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’s wet, wild, wonderful 2015 Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Zinfandel and kisses in the rain at Lodi’s m2 winery…
Thousands of wine lovers can’t be wrong! It was a wet, wet pre-Valentine’s weekend, to be sure, which did nothing to dampen the hearts and spirits of wine and chocolate lovers pouring in from all over for Lodi wine country’s annual rites of February pleasure.
Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend, after all, is all about the deleriously delicious wines grown in the Lodi AVA; luscious Zinfandels, tempting Tempranillos, boisterous Petite Sirahs, gracious Grenaches, airy light and refreshing whites, pinks and much, much more – all totally marvelous matches for chocolaty treats, true lovers, good friends and good times.
Or so it seems, when you look at the photos that we snapped of our impassioned wine and chocolate lovers: their faces seemingly oblivious to the watery walkways, drizzling skies, clouds in their glasses, but no clouds in the mind. Such civilized fun!
Our photographic record…
Wine & Chocolate Weekenders at Oak Farm Winery tasting bar…
A Wine & Chocolate Weekend ritual: decorating of glasses…
Brix Chocolates – our Wine & Chocolate Weekend co-sponsor – ready to go…
Lovin’ those heart stenciled wine glasses…
The gang’s all here at McCay Cellars…
The McCay Cellars crew, ready to go!
Takin’ it easy at McCay Cellars…
Wine & Chocolate Weekenders at Oak Farm Winery tasting bar…
Cool zin lovin’ cats at McCay Cellars…
Enjoying the wet, wine soaked air at Durst Winery…
Flooded parking lot, wet hair, no problem for Durst Winery owner Cassandra Durst!
The crispy fried calamari crew at Durst Winery…
Vintage plated barrel at Twisted Barrel Winery…
Vino tasting on the barrel at Durst Winery…
Rich red, liquid love at Durst Winery…
Entrance to Durst Winery in Acampo (east side of Lodi)…
Wine and chocolate lovers being served by Brad and Randy Lange in LangeTwins Winery’s Press Room (tasting bar in barrel room beneath massive wine presses)…
Entrance to LangeTwins tasting room…
Wine lovers strolling through LangeTwins’ barrel room…
Wine lovers enjoying treats and service in LangeTwins barrel room…
Tasting in LangeTwins barrel room…
LangeTwins’ guest artist Kathy Womack with her Texas and wine inspired work…
Serious wine tasting among LangeTwins barrels…
Kathy Womack’s Dia de Los Muertos inspired paintings among LangeTwins barrels…
Pink wine made from Sangiovese in LangeTwins barrel room…
Group shot in LangeTwins winery Press Room…
Through the stainless steel fermentors at LangeTwins winery…
Boarding the “party” limo…
Inside the “party” limo with serious Lodi Wine & Chocolate lovers…
Entrance to Grace Vineyards tasting room in Galt (east side of Lodi)…
Grace Vineyards’ gracefully balanced Zinfandel and Tempranillo…
Back door to Grace Vineyards…
Leafy icon at Grace Vineyards…
From the expansive green lawn behind Grace Vineyards…
Quiet grace of Barsetti Vineyards tasting room in Galt…
Barsetti Vineyards' Janice Barsetti with her west side grown Zinfandel – one of the finest, silkiest, most fragrant in Lodi…
Beautifully fluted lights in Barsetti tasting room…
Wine & Chocolate scene in m2 Wines tasting room…
m2 winery's earthen rust colored exterior…
Friends and lovers at m2 winery…
At m2 winery, all decked out for Valentine's…
m2 owners Layne and Jan Montgomery (right) talking zin…
Barrel tasting with the winemaker at m2 winery…
Foil caps in m2 tasting room…
Wine & chocolate lovers at Oak Farm Vineyards
Civilized outdoor living scene at Oak Farm Vineyards…
Oak Farm tasting room manager Annalisa Sharp Babich struttin' her stuff…
Group selfie in Oak Farm tasting room…
Going with the flow at Oak Farm…
Birthday girl at Oak Farm Vineyards…
Good times at Oak Farm…
The historic Devries home at Oak Farm Vineyards…
Gotta luv Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend…
Zinfandel in glass, how sweet the sound…
Still what it's all about: old vine Zinfandel on Lodi's east side…
Texas style wine lovin' by LangeTwins's guest artist Kathy Womack…
Hello and so long from Lodi wine country!