Photos of Lodi Wine Nation at another fun, tranquil ZinFest

ByRandy Caparoso
People tasting wine at the Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event in sunny weather.
ZinFesters know what they like…Lodi grown wine!

Blame it all on their roots, they showed up in boots, and all kinds of hats and wine-country-chic apparel, including threads studded with corks from their favorite bottlings of Lodi wine!

Pouring red wine into a glass with Lodi Winegrape Commission logo during wine tasting event.

They also came from places as far as Canada (whole contingents from both Vancouver and Toronto), Iowa or Florida, and as near as Sacramento, San Francisco, Reno, Carlsbad or L.A. According Macchia Wines owner/winemaker Tim Holdener, quoted in the local paper (Lodi News-Sentinel), the 2015 Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival “was very exciting… the crowd really got into it this year.”

Why not? This year’s ZinFest weather was perfect (hovering between 65° and 75° degrees), chilled by the natural A.C. furnished by the Mokelumne River and Lodi Lake surrounding Lodi Lake Park (more than one wine lover noted how these must be the only bodies of water in California filled to the top), brimming with waterfowl and a lazy Lodi weekend’s usual mild traffic of recreational watercrafts.

And the wines? Better, and even more varied, than ever, of course. The quality of Lodi grown wines now rules — everybody knows this — and their value can be be even more stupefying.

Hence, there were crowds. Bound to be, when you attract some 5,000 true-blue Lodi wine lovers to one place. At certain points, at most of the winery tables, there were lines four to eight deep of wine lovers patiently waiting for sips of their favorite wines (over 200 of Lodi’s finest being poured), or a chance for a brief conversation with their favorite Lodi winemakers (Lodi Wine country, come to think of it, is one of the few places in California where you can walk into a tasting room and chat with an owner or winemaker, rather than just tasting room employees).

But when they weren’t exploring the booths, they were simply hanging out along the lake, the river, under towering weeping willows or oaks; on couches in front of a piano bar, and under tents in front of a rocking “main stage” or while taking in demonstrations at the ZinFest Cooking School or illuminating wine-geek talk at ZinFest Wine School. In the end, they could walk (or conveniently transported on electric carts or boats) out of the park with boxes of their favorite choices, purchased at the ZinFest Wine Shoppe.

Group of women at Lodi Winegrape Commission event wearing colorful dresses and hats outdoors.
ZinFest ladies in hats

This was no Woodstock, mind you, although there was peace, love (of good wines!), and mucho mutual spirits in the Delta air. The ZinFest Wine Nation is more like a sea of tranquility: people completely comfortable in their skin and tastes — just like the wines grown in Lodi, with their sensory attributes directly reflecting the region’s long established, familial heritage, and the gentle breezes and deep, sandy, abiding soils of a distinctive terroir. Lodi wine lovers are in their own know-place — this is what they like, this is what they come for, and they enjoy it.

Ah, the friends you find in low lying places like Lodi Wine Country. Some fun photographic memories:

People enjoying wine tasting at an outdoor event organized by the Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Robert Lauchland Vineyards’ Bob Lauchland pouring for ZinFest enthusiasts
Visitors at Zinfest event under a large sign with trees and blue sky in the background.
Front gate crowd
Tour group waiting in line outdoors near trees and water at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
ZinFest wine people-jam
Lodi Winegrape Commission booth with wine bottles and colorful tablecloth at outdoor event.
Macchia Wines crew, ready to rumble
Two women talking at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with trees and umbrellas in the background.
To Zin or not to Zin…
Person pouring red wine into a glass at a wine tasting event with bottles on a colorful table.
… but it’s all about the Zin
People enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with wine bottles and glasses on a red table.
Winemaker Elyse Egan Perry talking Bokisch’s Spanish inspired varietals
Woman holding a glass of wine at a wine tasting event with Klinker Brick Winery banner in the background.
Klinker Brick’s Farrah Felten Jolley at her usual spot in the shade…
Man in Hawaiian shirt and hat talking to woman at wine tasting booth.
Klinker Brick owner/grower in his usual majesty
Smiling women at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event with trees and water in background.
Bokisch Vineyards owner/grower Liz Bokisch (left)
Two women at a wine tasting booth with bottles of wine and sunflowers, outdoors in a lush green setting.
Lovely ladies of Lodi’s Harney Lane Winery, prepared to rock
Young woman enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event.
Two Zins mo’ better… y-not?
People enjoying wine tasting outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a park setting.
Pouring silken fine and flowery Stellina Zinfandel at Estate Crush booth
People enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Peace and love among ZinFest crowd
Two men at a wine tasting event holding glasses of red wine outdoors with green trees in the background.
Lodi wine gunslingers: Markus Bokisch (Borra Vineyards) and Michael McCay (McCay Cellars)
People enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event in a park with trees and tents.
Hail, hail Lodi Zin…
Smiling woman at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with wine bottles in a red bucket.
Refreshing Dancing Coyote whites…
Group of four smiling adults at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors in a park.
Couples in cork-threaded attire…
Close-up of a woman wearing wine cork jewelry at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Close-up of (Lodi wine) cork dress
Group of people at an outdoor wine event in Lodi, California, enjoying wine tasting and socializing under trees.
Strolling bluegrass: Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players
Group of people enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
ZinFest couples enjoying Snap Jackson’s rhythms
Group of musicians playing guitar and violin outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Knock on Wood Players jammin’
Signpost with directions at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, including cooking school, games, photo booth, and wine school.
Don’t-need-a-weatherman-to-know-which-way-the-wind-blows
Two men tasting wine at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with a microphone and wine glasses.
At ZinFest Wine School: Turley Wine Cellars presents Historic Vineyard Society tasting of wines from +100-year-old vines with widely respected Lodi grower Craig Rous
Man enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, wearing sunglasses and a cap, with a glass of white wine.
ZinFester takes in Wine School “class”
Audience attending a presentation at the Lodi Winegrape Commission event under a large white tent.
San Francisco Wine School’s Fred Swan presents “Introduction to Wine Tasting”
Smiling couple enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with crowd in background.
Relaxing under ZinFest Wine School tent: Katie Klouda and Michael Klouda (Phillips Farms viticulturist and owner/winemaker of Lodi’s Klouda Wines)
Two men speaking at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event with a banner in the background.
ZinFest Wine School host Randy Caparoso introduces Borra Vineyards/Markus Wines winemaker Markus Niggli during seminar on “Lodi’s New Alternative Whites”
Woman enjoying wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event, smiling with sunglasses, holding a glass of white wine.
ZinFester enjoying Wine School geek-talk
People attending a Lodi Winegrape Commission event under a tent with speakers and a banner reading 'INFERSTY'.
m2′s Layne Montgomery and Turley’s Tegan Passlacqua talking ancient vines at Wine School
Women enjoying wine tasting at an outdoor event organized by Lodi Winegrape Commission.
McCay Cellars’ Linda McCay offering choices of iced refreshers
Colorful chalkboard sign for Vintners Regatta at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Time for 2nd annual Vintners (Barrel) Regatta!
Person in colorful costume paddling a yellow boat on water with others in boats nearby.
Macchia winemaker/owner Tim Holdener takes Vintners Regatta, in his banana boat!
Person celebrating outdoors with fruit-themed costume near water, representing Lodi Winegrape Commission.
Yes, this is one of Lodi’s finest winemakers: Regatta champ Tim Holdener of Macchia Wines
Person walking near ducks by a pond, representing Lodi's natural environment and agriculture.
Lodi Lake natives, also enjoying the day
Two people at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with colorful decorations and wine glasses.
Lodi wine lovers just wanna have fun…
Two women enjoying a wine tasting at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors.
… of course, at ZinFest, girls just wanna have fun, too
Group of women enjoying a wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Numerous contingents of lady ZinFesters
Smiling woman with glasses holding a wine glass at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Woman power: Charles Communications Associates’ Alexandra Fondren (who handles LoCA’s national P.R.) at Wine School
Woman tasting wine at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with audience in a tent.
More woman power: Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis of planetgrape.com (a.k.a. Grape Goddess) leads Wine School seminar on “The Art of Blind Tasting”
Close-up of a wine glass with ZINFEST LODI, CA logo, held outdoors with green trees in the background.
Pause that refreshes: McCay’s bone-dry White Zinfandel
Close-up of hands holding ripe cherries from Lodi winegrape harvest for winemaking.
Equally refreshing, like noble wine: Gotelli Farms Rainier cherries at ZinFest
People enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event in sunny weather.
Sophisticated fun at Lodi’s annual ZinFest
Two people drinking wine outdoors in a lush vineyard setting in Lodi, California.
Enjoying the shade by Lodi Lake
Two people enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi vineyard with a white fence and lush greenery.
Macchia owners Lani and Tim Holdener enjoying a break from frantic pouring
Group of four people enjoying a meal outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
The Lodi Winegrape Commission staff, who’ve been working day and night to put on the annual ZinFest, deserve a break, too
Photo op by Lodi Lake
People enjoying a picnic by the lake with wine and food in a scenic outdoor setting in Lodi, California.
Chilling by the water
Group of people enjoying a day at the Lodi Winegrape Commission event by the water.
Gang of Lodi wine lovers on a Lodi Lake dock
Musician performing at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with audience enjoying outdoor festival atmosphere.
Joe Spraker pouring his chlling tunes at ZinFest Piano Bar
Live music performance at a Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoor event with audience and vendors.
On the other side:  ZinFesters chilling on the grass at Piano Bar
Blue T-shirt with Zinfandel celebration graphic hanging on a clothesline with decorative fabric strips.
ZinFest memorabilia
Couple enjoying wine tasting at Lodi Winegrape Commission event with art displays in background.
f ZinFest is love, it’s definitely for couples…
Smiling couple enjoying wine tasting outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Couples in the moment (the lake, the Delta air and wines, and love in the air…)
Two people enjoying wine tasting outdoors at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Couples enjoying ZinFest’s edible fare
Man and woman enjoying wine outdoors at Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Couples in citified black
People enjoying wine tasting at a Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors with wine glasses and grapevines in the background.
And couples, of course, who love experiencing new wines together
Crowd enjoying outdoor event with live band and wine under a large tent in Lodi, California.
Lots of shade and boogie in front of the ZinFest Main Stage
Living, laughing, loving the ZinFest life
Entrance arch for the Lodi Winegrape Commission event with colorful banners and sponsor logos.
ZinFest entrance and exit
Visitors at Lodi Winegrape Commission tasting event under a large white tent with wine bottles on display.
Attention, shoppers: scene at ZinFest Wine Shoppe
Two women sitting on the grass by a lake in Lodi, enjoying a sunny day and nature.
At the end of ZinFest, relaxing by the lake
Tour vehicle with visitors at Lodi Winegrape Commission, exploring local vineyards and wine production.
ZinFest exit transportation
Group of people on a boat at a scenic lake, enjoying a tour with staff member in Lodi, California.
ZinFesters exiting by boat across Lodi Lake
People enjoying a boat ride on a lake with trees and buildings in the background, promoting Lodi wine region.
Boat charioting ZinFesters back to their non-ZinFest lives
Unique boat display with wine bottles and banners by the water for Lodi Winegrape Commission event.
Watts Winery’s spiffed up Barrel Regatta craft, looking mighty lonely
Smiling woman and man at Lodi Winegrape Commission event outdoors, enjoying wine and conversation.
Happy Z-tooed folks leaving ZinFest
People attending Zinfest event organized by Lodi Winegrape Commission outdoors on a sunny day.
Adios to another memorable Lodi ZinFest!

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