Winemaker: Chris Christensen, Bodkin Wines
Location: Sebastopol, North California
Vineyards: the grapes are sourced from organic and sustainable vineyards in Northern California, such as Venturi Vineyards in Mendocino
Soils: alluvial, gravelly loam
Main varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Petite Sirah
Winemaking: minimal – spontaneous fermentation and aging on lees mostly in stainless steel, some acacia/oak vats involved. Minimal SO2 additions.
Lightly hazy, unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc with great notes of gooseberry and citrus, without being as overly grapefruity as New Zealand examples. Nice touches of green and tropical brightness, solid Sauvignon. Certified sustainable farming for the grapes, native yeast fermentation, no fining agents used and no additives has a small amount of sulfites.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Chris Christensen never thought winemaking was an actual career path for people who weren’t born into a winery or vineyard until he went on a wine tasting trip to Sonoma during his Junior year at Stanford. Although Christensen originally thought he’d just make a couple of harvests for fun before getting a “real” job in banking (which did shortly happen, for about a year), his true calling won out.
As an African American vintner, Chris also works to promote diversity and inclusion in the wine industry through speaking engagements, podcasts, and mentorship opportunities for aspiring vintners and winery owners. His work has earned him much kudos, including a place in the Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 industry shakers in 2020. Praised for both his activism and self-taught yet skilled winemaking, Christensen is indisputably one of the figures to watch in the American wine industry.