Wine Innovation: Mini Bottles, Younger Drinkers, and an Industry in Transition: Meet Abby Bogle

Wine Talks with Paul K.

I keep hearing how the industry has to change, how Gen Z is aren't drinking wine, how the trade is slow to do anything....until you speak with Abby Bogle.

She is the type of enthusiasm and drive that is needed to move with the times. You have all heard me say that "time will tell" and that "all generations come around to the proper glass of wine."

What Abby is doing is making the proper glass of wine more accessible.

Be careful, she is a bit infectious.

Abby Bogle is not your average disruptor—she's bottling up tradition, cracking open innovation, and pouring new life into the wine industry one mini-bottle at a time. You'll discover how Abby moved from the heart of Texas wine country to leading a revolution in single-serve wine formats that could change how generations experience wine. This conversation uncorks why classic 750ml bottles are struggling to captivate younger drinkers and what it will take for wine to rival the convenience of seltzers and cocktails. Abby reveals the secrets behind fractionalization—how her company, Small Lot Bottles, transforms wines into TSA-friendly miniatures for education, gifting, and direct-to-consumer sales. You'll learn why canned wines fizzled, why PET plastic just doesn't cut it, and how glass keeps wine's integrity intact. The discussion dives into the technical challenges of bottling, shelf life, and the sophisticated use of Coravin's argon technology to preserve taste and tradition. Paul and Abby muse on the frustrations of shipping wine, navigating legal hurdles, and why Gen Z consumers might grab a can of hard seltzer before ever considering a can of wine. As the conversation flows, you'll gain a behind-the-scenes look at how wineries are adapting, how industry innovators like Paul Mabray are influencing change, and why experience matters more than size. You'll come away understanding how the wine world is responding to declining sales, changing demographics, and the demand for something different—plus, you'll hear about Texas' own pioneering vineyards and what it means for the future. If you're wondering where wine is headed, pull up a glass—this episode will give you more than just a taste of tomorrow's wine culture.

1. Small Lot Bottles Abby Bogle is owner and CEO of Small Lot Bottles. Their website is: https://smalllotbottles.com

2. Napa Valley Wine Academy https://napavalleywineacademy.com

3. Coravin https://coravin.com

4. Wine Foundry https://www.winefoundry.com

5. Oakville Grocery (Oakville Grocer) https://oakvillegrocery.com

6. Culinary Institute of America https://www.ciachef.edu

7. Quarter Masters of America's Wine education partner: https://www.mastersommeliers.org

8. Knox & Dobson https://knoxanddobson.com

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