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
 
January 13, 2015 | Randy Caparoso

ZAP’s annual San Francisco tasting ushering the arrival of Zinfandel as a serious grape

Lodi Winegrape Commission’s events and marketing coordinators, Sherri Cascaden and Jenny Heitman, representing at ZAP (with Ken Landis, Chef/Owner of Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn in Half Moon Bay)

Lodi Winegrape Commission’s events and marketing coordinators, Sherri Cascaden and Jenny Heitman, representing at ZAP (with Ken Landis, Chef/Owner of Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn in Half Moon Bay)

In 1991, when ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) held the first of its annual tasting extravaganzas in San Francisco, there was little inkling of just how big an event it would become. All the original organizers knew is that Zinfandel – a cultivar singled out by California’s winegrowing pioneers as far back as the 1850s – was in danger of becoming an under-appreciated grape, and they wanted to exhibit an unprecedented show of unity in support of this varietal wine, while offering consumers an opportunity to experience the best of them in one place.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Jan 13, 2015 at 8:00 AM Permalink to ZAP’s annual San Francisco tasting ushering the arrival of Zinfandel as a serious grape Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
January 5, 2015 | Randy Caparoso

Our best and most interesting blogposts from 2014

Visiting Sonoma winemaker Greg La Follette respectfully bows before 100-year old Lodi Zinfandel plant

Visiting Sonoma winemaker Greg La Follette respectfully bows before 100-year old Lodi Zinfandel plant

Happy 2015!

We’re looking forward to another year of exciting achievements by the Lodi winegrowing community. But before embarking towards this bright new horizon, we thought it worthwhile to take another look back at our favorite, and most informative, blogposts from 2014: not so much out of fear of forgetting our past and being condemned to repeat it, but rather to sharpen our focus on the future with the clarity that invariably comes with hindsight.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Jan 5, 2015 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Our best and most interesting blogposts from 2014 Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 31, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Dale Goff’s favorite (and most spectacular) images of Lodi in 2014

 

Dale Goff of Goff Photography is one of Lodi’s most accomplished professional photographers. Mr. Goff, in fact, has been photographing the Lodi American Viticultural Area for going on 20 years.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 31, 2014 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Dale Goff’s favorite (and most spectacular) images of Lodi in 2014 Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 28, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi wines compared to Texas wines, hats and cattle

Three of Lodi’s modern-day winegrowing pioneers: Borra Vineyards’ Steve Borra, Michael David’s Mike Phillips, and The Lucas Winery’s Dave Lucas

Three of Lodi’s modern-day winegrowing pioneers: Borra Vineyards’ Steve Borra, Michael David’s Mike Phillips, and The Lucas Winery’s Dave Lucas

Jeremy Wilson – a sommelier who writes the Texas Wine Lover site and lives in the officially recognized Texas Hill Country AVA (approved in 1991), where he works for Kuhlman Cellars – recently wrote to us, telling us that he believes the Lodi AVA has a lot in common with the Texas wine industry.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 28, 2014 at 8:00 AM Permalink to Lodi wines compared to Texas wines, hats and cattle Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 22, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi wines in the news in 2014

December reds in Lodi vineyard

December reds in Lodi vineyard

As we come to the end of another year in Lodi wine country, let's look back at some of the highlights of 2014 gleaned through widely read wine publications and blog sites.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 22, 2014 at 11:50 AM Permalink to Lodi wines in the news in 2014 Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 17, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Estate Crush is Downtown Lodi’s one-stop for numerous finely crafted brands

Barrels during Estate Crush holiday party this week.

Barrels during Estate Crush holiday party this week.

Attention, last-minute Lodi wine shoppers: Caught in the usual pre-Christmas time crunch? Then we have the perfect one-stop, direct-from-the-source solution for you: Downtown Lodi's Estate Crush.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 17, 2014 at 11:42 AM Permalink to Estate Crush is Downtown Lodi’s one-stop for numerous finely crafted brands Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 15, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Match made for December: Twisted Roots Petite Sirah & rosemary lamb shanks

 

You can look at the increasingly short, dark, dreary days of December in two different ways: as a doggoned shame, or as the perfect excuse to enjoy the type of wines and foods that these days call for.

Mike Hodge, co-owner of Twisted Roots Vineyard & Winery, has the perfect prescription for those who choose the positive course: the 2011 Twisted Roots Lodi Petite Sirah ($25) with rosemary lamb shanks. (Twisted Roots multi-award winning wines are available locally at Downtown Lodi's Estate Crush).

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 15, 2014 at 11:59 AM Permalink to Match made for December: Twisted Roots Petite Sirah & rosemary lamb shanks Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 11, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

A Lodi wine lover’s wish list: Lodi’s 12 most adventurous wines

Christmas in Lodi’s Wine & Roses Hotel

Christmas in Lodi’s Wine & Roses Hotel

Is there a wiser wine lover than a Lodi wine lover?

Lodi is just beginning to forge its reputation as a source of some America's finest, and most cutting-edge, wines. Many of the leading producers in this respect have been around for less than ten, fifteen years.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 11, 2014 at 12:08 PM Permalink to A Lodi wine lover’s wish list: Lodi’s 12 most adventurous wines Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 4, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

Three things that matter (when getting the most out of wine)

Comparison of bowl shaped “Burgundy” glass (on left; ideal for Pinot Noirs) with traditional tulip shaped glass (ideal for white wines and reds wines such as Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon)

Comparison of bowl shaped “Burgundy” glass (on left; ideal for Pinot Noirs) with traditional tulip shaped glass (ideal for white wines and reds wines such as Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon)

GETTING SOME FUN OUT OF WINE

When most of us enjoy our wine, we don't like to think about it too much. We don't need to ooh and ah over the "bouquet," and we don't need to take tiny sips and roll the wine in our mouth for 60 seconds before pronouncing it good.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 4, 2014 at 12:26 PM Permalink to Three things that matter (when getting the most out of wine) Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
December 2, 2014 | Randy Caparoso

How to be your own judge of good wine

Wine journalist Deborah Parker Wong blind tasting Lodi Zinfandels

Wine journalist Deborah Parker Wong blind tasting Lodi Zinfandels

Burgundy, schmurgundy

I started out on Burgundy but soon hit the harder stuff. Not really. But that line from one of Bob Dylan's classic old songs (Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues) always sounded great.

  Continue »

Time Posted: Dec 2, 2014 at 12:37 PM Permalink to How to be your own judge of good wine 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.