Joe Becerra, Author at Wine Country Getaways

J Lohr in Paso Robles

October 7, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

National Geographic and the Somm Journal are teaming up to present a virtual exploration of wineries worldwide. The series is “Unique Wine Regions of the World.” In the most recent virtual experience, J Lohr Vineyards & Wines represented the wine region of Paso Robles.

Paso Robles Wine Country

Paso Robles is one of our favorite wine regions to visit and explore. Paso Robles has eleven AVAs. The soil, terrain, and climate are suited for several different varieties of grapes. There are 200 plus wineries in the area, ranging from small and cozy to elaborate and luxurious hospitality centers.

Paso Robles and J Lohr — City Park in downtown Paso Robles

Paso Robles wine history began in the early 1970s. For many years, Zinfandel was the most notable wine, then came Cabernet Sauvignon. Now it is Rhone-style wines that are taking center stage in both white and red wines. Whatever your preference is in wines, you are likely to find it in Paso Robles.

The area is more relaxed than the Napa Valley. Things move at a slower pace. For us, the backroads are varied and beautiful. Around each bend, one finds something exciting to see.

The downtown area of Paso Robles is booming, even amid the COVID Pandemic. Restaurants and lodging establishments seem to be very busy with patrons. In short, there is much to explore for wine country lovers in this region.

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

J Lohr began in 1976, and its founder Jerry Lohr inspires the winery to produce quality wines from its 3000 acres of vines. Wine production is 1.5 million cases. In supermarkets across the U.S., we are likely to find the J Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon and the J Lohr Monterey Pinot Noir, among others. These wines are excellent values, and usually the price is around $15.

At the top of the line, and, in limited production, is the J Lohr single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, “Signature.” The grapes for this wine come from the Beck Vineyard. The elevation there is 1700 feet, and it has calcareous soils. The vineyard is in the path of the afternoon cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean. All of this adds up to a delicious and world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Visiting J. Lohr and other Paso Robles wineries

The COVID Pandemic is affecting the way many Paso Robles wineries are having their wine tastings. Currently, the J Lohr winery is not accepting visitors. We hope the wine scene returns to normal in 2021.

In the meantime, many wineries are doing tastings in their outside areas. Most wineries require reservations. It is best to plan your trip to Paso Robles by checking with individual winery websites. Find out what their tasting room policy is before heading out.

Additional Paso Robles resources

Paso Robles wine country — Paso Robles Wine Map

Exciting Virtual Wine Country Encounters

September 3, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Each year we plan on taking a trip to a far off wine country or to a wine country we have not visited. With the Pandemic and other issues, travel afar is not possible. But we can see the world-famous wine country in a virtual experience. Here are some exciting virtual wine events to mark on your calendar.

virtual wine with National Geographic — Wine Country Around the Globe

Wine Country with National Geographic

The SOMM Journal, in partnership with National Geographic and SommCon are inviting consumers and wine professionals to a free one-of-a-kind wine tasting Webinar series called Geographic Digest.

Winemakers from all parts of the world will participate in a virtual seminar and wine tasting event. Through the company, BottleTribe, participants will be able to purchase some of the wines in advance of the Webinar.

The first webinar, “UNIQUE REGIONS OF THE WORLD,” will be on September 24, 2020: Wine, and thankfully great wine, is made today around the world. Eight winemakers from different wine countries around the world will be on hand to showcase wines unique to a particular landscape, soil, climate, and other factors. Although we cannot travel until a vaccine arrives, this can help us get through the doldrums of staying sheltered.

Juliette Monmousseau, CEO of Bouvet-Ladubay in the fertile Loire Valley will introduce a bottle fermented sparkler made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
From Germany’s Rheingau to a historic castle where only Riesling has been cultivated for over 300 years, Estate Manager/Managing Director, Stefan Doktor of Schloss Johannisberg will share a classic dry Riesling.
From the windswept sandy soils of Sardinia’s southern coast, we’ll taste the unique Carignano with Winemaking Consultant, Giorgio Marone of Agricola Punica.
From Napa Valley, Director of Winemaking, Ralf Holdenried, will introduce Black Stallion Estate Winery.
From Paso Robles, Director of Winemaking for J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Steve Peck will share their Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.
Down the cool Pacific to Chile’s Cachapoal Valley we’ll taste a blend of five red French varieties grown in the foothills of the Andes, with Chief Winemaker, Cristian Vallejo of VIK Winery.
In Australia’s McLarenvale, Winemaker & Joint Managing Director, Richard Angove, Angove Family Winemakers, will dive into the deep purple hues of a single vineyard Shiraz.
And from Europe’s Atlantic coast, CEO Jorge Rosas of Ramos Pinto will take participants to the steep slopes of the Douro with a thoroughly unexpected flavor from one of Porto’s most historic producers.

Take the opportunity and pre-register now.

Duckhorn’s Cheese and Wine Event

Wine and Cheese Event on September 25 – 4 to 6 pm.

Enjoy three Point Reyes cheese delights matched with wines from the Migration, Goldeneye, and Calera labels. This is a virtual event which includes the cheese and wines sent to your home. The event host is Jill Giacomini Basch, a co-owner of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. and the winemakers. The date is September 25, 4 to 6 pm. Complete details and Ticket Purchase information.

September is California Wine Month

how wine is made — Harvested grapes ready for the stainless steel fermenting tanks

There are many exciting virtual events taking place across all of California wine country. September is California Wine Month, with the grape harvest taking place all month long. Check the Virtual Event Calendar and see which ones meet your wine fancy. Take advantage of these one-of-a-kind special tastings. See California Wines

VinoPal is Here

July 21, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Yes, the wine country is open. Tasting is outdoors and mostly by reservation. Visitors are back, but in fewer numbers. The fact is that small artisan wineries are hurting. The smaller wineries do not have the lavish outdoor tasting areas or big PR companies to promote their brand and bring in tourism.

The boutique wineries do not make a lot of wine and, because of this factor, there are no channels for distribution. They rely on tourists. They count on getting their wines into restaurants. How many boutique wineries will be able to survive by the time the Pandemic is over?

In Sonoma wine country, an idea grew to help the artisan wine producers. It is Vinopal. Vinopal and a select number of small wineries will partner to offer wine sales at distributor prices. Vinopal will enable these wineries to sell directly to the consumer and not to a middle-man. It is a Win-Win for both the winery and the wine consumer.

The consumer who joins Vinopal will be able to see a wine for sale each day. For example, the first wine on the docket is Red Car Sonoma Chardonnay. It has a 91-Point rating and lists for $38. The price on VinoPal is $26. Purchase four-to-six bottles, and shipping is free.

The consumer gets a great wine deal, and the winery keeps itself in business. WineCountryGetaways is working with Vinopal as an Affiliate. When a reader registers at Vinopal by clicking on the link below and later buys wine, we get a small commission. It will help us defray Web hosting and other business fees. You will be helping out the small wineries. Don’t let them be gobbled up by the big wine companies.

Join now: Link to Vinopal and today’s wine bargain.

Legend of Stag’s Leap

June 1, 2020 by Joe Becerra 2 Comments

Stag’s Leap – the craggy portion of the mountain

Legend of Stag’s Leap and the land of Cabernet Sauvignon

Stag’s Leap legend tells the tale that the Native Wappo would marvel at a stag that was able to make incredible leaps over the jagged rock formations pictured above. Specifically, the Wappo would witness the stag leaping over the u-shaped rock formation in the center of our photo above.

The stag’s leap was even more impressive when a full moon was situated just above the mountain—the stag’s silhouette against the moon and its impressive jump filtered through the land for many years. Today, the legend lives on in the names of two wineries and the AVA of Stag’s Leap established in 1989. The two wineries are Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Stag’s Leap Winery.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is the more famous and well known because of its historic Cabernet victory in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. Warren Winiarski is one of Napa Valley’s legendary winemakers. His 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon was rated the top wine at the Judgement of Paris, besting a list that included Grand Cru Bordeaux wines. The results shocked the wine world and brought fame and fortune to the Napa Valley.

In 2007, Warren sold his winery to the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in the state of Washington and the Antinori Family of Italy. In 2014, Stag’s Leap Cellars opened a beautiful visitor center and tasting room facing the mountains and the vineyards below it. It is a dramatic and inspiring view of one of nature’s great works of art. The Stag’s Leap Cellars tasting room is open daily from 10 to 4:30. Check the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Website for tasting and touring choices.

Greeter at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — The Greeter at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Stags Leap Winery has an origin date of 1893. The winery is now part of the Treasury Wine Estates. The Stags Leap Winery Website.

Wineries in Stags Leap District AVA

Take a ride along the Silverado Trail, where it begins at Trancas Street and head to the north. The first AVA is Oak Knoll. Oak Knoll gives way to the Stags Leap District AVA. The area is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon. The names of Shafer Vineyards, Pine Ridge, Clos du Val, and Odette Estate are all synonymous with high-quality AVA. See all the wineries in the Stags Leap District AVA.

Additional Napa Valley resources

How One Winery Mastered Take-Out, Made-At-Home & Pick-Up Wine Pairing in the Era of COVID-19

May 23, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Lakewood Vineyards

COVID-19 has affected virtually all industries, with the service and hospitality sectors taking an exceptional hit. With restaurants, bars, and pubs all being closed to the public for indoor dining, pick-up, take-out, and delivery services have been expanding and adapting at a rapid pace to keep these establishments from closing their doors for good. Like their food-based counterparts, breweries and wineries have also been impacted by “Safer at Home” policies, fighting hard to stay operational. Most are trying their best to offer ship-to-home services in lieu of tastings and tours, but will these efforts alone be enough?

Certain wineries don’t think so, and are finding creative ways to appeal to a larger audience and keep their operations afloat. Lakewood Vineyards, an award-winning winery located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, decided to use this unprecedented opportunity to engage with their potential customers in a much more personal way. While they can only have 10 folks in their establishment at a time, they can virtually visit the homes of hundreds of their loyal fans and followers. The founding family and winery staff have taken to social media with not one, but two different Facebook video series focused on Lakewood wine and food pairings. These efforts, partnered with their limited in-person services, have allowed them to offer wine pairing advice for take-out fare, made-at-home meals, and pick-up grub.

Wine Pairing for Take-Out

Much like many of us who are ordering in food from apps, the Take-Out Pairings series was created to support local restaurants and offer up suggestions for exceptional wine pairing for each category of takeout. Each video features different members of the Lakewood team and focuses on a new local establishment. So far, they have covered pub favorites, BBQ, vegetarian meals, and brunch! While their recommendations are tailored to their vintages, viewers could choose to substitute any winery’s bottle of the same variety.

Wine Pairing for Made-At-Home

On the off chance that you’re not looking to pair delicious wines with local eats, then Cook + Cork may be more your style. In this weekly, Chopped-style cooking show, Lakewood staff members face-off to create a unique meal to pair with a specific Lakewood wine, using required ingredients that come from local businesses. Each chef is competing for the coveted Golden Spoon, and winners are decided via popular vote after each episode airs. It has proven to be a fun, feel-good way to learn about different wines from various members of the staff, and learn a thing or two about what foods you could cook up at home to pair Lakewood wines with. Plus, we love that it is supporting other area businesses that have been hit by COVID.

Wine Pairing for Pick-Up

Some businesses still allow in-store pick-up of food and beverage, and Lakewood Vineyards falls under that category. If you’re local to the area, they’re happy to welcome you to their retail shop. While visitors can’t stay for a tasting or guided tour, they are invited to pick up a to-go lunch from a local establishment and then swing by the retail room to grab a bottle of wine personally recommended by a Lakewood steward. With New York planning phased reopening, visitors will soon be able to enjoy their food and drinks on the Lakewood grounds, too. The extensive trails and quaint gazebo will make for the perfect spot for a secluded picnic that both supports local businesses and complies with ongoing social distancing requirements.

Wine lovers don’t have to forgo delicious wine pairings just because they’re at home on lockdown. Thanks to Lakewood Vineyard’s efforts, wine enthusiasts everywhere can get virtual advice on how to pair wine with take-out classics and how to match home-made meals with their favorite varietals. Local customers even get on-the-spot advice on which bottle to enjoy with their take-out.

Are you a winery looking to keep your sales booming despite COVID-19? Take a page from Lakewood Vineyards’ book and start creating virtual content that’s informative, fun, and timely! This is a unique opportunity to meet the ever-changing needs of winery audiences everywhere. How will you do it?

Article by Matt Salvadore representing Lakewood Vineyards

Underwater wine aging

May 18, 2020 by Joe Becerra 2 Comments

Yes, that’s correct. One winery is experimenting with aging wine underwater. It sounds like a crazy idea, but there is a reason behind the madness.

Wapisa experiments

The impetus goes back to the year 2010. What happened that year was the discovery of cases of 170-year-old Champagne bottles underwater. They were from the ruins of a shipwreck in the Baltic sea, heading to the wine cave of Catherine II of Russia.

Once the bottles were recovered, the Champagne was very drinkable to the amazement of wine experts around the world. Could it be that the saltwater sea is a perfect environment for aging wine?

Ten years later, we turn to the winery of Wapisa. Wapisa is an Argentine winery in Patagonia in the region of Rio Negro. The winery is 25 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. One thousand, five hundred bottles of a Wapisa red blend wine are aging at two different depths in the Atlantic Ocean. One set is at 6 meters and the other is at 15 meters. The experiment will last seven months. Then the taste and comparison will begin with the cellar-aging wine and the ocean-aging wine. The hypothesis is that one month of aging in the sea equals one year of aging in a wine cellar.

The experimental wine is a 2017 red blend consisting of 50% Malbec, 30% Cabernet, and 20% Merlot. Patricia Ortiz is the owner of the Wapisa winery, along with the Tapiz and Zolo wineries in Mendoza. Several years ago we visited and toured the Tapiz Winery. It is a first-class organization with the latest equipment and great winemakers, including consulting winemaker Claude Berrouet, once the winemaker at the famous Chateau Pétrus in Bordeaux.

We love the Tapiz and Zolo wines. If you see them in wine shops, give them a try. They are terrific value wines. I particularly enjoy the Tapiz “Alta Collection” Malbec for $15. A year ago, I found the 2016 Wapisa Malbec at a Costco store for $14.99. The wine was fantastic and I posted a review on our sister Website, GoodCheapVino.com.

I expect to keep tabs on the experiment, and maybe even taste the wine in the future. I am looking forward to finding out if the underwater aging of wine is the new thing. If it works, perhaps the oceans of the world will be filled with wine bottles!

Video of the Wapisa Red Blend underwater

Argentine Wine Country

Tasting Rooms are Planning How to Reopen

May 11, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Just maybe the wine country will open later this year. Wineries and tasting rooms are making plans for the day they will be allowed to open their doors to tourists and wine country fans. What will tasting rooms look like when that occurs?

tasting rooms have plans for when open — Outdoor seating is ideal for social distancing

The Wine Institute and the Napa Valley Vintners are working on a set of protocols to open tasting rooms. In this scenario, your trip to the tasting room could look like this.

The tasting room of the future?

You will make an appointment online with one or more wineries. You will sign a waiver and consent form.

There will be a list of tasting options for your perusal. Or, you might like to order a glass of wine or a bottle of wine and enjoy the vineyard views. You will prepay for your visit.

There will also be a list of precautions the winery is taking for sanitizing the tasting room, tables, glasses, and the like. You’ll need to wear a mask, except while sipping wine.

When you arrive at the winery, there will be a drive-through area. The winery staff will check your reservation, tell you where to park, and assign you to a table. They may also take your temperature and ask about your state of health.

Your glass and/or bottle of wine will be waiting for you, chilled and ready to taste. The server will be the appropriate distance away and walk you through the tastings. If there is food included, it will likely be crackers or breadsticks in wrapped packages. I wonder if we’ll be able to bring our own picnic lunch to enjoy outdoors.

It is likely that wineries will be more aggressive in pushing their wine clubs. The wine club is important because it is direct to consumer and provides the most profit for the winery.

If you order wine for purchase, it will be a paperless transaction.

Other considerations

Will this be a day trip, and how many tasting rooms will travelers visit in an outing? If it is an overnight trip, what are the considerations for lodging and dining?

It is more likely that the tasting room experience will be more for the serious wine drinkers. The typical fun and socializing while tasting wine will be lost.

Will the tasting room experience under this situation be enjoyable enough for return visits to wine country?

We look forward to the day when we will be able to visit tasting rooms. The big question is, when that happens, will people come to the wine country and be comfortable in the tasting room? That is an unknown, and there are many factors controlling the opening of tasting rooms and restaurants. Will there be fewer cases of Coronavirus, or will there be another spike in the Fall?

All factors point to a long period of time before a tasting room will look like it did pre Coronavirus.

Amsterdam restaurant is using mini-greenhouses to protect customers. Could they be used in our tasting rooms and restaurants?

Sonoma’s Wine Road

I think this is a very entertaining video in Sonoma that is part of the Wine Road association. Watch it and support these wineries.

Napa Valley Olive Oil Company – since 1931

May 2, 2020 by Joe Becerra 5 Comments

Wine Country traveling is still not an option. Only time will tell when we can get back to traveling to the Napa Valley. Put this idea on your Napa Valley future travel plans.

Napa Valley Olive Oil Company

From the name, one would suspect the Napa Valley Olive Oil Company would be one of the several high-end boutique style shops in St. Helena. Napa Valley Olive Oil Company is anything but Napa Valley chic. The Napa Valley Olive Oil Company operates out of a late 1800 wood barn structure. Inside it is as casual as can be. Most customers seem to be regulars who come and go with a couple of jugs of olive oil.

I purchased a half-gallon of extra virgin olive oil for $27.50. I sampled it with a cube of French bread, and the olive oil is the real deal. This olive oil is a terrific bargain for those who cook with olive oil. A couple of weeks before, I purchased a 375ml bottle of olive oil at a high-end winery for $30. Ouch! That one I will save for particular foods and cooking.

The Napa Valley Olive Oil was started in 1931 by Gugliermo Guidi. The Particelli and Lucchesi family now run the company. The store is a throwback to the golden era of the Napa Valley. That is the way the family wants to run the operation. Besides their essential extra virgin olive, they offer 20 different infused olive oils and 20 types of balsamic vinegar. Cheese, pasta, salami, and loaves of bread are available. We love this store!

The company also has a store in the town of Napa. That store is more attractive inside and out. The St. Helena store is at 835 Charter Oak Ave. Oh, one more thing, they do not take VISA or any other charge cards, it is cash or check, only just like the old days.

Napa Valley Olive Oil – Video

Wine Country News

Wines of Rugged Rockpile

April 28, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Rugged Rockpile – where grapes struggle, but thrive

Rugged Rockpile – Above Lake Sonoma

Rockpile is a small wine appellation (AVA) above Lake Sonoma in the Dry Creek Valley. By the looks of it, you would hardly expect any vines to grow here. Yet, in Rockpile the vines are stressed to the max and produce big, full-flavored and complex wines. One can drive through the Rockpile area, but there are no wineries to visit. If you are a wine country geek, it is worth the drive through the area. There are only eight growers in Rockpile.

How to get to Rockpile

image of Rockpile — These Rockpile vineyards belong to the Mauritson Family – about 40 acres of vines

Rockpile AVA features

Rockpile received its AVA status in 2002. What sets this small AVA apart as a wine region is its elevation, climate, steep terrain, and soil. All the vines are from 800 feet to 2000 feet elevation. During the summer months, the Pacific Ocean brings in a daily dose of fog far inland, but it rarely tops the 800-foot elevation. During the growing season, Rockpile enjoys sunshine from morning to dusk.

The Pacific Ocean provides windy conditions in the afternoon to Rockpile. This cools the vines. The soil is mostly rocky and the vines grow on steep terrains. The wind factor and the soil factors stress the vines. This reduces the crop yields and intensifies the flavors in the small number of grape clusters.

Rockpile Wines

Most of the vineyards in Rockpile are Zinfandel grapes. Other red grapes in Rockpile vineyards include Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot. Winemaker Clay Mauritson, of Rockpile Vineyards and Mauritson Vinyards, makes a Port from a small acreage of grapes that are traditional Porto grapes: 25% Tinto Cao, 25% Tinta Madeira, 25% Touriga Nacional, 25% Sousão.

Because the Mauritson Family owns the most Rockpile vines, it produces the most cases of Rockpile wines. Other well-known wineries producing Rockpile wines are Carol Shelton, J.C. Cellars, Rosenblum, Rock Wall Wines, and Segheseo. These producers contract with Rockpile growers. The grape production is small; therefore, the Rockpile wines are in limited amounts.

Once the wine country is again open to travelers, visit one of these wineries to taste the unique style of Rockpile. Mauritson is on Dry Creek Valley Road and has an excellent tasting room and staff.

Rockpile wines are also available at fine wine shops. Use Wine-Search.com and the Keyword “Rockpile” to search for these wines selling near you. Here is a full list of wineries producing Rockpile wines.

rugged rockpile — Rockpile Zinfandel from produces Mauritson and Rosenblum

The Under-Appreciated Lodi Wine Country

April 24, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Lodi does not get the respect it deserves, especially when compared to the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Willamette Valley, Columbia Valley, and others. Lodi is the underdog, the underappreciated wine region of the world.

Do you know that the Lodi Wine Region grows more grape varieties than any other wine region in the United States? Do you know that Lodi has the most vineyard acreage of any wine region in the United States.?

We know wine country travel is out for the foreseeable future, but you can always buy Lodi wine. Let’s give Lodi a little respect and see what makes this wine region a special place.

Lodi wine country getaway — Why Lodi is an important wine region

The Lowdown on Lodi Wine Country

Old Vine Zinfandel

Lodi is famous for old vine Zinfandel. There are several vineyards in Lodi that are well over 100 years old. Many Zinfandel wines from Lodi are made big, bold and jammy. Those are popular in supermarkets and make a winery economically healthy. But there is another side to Zinfandel in Lodi. This Zin is made in a restrained food-friendly style and one which reflects the “place” of Lodi. Most impressive are the wineries that are participating in the Lodi Native Project. These six wineries are making exemplary Zinfandel wines. These Zins are vinted with native yeast, old barrel treatment, and little interference by the winemaker. It is truly a remarkable project and one that should be a model for other wine regions. See which wineries are making great Zinfandel wine in Lodi and purchase their wines.

Spanish Grape Varietals

Could Zinfandel be taking a backseat to Spanish grapes in Lodi? Could Albariño, Garnacha Blanca, Verdejo, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, and other Spanish grapes become Lodi’s favorites? Marcus Bokisch of Bokisch Vineyards is the vintner most responsible for establishing these grapes in Lodi. Marcus grows these Spanish varieties for his wines and other wineries in Lodi. Marcus had spent many years in Spain and moved to Lodi because he felt confident that Spanish grapes could flourish there. We’ve tasted several of the Bokisch Spanish wines, and they are excellent and very nicely priced. See more about Bokisch Vineyards.

Southern Rhone Grape Varietals

Or could it be that Rhone wines become the best of Lodi? Acquiesce Winery leads the way in white Rhone wines. No reds at Acquiesce, just delicious Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Marsanne. Onesta is another winery to watch for Rhones, and they make the red wine, Cinsault. Have you ever heard of it? Borra Vineyards is another winery in Lodi producing delectable Rhones.

Onesta Rosé of Cinsaut – Cinsaut is a Rhone grape

German Grape Varieties

Mokelumne Glen Vineyards in Lodi is where German grape varieties flourish. I was dumbfounded to learn that this vineyard, just along the Mokelumne River, grows 40 plus varieties of white and red German and Austrian grapes. Have you heard of Kerner, Kanzler, Morio Muscat, or Affenthler Balu? The owners are Bob and Mary Lou Koth. They started their vineyard in 1970. They did make wine at one point, but because their grapes were in such demand, why make wine? For many of their grapes, a lineup of winemakers await, hoping to buy some each year. Most distinguished among the winemakers buying grapes from Mokelumne Glen Vineyards is David Ramey of Ramey Wines. David Ramey has a second label, Sidebar. Wow, what a tantalizing dry and floral Kerner white wine he makes from Mokelumne Glen. Markus Niggli of Marcus Wine Company and Borra Vineyards is the most notable of Lodi winemakers utilizing grapes from Mokelumne Glen Vineyards.

lodi grows German grapes — David Ramey’s Sidebar label – Kerner variety

Lodi Rules Project

Lodi Rules is all about sustainable farming. Sustainable farming is a loosely- used term and seems to mean something different in every farming community. Lodi has taken its rules of sustainable farming to a rigorous level. This is a list of 75 plus practices that will sustain the vineyard, the farm, the workers, and the entire health of the ecosystem. To be certified, a vineyard must receive verification by a third-party review. The Lodi rules just might be the most rigorous of any wine region. I love buying and drinking wine that is produced by this type of commitment. Details Lodi Rules.

Wine Region of the Year

In 2015, Lodi wine country was recognized by the Wine Enthusiast as the “Wine Region of the Year.” This was great for Lodi wine, living in the shadow of the great Napa Valley and other wine regions in California. Please go to our extensive resource to find out more about traveling to Lodi Wine Country: Lodi Wine Trails.

Look for Lodi wines at fine wine shops and online stores. Many supermarkets carry labels like OZV Zinfandel, Michael David Petite Sirah, Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel, and others. These are good values, but also look for the wines from Lodi made by the small producers: Bokisch, Acquiesce, Harney Lane Winery, St. Amant, and Van Ruiten.