SFChronicle.com | Sunday, March 19,2017 | M11 Above left: A tractor makes its way A TASTE OF through vineyards in Clarksburg, which enjoys a cool maritime climate. CLARKSBURG The Clarksburg AVA touches Yolo, Solano and Sacra- mento counties. Yolo Clarks- Above: Loyal Miner holds a glass at burg is home to just a hand- his Miner’s Leap Winery. Miner, an ful of stand-alone wineries, in attorney, opened the winery in 2013. addition to the Old Sugar Mill. While each celebrates this little piece of California terroir, these are a few of my Left: A sign hangs at Miner’s Leap favorites. Bonus point — no Winery, which makes single-varietal reservations required. wines and blends in small lots. JULIETTA WINERY Wine to try: 2015 Chenin Blanc ($24). Visiting Clarks- burg means visiting one of the few California regions where Chenin Blanc still thrives. Julietta Winery’s interpretation is a perfect balance of crisp acidity, sub- Am eri tle fruit aromas of apples and burg community. can mid-1800s, primarily as a Riv pears, and an almost creamy During my visit, Julie er seed-corn grower. It wasn’t poured a full lineup of her Sacramento until the 1960s that Warren mouthfeel that gives the current releases, which Bogle, looking for a crop he wine an enjoyable weight 80 80 rangefrom the crisp Clarks- wouldn’t need to sow each and body. 51221 Clarksburg Road, burg Chenin Blanc to the . year, planted his initial 20 50 VD Clarksburg; (916) 744-9090. D. hearty Napa Cabs. Howev- BL acres of vines — 10 acres of er, she seemed to take per- LV Chenin Blanc and 10 acres www.juliettawinery.com. ON Tasting room hours: 11 a.m.-6 sonal pride in the 2013 Bev- RS TB of Petite Sirah. OR p.m. Friday-Sunday. Fee: $5. erly’s Legacy, a melting-pot FFE “He was the first to plant JE blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, EP (grapes) in Clarksburg,” MINER’S LEAP FRE Tempranillo, Grenache, FLORIN RD. says granddaughter Jody Wine to try: 2014 Pinot Noir Mouvedre and Petite Sirah Sacramento River Bogle, director of public ($26). Miner will be proud to 99 named in honor of the relations for Bogle Vine- tell you that Clarksburg is a woman who got the Rus- yards. 84 successful producer of Pinot sells “into grapes.” Freeport Today, Bogle Vineyards Noir. The constant delta S. RIVER RD. farms more than 1,600 breeze keeps these thin- *** Old Sugar Mill Miner’s Leap Winery acres of grapes with estate- skinned grapes cool even in Loyal Miner is another owned vineyards through- the summer sun. Those most Clarksburg vintner with out California. Although familiar with Napa and Sono- winemaking in his blood. CLARKSBURG RD. Clarksburg this is by no means a small ma’s take on the varietal His great-grandfather, operation, it’s a family shouldn’t miss out on Clarks- Loyal Aubrey Miner, was a Julietta Winery business through and burg’s expression. 160 . bootleg winemaker in the D through. Grandchildren 5420 South River Road, V L Clarksburg;(916) 882-1000. 1920s. While majoring in Bogle Winery B Ryan, Jody and Warren N history at UC Davis, known I Bogle have their hands in www.minersleap.com. Tasting Hood L K room hours: Noon-6 p.m. for its viticulture and enol- N all aspects of the business, Slough 5 A Friday-Saturday. Fee: $5. ogy program, he took a R from tasting room hospi- Elk F wine appreciation class. “I tality to vineyard manage- BOGLE WINERY remember thinking I really ment. Courtland Wine to try: 2014 Reserve 03 like this. Ever since then, I’ve “We are farmers at Petite Sirah ($24). Being one wanted to make wine.” Now MILES heart,” says Bogle. “We feel of the first grapes planted by asuccessful partner in his very blessed to get to do the Bogles, Petite Sirah is own law firm, he finally Todd Trumbull /The Chronicle what we love every day.” considered Clarksburg’s made his dream a reality That sense of family “heritage” grape. The 2014 when he opened Miner’s extends to the visitor’s vintage, sourced from the Leap in 2013. indoor-outdoor tasting room. It’s experience. While I tasted a few current Bogles’ Sutter Ranch, is one This is truly a boutique operation. eclectically decorated with art from releases and futures (the estate was that will take your palate on Miner makes more than 13 single-vari- Cabo San Lucas (Miner’s home away having a barrel-sampling event that a journey, first bursting with etal wines along with several blends in from home) and “Hotel California” day), my host, “CC,” toured me through jammy dark fruits, then to- lots that never exceed 100 cases. Limited memorabilia (“Obviously, I like the the quaint tasting room. He pointed out ward a savory herbaceous production allows him to experiment Eagles,” he says). The tasting room patio photos of the Bogles dating back to mid-palate, finishing with with grapes from other wine regions overlooks an outdoor area that calls to those pre-grape-farming days and a plush tannins and lingering more frequently. This means a taste of mind a beach resort, complete with topographic map illustrating the hints of cacao. Miner’s Leap will be different on each palm trees, lounge chairs, and a small Clarksburg terroir. 37783 County Road 144, visit. stage for local bands, wedding ceremo- The Bogle pioneering spirit seems to Clarksburg; (916) 744-1092. The outdoor tasting room was a bit nies and, once a month, church services. endure to this day with the few family- www.boglewinery.com. Hours: chilly for Miner and me during my The newest addition is an even larger run wineries recently planting their 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, windy winter visit. Luckily, he stocks a event space just a few yards from the roots in Clarksburg soil. Though small 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and box with wool blankets for just such an tasting room, able to accommodate up to and virtually unrecognized by the dom- Sunday. Free. occasion. Though the red wines also 500 guests — perfect for the summer inantwine regions, Clarksburg’s vint- seemed to be affected by the cold atmo- concert series Miner has in the works. ners see the potential of their surround- OLD SUGAR MILL sphere (the Zinfandel and Petit Verdot This summer, Miner’s Leap will also ings. Their hard work in the vineyards Wines to try: Fourteen win- refused to open up), his Lodi Albariño plant its first estate vineyard plantings, and hospitality in the tasting room truly eries have tasting rooms in was perfectly enjoyable — the proper which will include Chenin Blanc and make Clarksburg a worthwhile wine- the 1935 beet processing balance of crisp acidity, a creamy Petite Sirah. tasting travel destination. facility. mouthfeel and beautiful floral aromat- 35265 Willow Ave., Clarks- ics. *** Stacy Briscoe is editor and producer of The burg, (916) 744-1615, Miner loves to call in and entertain The Bogle family — the major wine- San Francisco Chronicle’s forthcoming www.oldsugarmill.com. the crowd. The century-old barn that maker in town — has been farming this wine web site, The Press. Email: travel@ Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily sits on the property now houses the slice of Yo lo County since the sfchronicle.com (tasting room hours vary)..