Bogle’s longtime Director of Winegrowing to retire at end of 2025
Clarksburg, Calif. – After having a hand in 33 vintages at Bogle Family Wine Collection, the family-owned winery is celebrating the remarkable career of Chris Smith, who has announced his retirement from the wine industry.
Hired by winery founders, Chris and Patty Bogle in 1992, Smith took a chance at an upstart family business nestled in the heart of the Sacramento Delta, serving as one of Bogle’s early winemakers and production manager. During his interview, Chris famously said, “It’s the wrong name, the wrong county, the wrong bottle, the wrong label, the wrong varieties.” Patty Bogle’s response? “That’s it? Anything else?” Decades later, thanks in part to Smith’s contributions and the dedication of many alongside him, Bogle has achieved remarkable success in the industry to become one of the top 20 wine producers in the country.
“From implementing small-lot winemaking techniques to building strong partnerships with growers across California, Chris has played a pivotal role in shaping our company and the wines we produce,” said Warren Bogle, President and Vineyard Director. “His commitment to quality and collaboration has been an important part of what we’ve achieved together. We will always be grateful for his contribution to our family’s winery and wish him the best in his retirement.”
As Director of Winegrowing, Chris Smith’s influence was essential in elevating quality and championing sustainable practices across Bogle Vineyards’ operations. Through his role, Smith forged deep, lasting partnerships with growers spanning from San Luis Obispo to Monterey to Sonoma County. These relationships were critical in ensuring that more than 95% of all grapes brought into the winery each harvest strictly adhere to the rigorous standards of the California Rules Sustainable Winegrowing Program. This achievement underscores Bogle’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
“After 42 harvests in the industry, I’m grateful for all the memories I made with so many hardworking and innovative people across California,” said Chris Smith, Director of Winegrowing. “One may think all these years would run together but strangely most have some distinguishing factor that sets them apart. No matter the lack of something or an abundance of another, each year I’d often find myself thinking it’s going to work out. While I may be leaving the industry, I depart with a positive outlook and the belief that the industry has a bright future.”
During his time at Bogle, Smith has been instrumental in maintaining Bogle’s dedication to single-lot winemaking, even as the winery experienced substantial growth in case production. This quality-focused process involves harvesting each vineyard block individually, and making and aging each block’s wine separately. This meticulous, block-by-block approach has been the foundation for Bogle’s consistent, high-quality vintages. Today, nearly every Bogle varietal benefits from this tradition, spending time aging in premium American or French oak barrels.
Chris joined Bogle a few years after graduating from California State University, Fresno with a degree in enology, at the time, he was one of just a small handful of people working full-time at the Clarksburg winery. Two were the owners, Chris and Patty Bogle.
“It was the true definition of a small family-run operation, everyone had their hands in every part of the winery, and I’m so proud to have been with the Bogle family to see what the winery has become today,” added Smith.“I found out quickly this was a special place and today there is no doubt this is the right name, the right county, the right bottle, the right labels, and the varieties are some of the highest of quality you’ll find at our price point.”
Smith will wrap up a 33-year career at Bogle on December 30th.
About Bogle Family Wine Collection:
Bogle Family Wine Collection is headquartered in Clarksburg, California, and is run by the sixth generation of the Bogle family to live and work in the Sacramento Delta region. The Bogle family began growing winegrapes in 1968 and first bottled wine under the name Bogle Vineyards in the late 1970s. Bogle was honored as Wine Enthusiast’s 2019 American Winery of the Year and was presented with the Green Medal Leader Award in 2018 for its sustainability efforts in the winery and vineyards. The Bogle Family Wine Collection includes Bogle Family Vineyards, Juggernaut Wines, Phantom Wines, TWENTY ACRES by Bogle and Element[AL], which features ground-breaking aluminum wine bottle packaging.
