Lindsay Benson has been named winemaker and vineyard manager at WillowsAwake Winery in Wells. Submitted photo

WELLS — WillowsAwake Winery announces the appointment of Lindsay Benson as winemaker and vineyard manager to the WillowsAwake Winery team.

Her appointment coincides with WillowsAwake’s expansion and purchase of new winemaking and vineyard equipment to position it to take full advantage of the winery’s eight acres of cold hardy vineyards as they reach maturity and full production.

Prior to joining WillowsAwake and following her return from study in Europe, Benson spent the past year working at vineyards and nurseries in Maine and Vermont, notably Cellardoor Winery, Shelburne Vineyard and Northeastern Vine Supply.

While completing her Master of Science degree in oenology and viticulture from EMaVE Consortium in Montpellier, France and Geisenheim, Germany, Benson acquired experience at Château de Jonquières in Terrasses du Larzac, France.

Benson also worked at Bleasdale Vineyard at Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Troon Vineyard at Applegate Valley, Oregon, and spent four years as senior buyer for Curious Wines in Cork, Ireland with responsibility for purchasing and development for an Irish wine import company of a 350+ line portfolio of international wines.

Benson also holds a Master of Science degree in international business from the IESEG School Of Management, Université Catholique de Lille, Lille, France.

Since 2019, Benson has followed the evolution of WillowsAwake and said she is excited to take a leading role in shaping its future. “Advances in cold hardy grapevine breeding have made New England one of the most exciting new regions for sustainable viticulture and winemaking in America, which is why I am so excited to bring my winemaking experience back to my native Maine,” she said.