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.

January 29, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

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

Wine & Chocolate lovers at Klinker Brick Winery

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

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: