Boeger Winery, El Dorado Wine Country

It was a sunny spring day when we dropped by Boeger Winery in Camino. What a great opportunity it was for Spaswinefood to view spring time grapes and do a wine tasting at Boeger. This El Dorado Wine Country winery is located in the Sierra Foothills, an hour from South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento and only two hours from San Francisco and Reno. El Dorado County is one of the oldest wine making areas in California. When gold was discovered in 1848 the California Gold Rush began. The Gold Rush resulted in people flocking to the area and the growth of wine making. By 1870 the area was the largest wine making region in the state, next to Los Angeles and the Sonoma areas. Later, with a decline in economic conditions and population wine making also declined. Prohibition resulted in wine making almost totally disappearing in the county.

Spring Time at Boeger Winery © Spaswinefood

Spring Time Grapes at Boeger Winery © Spaswinefood

It was not until the late 1960's that wine making started to return in El Dorado County. The El Dorado American Viticultural Area (AVA) was later established in 1983. El Dorado Visitors Authority notes there are over 60 wineries in El Dorado County. You will find numerous grape varieties grown throughout El Dorado Wine Country. El Dorado Wine Country with its spectacular scenery, historic towns and friendly tasting rooms offers the perfect wine country experience. Boeger Winery is an important part of El Dorado Wine Country's history.

History of Boeger Winery 

Exploring History at Boeger Winery © Spaswinefood

Today's Boeger Winery began shortly after the Boeger's purchased the property in 1972. The vineyard was once the site of 1850's Fossati-Lambardo family homestead. During Prohibition wine production by the Fossati-Lambardo family was reduced to sacramental wine for the local church and for their own use. The land was converted to a pear orchard. It produced high quality pears until disease attacked the pear orchards in the region. Then in 1972 Boeger's bought the historic property (see video) and converted it back to vineyards.

Boeger Winery © Spaswinefood

Boeger Wines
Boeger Winery is known for its innovation in wine making. The winery is especially known for working with new and uncommon grape varieties. The Boegers first introduced Merlot into California. Today the winery it known for its innovative blending of the 29 grape varieties grown on the estate. It comes as no surprise that this winery produces award winning wines.

Boeger Winery Tasting Room © Spaswinefood

While at Boeger's winery I tasted from their complimentary tasting of white and red wines.

Boeger Winery © Spaswinefood

In addition, to the complimentary tasting I tasted from their reserve wine tasting. Even though there is a small fee to taste their reserve wines it well worth it. During my tasting room visit I tasted the following wines:

White Wines
Boeger Chardonnay 2012
Boeger Sauvignon Blanc, El Dorado 2012

Boeger Winery Sauvignon Blanc, El Dorado 2012 © Spaswinefood

Red Wines
Boeger Tempranillo 2010
Boeger Syrah 2009
Boeger Cabernet Franc 2011
Boeger Estate Zinfandel 2010
Boeger Walker Zinfandel 2009
Boeger Barbera 2010

Boeger Winery Barbera, El Dorado 2010 © Spaswinefood

I particularly like an article by Mike Dunne who provides rich details on Boeger's history and success with Barbera.

Boeger Petite Sirah 2009

Boeger Winery Petite Sirah, El Dorado 2009 © Spaswinefood

Reserve Wines
Boeger Pinot Noir 2010 won best of class at Sierra Foothills/State Fair
Boeger Sangiovese 2010

Boeger Winery Sangiovese Reserve, El Dorado 2010 © Spaswinefood

Boeger Vineyard Select Barbera 2009

Boeger Winery Vineyard Select Barbera, El Dorado 2009 © Spaswinefood

Boeger Miglore 2009, an Italian style blend of Refosco, Aglianico and Carignane). It won a gold at the State Fair.
Boeger Milagro 2009, a Rioja style blend of Graciano, Carignane and Cabernet Sauvignon)

Boeger Winery Milagro Reserve 2009 © Spaswinefood

Boeger Meritage 2008, a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot.

Boeger Winery Meritage Reserve, El Dorado 2008 © Spaswinefood

Boeger Majeure 2008, a Rhone style blend of Syrah, Granche, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Boeger Winery Majeure Reserve 2008 © Spaswinefood

Spaswinefood discovered an number of online articles on Boeger Winery. Kent Campbell and Touring and Tasting describes wine making history at Boeger Winery. See Publishing Syndicate's Interview with fourth generation wine maker, Justin Boeger. For some of Boeger's recent awards see San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition results for 2012 and 2013.  For wine reviews see Snooth and Yvonne Kochanoski, American Winery Guide. You can also check winery reviews at Tripadvisor and Yelp.

I invite you to join me in my travels in beautiful El Dorado Wine Country, California and elsewhere in search of the best in the Sierra Foothills. You will have lots of fun exploring Sierra Foothills wineries, which are found in the counties of Amador, Calaveras and El Dorado. Sierra Foothills American Viticultural Area. I invite you to join me in my travels in beautiful El Dorado Wine Country, California and elsewhere in search for the best in Spaswinefood, or visit my travel column at the Examiner. 

Sharon

May 2013

El Dorado Wine Country, California

© Spaswinefood

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