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J. Bookwalter Winery
RICHLAND
A close relationship with the land runs deep in the Bookwalter family—10
generations of the family have been involved in American agriculture. But
when it was Jerry Bookwalter's turn to cultivate the land, he brought the
family into its next phase: viticulture. After graduating from UC Davis in
1963, Jerry spent 13 years farming in California's San Joaquin Valley before
moving his family to Washington in 1976. Once there, Jerry began making
a name for Bookwalter in the burgeoning wine industry and managed the
three iconic vineyards Sagemoor, Bacchus, and Dionysus. Jerry would go on
to be vineyard manager at famed Conner Lee Vineyard and in 1983 began J.
Bookwalter Winery.
Today, Jerry's son John serves as president of the winery. He literally grew
up in the vineyards, and in 1997 joined the family winery and soon took over
winemaking responsibilities. World-renowned consulting winemakers Zelma
Long and Claude Gros were hired in 2000 and 2008 respectively, and the
winery received an image refresh to take it into the next century. Acclaimed
winemaker Caleb Foster took over most of the winemaking responsibilities in
2014, but it's not uncommon to see John in the cellar or visiting the tasting
room.
With the knowledge that great wine comes from exceptional grapes, J.
Bookwalter crafts wines from some of the oldest established vineyards in
Washington. Over half of the winery's grapes come from the Conner Lee
Vineyard, where the Bookwalters have enjoyed a relationship for nearly three
decades.
FACING PAGE: The talent behind our wines; Caleb Foster
Winemaker, John Bookwalter Owner.
TOP LEFT: The distinctive J. Bookwalter branding on French
oak barrels for red wine aging.
TOP RIGHT: Vineyard block placard in the Conner-Lee
Vineyard in Othello, Washington.
Photographs by Kim Fetrow
