Lodi’s 2018 Wine & Chocolate Weekend promises to be another illuminating affair!

ByRandy Caparoso
Group of women enjoying wine tasting at a Lodi wine event, smiling and capturing moments with cameras.
During the 2012 Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, good times at Klinker Brick Winery

Hard to believe, but Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend is now 3 x 7 years old! This coming February 10 & 11, 2018 will mark 21 years of this annual event, which has always been a great opportunity for wine lovers to enjoy Lodi wine country under ideal conditions:

• Over 50 of Lodi’s wineries – who truly know their stuff! – open their doors for tastings, for just one reasonable fee.

• Unlike the usual winery visits, the wineries put out a full range of culinary treats – from chocolate chilies and famous Lockeford sausages to, of course, chocolate sweets (from truffles to fountains) of all sorts – to enhance your Lodi wine experience.

• Everywhere you go, there is live music, photo ops, barrel tastings, and people on both sides of the tasting counters gussied up to show that, in Lodi wine country, wine is as much fun as a seriously illuminating affair!

Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend event poster featuring wine and chocolate imagery for February 10-11.
méthode Champenoise

• There is nothing more romantic than a weekend in the wine country, and few events as fruitful for everlasting friendships as Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend!

For more information on what each winery is doing, maps, etickets and guidelines (especially if you plan to go as a large group), please be sure to check out lodiwineandchocolate.com. And remember, non-imbibing designated drivers (strongly recommended) party for free!

But since any good picture is worth a thousand words, here are some images of fun, memorable Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekends past:

Group of people enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a modern venue.
During 2013 Wine & Chocolate Weekend, friends and lovers at LangeTwins Family Winery
Group of four people enjoying wine outdoors at a vineyard event in Lodi, California.
Chill moment at Macchia Winery during Lodi’s 2013 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
A woman is emotional at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event, with a man kneeling and speaking into a microphone.
It happened at Van Ruiten Family Winery: successful proposal during 2013 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Couple sharing a kiss while holding wine glasses at outdoor Lodi wine tasting event.
This happens, nonstop: at Macchia Wines during 2013 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Group of people tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a winery cellar.
Canapés and wine at LangeTwins Family Winery during 2015 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Women celebrating with signs and props at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, smiling and enjoying wine and fun accessories.
Lodi photo op at Van Ruiten Winery during 2015 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
People enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a modern tasting room.
The famous “twins,” Randy and Brad Lange, always love to work the LangeTwins Family Winery counters themselves during Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekends
Two people enjoying a wine tasting event at Lodi Winegrape Commission, with wine glasses and a festive setting.
Award winning chocolate chili at Harney Lane Winery during 2016 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
2012 Old Vine Zinfandel wine price tag with red wine bottle caps on a pink polka dot heart-shaped surface.
At m2 Wines: OV Zin + Chocolate = Love
Young girl enjoying wine tasting with a man at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
“Mad Hatter” winemaker doing barrel tasting at Jessie’s Grove during 2016 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Pouring red wine into a glass at a wine tasting event, showcasing Lodi's wine industry.
Lush, sexy Zinfandel at McCay Cellars during 2016 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Man with beard and gray beanie using smartphone at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Wine & Chocolate glass artistry at McCay Cellars
Multiple wine glasses with chocolate, showcasing Lodi Winegrape Commission's wine tasting event.
Complimentary Wine & Chocolate Weekend glasses and Brix Chocolate ready at Mettler Family Vineyards
Crowd enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with live music and socializing.
Dixieland jazz and 2017 Wine & Chocolate Weekend revelry in Downtown Lodi’s Cellar Door
Oak Farm Vineyards’ acclaimed winemaker Chad Joseph pouring barrel sample at Oak Farm Vineyards during 2017 Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend

2017 Wine & Chocolate lovers at Oak Farm Vineyards historic estate

At McCay Cellars during 2017 Wine & Chocolate Weekend: even Lodi wine industry honchos like Michael David Winery’s David Phillips (bottom left) love to hang out for the wine, food, fun and camraderie

At PRIE Winery, winemaker/co-owner John Gash pours the juice during 2017 Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Stylish Wine & Chocolate lover at Lodi Wine & Visitor Center during 2017 proceedings

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