Choosing Lodi’s top Zinfandels by style, not someone else’s opinion

Recent gathering of top Lodi Zinfandel specialists at Mohr-Fry Ranch: (from left) Layne Montgomery (m2); Stuart Spencer (St. Amant); Bruce Fry (Mohr-Fry); Joe Maley (Maley Brothers); Jerry Fry (Mohr-Fry); Mike McCay (McCay Cellars); Tim Holdener (Macchia); Ryan Sherman (Fields Family); Chad Joseph (Harney Lane, Maley Brothers, and other wineries)

It's the same for all wine regions that become known for certain wines… be it Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon; Sonoma, Santa Barbara or Willamette Valley for Pinot Noir; or Lodi for Zinfandel: choosing what is "best" becomes more a matter of personal taste or preference.

Dec 18, 2013 at 11:56 AM Permalink

Italian Christmas traditions with Sorelle’s Scott family

The Scott/Caporusso clan: Joanne, Melissa, Emma (Melissa’s baby with husband Garret Ulmer), Kim and Mike

For the Scott family, who own and operate Sorelle Winery – one of Lodi's most successful wineries in recent years – family is everything, and that's the way they celebrate the Christmas season as well.

Dec 16, 2013 at 12:14 PM Permalink

Why Petite Sirah kills with drunken pot roast (with peppercorns and juniper)

Petite Sirah harvest in Lodi’s Vinedos Aurora estate

We're on a roll, so we're going to continue our culinary ruminations on Lodi grown wines.

A lot of wine lovers are not so partial to Petite Sirah in warm months, and who can blame them? Red wines made from Petite Sirah – a grape technically known as Durif (named for the French scientist who crossed Syrah and Peloursin grapes to develop his namesake variety at the end of the nineteenth century) – are pretty much the opposite of "light" or "breezy." Not the easy-going type of wine normally associated with summer.

Dec 12, 2013 at 1:59 PM Permalink

Cold weather culinary partners – Tempranillo and saffroned lamb shanks

Tempranillo at veraison (Silvaspoons Vineyards, Lodi’s Alta Mesa AVA)

As cold weather continues to drive us into the kitchen, now is as good a time as any to talk about one of the most culinary wines of all: red wines made from the Tempranillo grape.

There's something about Tempranillo — its earthy subtlety combined with rich flavors and supple texturing — that makes a wine lover hungry, especially for earthy, stewy, slow cooked, cozy, cold weather foods.

Dec 10, 2013 at 10:51 AM Permalink

Reliving Merlot, classic chicken paprika, and Maya’s passionate talk in Sideways

Merlot grapes in Vicarmont Vineyards

Days are shorter, darker, gloomier. So it's always something of a relief that the holidays are also upon us: we're cheered colorful, twinkling lights, sounds like the opening notes of Jingle Bell Rock, smells of cooking spices emanating from the kitchen, and the rich, velvety taste of a good red wine.

Dec 4, 2013 at 11:05 AM Permalink

Bokisch family’s strong (and delicious!) Thanksgiving traditions

Markus and Liz Bokisch

Since establishing their first vineyards in Lodi in the early nineties, Markus and Liz Bokisch have laid down roots in Northern San Joaquin Valley that have become as deep as anyone's. They now own, co-own or manage over 2,200 acres of wine grapes, with another 900 acres in development.

Nov 25, 2013 at 1:14 PM Permalink

Mexican-American Lodi Thanksgiving with Vinedos Aurora’s Anaya family

The Anaya family: Gerardo, Don Victor (grandfather), Armando, Leticia, Ramon and Victor Jr.

Thanksgiving is a special day for the Anaya family, who own and farm 90 acres of top quality wine grapes in Lodi's Clements Hills AVA. They also own Viñedos Aurora – a winery that has become one of Lodi's brightest new stars since the release of their first vintage (2009s), a little less than three years ago.

Nov 21, 2013 at 12:07 PM Permalink

Liquid sweets to top a perfect Thanksgiving

The perfect Thanksgiving finish: d’Art Port

The holidays are the one time of year when it's "okay" to cut loose with all your favorite dishes; complimented, of course, by terrific wine…

Including great sweet wines to enjoy with desserts – who doesn't love that? Your Aunt Gladys and Uncle Boyd, your brother the wine geek, your sister the foodie, mom who loves everything and dad who always proclaims "I know what I like" but still can't remember what he had last week – they all love the smaller sized bottlings winemakers probably work the hardest to craft: sweet dessert wines.

Nov 19, 2013 at 12:13 PM Permalink

For Lodi’s newest winemaker, a bouquet of floral grapes and possibilities

Elyse Egan Perry in Bokisch’s Liberty Oaks Vineyards

One of Lodi's newest winemakers – so new, she doesn't officially start working for Bokisch Vineyards until this coming December 2 – is already showing a magic touch with Lodi grown grapes. A touch that grew out of a long and steady pursuit of her passion – first for unusually aromatic wines, and then for turning aromatic grapes into her own unusual wines.

Nov 13, 2013 at 12:38 PM Permalink

Lodi positioned to ride the growing passion for Petite Sirah

Phillips Farms Petite Sirah (grown for Michael David Winery)

While American wine lovers are familiar with Syrah – often sold as Shiraz on Australian labels – the popularity of this grape as a varietal red wine has been on a notable wane in recent years.

Petite Sirah, on the other hand, has become more popular than ever. It is not the same grape as Syrah: it is a crossing of two grapes, Syrah and Peloursin, originally developed in Southern France in the 1880s, and introduced to California shortly thereafter (about 1884). Although wine connoisseurs have always considered Syrah to be the far greater of the two grapes, many American consumers now prefer Petite Sirah over Syrah.

Nov 12, 2013 at 12:45 PM Permalink Comments (1)