Petite Sirah harvest in Vinedos Aurora's home ranch
There is strength and perseverance in Lodi faces — borne out of long hours under the sun, or when pinched by wintry chill — as well as wisdom and the signs of sheer joy that that are part and parcel of the Delta‘s main industry: wine grapes.
In 2012 the Lodi American Viticultural Area took another giant leap in the world of fine wine, topped off by a harvest that may have been the region’s best ever: grapes ripening under perfect, trouble-free conditions, and in sufficient enough quantities to allow prolonged, steady maturation (during years when yields are cut short by poor spring sets or spotty autumn weather, grapes tend to ripen either too rapidly or not at all).
Which explains the many smiles seen on Lodi faces over the past two months. Some of our fondest images:
Klinker Brick's next generation: Farrah Felten
Derek Halecky loving the look of his Hunter's Oak Vineyard Grenache grapes during the July veraison
Every winemaker claims he does the best barbecue: hard to argue with Michael McCay's dry rubbed baby backs, slow roasted in an oil drum
Jillions of visitors have been regaled by m2 winemaker/owner Layne Montgomery's dry wit and juicy wines
Silvaspoons winegrower Ron Silva (blue cap) -- America's "Portuguese grape king" -- holding court
Harney Lane patriarch George Mettler and his beloved cork tree
Michael David Winery president/co-owner Dave Phillips all ramped up for their annual Rhone & Reggae bash
The Lodi life: early harvest dinner in Harney Lane estate vineyard
Typical of Lodi, when you visit Kidder Family Wines, you personally taste with owners Aaron and Linda Kidder
Winemaker soiree: Borra's Markus Niggli hanging with m2's Layne Montgomery
Burgeoning connoisseur at Harney Lane
Steve Borra, grower/owner of Lodi's oldest bonded winery
For Michael McCay, winemaking is a tactile experience
Zinfandel harvest in Maley Vineyards
Picking Mohr-Fry's Marian's block Zinfandel (vines planted in 1901)
Field sorter in Noma Ranch's 100+ year old "Cemetary" Zinfandel block
Borra Vineyards' 2012 Barbera harvest
Zinfandel pickers in McCay's Truluck's Vineyard
Michael David VP (and sixth generation Lodi grower) Kevin Phillips showing off Petite Sirah in his home ranch
Mencarini Vineyards Zinfandel picker
Winery cat at m2 Wines
Lance Randolph, with one of Zinfandel vines planted by his great grandfather Giacomo Peirano in the 1890s
Newest generation of Lodi winemakers: Broken Vine's Michael Klouda
