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You are here: Home / Archives for Lodi

The Under-Appreciated Lodi Wine Country

April 24, 2020 by Joe Becerra

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.

Bokisch Garnacha Blanca
Bokisch Garnacha Blanca

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.

Lodi Rules winemakers

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.

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Bokisch Vineyards

The Land of Bokisch

October 31, 2019 by Joe Becerra

About the California Wildfires

Watching the national news, one would think that all of California’s wine country is on fire. Those of us who live in the Bay Area know the truth. The Kincade Fire is in the hills of Geyserville in Sonoma County. Sadly, it has destroyed two wineries, damaged a few other wineries, and burned some vineyards in the Alexander Valley. The Kincade Fire 60% contained. The wine country around the Kincade Fire will be back and ready for tourism soon. The Bokisch winery is in Lodi and nowhere near the Kincade Fire. Traveling to Lodi is safe.

Bokisch Vineyards are organic vines
Sustainable and organic – Bokisch Vineyards

Bokisch Vineyards and Spanish grapes

Bokisch Vineyards is one of the most exciting wineries in Lodi wine country. It is very different from the mainstream Lodi winery. Owner Markus Bokisch and his wife Liz bring a Spanish influence to Lodi wine country. They lived in Spain and learned about wine and food. Bokisch looked for a place to grow Spanish wine grapes and found that spot in Lodi.

While Lodi is famous for its big and bold Zinfandel, Marcus Bokisch is famous in two areas. First, growing Spanish varietals successfully before anyone else in Lodi. Second, Marcus is a skilled vineyard farmer. He advises and works with many growers in the Lodi area. His main vineyard is the Clement Hills, a sub-AVA of Lodi.

On the farm, Bokisch grows and produces these Spanish varieties: Garnacha, Monastrell, Albariño, Garnacha Blanca, Verdejo and Tempranillo. Markus also sells many of his Spanish grapes to other wineries. Not only are the wines delicious, but they are also priced at consumer-friendly prices.

Bokisch spanish varietals
Spanish Garnacha Blanc – a delicate and delicious white wine

Planning a Trip to Bokisch and other Lodi wineries

The best time to travel to the Lodi wine country is in the Spring and Fall. The weather is usually ideal for traveling during these periods. The best place to lodge is Wine & Roses. There are also places to stay in the town of Lodi. See our list of Best Lodi Lodging. We also have a list of excellent Lodi Restaurants.

There several other Lodi wineries we like. Follow our Lodi Wine Trails.

Bokisch picnic area
Bokisch picnic area – a great place to picnic among the vines

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Bokisch Vineyards

Should Napa Vintners Follow Lodi’s lead?

August 20, 2016 by Joe Becerra

The six Lodi Native wines

The six Lodi Native wines

Lodi Native Project

I was fortunate to be one of 25 wine bloggers who attended a post conference session devoted to the Lodi Native Project.  The session included vineyard walks and meeting the project winemakers and growers, followed by  a tasting of all six Lodi Native wines.  This is a first-of-a-kind project and an eye-opener for myself and all the other wine bloggers. This is a testament to the cooperation and spirit of the Lodi wine region and its winery owners, winemakers, and vineyard growers. The Lodi Native is an intriguing project intended to showcase the terroir, or sense of place, from six unique old vine Zinfandel vineyards. You’ve heard the old adage ,”Wine is made in the Vineyards.” The Lodi Native project proves that.

blah blah blah

Wegat Vineyard – Old Vine Zinfandel  – hollowed out trunk is typical of these old vines

In brief, this is what the Lodi Native Project is all about. In 2012 the Lodi Wine Grape Commission convinced six winemakers to make a 100% Zinfandel wine from a designated Zinfandel vineyard. Each winemaker was to stick to strict rules. Only native yeast could be used, and no new oak barrels were allowed. Acidifying wines or adding water were not allowed. In short, the wine is made with minimal intervention by the winemaker. The wine should reflect the place in which the Zinfandel is grown.  All the winemakers use the same label, with the exception of the name of the vineyard and the name of the producing winery on the bottle.  More information on the Lodi Native requirements go to this link.

Moderator and Lodi Native winemakers

Moderator and Lodi Native winemakers

From the start the winemakers were rather skeptical, thinking that without using their skilled winemaking techniques, the wine was destined to be inferior. The exact opposite occurred, with each wine beautifully showcasing the place where it is was grown. Deep and complex, elegant and restrained, characterize each of the six wines. We tasted the six wines at the Macchia winery. I would love to have tasted these wine in a side-by-side tasting to compare and contrast the individual characteristic of each wine. However, with the number of wine bloggers and the limited space, we tasted the wines one at a time.

The Lodi Native wines are available for purchase, but the 2012 and 2013 Lodi Native wines are sold out. I am hoping to get on the list to purchase the six Lodi Native wines for 2014. The 2014 vintage will be bottled in November and will be sold in a six-pack for a price of $180. $30 a bottle is a great price point for Zinfandel wines of this quality. The Lodi Wine Commission will have a signup list online when the wine is available.  In the meantime, any travelers to Lodi can visit the six wineries. Just maybe, one or two will have their Lodi Native wine available for purchase. See the Lodi Native Project Wine Map below.

old vine ready for harvest

Old vine ready for harvest

The six vineyards and winemakers are:

  • Marian’s Vineyard
    Winemaker  Stuart Spencer – St. Amant Winery
  • Schmiedt Ranch
    Winemaker Tim Holdener – Macchia Wines
  • Soucie Vineyard
    Winemaker Layne Montgomery – m2 Wines
  • Stampede Vineyard
    Winemaker Ryan Sherman – Fields Family Wines
  • TruLux Vineyard
    Winemaker Michael McCay – McCay Cellars
  • Wegat Vineyard
    Winemaker Chad Joseph – Maley Brothers

Hello, Napa Valley Vintners

Now in its third year, all of the six winemakers are 100% committed to the program. Several other Lodi winemakers have expressed interest in joining the project. Which brings us to this thought: Will other wine regions follow in the footsteps of the Lodi Native Project? What if the Napa Valley would take just a few plots from their prized Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyards and undertake the same type of project? Using the same formula as the Lodi Native Project, how would a Howell Mountain Cabernet compare to a Mount Veeder Cab or a Spring Mountain Cab? How would a St. Helena Cabernet compare to Rutherford, Stags Leap, or Oakville Cabernet? What an interesting way to showcase the great terroirs of the Napa Valley or any other of our fine California wine regions!

Lodi Native Wine Map

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Lodi Native Project, Old vine Zinfandel

Lodi Wine – Dancing Fox Winery, Brewery, Bakery, and Restaurant

August 11, 2016 by Joe Becerra

Dancing Fox Gregg Lewis

ß Winemaker and grower – Gregg Lewis

And so begins the 9th Annual Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi, California. Three hundred wine bloggers will converge on the town of Lodi from Thursday to Sunday, August 11 to 14. Janelle and I are here a day ahead to attend a pre-conference in Amador County wine country. Our home base is the Hampton Suites in Lodi.

To get the wine and food festivities going, we stopped in at one of Lodi’s finest dining choices.  It is the Dancing Fox Winery, Brewery, Bakery and Restaurant. Put this spot on your list of ‘must’ places to visit when you are in Lodi.

Four of life’s great pleasures all in one spot! That is what the Dancing Fox is all about. Greg and Colleen Lewis are the proprietors of this fun establishment. Gregg is the winemaker and vineyard grower. Gregg has about 110 acres of vineyards  in Lodi. Most of those acres are sourced to other wineries and Gregg keeps the best for his Dancing Fox label.  There is a tasting room in the back of the restaurant, and tasting is complimentary if you dine at the Dancing Fox.

The Lewis Sons have recently added the brew pub to the Dancing Fox. The Lewis boys have turned a beer-making hobby into a boutique brew pub. Plans call for all the beer to be made in the restaurant, with a showy brew pub in one of the restaurant’s back rooms. We each had one of their pale ale beers with our lunch.

All the breads served at the restaurant are baked on the premises in the early morning hours. Colleen Lewis is the bread-baking wizard. She bakes all of her bread in a unique brick oven imported from Barcelona. It is called the Jllopis oven after the inventor Juan Llopis. Colleen thinks there is only one other Jllopis oven in Northern California, and that one belongs to the Acme Bread Company in Berkeley, CA. The Jllopis oven, plus the local yeast, is the key to her amazing breads. There is a good choice of pizza dishes on the menu and those are cooked in the Jllopis oven.

We had a terrific lunch on the patio at the Dancing Fox. The service was good, and the sandwiches so tasty with the artisan baked bread. The atmosphere is lively and fun. We highly recommend the Dancing Fox in Lodi.

Dancing fox fresh bread

Multi grain bread fresh from the brick oven

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Colleen Lewis, Dancing Fox winery, Gregg Lewis, Jllopis oven, Wine Bloggers Conference

The Last Time I Saw Lodi

August 17, 2015 by Joe Becerra

Wine Bloggers Conference 2016 will be in Lodi

“The last time I saw Lodi, the grapes were on the ground, and we went round and round and round, and ….”

Lodi wine country

Lodi’s downtown is fun!

Don Sherwood, at one time the most popular disc jockey in San Francisco, would sing this jingle often. It was a bit of poking fun at Lodi. Lodi still has an “out in the sticks” reputation. It is located in California’s Great Central Valley, at the northern end. It gets hot in Lodi and the land is flat and stretches far and wide. There are no spectacular mountains with long stretches of beautiful hillside vineyards.

When the announcement was made about next year’s onference, apparently most of the wine bloggers had never heard of Lodi. I could see it in their faces. Having the Wine Bloggers 2016 in Lodi will be huge for Lodi. It could make or break Lodi. 250 to 300 wine bloggers will attend this conference and these bloggers are social media titans. Their blog articles, Tweets, Instagrams, and Pinterest posts will reach thousands worldwide. That is not an exaggeration.

Great things about Lodi Wine Country

old vine zinfandel

Old Vine Zinfandel

There are some great things about Lodi wine country. Lodi has long been known for its Zinfandel. Lodi has some of oldest Zinfandel vines found anywhere. Lodi Zinfandels are big and robust and have a huge following. Many of the  vineyard owners have a long family history of farming in Lodi. Many Lodi grapes are sold to other wineries including wineries in the Napa Valley. Many vineyards in Lodi practice sustainable farming. The Lodi Appellation is vast and includes parts of Sacramento County and San Joaquin County. There are seven sub appellations within the Lodi appellation.  About 70 grape varieties are grown in Lodi including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yes, it is hot in Lodi, but the Delta is nearby and an evening Delta breeze dramatically cools the vineyards.  There is also something new in Lodi wines, Spanish varieties. This is all happening because of Bokisch Vineyards. Liz & Markus Bokisch moved here from Spain and planted Spanish grapes. The resulting wines are terrific, and this has had a domino effect on Lodi. Now there are other wineries following Bokisch, and they are producing Spanish varietal wines. We like the downtown area of Lodi. It is very fun with many cool little “Mom and Pop” shops. The Wine & Roses Hotel is the classiest lodging in Lodi and is the venue for many Lodi wine events.

"We love Lodi wine country"

Winemaker Paul Scotto: “We love Lodi wine country”

I spoke with winemaker Paul Scotto, winemaker at Scotto Family Cellars, centered in Lodi. Paul is excited that the Wine Bloggers have chosen Lodi for the 2016 conference. He is confident the Lodi wineries will provide an exciting wine experience for wine bloggers.  The conference will take place from August 11 to 14, 2016. More information on the conference and registration can be found on the Wine Bloggers Website.

 

 

Here are some of our favorite Lodi wineries.

Where to stay in Lodi

 

 

Filed Under: Lodi, Wine News Tagged With: Wine Bloggers Conference 2016

Lodi Wine Country – Tasting Rooms to Visit

February 22, 2010 by joe

This is our third adventure to Lodi wine country in recent times. We will be adding, very soon, a Lodi Wine Trail to WineCountryGetaways.com. Our goal is to visit as many wineries as possible over the course of several trips. After that we can decide which wineries will make our list of Top Wineries for the Lodi Wine Trail on WineCountryGetaways.com.

Lodi is a very flat region; of course it is, it is located in the Great Central Valley. We have the Lodi Wine Alliance wine map but on each of our trips we have managed to get ourselves lost and turned around on several occasions. Maybe that is because there are no major landmarks or mountain ranges to get your bearings. Most of the wineries are small family-owned wineries. Many have been grape growers for years and recently have started making wines as Lodi has shifted from a bulk wine producer to producing more quality wines. Zinfandel is king in Lodi, especially old-vine Zinfandel. The weather is very hot during the summer months. There is some cooling at night from breezes from the Delta, but by and large the climate in Lodi yields big, fruity wines and some that are very high in alcohol.

Read More »

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Lodi wine country, Lodi wineries

Lodi Wineries — Do They Measure Up?

September 3, 2009 by joe

We spent a day visiting tasting rooms and wineries in the Lodi Area. We need to spend more time in Lodi to get the full picture but we have a good idea of how this wine country measures up to Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles and others.

Our first impression is that there are several wineries making very good wines at reasonable prices and by that I mean well under $20. Surprisingly, most of the tasting rooms I visited charge a fee for tasting but most apply it to the purchase of wines. I would think until Lodi gets really popular among the wine tourists that they should do everything possible to minimize the cost of a wine trip. The biggest obstacle I see for Lodi is its ambience. There are no beautiful hills and winding backroads lined with vineyards. It is very flat and it’s also very warm during the day. Lodi also lacks a significant number of gourmet restaurants and the only terrific lodging spot in town is the Wine and Roses Hotel.

Read More »

Filed Under: Lodi Tagged With: Lodi wineries

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