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.
A year in Lodi 2011 (part 1)
Against the typical cloudy backdrop of January, ancient Lodi vines, just pruned and conserving energy for their upcoming spring bud break...
Looking back on another fruitful year in the Delta
Looking back at our favorite photos of the past year also gives us a good sense of how vintage 2011 developed, and more to look forward to in the years to come when we finally uncork and taste the year in our mouths. Some of our favorite scenes from the past year:
DECEMBER 2010
Tucked in for winter's nap: 2nd generation Lodi winemaker David Akiyoshi looking at the 100+ year old vines -- the backbone of LangeTwins' elegant yet ferociously intense black label Zinfandel -- owned by Charlie Lewis on the east side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA
December topping: Heritage Oak's Tom Hoffman tops off his barrels; one of the constant chores in any winery, big or small...
Hollowed out (but still thriving) trunk of 80 year old vine going into McCay's Truluck's Zinfandel
JANUARY 2011
Pruning begins in earnest in January...
Sand dune intensity: these wizened, prostrate 100+ year old vines in Leland's Noma Vineyard (east of 99, going into Macchia's Outrageous Zinfandel) produce miniscule yet powerful vines...
New stars: Mike Scott parlayed success engineering Delta wind turbines to turn the historic Dodge House (1866) into Sorelle Winery, with daughters Kim and Melissa...
FEBRUARY
Chocolate chili at Harney Lane: thousands of wine lovers descend upon Lodi for Wine & Chocolate Weekend...
Harmony Wynelands: while wine and chocolate revelers hopped from winery to winery, the work of pruning the vines went on...
Ray Rd. success story: Amrik Dahliwal came to Lodi from Punjab in the early '80s to pick grapes for $11 a day, and now farms over 300 acres of his own...
MARCH
Ray Rd. roots: Todd Maley, tapping one his old zins, represents a family tradition of agriculture entwined with the Phillips (Michael-David) going back a century in Lodi...
Third generation grower Rod Schatz typifies many of Lodi's families, turning to winemaking (Peltier Station and Hybrid) rather than depending upon other wineries...
Patrick Campbell -- who popularized Lodi with his "ZaZin!" and "Reds" bottlings -- photographed these 100 year old Carignane vines (Jessie's Grove) while in their naked wintry splendor...
m2's Layne Montgomery blending his commemorative zin for the upcoming Lodi ZinFest/p>
Spring started off gray and wet, but that didn't keep DIY Network from building a new outdoor tasting room for Ripken Vineyards...
APRIL
Vintage strawberry: Lucero Organic Farms' Ben Lucero shows off the first of his exquisite Seascape strawberries...
Alebrijes chef/owner Ruben Larrazolo does his weekly Saturday shopping at Galt's open market...
Spring activity: at Harney Lane, the trellised vines and creaky old truck limber up under brightening spring skies...
First buds: Mohr-Fry vines burst into spring...
Old men walking: zin vines a staggering 110 years old at Mohr-Fry Ranches
Old timers of another sort: Steve Borra, Michael-David's Michael Phillips and David Lucas were three of Lodi's winery pioneers...
Ancient dwarves: these budding, 2 ft. zin vines were originally planted by Giacomo Peirano at the end of the 19th century...
Prized buds: Delicato's Sue Hoffman in Cusumano's Hwy. 12 vineyard, the primary source of the ultra-premium Brazin zin
Spring blue hours: as days get longer, sunsets get brighter in Harney Lane's vineyards, still soggy from April showers...
MAY
Downtown Lodi: sculpted shopper
ZinFest smiles: May is also ZinFest month in Lodi, when the Vicarmont gang (pictured here) pour for thousands of wine lovers coming from far and near...
More Downtown Lodi: live boy, sculpted painter
Like a pro: ZinFest wine lovers know their stuff...
Famous red shorts: by May, Peirano's Lance Randolph has already been wearing his red shorts for at least a month (never removed until the last of Lodi's wine grapes are picked each year)...
Tres amigos: Michael McCay, lodiwine.com's Randy Caparoso and Markus Bokisch at the annual ZinFest on Lodi Lake
ZinFest tarantism: wine lovers by the lake...
JUNE
Ferrari Farms' certified organic fruit stand at the spring opening of Lodi's Farmers Market
Addy's paella at Lodi Farmers Market
Zin rehab: Klinker Brick's Steve Felten with 94 year old, dry farmed Cherry Rd. vine he is nursing back to full health...
117 year old east side zin vines in a lush stage with burgeoning clusters within two months of bud break...
Wild growth starting to cover the bare ground under century year old vines in Schmiedt Ranch...
School Street Bistro proprietor David Akiyoshi (also LangeTwins' winemaker) greets Dave Phillips (left) and his Lodi visitor friends...
JULY
Gregg Lewis (Dancing Fox grower/proprietor) and Adam Webb (Odisea winemaker/partner) taking a peek at their rapidly growing Grenache...
Adam Webb's dog enjoys green Grenache grown by Bokisch...
Wine & Roses Hotel celebrates Bastille Day...
Wine & Roses' Russ Munson and Kim Nejak toast to Bastille Day...
The Ripken gang gearing up for the Lodi Cyclefest
Mettler Family Vineyards' Jason Eels and Larry Mettler...