The second half of spring in California wine country often feels like summer because of the occasional heat spikes mixed in with the cloudy days and intermittent rains. Enjoy the latter because come summer there ain’t no clouds or rain to be had in most of California’s wine regions, largely characterized by a parched Mediterranean…
1969. If you weren’t born yet, we envy your youth, but feel sorry you missed it. There were good times in 1969. There was a little thing called Woodstock, which everyone and their friends’ friends claimed to have “almost” attended. Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Sports fans…
Full-on into our third month of SIP living, it still is as good a time as any to talk about wines that taste great with the foods we love most. Ask just about any red-blooded American to name their all-time favorite home-cooked meals, and at the top of most lists would be pizza, steaks, and…
The dual success of both Zinfandel and Tokay (a.k.a. Flame Tokay) in Lodi, which really began in the 1880s and lasted until the 1980s, was never just related to economics and historical circumstances. It was also always terroir related — particularly as it pertains to the sandy loam soil…
You can buy darned good cheese just about anywhere, but there’s the reason why Cheese Central in the heart of Downtown Lodi‘s historic district is so aptly named: You won’t find a better selection (hundreds of different artisanal cheeses from around the world, including those of the finest American fromagers) all in one, cozy place,…
The first settlers of European descent arrived in the area we know as Lodi in 1846; finding what Ralph A. Clark (Lodi —Images of America) described as “an abundant paradise,” perched just a few feet above sea level, sandwiched between the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada…
Dwelt a miner, forty-niner (a little bit of Lodi winegrowing history) Beans, beans, the musical fruit. Like wine, it’s very good for you; and like wine, it’s best consumed in moderation. But when beans are really good, moderation can be, well, challenging. Like Mike McCay’s self-described 49er Gold Rush Beans (please see recipe at end…
A genuinely delicious varietal Flame Tokay (who da thunk?) Table grapes — even antiquated varieties, long abandoned by consumers, fresh fruit markets, and growers because of one major flaw, pesky seeds — are not supposed to make decent wines. Try telling Adam Sabelli-Frisch that. Sabelli-Frisch is an L.A.-based vintner, who has only recently started up…
Coming into week #6 of shelter-in-place living — why does it feel like 6 months? If we weren’t still living under the 6-ft. rule, I’d suggest we all gather in a circle and pat each other on the back for a job well done. We may have turned a corner (operative term, “may”), but as…
Happy 2020 Earth Day from the Lodi Winegrape Commission! In 1992 a group of progressive farmers in Lodi, California launched a grassroots program aimed at reducing pesticide use through education of the vineyard ecosystem, commonly referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). After more than a decade of research and contributions from farmers, viticulturists, and…
After five weeks of self-quarantined lifestyle, I suppose we are all getting better at it. Sure, it’s challenging. Can’t even get into the local hardware store for nails or lightbulbs without standing in a 10-minute line. Our friendly neighborhood bankers no longer want to see us — it’s machine only, buddy. But you have to…
If one conception of “art” is being taken from one place to another without moving an inch, the 2017 Voluptuary Sparkling Picpoul Blanc, v. 01 – “Book of Life” ($38) is, to use a ’60s parlance, a real “trip.” First, this golden-colored wine — which was fermented and then aged 9 months in neutral French…
Not quite three and a half weeks into our compelled sheltering, with no real end in sight. How are you holding up? Reading all the books you’ve always wanted to read? Binge-watching the shows that you once only dreamed about binging out on? And if you are no different than zillions of stay-at-home wine and…
Deep into our third week of life safely ensconced (we hope!) in our homes, with the comfort of our books or high-def streaming services, familiar foods, and (if you’re a wine lover) favorite wines, what better time to geek out on our favorite subjects? Here in Lodi, we love to talk about… rotundone. Ro-what? Rotundone…
Going into our third week of safely sheltering in place, we find ourselves… with almost all the time in the world to ponder life in general. And since our own lives have been all about wines and foods, that’s what we’ll talk about in this leisurely post about a couple of things: 1. Saffron. How…
Patrick Cappiello is a sommelier with over 25 years of experience in the restaurant wine industry, mostly in New York City. He’s been very successful at it, having earned recognitions such as a Wine Spectator “Grand Award” for three different restaurants, being named a 2014 “Sommelier of the Year” by Food & Wine Magazine, “Wine…
In week 2 of our mandated shelter-in-place living situation, let’s talk Tempranillo and its ideal food matches, or what we would describe as high myoglobin foods — essentially, red meat (if you want to skip the wine geek talk, scroll straight to the end of this post for our recipes for Parmesan Crusted Lamb Burgers…
In 2020 Lodi’s biggest annual wine festival, formerly known as ZinFest, was to take place on May 15-16, rechristened as Lodi Row x Row Festival. Alas, because of our global battle to flatten the curve of COVID-19, the festival has been canceled. All previously paid purchases are being refunded. Rest assured, though, a 2021 Lodi…
As of today, at least in California, “shelter in place” is no longer a suggestion. It is mandated. Venturing outside our doors to get groceries and any other essential will still be okay, but practical questions about what is “essential” will remain. The big question, of course, will be how can we make life in…
The quality of wines from around the world has grown and proliferated so much over the past ten, to twenty years, consumers now have a nearly impossible range to choose from. And so in today’s market, it is coming down to very specific tastes and preferences. It also comes down to choices that meet the…
This past Tuesday (March 10, 2020) saw a beautiful morning out in Lodi wine country. Still a little nippy in the air, but under bright and crystal blue skies, while little tiny pinkish buds were starting to poke out of surrounding trellised vines owned and farmed by LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards. The occasion was…
What is the “best” Lodi-grown Sauvignon Blancs produced today? Read on, and we’ll share detailed notes on 10 of Lodi’s most popular Sauvignon Blancs, but not before this caveat: If you’ve read any number of our blogs posted over the past 10 years, you already know that we don’t like the word “best.” At a…
While Lodi-grown Zinfandels are finer than ever, bottlings have proliferated to such an extent that consumers now have a choice of numerous styles to choose from. Quite often, multiple styles are put out by just one producer! Do you prefer a lighter, easy-drinking, fruit-forward Zinfandel? There is a growing number of Lodi Zinfandels deliberately crafted…
The 2018 Precedent Spenker Ranch Mokelumne River-Lodi Carignan ($22) is an amazing red wine because of its taste: redolent with lush, plump black cherry-ish fruit in the aroma, which transitions into flavors on the palate that is zesty and bouncy, mouth-filling yet lithe and limber in its feel (13.4% alcohol), plus long, savory, snappy sensations…