TOP

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.

Randy Caparoso
 
April 3, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Red wines to help celebrate the season for spring lamb

Working sheep among old vine Zinfandel in Schulenburg Vineyard, on the west side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA.

This coming Sunday (April 9, 2023) is Easter. I don't know about you, but my Easter dinner main course is all set: a leg of lamb!

What's up with the entire idea of "spring lamb?" The USDA actually defines lamb meat as such: 

Most lambs are brought to market at about 6 to 8 months old. A lamb weighs about 140 pounds and yields approximately 46 to 49 pounds of edible lean retail lamb cuts, semi-boneless. If the phrase "Spring Lamb" is on a meat label, it means the lamb was slaughtered between March and October... 

  Continue »

Time Posted: Apr 3, 2023 at 2:00 PM Permalink to Red wines to help celebrate the season for spring lamb Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 30, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Voluptuary + Lucid embraces Lodi grapes like gifts of nature, perfectly suitable for adventurous winemaking

Voluptuary + Lucid owner/winemaker Kevin Luther in a book lined corner of his urban Sacramento winery/tasting room.

A "natural" winemaker in flux

There is a micro-winery located in our State Capitol of Sacramento owned by a winemaker named Kevin Luther. Mr. Luther bottles wines under his Voluptuary + Lucid brand, all with curious, almost dreamy, artistic labels reflecting the restless dispostion of the winemaker himself.

Not that Voluptuary + Lucid wines are "all about Kevin." Surprisingly, they are not, despite the continuous compulsion to explore perspectives and techniques on the part of this particular Kevin in question...

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 30, 2023 at 2:00 PM Permalink to Voluptuary + Lucid embraces Lodi grapes like gifts of nature, perfectly suitable for adventurous winemaking Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 27, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Arianna Wines harbors a passion for Lodi-grown Torrontés, one of the world's most exotic white varietals

Arianna Wines owner/winemaker Arianna Spoto with Torrontés vines in Lodi's Silvaspoons Vineyards.

Many of America's best independent winemakers are driven by passion; and not uncommonly, it is passion first fired up by one moment of serendipity.

For Arianna Wines owner/winemaker Arianno Spoto, that moment came in 2014, while she was working a harvest in Argentina's Mendoza region, when a colleague shared a bottle of local white wine with her.

"It was a wonderful," recalls Spoto. "The wine had an amazing fragrance, like rose water and spice, reminding me a little of Gewürztraminer, but with a freshness that reminded me a little of a ripe Sauvignon Blanc. I asked, 'what is this?' I was told that it was made from Torrontés, a grape that grows everywhere in Argentina, sort of like Chardonnay is found everywhere in California... 

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 27, 2023 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Arianna Wines harbors a passion for Lodi-grown Torrontés, one of the world's most exotic white varietals Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 21, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Mikami Vineyards continues to forge its identity by rolling with the flow of its provenance

Mikami Vineyards' owner Jason Mikami, a third generation Lodi grower, with his winemaker Kian Tavakoli, sampling newly fermented rosé from stainless steel casks.

After 15 commercial vintages, Mikami Vineyards is still a tiny brand. Current total production barely tops 500 cases. By comparison, most Lodi wineries falling in the "small" category produce a few thousand cases. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi winery churns out several million. 

Still, Mikami Vineyards' first vintage, a 2008 estate grown Zinfandel, totaled just 50 cases. Modest progress has been made. The important thing, as owner/grower Jason Mikami recently told us, is, "We still sell out everything we make... we feel lucky to have such a loyal following..."

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM Permalink to Mikami Vineyards continues to forge its identity by rolling with the flow of its provenance Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 16, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Acclaimed wine scribe Alder Yarrow tells the story of California's geekiest vineyard—Lodi's Mokelumne Glen

The late Robert "Bob" Koth, who founded Lodi's most unusual (or geekiest) vineyard, called Mokelumne Glen.

Alder Yarrow, the author of Vinography, has just published the longest profile of a single Lodi grape grower ever written. At least as far as we know.

The story is on Mokelumne Glen Vineyards, established on the east side of Lodi's Mokelumne River appellation by the late Bob and Mary Lou Koth. Over the past two years the vineyard has been managed by their children, Brett and Ann-Marie Koth. 

It's a heroic tale because the vineyard is planted to over 55 grape varieties of German and Austrian origin. Some would call that lunacy, given that Lodi's Mediterranean climate is not supposed to be conducive to more northerly European grapes. All the same, the vineyard has a track record of producing delicious wines that have impressed even internationally traveled, and acclaimed, wine journalists such as Mr. Yarrow. Clearly, in the great, big world of grapes and wines, there is such a thing as suspension of disbelief; that is to say, just "shut up and enjoy..."

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 16, 2023 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Acclaimed wine scribe Alder Yarrow tells the story of California's geekiest vineyard—Lodi's Mokelumne Glen Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 14, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Tiny Christopher Cellars has emerged as a leader among Lodi's latest, handcraft, minimal intervention style wineries

Chris and Candice Mora sampling their latest release of Christopher Cellars Barbera Rosé

This past March 4, 2023, Chris and Candice Mora celebrated their third year of doing business as owner/winemakers of Christopher Cellars, based in Elk Grove, about half-way between the City of Lodi and Downtown Sacramento.

Christopher Cellars is a small winery—currently producing just 3,000 cases yearly, putting them in a "boutique," or handcraft, category—but has dramatically grown in significance for two good reasons...

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM Permalink to Tiny Christopher Cellars has emerged as a leader among Lodi's latest, handcraft, minimal intervention style wineries Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 8, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Peltier's new winemakers introduce innovations to an already innovative winery

Peltier Associate Winemaker Bryce Willingham and Head Winemaker Gianni Abate tasting the winery's latest releases. Peltier Winery.

Zante, the new baby

The Schatz family, one of the Lodi appellation's most important growers, has done it again. Or shall we say, twice again: They have landed not one, but two extremely talented winemakers, with impeccable credentials, to lead the production operations of the family's Peltier Winery & Vineyards

Both winemakers—Head Winemaker Gianni Abate, and Associate Winemaker Bryce Willingham—came aboard just before the 2022 vintage, and took off with a running start. They have just released a brand new, and quite original, Peltier bottling called the Peltier Winery Zante ($18)...

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 8, 2023 at 6:00 AM Permalink to Peltier's new winemakers introduce innovations to an already innovative winery Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
March 1, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

All the details you need on San Joaquin Delta College's Wine Hospitality courses in spring 2023

Fred Swan, San Joaquin Delta College Wine Hospitality instructor, evaluating Lodi Zinfandels in a blind tasting.

Here is the lowdown on the two San Joaquin Delta College wine courses in Stockton, which will begin in the third week of March 2023:

Wine Regions of California (Culinary Arts 85)
Begins Monday, March 20, ends May 8, 2023
Classes are Monday nights, 6:00-8:50 PM

Evaluation of Wine (Culinary Arts 82)
Begins Tuesday, March 21, ends May 9, 2023
Classes are Tuesday nights, 6:00-8:50 PM

To sign up, please visit San Joaquin Delta College's Wine Hospitality page. There are no prerequisites, the courses are open to all adults at least 21 years of age. For any and all questions you might have, even after visiting the Delta College website, do not hesitate to contact instructor Fred Swan directly at fred.swan@deltacollege...

  Continue »

Time Posted: Mar 1, 2023 at 9:00 AM Permalink to All the details you need on San Joaquin Delta College's Wine Hospitality courses in spring 2023 Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
February 27, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Reports of the imminent demise of the American wine industry are greatly exaggerated

Wine lovers of the boomer generation—still the wine industry's bread-and-butter demographic—taking their leisure at a past Lodi ZinFest (slated to return in May 2023 as Lodi Wine Experience).

The American Wine Industry Has an Old People Problem. That was the title of an article published by The New York Times this past January 31, 2023, authored by the newspaper's widely followed wine correspondent Eric Asimov.

By "old people," the Times was wryly referring to Americans over 60 years old, a demographic that recent statistics show is the only segment of the wine market that is currently purchasing and consuming more wine—especially premium quality/priced wine—with any degree of significance... 

  Continue »

Time Posted: Feb 27, 2023 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Reports of the imminent demise of the American wine industry are greatly exaggerated Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
February 23, 2023 | Randy Caparoso

Delineations of Mediterranean climate in Lodi and the rest of the world

Olive trees and old vines thriving in the quintessential Mediterranean climate and deep, rich sandy loam soils—conducive to healthy root systems contributing to plant health and longevity—of Lodi's Mokelumne River appellation.

A long, long time ago, when dinosaurs shook the earth (back in the mid-1970s), I read an article by legendary winemaker Dr. Richard Peterson, answering a question about what is most important to the quality of grapes and subsequent wines: Is it climate, or is it soil?

Dr. Peterson's contention was (and still is, I suppose) that climate is the most important factor. For high quality winegrowing, you need at the very least a climate conducive to wine grapes, which can grow well even in less than ideal soil types. On the other hand, you can have the best possible soil to grow grapes, but without an appropriate climate you'll never produce a good wine...

  Continue »

Time Posted: Feb 23, 2023 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Delineations of Mediterranean climate in Lodi and the rest of the world Permalink
Contact

Lodi Wine Visitor Center
2545 West Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
209.365.0621
Open: Daily 10:00am-5:00pm

Lodi Winegrape Commission
2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, CA 95242
209.367.4727
Open: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Have a question? Complete our contact form.