Michel-Schlumberger Wines

Michel-Schlumberger Winery was founded in 1979 when Jean-Jacque Michel arrived from Switzerland and purchased land in the Dry Creek Valley. This area was appealing for wine making because of its cool climates and abundant benchlands. He joined forces with Ridgely Bullock and began planting. His vineyard included cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and chardonnay. Many of these varieties were rare in the Dry Creek Valley area and they remain so today. Michel remained the chairman of the winery until 1993 when Jacque Schlumberger joined the team. He created a new marketing plan and the Benchland Wine Estate of Michel-Schlumberger was born. Under Schlumberger, the winery continued to grow and in 1997, he and his wife purchased land on the top of Bradford Mountain. The Michel-Schlumberger winery is known for its Bordeaux varieties and the wines are considered complex with ripe, raw power. The merlot is described as having well-knit aromatics and richly structured flavors. The winery offers a variety of tasting options and tours of the estate including daily options between 11 AM and 2 PM each day. This provides the perfect lunchtime opportunity to sample wines and enjoy a picnic hillside, following a tour of the vineyard and production area. The winery is also a great location for events including corporate meetings, small seminars, and private functions.