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
 
April 3, 2017 | Randy Caparoso

Spring-fresh new releases at Lodi Wine & Food Festival

2017 Lodi Wine & Food Festival in Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion

For 35 years it was the Lodi Spring Wine Show, but now it is the Lodi Wine & Food Festival that takes place each year at the end of March or beginning of April on the grounds of the Lodi Grape Festival.

No matter, because the 2nd Annual Lodi Wine & Food Festival still had the feeling of spring, as it gave many of the participating Lodi wineries a chance to trot out their latest wines – including recently bottled 2016 whites and rosés, which are all vinified pretty much bone-dry (the days of sweet, tutti-fruity “vin rosé” are long gone, and even soda-pop-like White Zinfandel is pooh-poohed by the local vintners of today).

The event took place in the late afternoon of this past Saturday (April 1, 2017), with the cheery, skin warming sunlight of spring equinox days – inching its way up, for a couple of minutes longer each day – lighting up the historic Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion, within which wine and food lovers could clearly see and feel like standing inside a gigantic, ribbed, wooden wine barrel (either that or an upside-down Noah's Ark). Don’t you love these things about Lodi?

Without further ado, some notes on some of the more memorable new wines shown over the weekend:

2016 PRIE Winery, Mokelumne Glen Vineyards Lodi Gewürztraminer – It’s spring, so we all look for “new.” Hence, it’s fun to see this still-new (less than three years), boutique sized Alpine Rd. winery expand its portfolio. This year we’ll be seeing more wines crafted from German grapes grown by Mokelumne Glen, also on the east side of town. This particular one is a dry style of Gewürztraminer, but it has the extremely flowery, billowing fragrance of the grape – suggesting lychee, rose petals, peach and grapefruit. The feel is light on the palate (11.7% alcohol), and there is a trace of the grape skin bitterness also typical of the grape. But it is a refreshing, palate scrubbing bitterness – think of it like an Italian apertivo – that would actually enhance most “other white meat” dishes (pork, chicken, squab, etc.), although the winery recommends it with pasta tossed with Pecorino and pancetta (another great notion).

PRIE Winery owner Lisa Gash with Mokelumne Glen grower Brett Koth and their Gewürztraminer

2016 Klinker Brick, Lodi Albariño – Albariño is practically Lodi’s “Chardonnay” – more of the small local wineries produce it, and it highlights the region’s sun drenched Mediterranean slant. Also, it is a grape that retains the varietal’s buoyant natural acidity, flowery perfume, eminent dryness and airy feel when grown in the Delta air. The nose in Klinker Brick’s rendering is positively confectionary in its essences, suggesting peach skin, lime, and tropical white flowers. The citrus/lime notes sharpen the fruit qualities, leaving lip-smacking sensations in their wake.

2016 Peltier Winery, Lodi Rouge Rosé – Bottled under this winery’s most recent line of “Black Diamond” labels, here’s another bone dry style pink (crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir) to add to Lodi’s growing list of imaginative curios in this genre. This one is unabashedly pink – a bright, coral reef-like blaze of pink color – and its strawberry/cherry aromas and flavors are slinky and slurpy, with a medium-full feel. The bouncy fruit qualities  are zipped up by a mild tartness (think cranberries with twists of lemon peel), as the wine hops joyfully back and forth across the palate.

2016 Klinker Brick, Bricks & Roses Lodi Rosé – This winery’s latest iteration of dry rosé indicates a movement away from pure Grenache qualities; now taking on the complexity possible in the blending of Carignan, Syrah, Mourvèdre along with Grenache – Mediterranean grapes that grow well and plentiful in the region. The nose starts off both floral and mildly of dried kitchen herbs, with strawberry/watermelon qualities rising up from beneath. Bone dry, lightly tart, almost lean yet zippy in the mouth – the sensations taking on more of a stony dryness rather than the annoyingly monochromatic fruitiness more typical of California grown rosés. In other words, very Provençal, even if a tad fuller. Think about this the next time you’re grilling salmon and serving it up with a side of fresh pico de gallo or watermelon salsa.

Klnker Brick owner/grower Steve Felten and his latest rosé

2014 Maley Bros., Lodi Merlot – It is time to forget what that character Miles said about Merlot in the movie Sideways. Merlot can be delicious and satisfying; especially this one, retailing only for about $14. There is an unvarnished quality about this wine: its plump black cherry aroma underscored by a fun, interesting, herby/mint spriggy leafiness, and mercifully free of unnecessarily woody oak “flourishes” more ambitious winemakers are wont to impose on that purity. On the palate, the wine is judiciously fleshy, with a velvet feel very proper for the varietal. The herbiness in the nose takes a little turn towards a mild organic loaminess, and the moderate, well rounded tannins have a touch of tobacco in the taste. This is what Lodi can do: produce a wine true to the varietal character, with a little bit of the regional stamp – all for a terrific price!

Maley Bros. owner/grower Todd Maley with his Merlot

2014 PRIE Winery, Lodi Petite Sirah – Every Petite Sirah lover has slightly different thoughts about the grape. Many like its big, bold feel in the mouth; others, its rounded, voluminous feel, or its occasional pepper-grinder spice. But if you like the blueberry aspects of the varietal, you’ll find oodles of it here – lush, ripe, effusive aromas and flavors of blueberry-like fruit. On the palate, the wine is full in body and tannin, giving an almost roasted dark coffee-like thickness and mild bitterness to the taste. All the more likely to appeal to a P.S. lover!

2014 McCay Cellars, Rous Vineyard Lodi Zinfandel – We’ve covered this Znfandel in a previous post – crafted from one of Lodi’s more venerated ancient vine growths (planted in 1909) – but it bears another mention because, well, it was showing spectacularly over the weekend: violet and red cherry perfumes encased in cracked peppercorn and cardamom spices, bursting from the glass like the 4th of July; velvet layers and bright, upbeat yet mildly earthy sensations flowing across the palate like foam on tropical shores. Or is it mostly the feel of spring in the air?

More scenes from the 2017 Lodi Wine & Food Festival:

Celebrity Chef Bradley Ogden and Wine & Roses Hotel owner Kathy Munson serving silver lined hospitality at Lodi Wine & Food Festival

McCay Cellars' Mike McCay engaging wine lovers

Guitar at Lodi Wine & Food Festival

Old vines planted all around Lodi's Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion

 

Tweet
Pin It

Comments

Commenting has been turned off.
Blog Search
Recent Posts
  • 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
  • December 3, 2020
    The original Lodi Natives — the Plains Miwok
Our Writers
  • Randy Caparoso (803)
Blog Archives
2021
  • January 2021 (3)
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