Letters from Lodi
An insightful and objective look at viticulture and winemaking from the Lodi
Appellation and the growers and vintners behind these crafts. Told from the
perspective of multi-award winning wine journalist, Randy Caparoso.
Klinker Brick’s serendipitous rosé, surprising Syrah, and uncommon Dolcetto
Klinker Brick’s Joseph Smith, thiefing Dolcetto barrels this past February
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HAD IT RIGHT
Summer is three weeks away (June 21, 2014); but lately, it sure has felt like it has already arrived.
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May 28, 2014 at 2:42 PM
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A tribute to a family patriarch: Viñedos Aurora’s new Don Victor
Don Victor Lodi Reserva de la Casa
The 2010 Viñedos Aurora Don Victor Lodi Reserva de la Casa ($39) is a deep, dark, brawny and rippling red wine; produced from Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Petite Sirah (40%) sourced completely from the 40-acre Clements Hills-Lodi AVA vineyard farmed by the four Anaya brothers – Victor Jr., Ramon, Armando and Gerardo.
Despite the Don Victor's swarthy masculinity, there is also a sweet note of blueberryish fruit singing the wine's sun bronzed Lodi origin, while mildly smoky, vanillin French oak adds a brush of elegance – think of a smiling, raggedy haired Viggo Mortensen in a velvet jacket, right about to break some ankles.
Continue » May 23, 2014 at 2:50 PM
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Photo memories: ZinFest is more than about wine, it’s about the people of Lodi
Lodi ZinFesters pouring into Lodi Lake Park
Who comes to Lodi for its annual ZinFest? At least 4,000 devotees of Delta grown grapes each year.
To be more specific, Lodi wine lovers coming from as far away as Florida, Texas, New York and Colorado; plus, in 2014, exactly 38 of them from Vancouver, Canada…
Continue » May 20, 2014 at 12:01 PM
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Da’ music and green, green grass of Lodi ZinFest
Snap Jackson at ZinFest
At ZinFest Wine Festival, Lodi grown wines set the stage, the towering weeping willows and ancient valley oaks make the scene, and the green, green grass of Lodi Lake Park makes for a one, giant, lush, pillowy carpet for your feet, which you always find movin’ with the groovin’ of the music that fills the air.
Here’s what will be happening this coming Saturday at 2014′s really-big-show...
Continue » May 15, 2014 at 12:11 PM
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Downtown Lodi’s Wine Social wine bar is a cozy corner for wine lovers
Downtown Lodi’s Wine Social wine bar
Wine tasting is fun; and good wine, sipped in healthy moderation, stimulates both mind and body. And so naturally, good wines also perk conversation, ushering moments of eloquence or, at the very least, some semblance of sanity in our lives – just the thing to unwind, tune in, and drop out, if only for a few glorious minutes.
Continue » May 13, 2014 at 12:22 PM
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Grape Goddess, the perfect salad for Zinfandel, and bevy of new stuff at Lodi ZinFest!
Chef Tony Lawrence (right, with St. Amant’s Stuart Spencer) will demonstrate his amazingly Zinfandel-friendly “chocolate salad” at this year’s ZinFest
The 2014 Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival, taking place next week Saturday, May 17, will be funner and more educational than ever!
Continue » May 8, 2014 at 12:29 PM
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Swirl, sniff, sip, spit, then shop hard-to-get wines at the ZinFest Wine Festival
ZinFest wine maven
The ZinFest Wine Festival on Saturday, May 17, 2014 will be an opportunity to taste over 200 wines representing the incredible diversity of winegrowing going on in the Lodi American Viticultural Area.
We mean that figuratively, of course. Please don't taste all 200+ wines – we don't want to carry you out on a stretcher.
Continue » May 1, 2014 at 1:31 PM
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