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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
 
August 16, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Photographic report on start of Lodi’s 2012 harvest

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Liz Bokisch with their first pick of 2012: Vista Luna Vineyard Verdelho

This past Tuesday, August 14, we spent a day checking out the progress of Lodi‘s 2012 crop; which, in fact, was already underway — at least in the Vista Luna Vineyard in Lodi’s Jahant AVA, where we found Markus and Liz Bokisch hand picking Verdelho for their Bokisch Vineyards brand, a select group of their small batch artisanal winemaker/clients (Odisea, Forlorn HopeKongsgaard, and The Scholium Project), as well as machine picking Verdelho for one of their bigger clients (Constellation Brands)...

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Time Posted: Aug 16, 2012 at 7:15 PM Permalink to Photographic report on start of Lodi’s 2012 harvest Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
August 14, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi zins rock it at ZAP’s Grill-O-Rama

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Wine barrels at Rock Wall Wine Company

The Zinfandel Advocates & Producers’ Grill-O-Rama took place this past Saturday, August 11 at Rock Wall Wine Company’s giant hangar-turned-winery by the San Francisco Bay, in Alameda.  Kudos to ZAP for showcasing Zinfandel in context of where it really tastes best:  with grilled, or barbecued, foods, such as the pulled pork tacos in fresh lime vinaigrette prepared by Picán chef Sophina Uong (named Grill-O-Rama’s “Best Grill Master” by a panel of professional wine/food judges)...

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Time Posted: Aug 14, 2012 at 7:47 PM Permalink to Lodi zins rock it at ZAP’s Grill-O-Rama Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
August 9, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Van Ruiten’s new winemaker has an uncommon “touch”

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Van Ruiten winemaker Matt Ridge

There is a new winemaker at Van Ruiten Family Winery; which, since founded by John Van Ruiten Sr. in 2000, has emerged as one of the Lodi American Viticultural Area’s most consistent, and beloved, producers of wines that are now sold in over 40 states across the country.

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Time Posted: Aug 9, 2012 at 7:58 PM Permalink to Van Ruiten’s new winemaker has an uncommon “touch” Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
August 7, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Lodi puts on most arduous wine seminar in the world at Steamboat Wine Festival

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Winter, spring, summer or fall, a visit to Steamboat Springs – a 6,732+ ft. elevation ski resort/community in the Rockies of Colorado – is a breathtaking affair.  Especially if you happened to participate in the Mud, Sweat and Cheers event that was part of the yearly Steamboat Wine Festival, which took place this past August 2-5...

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Time Posted: Aug 7, 2012 at 8:03 PM Permalink to Lodi puts on most arduous wine seminar in the world at Steamboat Wine Festival Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
August 3, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Signs of eminent greatness in the 2010 Maley Zinfandel

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Zinfandel cluster in Maley’s Weget Vineyard Zinfandel, undergoing veraison (color change) last week

Sometimes a wine just makes itself.  Or practically…

In the case of a good red Zinfandel, you still have to pick the grapes and get it into a fermentation vat, and watch it a little to make sure things don’t go south as it starts to bubble up and turn those sugars into alcohol, while all the goodies found in the skins turn into a taste resembling, say, quivering spoonfuls of raspberry preserve with sprinkles of cinnamon toast, nostril tingling pepper, and just-roasted coffee grounds…

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Time Posted: Aug 3, 2012 at 8:08 PM Permalink to Signs of eminent greatness in the 2010 Maley Zinfandel Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
July 30, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Finicky Graciano grape achieves mini-cult status in Lodi’s Clements Hills

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Graciano grapes in Bokisch's Terra Alta Vineyard

It was during one of their first trips to Spain when Rick and Erin Taylor first tasted a wine made from the Graciano grape, right from a barrel in a little bodega (winery).  “We were blown away,” says Mr. Taylor.  “It was unlike anything else we’d ever tasted.”

Later, when the Taylors discovered that Markus and Liz Bokisch were growing Graciano here in Lodi, where the Taylors were also living, “we knew we had to make that wine...”

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Time Posted: Jul 30, 2012 at 8:15 PM Permalink to Finicky Graciano grape achieves mini-cult status in Lodi’s Clements Hills Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
July 25, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Michael David easy-skankin’ at their annual REGGAE & RHONE concert

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Reggae master, Mystic Bowie

Oh lord, stuck in Lodi has never been so irie, mon… Michael David Winery continues with their 10th annual REGGAE & RHONE concert (Saturday, August 18, 6 PM), which will include an unbelievable Rhone style wine tasting under the winery’s gigantic weeping willow tree, a full-on Caribbean style barbecue dinner (by Stockton’s Breadfruit Tree), and the authentically Jamaican, so-jah-say, dem-belly-full, lively-up-yourself (and don’t say no!) sounds of Mystic Bowie and his band...

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Time Posted: Jul 25, 2012 at 8:20 PM Permalink to Michael David easy-skankin’ at their annual REGGAE & RHONE concert Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
July 19, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Pasos Tannat can crank up summer grills

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Lodi grown Tannat grapes

Tannat is not a wine grape to be trifled with.  Its black-purplish color can be intimidating, and its thick, tannin laden texture a mountainous affair.  If none of that bothers you in a red wine, then you can, to paraphrase Jimi Hendrix, chop it down with the edge of your hand.  Maybe pick up all the pieces and make an island, like a kid playing with food on the plate...

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Time Posted: Jul 19, 2012 at 8:30 PM Permalink to Pasos Tannat can crank up summer grills Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
July 17, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

ZAP’s upcoming Grille O’Rama speaks to Zinfandel’s barbecued soul

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Lodi winemaker Michael McCay's specialty slow cooked oil drum smoked baby backs

ZAP – the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers organization that has done more to popularize the joys of California Zinfandel than anything in the world, apart from the wines themselves – knows where its bread is buttered.

Zinfandel has become an everyday go-to beverage around the world (they’re even rocking with it in places as far-off as Shanghai and Stockholm, Berlin and Bombay…) not just because the grape produces a truly fine and delicious red wine, but also because at its very essence is the bare naked fact:  Zinfandel makes an incredible barbecue wine...

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Time Posted: Jul 17, 2012 at 8:36 PM Permalink to ZAP’s upcoming Grille O’Rama speaks to Zinfandel’s barbecued soul Permalink
Randy Caparoso
 
July 12, 2012 | Randy Caparoso

Sorelle’s Sangiovese defies all odds

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The old Dodge House on Sorelle's estate, fronted by Sangiovese

There’s always one in the bunch.  A newly loosed winegrower, seemingly oblivious to industry trends; making a decision to plant, as his centerpiece, a grape with a solid track record of market disappointment:  California grown Sangiovese...

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Time Posted: Jul 12, 2012 at 8:45 PM Permalink to Sorelle’s Sangiovese defies all odds 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
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