A.

A bench is essentially a lateral outcropping that runs (like a giant step or terrace) across a sloped area, interrupting the steep decline in elevation. Benches are usually formed by erosion, weathering, or by successive deposits often left behind by a river or a retreating glacier. On Ontario Canada’s Niagara Escarpment, the benches are ideal areas for vineyards because they catch cool breezes in the hot summer months, and in the winter, warm air over adjacent lakes help’s moderate the temperature. Napa Valley and Sonoma County are also famous for their benches, like the Rutherford Bench in Napa Valley and the benchland areas in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County.