Appreciating endangered ancient vines during National Zinfandel week

2015 Zinfandel ready to be picked off Maley family's 57-year-old Wegat Vineyard in Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 is National Zinfandel Day.

Who thinks of these days anyway? International Tempranillo Day was just last week (November 12), right on the heels of International Merlot Day (November 7). We’re drinking as fast as we can, folks!

Nov 16, 2015 at 6:00 AM Permalink Comments (2)

Where Lodi fits in the latest American Wine Consumer Preference survey

According to the latest Preference Survey, women and Millennials are now the predominant wine consumers

Americans are funny. Wine retailers know this, because they always hear customers say that they prefer “dry” wines, and then watch them walk out the door with the fruitiest, sweetest wines.

Nov 12, 2015 at 10:17 AM Permalink Comments (2)

Why is Lodi the Wine Region of the Year?

Pouring on the wine and charm at Lodi's Oak Farm Vineyards 

Wow. The nationally distributed Wine Enthusiast Magazine has conferred one of its 2015 Wine Star Awards on Lodi, as its Region of the Year.

But why? In their own press release, Wine Enthusiast listed a number of the region’s achievements over the past 25 years, and then distilled it all down to one “prime” reason: “It’s these young people (i.e. ‘twenty-somethings from Lodi grape-growing families that often return to work in the family vineyards and cellars’) and the youthful attitude of their elders that drive the innovation pushing Lodi forward” (our italics).

Nov 10, 2015 at 9:45 AM Permalink

Wine bloggers primed to invade Lodi next August

One of the big-deal news items coming out of Lodi Wine Country recently is the announcement that the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference will take place here on August 11-14, 2016.  

Nov 3, 2015 at 6:51 AM Permalink

1969 – A year of change and unforgettable times

Lodi in 1969: new sidewalk being installed along vineyard lined Ham Ln. at Lodi Ave.

1969. If you weren’t born yet, we envy your youth, but feel sorry you missed it.

Oct 30, 2015 at 12:52 PM Permalink Comments (2)

In 1907 Lodi celebrated grapes like no American city never-ever has

Start of mile-long procession of Tokay grape-laden wagons triumphantly entering Lodi at the 1907 Tokay Carnival

Lodi enjoys a glorious, oft-times phenomenal, past. This especially goes for what occurred 108 years ago; a time when things were looking really, really good for this burgeoning table and wine grape region.

Oct 27, 2015 at 5:30 AM Permalink

Lodi's fascinating history as a Johnny-come-lately wine region

Japanese leaf thinning crew; Lodi, circa 1945

Since 1991 the Lodi Winegrape Commission has diligently worked to fulfill one of its original mandates: raising awareness of the intrinsic quality of Lodi Viticultural Area grown wine grapes, now evidenced by the ascendant quality of Lodi wines.

But the evidence hasn't always been readily apparent. Significant wines with Lodi on the label did not even appear on the market until the mid-1990s; a good 10 to 30 years after other West Coast wine regions – from Washington’s Columbia Valley all the way down to Santa Barbara – were established as sources of premium quality grapes and wines.

Oct 21, 2015 at 3:25 PM Permalink

Neyers' Lodi Zinfandel is making waves across the country

Rocky gravelly-clay hillside terroir of Vista Luna Vineyard in Lodi's Borden Ranch AVA

It is always a big deal when a Napa Valley producer like Neyers Vineyards comes out with another Lodi grown Zinfandel of dreamy, sumptuous quality.

Oct 16, 2015 at 12:59 PM Permalink

Victor Vineyards, Lodi's latest award winning producer

Victor Vineyards grower/owner Rob Lawson among +100-year-old Dixon Vineyard Zinfandel

Why did the chicken cross the road? In the miniature CDP of Victor, located just outside the City of Lodi on the east side of the Lodi appellation’s Mokelumne River AVA, there’s an old story about a rooster known to cross Hwy. 12 E. (Victor Rd.) during each harvest to sip the latest vintages. 

Oct 9, 2015 at 12:05 PM Permalink

Colorful lug labels tell the history of Lodi's grape packing industry

Fresh field packed Valley Beauty Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in 2014

Robert Mondavi’s family found their earliest fortunes as Lodi grape packers, not as winemakers. Mondavi’s father, Cesare Mondavi, emigrated from Central Italy’s Marche region (between Umbria and the Adriatic Sea) to Minnesota, and then brought his family to the Lodi area in 1922, at a time when Prohibition was dramatically boosting sales of fresh-packed grapes to markets across the nation.

Oct 6, 2015 at 2:45 PM Permalink Comments (2)