Wine of the week: Benziger 2009 Sonoma County/Lake County Sauvignon Blanc

What's the hardest part of winemaking?

Checking the ego at the cellar door.

That's according to Rodrigo Soto, the winemaker behind our wine of the week — the Benziger 2009 Sonoma County/Lake County Sauvignon Blanc with a price tag of $15.

"The most challenging part of winemaking is leaving the ego aside," Soto said. "Some can do it. The way that I see (winemaking) is to try to reflect a region and a particular vintage into that bottle .

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. I am just trying to bring up native characters in the wines that reflect their own personality and not to extrapolate certain winemaking techniques that are utilized in a certain specific area." For Soto, winemaking is all about farming."We try to interpret the season and adjust our practices based on what we are observing in a proactive fashion," he said. "It may sound basic and simple, but it takes a big effort and discipline to be true to this concept."Soto is a native of Chile, where he studied agronomy, and then winemaking and viticulture. He decided to make a career in the great outdoors because he realized early in life that he was more suited to a flannel shirt and jeans than pinstripes."Being outside made me realize that I will never be suited for working for too long in a confined space or in an office," mused Soto. "What I like about winemaking the most is the combination of working outside and trying to understand how a vine works. I like putting that into context with a specific region or appellation's characteristics and to see how that translates into the bottle of wine .

For Soto, winemaking is all about farming.

"We try to interpret the season and adjust our practices based on what we are observing in a proactive fashion," he said. "It may sound basic and simple, but it takes a big effort and discipline to be true to this concept."

Soto is a native of Chile, where he studied agronomy, and then winemaking and viticulture. He decided to make a career in the great outdoors because he realized early in life that he was more suited to a flannel shirt and jeans than pinstripes.

"Being outside made me realize that I will never be suited for working for too long in a confined space or in an office," mused Soto. "What I like about winemaking the most is the combination of working outside and trying to understand how a vine works. I like putting that into context with a specific region or appellation's characteristics and to see how that translates into the bottle of wine .

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. " Soto's sauvignon blanc style is focused, crisp and clean with notes of grapefruit, melon, herbs and mineral. "In my opinion, sauvignon blanc is a variety that shows best in cooler regions," Soto said. "It develops more interesting characters when the ripening curves are slower and it also preserves its acidity better."Wine writer Peg Melnik can be reached at 707-521-5310 or peg.melnik@ pressdemocrat.com.

Soto's sauvignon blanc style is focused, crisp and clean with notes of grapefruit, melon, herbs and mineral.

"In my opinion, sauvignon blanc is a variety that shows best in cooler regions," Soto said. "It develops more interesting characters when the ripening curves are slower and it also preserves its acidity better."

Wine writer Peg Melnik can be reached at 707-521-5310 or peg.melnik@ pressdemocrat.com.