Winery of the Year

It all started with our grandfather taking a chance. The celebrated corn farmer wanted to plant a crop he didn’t have to replant each year. So Warren V. Bogle planted a field of potatoes. Thank goodness they all immediately died.

That failed potato crop in 1968 led Warren to try a few acres of wine grapes; just 10 acres of Chenin Blanc and 10 acres of Petite Sirah. They thrived. Today, 51 years later, the legacy continues, and we know our parents and grandparents could never have imagined where we are today.

They especially would never have imagined that we would be named Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s American Winery of the Year. Our family is truly honored to be the recipients of this award, which recognizes wineries that have made outstanding achievements impacting the industry.

“We share this award with our customers. Without Bogle wines on your dinner table, in your picnic basket, at your wedding, we would not be where we are today,” says Jody Bogle, 3^rd generation to run the winery along with her brothers Warren and Ryan. “This award is a tribute to our loyal fans out there everywhere.”

Family and employees will receive the award at the Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards held in San Francisco on January 27^th. Other wine industry stalwarts will be honored at the 20^th annual ceremony, with the lifetime achievement award this year going to Francis Ford Coppola.

“To be nominated and selected amidst so many amazing wineries in our industry is the ultimate honor,” says Warren Bogle. “Ryan, Jody, and I are incredibly grateful for the hard work of all our employees who day in and day out are creating wines of exceptional quality and remarkable character. Thanks to our crew who makes them, and thanks to you out there who love them.”

Corking Our Carbon Footprint

You pop that bottle of wine and it is likely that you didn’t give much thought to the cork now sitting on the table beside you. But, for us, we see that cork as an important part of our sustainability efforts here at Bogle.

While using cork to help preserve wine is nothing new (the earliest recorded use of the technique for wine storage dates back to 3rd century B.C.), we now know that cork is one of the most sustainable products in the world.

It all starts with the tree.

While found on nearly every continent, cork tree forests grown for commercial use are primarily located in Spain and Portugal. What makes this tree so unique is its ability to regenerate its outer shell, or bark, once it has been stripped.

Unlike most wood products where the entire tree is cut down, the cork tree is stripped only of its bark, preserving the trunk and branches. On average, a single tree can be harvested for its bark 18 times during its 200+ year lifespan.

And with that comes the ability to trap harmful CO2. A 100-acre plot of cork trees can capture roughly 14.7 tons of carbon, equal to the output of CO2 produced by someone driving 33,000 miles in their car. And because of the regeneration of the bark, it means harvested cork trees can store three to five times more CO2 than cork trees left unharvested.

The cork product is undoubtedly kind to the environment, but we also believe in working with companies who believe in sustainable methods during the production process. For this reason, we work with Porto Cork. From the fields to delivery, Porto Cork helps us reduce our waste and carbon footprint. The company’s factory in Porto, Portugal has become a model for efficiency in the industry. From punching the wine stoppers at the start of the process to capturing the leftover finite dust for energy fuel, every part of the bark harvested from the tree is put to use in some way.

While cork is not new, it is in the midst of a rebirth worldwide. Not only is it used for wine (some 12 billion stoppers are produced annually), cork is also being put to use as insulation, flooring, handbags, shoes, surfboards and even ping pong paddles to name a few. At Bogle Vineyards we are committed to finding the best sustainable options, and we believe cork plays a large role in preserving the environment for the next generations.

A Night at Center Court

Growing up in Clarksburg, it was a real treat for Warren, Ryan, and Jody to attend a Sacramento Kings game with their parents. Some thirty years later, the siblings are not only taking their kids to Kings games, but were lucky enough to be honored at center court after being named Wine Enthusiast’s American Winery of the Year.

Joining Warren, Jody, and Ryan were their families, who were presented with custom jerseys by Kings’ President of Business Operations, John Rinehart.

The Bogle family and Kings began a partnership in 2017 that has blossomed with the recent release of the fan-favorite, PROUD ROOTS. The red blend wine, made from grapes grown just 16 miles from downtown Sacramento, is available in the Golden 1 Center and in the Bogle Vineyards tasting room in Clarksburg.

The family and staff are grateful to the Kings for the recognition and look forward to attending many more games in the future.

Click here to watch the video of their special moment on the court! Go Kings!