Images and memories of Lodi’s 2017 ZinFest

ByRandy Caparoso
Smiling man holding a glass of red wine at a Lodi wine event outdoors.
Oak Farm Vineyards owner Dan Panella at Vintners Grille with Lodi style bone dry rosé

Over 5,000 wine lovers cannot be wrong! That’s how many gathered in Lodi wine country this past weekend to enjoy a Friday Vintners Grille, where they were able to rub shoulders and boogie under the stars with Lodi growers and winemakers, as well as the big, annual Saturday ZinFest Wine Festival bash.

As an indication of how far the reach of Lodi grapes and wines has grown, about a quarter of 2017’s ZinFesters counted themselves as out-of-staters; coming from as far flung as Canada, Texas and Tennessee, the East Coast and Hawaii, and seemingly everywhere in between.

Weekend temperatures up and down the state hit the 90s, but Lodi’s ZinFest proved to be the place to be, as it takes place in the lush, bucolic setting of Lodi Lake Park, surrounded on three sides by Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River, with their icy waters flowing down from the Sierra spring snow melt.

Decorative LODI sign with sunflowers and lights at a wine event in Lodi, California.
pièce de resistances

But like we said, thousands of thoroughly enthused Lodi wine lovers, from the most casual to the geekiest, cannot be wrong, as these colorful photo-memories will attest…

Two women smiling at an outdoor wine event, holding glasses of wine, with lush green trees in the background.
Colorful wine lovers at the ZinFest Vintners Grille
Person pouring red wine into a glass at a wine tasting event with wine bottles in the background.
What it’s all about, Lodi Zinfandel
Outdoor event setup with tables, chairs, and canopy at Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Inviting tables under silky white drapes at ZinFest’s Vintners Grille
Man with sunglasses holding two glasses of red wine at a Lodi wine event.
Keeper of the Zins at Vintners Grille
Lodi Winegrape Commission booth at the Lake, showcasing local wines and grape varieties.
Entrance to the big Vintners Grille tent
Woman enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event with a glass of rosé wine.
Turquoise and joyfully dry Lodi rosé
Smiling man and woman enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors.
Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Wendy Brannen with winemaker Chad Joseph at Vintners Grille

Klinker Brick’s head winemaker Joseph Smith (right) with Cellarmaster Chris Rivera

Two women enjoying wine outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with trees and water in the background.
Enjoying dry Lodi rosés by the lake at Vintners Griille
People enjoying wine tasting at a Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event.
Heritage Oak owner/winemaker Tom Hoffman (left) with PRIE Winery’s John and Lisa Gash
Live band performing on an outdoor stage at ZinFest festival in Lodi with colorful decorations and lush green trees.
Vintners Grille goes into rock ‘n roll mode
Three women smiling at an outdoor wine tasting event, holding wine glasses, with a crowd in the background.
P.R. mogul Katie Ballou Calhoun with ZinFest speaker/educator Deborah Parker Wong and blogger “Emily the Jetsetting Fashionista” at Vintners Grille
Crowd attending Zinfest event at Lodi Winegrape Festival with trees and blue sky in background.
Lodi ZinFest ready to get started
Couple enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with colorful circus-themed backdrop.
ZinFesters enjoying Michael David Winery’s Freakshow reds
People enjoying wine tasting at the Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event under a white canopy tent.
The LangeTwins Family’s ZinFest tables
Serene lake scene with trees, water lilies, and tall grasses in Lodi, California, showcasing local vineyard landscape.
Lodi Lake from Lodi Lake Park
Group of people enjoying a golf cart ride at a Lodi wine event in a park setting.
Lodi Winegrape Commission staff arrives to get ZinFest rolling
Three smiling people at a wine tasting event with bottles of wine on the table.
The Fields Family Wines gang
Two women enjoying the Lodi Winegrape Festival with parasols and wine glasses, celebrating local wine culture.
Appropriately parasoled shady ladies
People tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission booth during outdoor event.
Sipping discreetly at the Maley Brothers table
Group of people enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors.
ZinFesters talking wine and good times
Glass bottles in an ice bucket at a wine tasting event, showcasing Lodi winegrapes.
Beautiful clear bottles of Acquiesce wines
Smiling woman at Lodi Winegrape Commission event holding papers and wearing Zinfest shirt.
Dr. Stephanie Bolton, Lodi Winegrape Commission’s Director of Grower Communications, educating ZinFesters on Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing
Chalkboard sign advertising Lodi ZinFest wine event with wine glass, bottle, and grapes illustrations.
The educational side of Lodi ZinFest
Woman with a wide-brimmed hat holding a glass of red wine and reading a program at a wine event.
Wine lover taking in a ZinFest Wine School class on Bechthold Vineyard, Lodi’s oldest historic vineyard (planted in 1886!)
Man speaking at Lodi Winegrape Commission event holding a wine glass and microphone.
San Francisco Wine School educator Fred Swan leading tasting on Bechthold Vineyard Cinsauts
Woman in red floral dress reading a program at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Guest speaker Deborah Parker Wong DWSET taking notes and preparing for her Wine School presentation on Lodi grown Spanish and Portuguese varietals
Smiling woman and elderly man at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, enjoying outdoor wine tasting.
Ripken Vineyard owner/grower Rip Ripken waiting to speak at ZinFest Wine School
Crowd of people attending a Lodi Winegrape Commission event under a large tent.
ZinFest Wine School audience
Tasting Bokisch Graciano at ZinFest Wine School
Two women enjoying wine at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors.
New generation wine lovers at ZinFest Wine School
Outdoor event stage with chefs and audience, promoting Lodi wine and food festival activities.
Celebrity Chef Chad Rosenthal enthralls crowd of barbecue lovers during his “Up In Smoke” demonstrations
People pouring red wine into a glass at a wine tasting event in Lodi, California.
Beautiful sight: rich, pungent, velvety smooth Lodi Zinfandel
People enjoying wine tasting at the Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event.
Curious ZinFest wine lovers at Harney Lane Winery table
Man tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event with woman in background.
Some very serious ZinFest wine lovers
Blue T-shirt with Lodi Winegrape Commission artwork featuring a woman enjoying wine.
The red haired “ZinFest lady”
Group of men enjoying a wine tasting event at the Lodi Winegrape Commission.
At ZinFest Wine School, Lodi winemakers cooling their jets: Bob Colarossi (Estate Crush), Markus Niggli (Markus Wine Co.), Mike McCay (McCay Cellars), and David Phillips (Michael David Winery)
Man playing guitar and woman enjoying music at Lodi Winegrape Festival.
A “Mighty Wind” moment at Lodi ZinFest
Woman with purple hair and sunglasses enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Another satisfied ZinFest wine lover
Two smiling individuals at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors, wearing branded shirts and sunglasses.
Harney Lane Winery owner/growers Jorja and Kyle Lerner
Purple T-shirt with Tacos & Tempranillo? Go Ahead, Go Loca message for wine lovers.
Another great idea at Lodi ZinFest
People gather at Lodi Winegrape Commission event under a large tree with a cooking school sign.
Entrance to ZinFest Cooking School beside Lodi Lake
Group of people at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with wine tasting and scenic vineyard background.
Lodi ZinFest bean bag toss (why not?)
Two smiling women enjoying outdoor event at Lodi Winegrape Commission with wine and food.
Bottle service under big tent at Lodi ZinFest
Group of people enjoying a wine tasting event outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Wine lovers gathered under shade at ZinFest Piano Bar
A musician performs at an outdoor event with children and adults enjoying the sunny day in a park setting.
Piano man Joe Spraker at ZinFest Piano Bar
People relaxing outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event, enjoying wine and conversation under a large tree.
Relaxing in style on the grass at ZinFest Wine Bar
People enjoying a wine tasting event outdoors with trees and sunlight in Lodi, California.
Hanging loose alongside Mokelumne River at Lodi ZinFest
Group of people enjoying a sunny day outdoors near a river, some holding drinks, with trees and water in the background.
Group shot alongside Mokelumne River at Lodi ZinFest
People enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event with trees and tents in background.
Feeling good at Lodi ZinFest
Group of people enjoying outdoor wine tasting at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with colorful decorations.
Tasting around the barrel head at Lodi ZinFest
Group of women walking outdoors, enjoying a sunny day at a wine event in Lodi, California.
All about the wine (and shoes) at Lodi ZinFest
Group of four people enjoying a wine tasting outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Chilling out under gigantic weeping willow tree in Lodi Lake Park
Man in straw hat and sunglasses holding wine glasses at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
For this ZinFester, two glasses is definitely better than one
Good times, great wines at Lodi ZinFest
Group of people at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with trees and water in background.
The cool crowd at Riaza Wines table
Happy couple enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event.
#RealThingAtLodiZinFest
Lodi Winegrape Commission booth at Zinfest with live music and visitors enjoying outdoor event.
Korduroy takes the big ZinFest stage with their irresistably rhythmetic Afro/Latin/reggae-funk jazz vibes
Live outdoor music performance at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with musicians on stage and audience in a park setting.
Isaac Lopez (front-center) leads San Joaquin Valley’s amazing Korduroy
Musicians performing at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with audience and trees in background.
Lodi grape grower Ben Kolber sits in with Korduroy
Band playing guitars and drums on stage at Lodi Wine Festival with Zinfest banner in background.
Korduroy’s guitar, bass and rhythm section
People enjoying a wine event at a table with sunflowers and wine bottles, showcasing Lodi's wine culture.
Enjoying Korduroy’s rocking Latin influenced jazz
Group of people enjoying a lively outdoor event at the Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Groovin’ to the live music under the big tent at Lodi ZinFest
Group of people enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi wine event.
McCay Cellars’ Mike and Linda McCay (left and right) with P.R. mogul Katie Ballou Calhoun and her husband Alexander
Group of people enjoying a sunny day outdoors near a pond, some sitting and some standing, with lush trees in the background.
Time for a ZinFest refill
Visitors entering Zinfest wine festival at Lodi Winegrape Commission with trees and signage.
End of another great ZinFest!
Four musicians playing instruments outdoors near a lake with trees and blue sky in the background.
Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players serenading the ZinFesters
Lodi Wine Region of the Year 2015 banner at a scenic outdoor location.
Banner along Lodi Lake walkway
Mallard duck and white swan swimming in a calm lake with reeds and floating debris.
At the end of the day, the real “Lodi natives” reclaiming their lake and river
Visitors walking towards wine tasting area at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
It’s a wrap for another memorable Lodi ZinFest

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