Photo-reminiscings of 2012 ZinFest & Vintner’s Grille

No wine lovers like Lodi ZinFest wine lovers!

We’ll go dancing in the dark
Walking through the park and reminiscing…
- Little River Band

Enthusiasm was brimming during Lodi’s 2012 ZinFest, taking place under the gargantuan Weeping Willow trees of Lodi Lake Park...

May 21, 2012 at 9:46 AM Permalink

Many wines other than Zinfandel at 2012 Lodi ZinFest

Barbara Huecksteadt picking her Hux Marzemino

Lodi crushes about 40% of California’s entire crop of Zinfandel each and every year, and there are more pre-1960 plantings of Old Vine Zinfandel (mostly, still growing on their own rootstocks!) in the Lodi AVA than anywhere else in the state.

Therefore, Lodi Wine Country’s biggest, yearly spring celebration in Lodi Lake Park is called ZinFest, but make no mistake:  ZinFesters will be able to taste many more wines other than Zinfandel at this year’s ZinFest...

May 16, 2012 at 9:35 AM Permalink

Musical zinsations at the 2012 Lodi ZinFest

Snap Jackson (right) will get your feet tapping in a hurry at the 2012 Lodi ZinFest

It’s all about the lush, juicy wines, good eats, the incredible greens and blues of Lodi Lake Park, and last but not least, the music at the 2012 ZinFest that will add up to memorably fine event in Lodi Wine Country this coming Saturday, May 19.

Start with Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players, a mesmerizingly fun, toe tapping, hand clapping, high energy acoustic trio from Stockton.  This three man hurricane will be walking around the Lodi Lake Park grounds, zapping ZinFesters with their roux of Americana, Bluegrass, Soul, & Old Time...

May 15, 2012 at 9:30 AM Permalink

Rous Vineyard’s immaculate perfection, with help from St. George

Craig Rous with his 103 year old zin vines

One of Lodi’s most highly regarded Zinfandel growths over the past dozen or so years has been the 10 acre vineyard owned and meticulously farmed by Craig Rous.  Rous Vineyard is located in the heart of the “eastside” of Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA – a level pocket of some 30 feet of porous sandy loam soil, built up by millenniums of overflow from this major waterway, pushing down from the Sierra Nevadas – and Mr. Rous himself holds the position of Director of Operations & Planning of the Kautz family’s Bear Creek Winery...

May 10, 2012 at 9:26 AM Permalink

The chefs’ slate at 2012 ZinFest Cooking School

It’s all about foods we love to eat with Lodi’s lush, juicy wines under the 2012 ZinFest Cooking School tent this coming May 19 in Lodi Lake Park.

The Cooking School will start off at 1 PM with Chef Fabrice Dubuc of Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant & Spa – which has been rated among the Top 10 Most Romantic Inns by American Historic Inns – who will be demonstrating the pissaladiere of his native Southern France...

May 7, 2012 at 9:22 AM Permalink

Ironstone’s astounding Petite Sirah from little known Sloughhouse appellation

Ironstone's Sloughhouse AVA Petite Sirah vineyard

Of the seven sub-appellations – officially called American Viticultural Areas (i.e. AVAs) – within the greater Lodi AVA, the Sloughhouse AVA (officially recognized in 2006) is among the least known, despite its incredible potential...

May 3, 2012 at 9:17 AM Permalink

Experience terroir, the cutting-edge, chocolates & cheese at ZinFest Wine School

ZinFest wine lovers enjoying their day in Lodi Lake Park

There will be some fascinating 30 minute seminars offered at the 2012 Lodi ZinFest, taking place underneath the Wine School tent.  You can...

May 1, 2012 at 9:13 AM Permalink

Celebrate Lodi spring with 2011s & 50 salads at Wine & Roses

This Sunday, April 29, 2012, Wine & Roses – Lodi’s premier hotel, restaurant and spa destination – will host its first annual Spring of The Vine.  Or as Wine & Roses’ French born Chef Didier Gerbi puts it, Le Printemps des Vins...

Apr 26, 2012 at 8:59 AM Permalink

Exotic wines, lush Delta & words from the Grape Goddess at 2012 ZinFest

Why have more and more wine lovers been flocking to Lodi’s ZinFest Wine Festival, a yearly celebration taking place this year on Saturday, May 19, 2012 (12-5 PM)?  More than 6,000 attended last year’s festival, yet amazingly…

Apr 24, 2012 at 8:55 AM Permalink

How Lodi caused Odisea’s “Temporary Insanity”

Odisea's Adam Webb with Jean Rauser, in her 103 year old Lodi Carigane vineyard

I fought against the bottle
But I had to do it drunk…
- Leonard Cohen (That Don’t Make It Junk)

The 2009 Odisea California Temporary Insanity ($30) is a perfect example of how some of California’s most original, and quixotic, wine producers get hooked on Lodi; and why winemakers consider this American Viticultural Area increasingly where it’s at when it comes to winegrowing derring-do...

Apr 20, 2012 at 8:52 AM Permalink