Da’ music and green, green grass of Lodi ZinFest

Snap Jackson at ZinFest

At ZinFest Wine Festival, Lodi grown wines set the stage, the towering weeping willows and ancient valley oaks make the scene, and the green, green grass of Lodi Lake Park makes for a one, giant, lush, pillowy carpet for your feet, which you always find movin’ with the groovin’ of the music that fills the air.

Here’s what will be happening this coming Saturday at 2014′s really-big-show...

May 15, 2014 at 12:11 PM Permalink

Downtown Lodi’s Wine Social wine bar is a cozy corner for wine lovers

Downtown Lodi’s Wine Social wine bar

Wine tasting is fun; and good wine, sipped in healthy moderation, stimulates both mind and body. And so naturally, good wines also perk conversation, ushering moments of eloquence or, at the very least, some semblance of sanity in our lives – just the thing to unwind, tune in, and drop out, if only for a few glorious minutes.

May 13, 2014 at 12:22 PM Permalink

Grape Goddess, the perfect salad for Zinfandel, and bevy of new stuff at Lodi ZinFest!

Chef Tony Lawrence (right, with St. Amant’s Stuart Spencer) will demonstrate his amazingly Zinfandel-friendly “chocolate salad” at this year’s ZinFest

The 2014 Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival, taking place next week Saturday, May 17, will be funner and more educational than ever!

May 8, 2014 at 12:29 PM Permalink

Swirl, sniff, sip, spit, then shop hard-to-get wines at the ZinFest Wine Festival

ZinFest wine maven

The ZinFest Wine Festival on Saturday, May 17, 2014 will be an opportunity to taste over 200 wines representing the incredible diversity of winegrowing going on in the Lodi American Viticultural Area.

We mean that figuratively, of course. Please don't taste all 200+ wines – we don't want to carry you out on a stretcher.

May 1, 2014 at 1:31 PM Permalink

For the love of culinary grapes at TAPAS Grand Wine Tasting

Tapas coming through in Lodi’s Bokisch Vineyards

For the Love of Culinary Grapes

Do you enjoy alternative style wines veering off from the usual heavy handed, ripe or oaky style typical of “California” wine? Then you should seriously consider attending the Grand Wine Tasting sponsored by TAPAS – that is, the Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society – this Sunday, June 27, 2012 (2-5 PM) in San Francisco’s Goldent Gate Club at The Presidio.

Apr 26, 2014 at 1:52 PM Permalink

Spring flings by Bokisch – a house built by Albariño, and much more

Bokisch Vineyards’ Spring 2014 releases

"Lodi proves to be perfect for Albariño," is the heading of Bokisch Vineyards' latest blog on their Web site.

"The Albariño grape is originally from the Rías Baixas wine region in Galicia, Spain," they go on to explain; "an area that is characterized by wet, foggy winters and mild summers. Not necessarily an obvious choice for transplanting to Lodi, but it turns out it was a smart choice. Many great wines are being produced from Lodi AVA and its sub-regions. "

Apr 22, 2014 at 2:06 PM Permalink

Lodi Native vintners to introduce their unique Zinfandels at ZinFest Wine School

At the Lodi ZinFest Wine Festival taking place in the pristine riparian setting of Lodi Lake Park on Saturday, May 17, 2014, Lodi wine lovers will have the opportunity to taste and discover for themselves what the fuss is all about concerning the Lodi Native™ Zinfandels, which made their debut at the end of March.

All seven of the vignerons behind the Lodi Native project will present their wines under the ZinFest Wine School tent. The particulars…

Apr 17, 2014 at 2:34 PM Permalink

Eight years of ZinFest poster’s red haired muse

The first, contemplative appearance of ZinFest artist Vince McIndoe’s red haired muse, in 2007

Lodi ZinFest is celebrating its 10^th year in 2014. The beautiful, mysterious "red headed girl" depicted in each year's ZinFest poster is making only her eighth appearance; but now, what would any ZinFest be without her?

Apr 14, 2014 at 2:50 PM Permalink

Acquiesce Vineyards’ Sue Tipton grows more comfortable with her puristic style

Acquiesce Vineyards’ Sue Tipton

This past March 2014 Acquiesce Vineyards opened its tasting room doors once again, after being closed for over four months. Why the down time? For one, it's because their wines – all white wines, except for one rosé, made from estate grown Rhône Valley (i.e. Southern French) grapes – have been selling out within a few months of being released. They're that good.

Apr 10, 2014 at 10:21 AM Permalink

Wine writers appreciate Lodi grown Zinfandel in unprecedented fashion

Macchia’s Tim Holdener and grower Leland Noma in Lodi Native vineyard, Noma Ranch

The Lodi Native project is making an impact on how the region is perceived from the outside

This past week, two widely read and respected wine bloggers – Elaine Brown of Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews, and Fred Swan of norcalwine.com – shared thoughts on the unique qualities of Lodi AVA grown Zinfandel in a detailed fashion that can only be described as unprecedented. At least for wine professionals living and working outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Apr 4, 2014 at 10:34 AM Permalink