Lodi Wine History: The Making of California's Most Dynamic Wine Region

Kerne Erickson's artistic vision of the bucolic Lodi AVA and the region's signature, deep-rooted valley oak, native to the appellation's deep, rich sandy loam soils

As we celebrate California Wine Month this September, there's no better time to dive into the rich history of grape growing and wine production in one of the state's most significant appellations.

The Lodi American Viticultural Area stands as a testament to the evolution of California winemaking, transforming from a single designation in 1986 to a complex system of seven nested sub-appellations by 2006. This comprehensive exploration, originally authored by renowned wine journalist Randy Caparoso, traces the fascinating journey of how Lodi earned federal recognition as an AVA and subsequently subdivided into distinct terroir-driven regions.

From the initial 85,000-acre appellation to the sophisticated understanding of microclimates that led to the Mokelumne River, Clements Hills, and five other sub-AVAs, this is the story of American viticulture's commitment to expressing the unique characteristics of place through wine.

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Beat the Heat: Why Lodi's Delta Breeze Makes Summer Wine Tasting Magical

 

Morning light illuminates Lodi's picturesque vineyards, where Mediterranean climate and Delta Breeze cooling create distinctive terroir for exceptional winegrowing.

Summer in Lodi delivers classic California sunshine – those bright, warm days that ripen grapes to perfection and send wine lovers seeking shade. But here's Lodi's secret weapon: the Delta Breeze.

Every day beginning in the late afternoon, cool air travels inland from the San Francisco Bay, following a vast network of waterways that play a key role in defining the wine country’s climate and character. 

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Oh lord, a blog from Lodi—the 2025 farewell

Harvest morning in Mokelumne River-Lodi's Abba Vineyard, planted to Syrah.

Farewell by Randy Caparoso

Oh lord, a blog from Lodi was the title of the very first blog posted on the Lodi Wine page in August 2010, written by yours truly. Over 1,200 posts later, I think it is fitting that this should be the title of my very last post, as I will departing Lodi wine country in July of 2025. 

First, I’d like to thank all the region’s growers and vintners who have welcomed me into their community these past fifteen years. But also first, I need to thank you, Lodi Wine’s dear and patient readers who have indulged in this site’s continuous flights and forays into viticulture and vinification, farmers, winemakers and all the characters peppering the region’s past and present, the seemingly endless variety of grapes and equally varied wines, almost every iota of the dirt, topography, climate and natural or human circumstances—each and everything that has distinguished the Lodi appellation from any other in the world. The goal has always been differentiation, the gist of every post appearing on this page...

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