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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
 
February 7, 2024 | Randy Caparoso

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

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.

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...

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 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.

Lodi wine lovers at the Friday Winemaker dinner at Heritage Oak Winery.

Lodi tastemaker, wine, and fashion influencer Tracci Dare (@daringdarlingbold) takes a sip at the Sunday Winemakers Toast.

Couples relaxing after partaking of the Friday custom blending and bottling event at Peltier Winery.

Heritage Oak Winery owner/grower/winemaker Tom Hoffman playing his baby grand just before the Friday Wine and Chocolate Winemaker Dinner.

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.

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.

Wine and chocolate lovers at Downtown Lodi's Estate Crush, where they started their Saturday Winery Tours.

Estate Crush owner Bob Colarossi sampling guests on his Stellina Estate Zinfandel straight from the barrel.

Wine lovers at Klinker Brick Winery taking their leisure beside the "old vine fountain" during the Saturday Winery Tours.

BFFs celebrating Lodi Wine and Chocolate weekend at Klinker Brick Winery.

Saturday Winery Tours barrel tasting at Lodi's Estate Crush.

Klinker Brick Winery owner Steve Felten personally attended to the pouring of chocolate sauce during the Saturday Winery Tours.

Wine and chocolate lovers enjoying the Saturday tasting at Klinker Brick Winery.

At Peirano Estate, wine and chocolate lovers enshrine their 2024 Lodi Wine and Chocolate glasses festooned with hearts.

Wine and chocolate lovers looking through the world through rose-colored glasses at Peirano Estate.

Lodi wine and chocolate lovers arrive at Macchia Winery in their limo-van.

Live music at Macchia Winery during the Saturday Winery Tours.

Lodi wine lovers at Macchia Winery during the Saturday Winery Tours.

Fun at the Machia Winery photo booth during the Saturday Winery Tours.

Fashionable Lodi wine maven enjoying a quiet moment at Macchia Winery during the Winery Tours event.

Wine and chocolate lovers at Macchia Winery.

More photo booth fun at Macchia Winery.

Proclaiming the news at the McCay Cellars table at Woodbridge Uncorked during the Saturday Winery Tours.

Connoisseurs of Lodi wine tasting the appellation's best during the Sunday Winemakers toast.

Sampling the Peltier ZANTE! (a dry sparkling Zinfandel) during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.

Enjoying the good life at the Lodi Wine and Chocolate Winemakers Toast.

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.

Intercoastal Wine Company Wine Club Director sharing her winery's whites, rosés and sparklers during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.

Sharing the love of Lodi wine during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.

St. Jorge Winery owner Jenise Vierra personally pours her family wines during the Sunday Winemakers Toast.

Friends and lovers celebrating at the Lodi Wine and Chocolate Winemakers Toast event.

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Lodi Wine Visitor Center
2545 West Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
209.365.0621
Open: Daily 10:00am-5:00pm

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

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