dozen Southern California locations on May 25th including Riverside National Cemetery, Green Hills Memorial Park, UCLA Medical Center, USC Medical Center, and City of Hope Hospital.
Last weekend The Spirit of Benovia flew over Healdsburg to honor WWII veteran Del Tiedeman who completed several successful runs with paratroopers and injured soldiers on D-Day in a plane similar to The Spirit of Benovia. In a poignant gesture, Tiedeman and his neighbors held out a large American flag that was visible to the crew in the plane as they flew over Tiedeman’s neighborhood.
“It has been so rewarding to connect with veterans across the country,” said Anderson. “We crafted Liberation Pinot Noir in their honor and we are so pleased to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which does remarkable work across the country to support defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.”
Benovia Winery is a Pinot Noir destination in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Benovia’s winemaker and co-owner, Mike Sullivan, crafted Liberation using select fruit from the winery’s sustainably-farmed coastal vineyard called Tilton Hill. Vibrant aromas of wild strawberry and raspberry harmonize with spice notes. Those heady aromas give way to equally vibrant flavors of cherry and a hint of white pepper. On the palate, the juicy red fruits complement the velvety texture and spicy finish.
A dramatic label was created for Liberation, designed by pilot and artist, Craig Kodera. The memorable scene captured on the label depicts an airborne D-Day squad, and the artwork on the nose of the featured plane was inspired by a B-29 that Anderson’s uncle flew in World War II.
Benovia’s 2018 Liberation Pinot Noir can be purchased on the winery’s site, and photos of the wine, winemaker Mike Sullivan, and Joe Anderson and his historic airplane can be found here.
About Benovia Winery
Benovia Winery is a special, small production, family-owned winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley that specializes in sustainably farmed, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded by husband and wife team Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson, Benovia was named after Mary and Joe’s fathers, Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson. Benovia owns and farms three distinctly different vineyards so as to present several nuanced wines in its portfolio. The wines are allocated directly to customers and distributed to select restaurants across the country.
