Letters from Lodi
An insightful and objective look at viticulture and winemaking from the Lodi
Appellation and the growers and vintners behind these crafts. Told from the
perspective of multi-award winning wine journalist, Randy Caparoso.
The many faces of Lodi in 2012 (part 1)
One man winter pruning team, on Lodi's west side
As we approach the end of another auspicious year in Lodi‘s wine country, it is as good a time as any to revisit the first half of 2012 with some of our favorite images of the people who are making this American Viticultural Area what it is: one of the most exciting (no longer just one of the most prolific) winegrowing regions in the world.
Part 1 of our Many faces of Lodi:
Craig Rous with his 103 year old east side Zinfandel vines (going into wines produced by Ironstone and Macchia)
Local high school kids participating in LangeTwins Family Vineyards' sustainable SLEWS project
Three of the four Anaya brothers, farming their own vineyards and producing wines under their Vinedos Aurora label
Bokisch wine lovers at spring release party
Sorelle Vineyards owner Mike Scott with daughter Kim
LangeTwins winemaker David Akiyoshi in his lab
Adam Mettler; GM/winemaker of Michael David (also winemaker for Mettler Family wines)
Leland Noma, second generation Lodi grower, with ancient zins
Jeremy's Choral Trettevik in her Downtown tasting room
Colorful couple: Macchia Wines owners, Lani & Tim Holdener
Faces behind d'Art Wines: Helen & Dave Dart
Typical Lodi wine country weekend: girls just wanting fun
Harmony Wynelands winemaker Shaun MacKay
Wanda Woock Bechthold, fourth generation grower (who owns Lodi's oldest continuously farmed vineyard, planted in 1886)
Onesta winemaker/owner Jillian Johnson among 126 year old Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault vines
Downtown Lodi's Estate Crush partners Alison & Bob Colorassi, and Nick Sikeotis (center)
Fifth generation Lodi grower/winemaker: Jessie's Grove's Greg Burns
Winegrower summit: Turley manager Tegan Passalacqua (left) with Markus Bokisch; in Bokisch's Liberty Oaks Vineyard (Lodi's Jahant AVA)
Ornithologist David Yee and Heritage Oak winemaker/owner Tom Hoffman, leading their monthly bird walk
Ornithologist David Yee and Heritage Oak winemaker/owner Tom Hoffman, leading their monthly bird walk
Harney Lane's Kyle Lerner in recently cleared field, being prepared for a ZAP Zinfandel Heritage Project planting (UC Davis clonal research)