Benjamin Darnault
France
Benjamin's Wines
- France
- 22 wines
- 8 styles
Magician of the Minervois, French winemaker extraordinaire
- Consulting enologist Benjamin Darnault has clients all over the South of France, which means he gets to cherry-pick the very best grapes the region has to offer.
- When you gave Ben the money he needed to set up on his own, you made his dream come true. Your reward is superb wines from Minervois and beyond at astonishing prices..
- With Angel funding, Ben maintains ongoing relationships with the best growers – even paying above market to support them long term. And it's made him a bonafide Naked icon!
Vineyard Location
Benjamin Darnault's Story
Ben is the first in his family to be making wine. His dad is an accountant, and the dazzling world of offices and figures didn't seem quite as enticing as getting dirty in the vines.
It was actually his best friend's dad who inspired him to become a winemaker. He was always at their place, listening and observing. He liked his lifestyle. Ben had the opportunity to work with him in his cellar, Le Tertre Roteboeuf, in St. Émilion. This experience was the launching point for his work in enology and winemaking.
Ben’s career in the wine industry has brought him more than he ever expected. He met his wife while he was in Australia making wine. They spent two months together during harvest and married a year later in Cape Town where they also spent a bit of time. They finally settled in the South of France – Minervois – to make wine together.
Minervois, resting in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, carries 2,000 years of rich winemaking history. It's where winemakers have been harvesting grapes "since Roman times– vineyards are part of people's heritage here,” said Ben.
While it may seem incredulous, it's not uncommon for vineyards throughout this south of France locale to be over a century old – and it's something Ben doesn't take for granted. "I enjoy making my mark within all of that history and tradition," he explained. "Wine is more than a product here – it's the culture."
One of the proudest moments of his career was in 2005 when he had a wine listed in the Top 100 Best Wines in the World by the Wine Spectator. He also scored 95 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate with an Australian wine he made in 2006.Since joining Naked, Ben has continued to earn award after award.
Working with Angel funding means Ben can put all his energy into growing the grapes and not have to worry about buyers pushing down the costs and compromising the quality of his wines. It’s a win-win for both Ben and Angels like you who have allowed him the freedom to make amazing wines – his way.
Benjamin's Archangels
Greetings. My name is Doug and I joined Naked Wines in 2016 through the introductory Voucher. Looking back, it was one of the best moves I have made. Great Wines at Great Prices and Guaranteed Satisfaction. Come on in folks, the waters here are excellent. Cheers 🍷
