Let us count the ways we love Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend

ByRandy Caparoso
Wine & Chocolate lovers at Klinker Brick Winery

LODI’S 17th ANNUAL WINE & CHOCOLATE WEEKEND
February 8 & 9, 2014 | 11am – 4pm

2009 Old Vine Zinfandel Love Potion wine label on wooden barrel.
Harmony Wynelands Zinfandel

Why do we love Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend? Let us count just some of the ways…

  • Chocolate molé enchiladas and Bokisch Vineyards‘ exotic Spanish varietals at Downtown Lodi’s Cellar Door…
  • The gushing chocolate fountain and super-fine Italian varietals at Sorelle Winery…
  • The heritage Zinfandel and chocolate chili matches at Harney Lane Winery…
  • The majestic old vines (oldest Zinfandel plantings in Lodi) and barrel tastings at Jessie’s Grove Winery…
  • Chocolate chicken molé savored with classic ancient vine Zinfandel at m2‘s spanking new winery at 2900 E. Peltier Road…
  • Barrel tastings if single-vineyard Zinfandel bottlings, live music and the photo booth at McCay Cellars…
  • Sexy sliders (chocolate covered bacon BLTs!) at the brand new Wine Social tasting lounge on Downtown Lodi’s School Strett…
  • Getting “chocolate wasted” and wham-bam-thank-you-m’am live music at Van Ruiten Family Winery…
  • Homemade dark chocolate brownies in “heritage chocolate drizzle” with cutting-edge “Fusion” wines at Borra Vineyards…
  • Chocolate pizza (!) and sophisticated live jazz at Heritage Oak Winery, alongside a bucolic bend of the Mokelumne River
  • Brie and chocolate panini’s in the newly opened LangeTwins Family Winery “Press Room” (surrounded by gigantic wine presses and stacks of wine barrels)
  • Endless meatballs coated in habanero Zinfandel Port reduction (and the incredible array of ancient vine Zinfandels) at Macchia Wines…
  • Backbone-slippin’, rockin’ live music between the sky-high stacks of barrels (plus liberal pours of top-of-the-line “Lust” Zinfandel) at Michael David Winery…
  • Fusions of chocolate tapas (by Alebrijes Mexican Bistro‘s celebrity chef, Ruben Larrazolo) at Viñedos Aurora‘s Pamplona Tapas in Downtown Lodi…
  • Barrel tastings of decadently rich, sweet Port style wines at d’Art Wines…

… and more, oh so much more, happening the weekend of February 8 & 9. What are you waiting for? To sign up or if you really need even more reasons, please visit lodiwineandchocolate.com.

Some photographs of real, memorable moments experienced during recent Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekends:

People tasting wine at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event, enjoying wine samples outdoors.
Zin lovers at Van Ruiten Family Winery
Crowd enjoying wine tasting at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a rustic venue.
Good times at Harmony Wynelands
Smiling couple at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with Valentine's Day decorations.
Macchia owners Lani & Tim Holdener
Wine & chocolate music at Klinker Brick Winery
Good times at d’Art Wines
Wine expert pours wine for two women at a Lodi wine tasting event.
Barrel tasting with McCay Cellars’ Michael McCay
Wine & Chocolate dancing at Michael David Winery
Pow wow at Harney Lane Winery
Proposal at Van Ruiten Family Winery
Woman enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, smiling with glass in hand.
Habanero meatballs in chocolate drizzle… decadent single-vineyard Macchia Zinfandels… life is good!

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