skip to main content

Lodi Winegrape Commission

  • Home
  • Wineries
  • About
  • Visit
    • Visitor Center
  • Club
  • Events
  • Store
    • LODI RULES Sustainable Certification
    • White Wines
    • Rosé Wines
    • Red Wines
    • Sparkling/Dessert Wines
    • Old Vine Wines
    • Merchandise
  • Blog
TOP

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.

Randy Caparoso
 
December 29, 2020 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi 2020: The year in pictures

In the December fog of 2020, an old, dilapidated water tower among old vines on the west side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA.

2020 has been a difficult year everywhere in the world, and the challenges will continue in 2021. 

Yet in Lodi wine country, to paraphrase Louis Armstrong's famous song, it's still been a wonderful world. Bare vines turning green, blooms giving birth to luscious fruit, fruit turned into wines everybody loves, and vines tucking back in for another winter's rest. In 2020, as in all years, it's been a joy to photograph the entire process.

Better yet, the cycle begins again, no matter what the circumstances. No wonder hope springs eternal!

Our year in pictures:

January

Hillside Clements Hills-Lodi vineyard in the fuschia-blue hour at the end of a January day.

Winter pruning of vertical cordon trained Zinfandel on Lodi's west side.

Zinfandel leaf that has survived the frosty mornings of earlier winter days.

Just-pruned trellised block and bluebird box on the east side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA.

February

Contrasting head trained old vines—Zinfandel and typically gigantic Flame Tokay—in Viola's Vineyard in Lodi's Clements Hills AVA.

Under bright, cumulus cloud-dotted skies, rising mustard and grassy cover crop between split-canopy trained vines in Clements Hills-Lodi.

Lodi wine lovers celebrating Lodi's annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend, during the days before the pandemic.

Neatly pruned ancient vines in Bishofberger Vineyard on the west side of Mokelumne River-Lodi.

March

Dramatically high clouds over the hillside vineyards of Lodi's Borden Ranch AVA.

Under drenched cloud cover, ancient Zinfandel (over 100 years old) growing in the ultra-sandy soil of Harney Lane Winery's Scottsdale Vineyard on the east side of Mokelumne River-Lodi.

First sign of bud break on March 8 among Wegat Vineyard Zinfandel vines on Lodi's west side.

LangeTwins Family vineyard manager Aaron Lange and his son adding to the hedgerow of native plants friendly to beneficial insects.

Freight train headed north on the historic Union Pacific Railroad line running through fields of grapevines and winter mustard in Lodi's Jahant appellation.

Emerging grape bunch on an heirloom Flame Tokay vine at the end of March.

April

Roadside swaths of California poppy growing alongside Lodi vineyards.

Head trained, spur pruned Zinfandel on the verge of bud break in mid-April.

May

Mid-May Zinfandel bloom among Lodi's oldest vines.

Lodi cherry crop ripening just on time in orchards alongside ancient Zinfandel vines.

June

Rapid Zinfandel berry expansion in 120-year-old vines in Marian's Vineyards on the south side of Lodi's Mokelumne River appellation.

July

July 3: First sign of veraison—the annual change of color in red wine grapes—among Lodi's old vine Zinfandel.

During the hot, dry days of mid-July, old vine Grenache and Zinfandel being furrow-irrigated in Manassero Vineyard on Lodi's east side.

Manassero Vineyard Grenache just starting veraison in mid-July.

Dried moss lit by morning summer sun on old vine Zinfandel.

July 23: first pick of the year in Phillips Farms' Bare Ranch on Lodi's west side—Chardonnay picked for sparkling wine production.

Colors of veraison in Mokelumne Glen Vineyards Dornfelder, grown on Lodi's east side.

August

Late afternoon, high summer sun and growth in Acquiesce Vineyards, at the northern/east edge of Mokelumne River-Lodi.

In early August, ancient vine Zinfandel (over 100 years old) in Fathom Vineyard, rapidly approaching maturation.

Hillside vineyard in Linden Hills Vineyard in the south-east corner of the Lodi AVA.

Il Mio Vigneto Vineyard Ribolla Gialla, in Lodi's Clements Hills AVA, attaining golden color as it nears optimal ripeness.

August 14: Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel, planted in 1915, attaining full color as it races towards maturity.

August 14: these Graciano clusters in Bokisch Vineyards are still a month and a half from harvest.

August 18: Pinotage harvest under a high dome of smoke in Mettler Family Vineyards on the east side of Mokelumne River-Lodi.

August 22: the Ledbetter family (Craig, Chase and Suzanne) with their night-picked Sangiovese in their Vino Farms River's Edge Vineyard on Lodi's east side.

August 24: Pre-dawn Cinsaut harvest in Bechthold Vineyard, Lodi's oldest planting (dating back to 1886), usually among the first red wine grapes picked each year.

August 25: gala apple harvest on the east side of Lodi's Mokelumne River appellation.

August 26: Abba Vineyard Grenache being mechanically harvested at the break of dawn.

August 26: healthy, luscious, hand-picked Grenache in Abba Vineyard, on Lodi's east side.

August 26 Chenin blanc harvest in Heritage Oak Vineyards.

August 31: Greg Manassero with his hand-picked old vine Grenache, on the south side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA.

Mechanical harvesters following all-night work in Vino Farms' Grand Vin Lands in Clements Hills.

September

September 2: Süss Vineyard Zinfandel, planted in the late 1920s, on harvest morning in Lodi's Clements Hills.

September 2: Zweigelt harvest in Mokelumne Glen Vineyards on Lodi's east side.

Early September old vine Zinfandel harvest in Clements Hills-Lodi's Süss Vineyard.

September 17: Vividly colored Flame Tokay on harvest morning in Old School Vineyard, a Historic Vineyard Society-certified vineyard planted in 1906.

Chuck Holman and his grandson picking their Old School Vineyard Flame Tokay on Lodi's east side.

September 22: early morning Carignan harvest in Spenker Ranch's Block 4 (part of Jessie's Grove), originally planted in 1900.

Flame Tokay and Carignan picked in Spenker Ranch's 1900 block, headed for the artisanal Alquimista Cellars, based in Sebastopol, Sonoma County.

Jessie's Grove's Gustavo Alvarado with Carignan picked in Spenker Ranch's 1900 block.

September 29: Cabernet Sauvignon hanging on high single-wires in LangeTwins Family's Railroad Vineyard, ripening on a trellis system designed for mechanical pruning and harvesting.

October

Estate grown Tempranillo processed in Anaya Vineyards winery, located in Downtown Lodi.

October 16: The Jessie's Grove crew handling the last of the winery's estate grown Carignan, coming off their historic 1900 block.

End of another smoke-covered day during the 2020 harvest in Lodi's Borden Ranch AVA.

November

Morning dew on second crop ancient vine Carignan on Mokelumne River-Lodi's west side.

Brilliant fall colors mirrored on the Mokelumne River as it winds through Lodi's Clements Hills.

Foggy mornings of mid-November in LangeTwins Family's Railroad Vineyard in Lodi's Jahanta AVA.

In mid-November, unpicked old vine Carignan in Bishofberger Vineyard, shriveled after a few mornings in the lower 30ºs.

Changing leaf colors among old vine Zinfandel in Viola's Vineyard, planted in the late 1940s in Lodi's Clements Hills.

Orangy fall colors of walnut and Zinfandel leaves in Lodi's Clements Hills AVA.

Another autumn rite: vineyards uprooted immediately following harvest throughout the Lodi AVA.

Jahant-Lodi AVA farmhouse in mid-November fog.

Colorful errant spur on trellised vine on Lodi's west side.

December

The Mokelumne River leading into Lodi Lake gives a glimpse of how the region may have looked 200 years ago, when trappers and the native Miwok fished in these waters.

Ancient, own-rooted, 120-year-old Zinfandel in Marian's Vineyard—freshly pruned, looking triumphant after another successful vintage.

December fog in Mettler Family Vineyards vineyard located along Bear Creek, on the lower slopes of Clements Hills-Lodi.

The landmark, Spanish Mission style Lodi Arch.

Tweet
Pin It

Comments

Commenting has been turned off.
Blog Search
Recent Posts
  • January 19, 2021
    French students break down Lodi winegrowing, marketing, and its Alta Mesa appellation
  • January 13, 2021
    Alternative style Lodi wines reflecting the wave of the future — part 2, new interpretations of heritage grapes
  • January 11, 2021
    Alternative style Lodi wines reflecting the wave of the future — part 1, an unfamiliar white and red
  • January 5, 2021
    Discerning wines of the immediate future through what we know about the past and what's going in Lodi
  • December 29, 2020
    Lodi 2020: The year in pictures
  • December 27, 2020
    The small steps of Lodi growers led to giant leaps for Lodi wine country
  • December 22, 2020
    Looking on the bright side of fading old vine plantings in Lodi
  • December 17, 2020
    Our list of nice Lodi reds, rosés and fortified dessert wines for Christmas gifting and sipping
  • December 15, 2020
    A Lodi white makes the world's Top 100 list, and other Lodi whites for Christmas shopping and sipping
  • December 9, 2020
    The 1980s and 1990s — start of Lodi wine country's modern era
Our Writers
  • Randy Caparoso (804)
Blog Archives
2021
  • January 2021 (4)
2020
  • December 2020 (7)
  • November 2020 (7)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (7)
  • August 2020 (7)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (8)
  • May 2020 (8)
  • April 2020 (8)
  • March 2020 (8)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (6)
2019
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (6)
  • October 2019 (6)
  • September 2019 (5)
  • August 2019 (5)
  • July 2019 (7)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (6)
  • April 2019 (6)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • February 2019 (5)
  • January 2019 (7)
2018
  • December 2018 (7)
  • November 2018 (7)
  • October 2018 (9)
  • September 2018 (6)
  • August 2018 (7)
  • July 2018 (8)
  • June 2018 (7)
  • May 2018 (9)
  • April 2018 (8)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (8)
  • January 2018 (8)
2017
  • December 2017 (6)
  • November 2017 (8)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (5)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (7)
  • June 2017 (6)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (7)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (5)
  • January 2017 (7)
2016
  • December 2016 (7)
  • November 2016 (8)
  • October 2016 (7)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (5)
  • July 2016 (7)
  • June 2016 (7)
  • May 2016 (6)
  • April 2016 (6)
  • March 2016 (7)
  • February 2016 (6)
  • January 2016 (5)
2015
  • December 2015 (8)
  • November 2015 (6)
  • October 2015 (7)
  • September 2015 (5)
  • August 2015 (6)
  • July 2015 (7)
  • June 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (5)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (6)
  • February 2015 (7)
  • January 2015 (5)
2014
  • December 2014 (8)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (7)
  • September 2014 (5)
  • August 2014 (3)
  • July 2014 (5)
  • June 2014 (6)
  • May 2014 (7)
  • April 2014 (7)
  • March 2014 (5)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (7)
2013
  • December 2013 (8)
  • November 2013 (6)
  • October 2013 (7)
  • September 2013 (5)
  • August 2013 (6)
  • July 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (4)
  • May 2013 (4)
  • April 2013 (5)
  • March 2013 (2)
  • February 2013 (2)
  • January 2013 (4)
2012
  • December 2012 (7)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (9)
  • September 2012 (7)
  • August 2012 (9)
  • July 2012 (8)
  • June 2012 (8)
  • May 2012 (9)
  • April 2012 (8)
  • March 2012 (9)
  • February 2012 (7)
  • January 2012 (9)
2011
  • December 2011 (7)
  • November 2011 (8)
  • October 2011 (7)
  • September 2011 (7)
  • August 2011 (8)
  • July 2011 (8)
  • June 2011 (9)
  • May 2011 (7)
  • April 2011 (9)
  • March 2011 (8)
  • February 2011 (8)
  • January 2011 (7)
2010
  • December 2010 (8)
  • November 2010 (6)
  • October 2010 (2)
  • September 2010 (6)
  • August 2010 (5)
Additional Resources
  • Media & Trade
  • Lodi Winegrape Commission
  • Donation Requests
  • Returns & Cancellations
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
Contact

Lodi Wine Visitor Center
2545 West Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
209.365.0621
Open: Thursday - Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm

Lodi Winegrape Commission
2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, CA 95242
209.367.4727
Open: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Have a question? Complete our contact form.

  • © Copyright 2021 Lodi Winegrape Commission
  • Winery Ecommerce by WineDirect