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.
Lodi at the California Wine Festivals
Lodi is invading the beautiful, sun splashed seaside towns of Southern and Central California!
LangeTwins' Joe Lange will rep this venerable Lodi family in OC and Santa Barbara
No less than 10 of Lodi’s finest wineries will be present and accounted for at the 2nd Annual California Wine Festival, which takes place in two outdoor venues, on two sets of dates: the first, in the laid back, sea salt scented, Surf City atmosphere of Doheny State Beach in Orange County’s Dana Point (April 29-30, 2011); and the second, in chic, sophisticated Santa Barbara (July 14-16, 2011).
Orange County alone is home to over 3 million people; many of them with a growing thirst for the type of pure, fruit forward, unbelievably price worthy wines that Lodi’s ultra-premium wineries are quickly becoming known for.
Santa Barbara, just a hop, skip or jaunt away from the City of Angels, may be an even more promising market for Lodi — according to Charlene Lange, the Marketing/Public Relations Manager of LangeTwins Winery, and one of the main cogs behind this merry band of Delta vignerons.
According to Lange, “we contacted the California Wine Festival and asked if there was an opportunity for ‘LODI’ to exhibit en masse. Lucky for us, they made us a fine offer… we gathered together 10 wineries, and voila! The California Wine Festival will give us a great opporutinity to share our wines and broadcast the Lodi appellation.
“David Phillips (of Michael~David Winery) also deserves a lot of credit for pushing hard to get Lodi wines out into the market. Our price points have always been significant, and our quality competes easily with wineries from anywhere else. All we need is more exposure, and the festivals are just one way to achieve that.”
Peltier Station's Rod & Gayla Schatz
So if you’re a wine lover, mark these two events on your calendar: when you’ll be able to meet a few of Lodi’s finest, and savor the taste of Lodi fruit by these outstanding wineries:
*While Ironstone’s winery is located in the gold rush town of Murphys in the Sierra Foothills, the vast majority of the 5,000-plus acres farmed by proprietors John and Gail Kautz is located within the Lodi AVA.
Jessie's Grove's Greg Burns will be bringing it; including wines from his spectacular 122 year old Royal Tee Vineyard Carignane