Can we stop talking about Zinfandel being too high in alcohol?

Picking knife resting on macro-bin of 2014 Schulenburg Vineyard Zinfandel (west side of Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA)

In a post that recently popped up on the multiple "Best Wine Blog” Award winning Terroirist site, contributor Isaac James Baker commented on six 2012 Lodi AVA grown Zinfandels produced under the Lodi Native banner: "Tasting all six together, I was stunned by the tremendous variation in flavors and textures, and found it fascinating to dissect my perceptions of each wine.

Sep 14, 2014 at 3:18 PM Permalink

Snapshots of Lodi’s 2014 harvest: coming in fast and furious

Daybreak, September 6: consulting winemaker Heather Pyle (left) sorting through Acquiesce Vineyards Piquepoul Blanc pick

The second week of September is usually when the California grape harvest is just getting started. This year, at this same time, many growers and vintners are saying that they are more than a third of the way through. Why the accelerated time table? Three things conspired to upset 2014's grape carts to some extent:

Sep 10, 2014 at 11:18 AM Permalink

The last of Lodi’s rare ancient vine Alicante Bouschet

The blindingly scarlet colors of Mohr-Fry Ranches Alicante Bouschet in 2012, just before being uprooted

Harmony Wynelands has recently released the last of its wines from one of the Lodi AVA's most venerated ancient vine plantings: Mohr-Fry Ranches' twelve and a half acres of Alicante Bouschet, which originally went into the ground in 1921, but was completely torn out following the 2012 vintage.

Sep 7, 2014 at 11:29 AM Permalink

The Downtown Lodi harvest menu, and becoming the 2014 SIP SAVOR Wine Tasting Champion

WHO WANTS TO BE THE 2014 SIP SAVOR LODI WINE TASTING CHAMPION?

One of the two events taking place under the SIP SAVOR LODI Grand Tasting tent at Wine & Roses Hotel on Sunday, September 28, 2014 (1-4 PM) will be a double-blind tasting to determine 2014 Lodi Wine Tasting Champion.

Aug 19, 2014 at 11:42 AM Permalink

Mettler Family’s Aglianico is a harbinger of many great wine grapes to come

Mettler Family Vineyards’ 2012 Lodi Aglianico

The latest Mettler Family Vineyards release is the 2012 Mettler Family Lodi Aglianico ($40); an estate grown red wine of vivid purplish cast, teeming with intensely focused cherry and plum pie-like aromas, tinged with licorice and finely polished vanillin oak subtleties. Plump, full and zesty on the palate; with a layered feel furnished by round yet densely textured tannin.

Aug 14, 2014 at 11:50 AM Permalink

Appreciating Zinfandels (especially from Lodi) like a sommelier

Majestic, own rooted “old man” Lodi Zinfandel (planted in 1901) in Mohr-Fry Ranches’ Marian’s Vineyard

In seminars at the 2014 Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Experience (i.e. ZAP) in San Francisco this past January, some of California's top sommeliers presented Zinfandels from their perspective: in terms of terroir, or "sense of place."

Aug 12, 2014 at 12:08 PM Permalink

Old vine, old time Six Hands Chenin Blanc from Cresci Vineyard

Six Hands’ desert dry Chenin Blanc with rocks from Cresci Vineyard

Six Hands Winery has just released a 2013 Six Hands Cresci Vineyard Lodi Chenin Blanc ($16) that is as dry as a desert, yet gushy in varietal perfumes of wild honey, green melon, white flowers and underlying minerality.

Jul 30, 2014 at 12:16 PM Permalink

Barbecue & wine: Van Ruiten Family’s Matt Ridge tests a tried-and-true theory

Richard Berardi smoking up a storm outside his Tin Roof BBQ restaurant

At Lodi's Tin Roof BBQ it's all about barbecue. Gloriously meaty, outdoor-smoky, not-too-fatty and not-too-sweetie barbecue, which is exactly the way that owner/chef Richard Berardi likes it.

Jul 22, 2014 at 12:31 PM Permalink

John Fogerty never slept here (101 grapes & other lesser known facts about Lodi)

“Lodi” was also on Creedance Clearwater Revival’s 1969 Green River album

Oh, lord…

Although it was the "B" side of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 single record, "Bad Moon Rising" (which peaked at No. 52 on the Top 100 singles charts), in many ways the song "Lodi" has endured as one of the group's catchiest, most memorable tunes – its story line (being "stuck" in a nowheresville town), one that almost anyone can identify with.

But it was never a true story...

Jul 15, 2014 at 12:52 PM Permalink

Michael David’s commitments lead to top honors at California State Fair

Michael David GM/head winemaker Adam Mettler in his Clements barrel facility

This past June 14, 2014, when the California State Fair announced the top awards resulting from its famously rigorous wine judging taking place in Sacramento each year, one Lodi winery loomed significantly among the winners: Lodi's Michael David Winery.

Jul 11, 2014 at 3:14 PM Permalink