February 14 & 15, 2026 | Times Vary
A weekend celebration of Lodi wines and chocolate. Enjoy handcrafted wines, delicious chocolate treats, excellent hospitality, and quality time with fellow wine friends at participating wineries.
Join us February 14 & 15 as we celebrate the 29th annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate. Enjoy a specially curated, three-day long celebration full of Lodi’s renowned wines paired with locally made chocolate.
Grenache is one of the wine world's most engaging and versatile varieties, but it needs a better PR agent! This charismatic grape is the uncredited star of the Southern Rhône's mysterious blends, the unsung fruity backbone of Spanish Rioja, and simply "G" in Australia's famous GSM blends.
But here's what makes it exciting: on its own, Grenache can be elegant and nuanced - "the Pinot Noir of warm climates" – or a robust, deeply colored wine that stands up to anything you can throw on the grill. Even better? The grape thrives right here in Lodi's unique growing conditions.
Join wine and spirits educator, writer, and sommelier Fred Swan on Friday, August 8, at the Lodi Wine Visitor Center (2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, 95242) for a 90 - to 120-minute exploration that gives Grenache the spotlight it deserves.
We'll taste varietal wines and blends spanning three continents, plus your own backyard, and there may even be a surprise dessert wine to cap off the evening! You'll discover why this versatile variety is perfectly suited to our Lodi vineyards and gain insights into how different regions express Grenache's character.
Seating is limited! Doors open at 6:30pm; seminar begins at 7:00pm.
To purchase tickets, click here.
August 2025
Grenache Around the World: A Guided Tasting by Fred Swan
6:30 PM
Fri, Aug 8, 2025
Venue: Lodi Wine Visitor Center, 2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, 95242