I’m Ben Larks — a winemaker, explorer, and lifelong learner. With my lifelong friend Ari Heavner I have founded Idle Cellars, a Sonoma County micro winery dedicated to hands-on, artisanal winemaking, focusing on minimal intervention and meticulous attention to detail at every stage—from pruning and harvesting to fermentation and bottling.

Originally from Southern California, I found my calling while studying near Northern California’s wine country. It was there, amid barbecues, family dinners, and free tastings, that I shaped my palate and curiosity for wine culture.

My journey into winemaking was anything but linear. I earned a marketing degree, spent a year traveling through Latin America and earned a permaculture certification in Ecuador. Upon returning, I taught at a holistic school—sharing lessons in gardening, painting, wood and stone carving, and sustainable farming.

It was while pursuing a teaching credential that I first stepped into harvest work at Deerfield Ranch Winery in Kenwood. Balancing teaching and winemaking ignited something deep in me—a blend of creativity, precision, passion, and respect for nature—that imprinted itself on my soul.

In 2006, with just one ton of fruit and boundless ambition, I co-founded Idle Cellars with my partner Ari. We grew the winery organically through hands-on learning, mentorship, hustle, and unwavering dedication — from vineyard to cellar, every aspect shaped by care and persistence.

Today, my approach to winemaking remains hands-on and deeply rooted in place. Whether pruning vines, sorting grapes, or aging a batch by touch, taste, and intuition, I believe excellence comes from staying intimately connected to every stage—from vine to bottle.

I continue to learn and travel, always inspired by new techniques, flavors, and the warmth of sharing stories over a glass of wine. My aim? To create wines that invite moments of pause, connection, and joy—what we like to call Idle Moments—with every sip.

Feel free to contact me, join our Wine Clubs, or better yet let's get together for one of our unique Wine Experiences in Sonoma County, I promise it will be up to your expectations, and much more!