First up is Jody Bogle, VP of Consumer Relations at Bogle winery in Clarksburg California. In her role as VO, Jody oversees hospitality at the family’s Home Ranch tasting room, direct to consumer sales, internal and external communications and leads the winery’s international sales efforts in 40 countries around the globe.
2023 was a great vintage growing season and one of the best for Bogle Winery, The family crushed about 39,000 tons of grapes drawn from several of the state’s prime wine regions, including their own 1,900 acres, 1,500 of which are in the Sacramento Delta. They are on track to produce around 2.5 million cases of wine, that will make Bogle the 11th-largest winery in the USA.
The Bogle’s have been farming along the Sacramento river since the 1870’s. It was only 50 years ago that Warren Bogle planted grapes. The first planted Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah. While Chenin Blanc is still produced in small quantities, Petite Sirah is King, with nearly 130,000 case per year. The portfolio has grown! The popular front line of most all common varieties leads national sales numbers in the quality-value segment. They have also added even more value in there several high end labels like Phantom, Juggernaut, Dark Watcher, a premium reserve line and some fine sparkling wine.
Bogle winery will be featured at two great wine events beginning February with special guest Darren Thompson – Midwest regional rep for Bogle Family Winery. February first with the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) informal tasting at the magnificent new Genesis of Wichita dealership, info and reservations at aiwfwichita.org. February second is the Wichita K-State Alumni Associations annual wine dinner at the Wichita Marriott East, which supports the local scholarship fund. Info and reservations HERE!
I’ll be telling you all about the Marriott KSU Wine Dinner and the wines being featured. We did a menu development with Chef Moretti and the Bogle wines were splendid. I’ll be featuring several Bogle wines as my “Wine-of-the-Week” throughout January!
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2020 Decoded Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
This is so much pinot for the money, boasting a layered nose of rich cherry and cranberry supported by notions of rose petal, fine Darjeeling tea, vanilla and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is rich, silky and loaded with the kind of luscious fruit that only California can deliver. This is a wine of great depth and balance rarely encountered at this price. The wine was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels of which 25% were new.Suggested Pairings- White Fish, White Sauce Pasta & Pan Roasted Chicken. ABV14.5%
Abundant fruits and baking spices give a generous, almost sweet appeal to this full-bodied, velvet-textured wine. Black cherries and blueberries blend with cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. A comfy, rich wine, it’s easy to sip. -Jim Gordon, Mar 2023
Reviewed by: The Wine Enthusiast – 91 pts
Leads with alluring loganberry and mulberry fruit notes, with a gently juicy feel throughout as hints of anise, black tea and fruitcake fill in on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 3,500 cases made. -James Molesworth, Web 2023
Reviewed by: Wine Spectator – 90 pts