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Bogle Wines are elegant and sophisticated. They come from a family winery in California with a rich history. You can taste the dedication they put into their wines in each glass you pour. Visiting the winery and drinking the wines themselves are an absolute treat.
While there are a few complaints about the vineyards, most of the experience is top-notch. Plus, Bogle wines can be found at stores throughout the country, so even if you don’t have a chance to visit the winery itself, the wines are still widely distributed and highly accessible for everyone.
Table of Contents
About Bogle Winery
Bogle Winery is a family operation, which immediately makes it appeal to many people. Vineyards have a reputation for being small, quaint operations, and drinking wine is an intimate experience you typically share with your close friends and family.
So, the fact that this is a family winery makes it all the more enjoyable, and they definitely try to create a comfortable atmosphere that people want to visit. The winery has been in operation for fifty years, and they don’t show signs of stopping now.
It all started with one Bogle travelling from Tennessee to the California Delta in the 1870s to start a farm. They grew peaches, pears, and cherries. After the Great Depression, the third generation of the California Bogle family lost their land.
It wasn’t until a man from the fourth generation returned from serving in World War II that the first grapes were planted. In 1968, twenty acres were planted on the ranch and for ten years they grew grapes for other wineries.
The Bogle family finally released wine under their own label in 1978 and the original winery was built in 1979 and it is still on the grounds. Today, a sixth-generation of three Bogle siblings is running the winery with passion and dedication.
Bogle wines can be found all over the country. Their distribution network is wide and the winery has grown considerably since the early days. They also have a tasting room on-site, a lovely patio, an adults-only area, and they host beautiful private events on the grounds.
Types of Wine Bogle Offers
Bogle offers 12 different wines, which is quite a selection. Many small family wineries specialize in one or two wines, and maybe as many as four, but rarely twelve. You can thank a long family history of growing grapes for this wide variety.
The Bogle family grows grapes on their Home Ranch, but they also source grapes from other regions to ensure that they’re getting the best grapes for the variety of wine they’re making. They get their grapes from regions all over California including Mendocino, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, Oakley, Lodi, El Dorado County, and Amador County.
They combine these grapes with the 1800 acres of grapes they have on their estate. As a result of this care and dedication for the best, they produce complex wines with character and distinction.
Sauvignon Blanc
The Bogle Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and lively for a refreshing experience. Cold fermentation in steel tanks captures the true essence of this wine remarkably well.
This is a nifty white wine perfect for a wide range of food pairings. It is fresh and pleasing in its aromas and flavors of dried herbs, dried citrus, and mineral notes. Enjoy with grilled prawns.
Chardonnay
Bogle Chardonnay is barrel fermented and then aged for 9 months in American oak barrels. It’s a certified sustainable wine that combines the art and science of winemaking.
Green apple and pear aromas classically characterize this wine as Clarksburg, while honeycomb and vanilla heighten the first impression. The rich, round entry rolls into a viscous and silky mouthfeel, surrounded by Asian pears and Honeycrisp apples.
Rosé
Bogle Rosé has just the right amount of effervescence and looks lovely in the glass. It’s both crisp and refreshing so you can use it as a treat by itself or pair it with your favourite appetizer or dessert.
As a faint blush colors the glass, this Rosé is anything but bashful! Fragrant, floral notes bloom unrestrained on the nose, while entry leads to a plush, yet tart mouthfeel, laden with more summer strawberries and the juiciest ruby red grapefruits.
Pinot Noir
Bogle’s Pinot Noir is sourced from the best growing regions for an elegant and distinctive taste. It’s classic and full of character.
Heady scents of ripe summer strawberries make a lovely first impression, while hints of crushed violets and sweet dried herbs resonate on the nose. Refined and nuanced, the mouthfeel softens as layers of cherry fruit are wrapped in a comforting blanket of pipe tobacco and worn leather. Buy Wines Online has 400+ wines in stock with quick delivery nationwide, get up to 70% off on select wines!
Merlot
Bogle Merlot is the perfect wine to enjoy every day. It has a beautiful colour and is versatile enough to pair with any food.
Bogle Merlot 2018 is gorgeous in the glass with rich hues of garnet, the first impressions entice with aromas of sandalwood, vanilla and black cherry. This bogle wine has a mouthwatering entry that is full of red plums and cherries, while the middle palate of the wine softens with touches of cola and a smooth and silky mouthfeel.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The best Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon vintage is from 2016. The growing conditions were perfect with warm days and cool nights, making this wine layered and intriguing.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that takes its own sweet time, slowly lingering to ripen on the vine. Deeply extracted cherry and bright cassis arrest the senses, holding captive on both the nose and the palate.
Old Vine Zinfandel
Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel is made from 60-80-year-old vines for intense, concentrated flavour.
Head-trained, dry farmed vines planted by early pioneers of our state have stood the test of time. Producing small, concentrated clusters of grapes, these vines embody the true California spirit! It is these vines that Bogle winemakers seek to create our Old Vine Zinfandel.
Petite Syrah
Bogle Petite Syrah is also intense and concentrated. It was the first grape ever planted by Bogle’s founder and it’s their heritage varietal.
Purple. Inky. Rich. Jammy. Our Petite Sirah embodies all of these and more. From the touches of mocha and cocoa on the nose, to the juicy boysenberry and blueberry fruit on the palate, this wine overdelivers.
Essential Red
This Bogle blend combines Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, and Syrah to create an amazing wind that’s easy to drink.
This compelling blend of Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah has created a ripe and mouth filling wine. Richly textured fruit of dark berries and black plums is nuanced by the flavors of juniper and dried herbs.
Petite Syrah Port
This rich Bogle wine is ruby red and stays on the vibe for an extra month for a sweet Port flavour and intense character.
Smooth and inviting, the 2017 Bogle Petite Sirah Port unfolds with lush layers of boysenberry jam and black raspberries. Aromas of French vanilla and chocolate mocha captivate the nose, with a hint of pipe tobacco on the finish. Aged 31 months in neutral American oak barrels, this dessert wine needs no accompaniment.
Phantom Red Blend
This is tantalizing wine with spicy flavours and a lingering finish.
Enticing and enveloping, this mysterious apparition of ripe berry and relentless spice, returns to tantalize wine lovers. Emerging from the shadows with concentration and intensity, this wine will haunt you with every sip.
Phantom Chardonnay
This rich wine has spicy flavours with a warm apple pie flavour. It’s creamy and decadent.
Phantom Chardonnay entices with its rich layers. Green apple and pear transform into spicy flavors of freshly baked apple pie, while barrel fermentation imparts a creamy, luscious mouthfeel.
Winemaking and Sustainability
Bogle Vineyards prides themselves on what they call Artisan Winemaking. This is the process they use to draw out the most character and quality from their grapes to make the best wine. They set high standards for themselves so they can be sure to deliver more than you expect in every bottle.
For example, their Chardonnay is barrel fermented in oak barrels and stirred by hand monthly for the smoothest, most buttery texture. Each red wine is aged in a traditional oak barrel as well.
Every field of grapes on the property is vinted separately to preserve the unique character of the individual grape varieties. When combined with a rigorous grading system, you wind up with only the best grapes in your wine for the highest quality and consistency possible.
Most wineries of this size won’t take this much care or pay this much attention to the process because it costs too much money. However, Bogle has hired outside of the family for winemaking expertise because it’s simply that important to them.
The three winemakers work as part of the family to achieve these lofty goals, and they’re doing it well. They use modern technology in conjunction with age-old techniques to pour perfection from a bottle time after time.
With all of the effort they put into their winemaking, it’s no surprise that sustainability is also important to the Bogle family. They nurture the land by using socially equitable and economically viable practices for sustainability.
The winery is Certified Green by the California Rules for Sustainability and Bogle requires that all 91 of their growers offsite follow these strict guidelines, too. In 2018, 96 of the grapes they crushed were Certified Green.
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Visiting the Winery
Bogle Vineyards is located in Clarksburg, California. It’s a scenic town just outside of Sacramento. If you live close by or happen to be in the area, it’s a place worth visiting. They offer tastings in the tasting room and epic views of the fields and beyond.
The Home Ranch on-site is where everything started, so it’s full of history. Bring a blanket to spread out on the lawn for a picnic, bask in the lovely weather on the patio, or enjoy the adults-only area for some peace and quiet.
They love to accommodate large groups, as long as you call ahead. It’s the perfect retreat for friends or a team-building exercise with co-workers. You can also book a private event like a wedding or a party on the grounds.
The best thing about visiting the winery in person is that you’ll have access to an exclusive reserve selection that you can’t get anywhere else.
Wine Cost
Bogle wines are very affordable. They range from $6-$16 per bottle depending on the type and where you buy them. While there are some more expensive varieties in older vintages, the more recent vintages are plentiful and accessible to any budget.
The value you get from Bogle wines is excellent because they take so much care in making excellent wines and selling them at affordable prices. You can feel good about supporting a family operation and sustainable business practices.
What Others Are Saying
People in sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor rave about the scenery and the atmosphere at Bogle. The outdoor accommodations are perfect and it’s a fun place to spend a relaxing afternoon. People love the wines, too.
The winery is a popular destination, which speaks to how great it really is, but reviewers on these sites do warn that you shouldn’t go on the weekend if you don’t want to be crammed into a packed house.
Primary complaints are the Bogle Winery is not pet-friendly and less family-friendly than it used to be a few years ago. One or two people complain about the service received and the cost of the tasting.
The majority of the reviews from people visiting the winery are positive and flowing with praise for an excellent experience.Any complaints you may encounter can be mitigated before even visiting by taking a quick look at their website to see that they do not allow dogs on the property and children are not allowed in the tasting room.
It’s a family-friendly winery with plenty of room to explore the outdoors and enjoy the scenery together while tasking wine.
My Recommendations
I’m partial to Chardonnay and Merlot, so I was immediately drawn to these varieties at Bogle. But all of their wines are excellent and here are my top picks for you to try.
First of all, because I love Chardonnay, the Phantom Chardonnay was immediately intriguing. It’s mysterious and makes you want to learn more. However, upon looking at the Phantom Chardonnay on their website, I noticed a button that allowed you to experience the Chardonnay in augmented reality.
All you have to do is download the Augmented Reality Wine Labels app. Both of Bogle’s Phantom wines feature this experience when you scan the label.
Aside from the cool experience of the smoky bottle, the Phantom Chardonnay is the best Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Bogle calls it “hauntingly delicious” and they’re not wrong. It has rich layers of green apple and pear followed by spicy flavours and it tasted like an apple pie right out of the oven, sprinkled with cinnamon.
Creamy, luscious, and breathtaking.
Phantom Chardonnay entices with its rich layers. Green apple and pear transform into spicy flavors of freshly baked apple pie, while barrel fermentation imparts a creamy, luscious mouthfeel.
Merlot
Bogle Merlot 2018 is gorgeous in the glass with rich hues of garnet, the first impressions entice with aromas of sandalwood, vanilla and black cherry. This bogle wine has a mouthwatering entry that is full of red plums and cherries, while the middle palate of the wine softens with touches of cola and a smooth and silky mouthfeel.
I think Merlot is a great everyday wine. It’s easy to sip and not as overpowering or intimidating as a lot of other reds. The Bogle Merlot is aged in American oak barrels for 12 months and it’s highly versatile. It will go with any food pairing you put on the table.
While this isn’t my favourite Merlot ever, it’s one of my favourite Bogle wines because of how lovely the deep red colour looks in a glass.
Rosé
As a faint blush colors the glass, this Rosé is anything but bashful! Fragrant, floral notes bloom unrestrained on the nose, while entry leads to a plush, yet tart mouthfeel, laden with more summer strawberries and the juiciest ruby red grapefruits.
Bogle Rosé is crisp and refreshing. It has the perfect amount of effervescence and it’s enjoyable as a dessert wine by itself or paired with your favourite sweet treat. The bottle and the wine itself is lovely and sophisticated.
The Verdict
In my opinion, the best thing about Bogle wines is that you can buy them almost anywhere. Most liquor stores and grocery stores carry at least one variety of Bogle wine, if not more. Despite the winery’s size, they have a large distribution network, making it easy for everyone to enjoy.
While the visiting experience is not always up to par, if you go into it with the right expectations, you’re likely to have a wonderful time. They have an interesting family history, superior winemaking processes, and environmentally-friendly practices.
Every wine they sell is excellent, and if you do decide to visit, make sure you take part in a tasting that features exclusive reserve selections you can’t find anywhere else. It’s definitely worth a visit and a purchase at the store.
FAQ
Bogle has very good wine. They have a healthy mix of both white and red, so you can try a few to see what you like the best. They take their craft seriously, and you can taste that in the wines they sell.
Bogle is a great red wine brand. Other wine brands that make excellent reds are Beringer’s, Yellowtail, Barefoot, Gallo, Robert Mondavi, and Josh. There are too many great wine brands to list, but these are some favourites.
There are a lot of really great wine brands. In fact, they come in some of the most unconventional places. For a long time, people turned their noses up at boxed wine and it was thought to be inferior. Today, BotaBox makes some of the best wine you can buy.
Other great wine brands are Barefoot, Yellowtail, Robert Mondavi, Concha Torro, Changyu, and Sutter Home. These brands are awesome, and they don’t cost much either. They have great taste and great value.
Bogle wines are artisan wines made by a small family winery and their expert winemakers. You can taste the passion they pour into their craft, no matter which variety you choose.
They make 12 different wines – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Ros?, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Essential Red, Petite Sirah Port, Phantom Red Blend, and Phantom Chardonnay.
Yes! It’s a family-friendly winery and they do allow children. However, children are not allowed in the tasting room. The winery strives to create an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy, from families to individuals who want to enjoy a quiet afternoon at the winery.
With that in mind, they’ve restricted the tasting room to adults only. However, you can grab your tasting glass to go and head outside with the whole family to enjoy your wine and the beautiful property.
Unfortunately, they do not allow dogs at Bogle Vineyards. You can’t have them inside or outside at all. This upsets some, but they’re very upfront about their no pet policy on the website.
Absolutely! Whether you have kids who aren’t allowed in the tasting room or you simply prefer to enjoy your glass in the nice weather, you can pick up your glass and take it outside to drink. Or perhaps you’d like to picnic with your wine.
Of course! Bogle encourages people to stay awhile. Take your tasting glass outside and enjoy a picnic in the yard or simply come to tour the winery and spend the afternoon lounging in the grass.
Tastings at Bogle are $8 per person. You get to try eight different wines, including an exclusive reserve collection you can’t find anywhere else and learn a little bit more about them.
Some say this is a bit pricey for the amount of wine you get with your tasting, but that’s a matter of perspective that you’ll have to decide for yourself.
The Bogle Merlot is perfectly balanced between sweet and dry. It’s a versatile wine, aged for 12 months so it’s perfect for pairing with any food and any occasion. Finishing the wine in oak barrels gives this wine depth of character.
Yes, most Bogle wines are vegan. All of their whites are vegan as are the current vintage reds. However, some older vintage reds did use egg whites in the fining process, so do your research before you drink any if you are strictly vegan.
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