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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
 
February 13, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi’s memorable 2012 Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Good times during Wine & Chocolate Weekend at Klinker Brick Winery...

Nearly 5,000 lovers of love, life, chocolate and all the variations of lush, juicy Lodi wine cannot be wrong about Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend this past weekend, February 11-12, 2012.

Just four of the many vinous and chocolate infused highlights that were enjoyed:

 

2009 Bokisch Lodi Tempranillo ($21) with churros and chocolate a la taza (“by the cup”) – A smack of new leather, a squeeze of fresh bing cherry, and a brush of silk on the cheek — what else for a wine that tastes like this with churros dipped in black chocolate?

2007 Van Ruiten Family Lodi Late Harvest Viognier ($27/500 ML) with white chocolate tipped dried apricots – An OMG match for this golden rich sweet wine, dripping with honeysuckle, apricot and tropical floral fruitiness.

Harney Lane Lizzy James Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel “Port Style Wine” ($35/500 ml.) with chocolate chili & Lockeford linguisa – A sweet, satiny, chocolaty, raspberry dessert red with spicy sausages and chocolaty chili?  We kid you not — an exhilarating combination!

2008 Jeremy Lodi Petit Verdot ($24) with tamales in chocolate mole sauce – This finely textured dry varietal red, replete with blue and red berry notes, made a completely seamless match with this earth toned snack.

And some photographic memories:

Jeremy Wine Co.'s Choral Trettevik...

Lodi wine & chocolate lovers at Jeremy Wine Co....

 

Lining them up at Estate Crush...

Wine lovers at Estate Crush...

Churros in chocolate at Lodi Cellar Door...

Savoring at Lodi Cellar Door...

The Bokisch Gang at Lodi Cellar Door...

Mardi Gras theme at d'Art Wines...

 

Gang's all here at d'Art Wines...

Beware of d'Art dog...

Dave Dart's good ol' truck...

Tasting among the tanks at Peltier Station Winery...

Macchia Wines is "the spot"...

Ladeez at Macchia...

Macchia owners Tim & Lani Holdener...

The party in the barrel room at Michael-David Winery

Tasting in Michael-David's...

The service at Van Ruiten Family Winery...

Girls weekend out at Van Ruiten Family Winery...

 

All kinds of fun at Van Ruiten...

... not to mention The King at Van Ruiten's..

 

Vineyard through the harvester at Harney Lane Winery...

The ladies of Vinedos Aurora checking out Harney Lane Winery...

Chocolate chili at Harney Lane Winery...

Harney Lane patriarch, George Mettler...

Wine lovers at Harmony Wynelands...

Harmony Wynelands' Shaun MacKay...

Love in a barrel at Harmony Wynelands...

Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players at Klinker Brick Winery

Klinker Brick's Farrah Felten...

What it's all about: 110 year old zin vine along Harney Lane...

 

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