Ode to Lodi's legendary Flame Tokay, never to be forgotten

Flame Tokay—a.k.a., Ahmeur bou Ahmeur—on own-rooted Mokelumne River-Lodi grapevine over 130 years old,

About eight miles east of the City of Lodi, there is a short country lane called Tokay Colony Road, demarcated by Hwy. 88 to the west and N. Tully Rd. at its eastern end. It's an interesting road because it was named for the grape variety called Tokay—more properly known by its full name, Flame Tokay—which for about 100 years was the most widely planted grape in the Lodi wine appellation.

Only, it was never really a wine grape. Flame Tokay was primarily a table grape, grown for the fresh market, in supply for no more than a month's time each year...

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Favorite Lodi Zinfandel and cheese matches

Mokelumne River-Lodi Zinfandel cluster and cheese.

The air is still a little nippy, if not downright damp, which  is why I, for one, tend to tucker down in the safety of my four walls at night. Preferably with a bottle of Zinfandel.

I drink Zinfandel with almost everything, including my favorite foods, such as spaghetti and meatballs, pan fried pork chops, Asian spiced barbecued baby back ribs, hibachi grilled salmon, or just plain pasta and garlic. How do you spell comfort?

Zinfandel, as it were, is also surprisingly good with cheese. Especially the gourmet type cheeses you find at Cheese Central, the artisanal cheese store owned by Cindy Della Monica, located in Downtown Lodi...

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For one last time: level of alcohol has little to do with overall quality or balance in wines

There was an unexpected response to one of our articles posted at the end of January on Zinfandels tasted at the last big Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Grand Tasting in San Francisco (see At 2024 ZAP, it is clear that California Zinfandel has finally grown up).

On social media, one widely known wine journalist asked, "Why did you not list alcohol levels of the Zinfandels you wrote about?" His explanation for his question: "Knowing the alcohol levels helps me decide if I like a wine or not."

When it comes to wine, the rule is always to-each-his-own. Neither I nor anyone can never tell you how to appreciate wine. But when it comes to alcohol, particularly as it pertains to California Zinfandel, I can advise you based on simple facts: It is a big mistake to pre-judge a wine by its level of alcohol—something the industry often refers to as ABV, or Alcohol by Volume, usually listed in small print on the sides of wine labels...

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Christopher Cellars' blend of classic Lodi grapes among Best of Class winners at 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Competition

Christopher Cellars' 2022 Grand Cuvée, one of eight Lodi-grown wines that achieved lofty Best of Class awards at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Competition, judged among 5,500 other wines from all over North America. Christopher Cellars.

The yearly San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is a massive affair, taking place at the end of each January. The 2024 edition involved 52 professional judges tasting over 5,500 wines. 

Wines are entered from anywhere in North America. Consequently, when the 2024 winners of the 177 classes of wines were announced, winning bottlings hailed from everywhere from California's Napa Valley and Sonoma County to Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Idaho and New York...

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Photographic memories of Lodi's 27th Wine and Chocolate weekend

Intimate dinner with the winemaker (Stuart Spencer, third from left) in the St. Amant Winery barrel room on the first night of Lodi's Wine and Chocolate weekend.

Neither rain (luckily, minimal!) nor blustery winds seemed to deter thousands of Lodi wine lovers enjoying the region's 27th annual Wine and Chocolate weekend, this past February 2-4, 2024.

Friday the 2nd started with intimate dinners or special tasting events Heritage Oak, Housley's Century Oak, Oak Farm, Peltier, Rippey Family, St. Amant and The Dancing Fox wineries...

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