Summer sensations of Downtown Lodi’s Farmers Market & Wine Bars

Fields Family Wines' Russ and Melinda Fields and Jalynn Sherman hanging loose at their Downtown Lodi tasting room during last week's Farmers Market

It’s that time of year, when locals, visitors and families by the thousands are flocking to Downtown Lodi‘s picturesque main drag (School St.) to enjoy The Downtown Certified Farmers Market, which got  off in full swing at the beginning of this past June, and will continue every Thursday (5 to 9 PM) through the month of August.

Besides live music, an array of foods from gigantic Lockeford sausage dogs and grilled teriyaki chicken to gourmet paella and colorful snow cones, there’s a Kids Zone to keep the munchkins entertained while adults pick out the seasonal local produce (including those from a number certified organic growers), as well as a number of places befitting a wine country’s urban center:  Downtown Lodi’s wine bars.  Among these civilized oases:

Jeremy Wine Co.

• Jeremy Wine Company – A single winery tasting and retail sales room, located just under the old Lodi Arch on W. Pine St. — some of Lodi’s most finely balanced wines, bottled under Jeremy and Choral Trettevik’s stunning labels.

• Lodi Wine Cellar – The W. Pine St. home for a formidable foursome of top-notch producers; including Benson Ferry Vineyards, Heritage Oak Winery, McCay Cellars, and Vicarmont Vineyards & Winery (also offering retail sales).

• Wine Ot – A retail store specializing in furniture made from recycled wine barrels which, starting on July 6, will also open a wine bar featuring the award winning bottlings of Lodi’s Sorelle Winery, plus Sacramento River Delta’s Six Hands Winery.