Photographic memories of Lodi’s 27th Wine and Chocolate weekend

ByRandy Caparoso
Intimate dinner with the winemaker (Stuart Spencer, third from left) in the St. Amant Winery barrel room on the first night of Lodi’s Wine and Chocolate weekend.

Neither rain (luckily, minimal!) nor blustery winds seemed to deter thousands of Lodi wine lovers from enjoying the region’s 27th annual Wine and Chocolate weekend, this past February 2-4, 2024.

Friday the 2nd started with intimate dinners or special tasting events at Heritage Oak, Housley’s Century Oak, Oak Farm, Peltier, Rippey Family, St. Amant, and The Dancing Fox wineries.

Group of people tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event in front of wine barrels.
Wine and chocolate lovers enjoying a Winery Tours stop at Barsetti Vineyards in Galt, at the north end of Lodi.

For the Saturday self-guided Winery Tours, wine and chocolate lovers could pick and choose to visit 35 participating wineries.

And on Sunday the 4th, it was the festive grand finale, a select group of Lodi’s finest wineries showing off their whites, rosés, and sparklers at the Winemakers Toast, held at the Lodi Wine Visitor Center.

The proof is in the pudding; or rather, the images of wine lovers enjoying this special weekend. A few of our favorite photo-memories…

Women enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event under a tent.
Wine and chocolate lovers at Klinker Brick Winery.
Christy Nakada—widely followed wine influencer (@christyonthevine) and blogger (christyonthevine.com)—enjoying the Sunday Winemakers Toast with her partner Sean.
Three women smiling and holding wine glasses at a wine tasting event in Lodi, California.
Three power women of Lodi: Elvira Gutierrez (Bokisch Vineyards Digital & Strategic Coordinator), Christina Lopez (Acquiesce Winery Winemaker), and Susana Rodriguez Vasquez (LangeTwins Family Director of Winemaking)—at the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Group of five people enjoying wine and dinner at a round table with pink tablecloth, smiling and toasting.
Lodi wine lovers at the Friday Winemaker dinner at Heritage Oak Winery.
Smiling woman holding a glass of red wine at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Lodi tastemaker, wine, and fashion influencer Tracci Dare (@daringdarlingbold) takes a sip at the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Group of diverse people enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Couples relaxing after partaking of the Friday custom blending and bottling event at Peltier Winery.
A pianist performs at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with a table set for wine tasting.
Heritage Oak Winery owner/grower/winemaker Tom Hoffman playing his baby grand just before the Friday Wine and Chocolate Winemaker Dinner.
Cello player performing at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event, showcasing local wine and music culture.
Viola during Friday Winemaker Dinner at Heritage Oak Winery.
Wine and chocolate lovers enjoying the reception just before the Friday Winemaker Dinner at St. Amant Winery.
Group of people at a wine tasting event with Lodi Winegrape Commission banner in the background.
St. Amant Winery owner/winemaker Stuart Spencer greeting guests at his Friday Winemaker Dinner.
St. Amant Winery assistant winemaker Nathan Haberkern pouring at Friday Winemaker Dinner.
Toasts to good fortune at the Rippey Family Winery Friday night Winemaker Dinner.
People socializing at a wine tasting event with wine bottles on display in the background.
Wine and chocolate lovers at Downtown Lodi’s Estate Crush, where they started their Saturday Winery Tours.
Two men tasting wine from a barrel at a winery, with wine barrels in the background.
Estate Crush owner Bob Colarossi sampling guests on his Stellina Estate Zinfandel straight from the barrel.
People enjoying a social gathering outdoors with decorated trees and a fountain in Lodi, California.
Wine lovers at Klinker Brick Winery taking their leisure beside the “old vine fountain” during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Group of women celebrating with wine glasses at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
BFFs celebrating Lodi Wine and Chocolate weekend at Klinker Brick Winery.
Wine barrel with a glass spout for tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Saturday Winery Tours barrel tasting at Lodi’s Estate Crush.
Two women at a wine tasting event, smiling and enjoying wine and chocolates outdoors.
Klinker Brick Winery owner Steve Felten personally attended to the pouring of chocolate sauce during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Two people sitting at a table outdoors in a garden, smiling, with lush greenery and brick paving.
Wine and chocolate lovers enjoying the Saturday tasting at Klinker Brick Winery.
Group of friends celebrating with wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
At Peirano Estate, wine and chocolate lovers enshrine their 2024 Lodi Wine and Chocolate glasses festooned with hearts.
Two women smiling at a wine event, holding glasses of red wine, with a heart-shaped balloon in the background.
Wine and chocolate lovers looking through the world through rose-colored glasses at Peirano Estate.
Group of people enjoying wine tasting outdoors under a canopy at a Lodi wine event.
Lodi wine and chocolate lovers arrive at Macchia Winery in their limo-van.
Musicians performing live with guitar and microphone under a pink umbrella at a Lodi wine event.
Live music at Macchia Winery during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Smiling man and woman holding wine glasses at a wine tasting event.
Lodi wine lovers at Macchia Winery during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Two women at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with heart-themed backdrop and photo props.
Fun at the Machia Winery photo booth during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Smiling woman in a black hat and beige sweater at a wine event, holding a glass of wine.
Fashionable Lodi wine maven enjoying a quiet moment at Macchia Winery during the Winery Tours event.
Group of people enjoying a social event, smiling and holding drinks, at a Lodi Winegrape Commission gathering.
Wine and chocolate lovers at Macchia Winery.
Group of five people with colorful glasses and signs at a photo booth, celebrating and having fun.
More photo booth fun at Macchia Winery.
Happy woman holding a newspaper article about Lodi winegrapes in a wine shop.
Proclaiming the news at the McCay Cellars table at Woodbridge Uncorked during the Saturday Winery Tours.
Crowd of people at a wine tasting event organized by the Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Connoisseurs of Lodi wine tasting the appellation’s best during the Sunday Winemakers toast.
Woman tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with others in background.
Sampling the Peltier ZANTE! (a dry sparkling Zinfandel) during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Two women smiling and holding a wine glass at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Enjoying the good life at the Lodi Wine and Chocolate Winemakers Toast.
Woman pouring red wine into a glass at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
The Lucas Winery assistant winemaker Eliza Hess treating guests to her winery’s dry style Zinfandel rosé.
Enjoy the whites, rosés, and sparklers during the Lodi Winemakers Toast.
Woman presenting wine bottles at a wine tasting event with roses in the background.
Intercoastal Wine Company Wine Club Director sharing her winery’s whites, rosés and sparklers during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Two people enjoying wine at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event, engaging in conversation indoors.
Sharing the love of Lodi wine during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Woman at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with wine bottle and floral arrangement.
St. Jorge Winery owner Jenise Vierra personally pours her family wines during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.
Group of diverse people enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Friends and lovers celebrating at the Lodi Wine and Chocolate Winemakers Toast event.

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