Lodi “Outsiders” joining “Natives” at 2014 ZinFest Wine School

Turley Wine Cellars’ Tegan Passalacqua (standing in his Kirschenmann Vineyard, located on Lodi’s east side) will be on the “Lodi Outsiders” panel as part of 2014′s Lodi ZinFest Wine School

Don't look now, but the annual Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival is nigh upon us; this year, taking place on Saturday, May 17, 2014 (12-5 PM) at the bucolic Lodi Lake Park.

This is Lodi's biggest, most broadening, and undoubtedly funnest event of the year; but don't let the name fool you: it's not just about Zinfandel. The Lodi AVA also specializes in bodacious Cabernet Sauvignon, stupendous Petite Sirah, exotic Albariño and Alicante Bouschet, esoteric Verdelho and Verdejo, soulful Tempranillo and gregarious Graciano, elegant Grenache Noir and sumptuous Grenache Blanc, toothsome Touriga, graceful Chardonnay, regal Roussanne, prickly Picpoul, flirtatious Moscato, bombastic Barbera, racy Riesling, effusive Carignan, sensuous Symphony, exquisite Sangiovese, exuberant Primitivo, and redolent, shimmering, refreshing rosés, plus more… oh so many more different wines made from the enormous variety of Vitis vinifera (i.e. classic European wine grapes) grown in our Delta region.

Precedent’s Nathan Kandler, one of our outstanding “Lodi Outsiders” speaking at the Lodi ZinFest Wine School

Tickets to the 2014 ZinFest – which can be purchased zinfest.com or by calling the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at (209) 365-0621 – will get you a taste of many of those wines, plus seats (if you are so inclined) to both the ZinFest Wine School and ZinFest Cooking School.

And this year's ZinFest Wine School will be more interesting than ever: starting off with two presentations on Lodi's most unusual wines; followed by two different, incredibly fascinating multi-winemaker panels. The details…

THE 2014 ZINFEST WINE SCHOOL

Lodi Native Winemakers speaking at ZinFest Wine School (from left): Layne Montgomery (m2 Wines), Stuart Spencer (St.Amant Winery), Ryan Sherman (Fields Family Wines), Michael McCay (McCay Cellars), Tim Holdener (Macchia Wines), and Chad Joseph (Maley Brothers)

1:00 – 1:40 PM
Lodi's Impressive Diversity of Reds
Lodi is not just about Zinfandel – the region is also a California leader in alternative grapes, such as Sangiovese, Touriga, Tempranillo or Graciano. Ellen Landis takes you on a whirlwind tasting tour of these exciting varietal wines.
Led by Ellen Landis – Certified Sommelier & Certified Wine Specialist, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn

2:00 – 2:40 PM
The Light, Refreshing Side of Lodi
Lodi's Mediterranean climate is ideal not only for red wine grapes, but also for whites and pinks that are finer, more fragrant and crisply balanced than what you may expect. Fred Swan will show you why Lodi may be the most underrated white wine region in the world.
Led by Fred Swan – Certified Sommelier, San Francisco Wine School & norcalwine.com

3:00 – 3:40 PM
The Lodi Outsiders
Some of Lodi's finest wines are made by winemakers based outside of Lodi – many of them representing a new generation of cutting-edge producers. This will be a rare opportunity to meet them and taste their exciting wines.
Moderated by Randy Caparoso – lodiwine.com & The SOMM Journal
Nathan Kandler – Precedent Wines
Tegan Passalaacqua – Turley Wine Cellars
Matthew Rorick – Forlorn Hope Wines
Adam Webb – Odisea & Cochon Wine Company

4:00 – 4:40 PM
The Lodi Native Project
Lodi Native™ is a collaborative project by six winegrowers of like mind, producing minimalist, terroir driven Zinfandels in California’s Lodi AVA. Here's your chance to taste these rare, unique wines, and chat with the winemakers themselves.
Moderated by Randy Caparoso – lodiwine.com & The SOMM Journal
Tim Holdener – Macchia Wines
Todd Maley & Chad Joseph – Maley Brothers
Michael McCay – McCay Cellars
Layne Montgomery – m2 Wines
Ryan Sherman – Fields Family Wines
Stuart Spencer – St. Amant Winery

Forlorn Hope’s Matthew Rorick will be joining the cutting-edge group of “Lodi Outsider”-winemakers at the 2014 ZinFest Wine School

Adam Webb of Odisea/Cochon will be the fourth winemaker on our ZinFest Wine School “Lodi Outsiders” panel