Zinfandel (and ZAP) at a crossroads

Wintering 100-year-old Zinfandel in McCay's Lot 13 on Lodi's east side

This is the Big Week for Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (a.k.a. ZAP): their annual Experience in San Francisco, self-billed as “the world’s largest single varietal wine tasting event.”

This year, three days of seminars and parties are capped by a “Grand Tasting” at Pier 27 on the Embarcadero on Saturday, February 27, 2016; when consumers may pick and sip among hundreds of wines, produced by California’s finest Zinfandel specialists. A literal Bacchanal.

Though, these are funny times for Zinfandel. As a varietal, it is still an awkward, bratty, painfully hormonal adolescent...  Continue »

Feb 22, 2016 at 1:30 PM Permalink Comments (3)

Where to find Lodi's alternative style wines during Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Wine & Chocolate Weekend in Lodi's Harmony Wynelands

Are you ready for Lodi's Wine & Chocolate Weekend? We are!

One of the things that excites Lodi wine lovers the most these days is that the region is no longer just about Zinfandel, Lodi's pièce de resistance. Nor is it only about “standard” varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc, however wonderful they may be.

Feb 11, 2016 at 10:20 AM Permalink

Lodi wine and chocolate - seduction at first sight

Cacao pods in the raw (before turned into culinary sexiness)

For the past four vintages the official co-sponsor of our Lodi Wine & Chocolate celebration – in 2016, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14 – has been BRIX Chocolate (commercial message: it is not too late to get your passes online at lodiwineandchocolate.com!).

Feb 8, 2016 at 7:00 AM Permalink

Beyond Super Bowl 50: why you should be in Lodi!

San Francisco's Alexandra Fondren (here, at Lodi ZinFest) shares her favorite things to do in Lodi wine country

Attention Super Bowl 50 visitors: where is the place to be this weekend or following the Big Day? 

Why, in California wine country, of course. Not just any part of California; even better, the historic Lodi wine region, which was recently named the 2015 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Feb 5, 2016 at 2:00 PM Permalink

MK Zinfandel - agonies and ecstasies of micro-scaled wine

Michael Klouda sampling one of his MK Zinfandel barrels

In the world of wine, there are always Davids and Goliaths.  

Feb 1, 2016 at 7:00 AM Permalink

Lodi's Michael David Winery named Winery of the Year at 2016 Unified Symposium

Michael David Winery co-owners Michael and David Phillips (image courtesy of John Curley Photography)

And the hits just keep on coming...

There was a surprise announcement this past Wednesday, January 27 at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento: Lodi’s Michael David Winery was named 2016 Winery of the Year.

Jan 28, 2016 at 8:26 PM Permalink

Lodi's 2016 Wine & Chocolate Weekend is upon us!

Wine and chocolate lovers at Oak Farm Vineyards tasting room

OMG, the 19th Annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend is less than a month away: taking place Saturday/Sunday, February 13 + 14, 2016!

If you haven’t partaken of this sweet and savory experience before, here’s the scoop: this is easily the most popular passport-style event put on by Lodi’s wineries each year; for a number of good reasons, including... 

Jan 20, 2016 at 5:00 AM Permalink

Lodi's 2016 Gold-or-higher winners at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competiton

Key components of the multi-award winning Michael David Winery team: Vineyard Manager Kevin Phillips and Winemaker Adam Mettler (image courtesy of The Sommelier Files by Christopher Sawyer)

Continuing a recent trend at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – the largest judging of American wines in the world – the Lodi wine region held its own in several categories.

Jan 18, 2016 at 3:38 PM Permalink

Interview - Michael David's David Phillips talks about what's been good for Lodi

David Phillips (far left) entertaining visiting restaurant sommeliers at Michael David Winery this past September (image courtesy of John Curley Photography)

David Phillips – who co-owns Michael David Winery, as President, along with his older brother Michael (CEO) – is feeling good about the prospects of not only the family business, but also the Lodi winegrowing region and community in general.

Jan 11, 2016 at 2:30 PM Permalink

Predicting what we'll be predictably drinking in 2016

At the crack of a September 2015 dawn, visiting sommeliers helping to pick Zinfandel from 73-year-old vines in Mohr-Fry Ranch (image courtesy of John Curley Photography)

It’s early January 2016, and we’ve already been assaulted by... the usual yearly onslaught of wine media “predictions” for the New Year.

Jan 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM Permalink