Tl;dr – Lodi is an underrated place to taste wine affordably, particularly if you’re a fan of Old Vine Zinfandel. I’ve included a list of wineries I recommend at the bottom.
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As part of a recent trip to Walla Walla and the Bay Area, I spent a day in wine country in Lodi, CA. I’ve visited Lodi, CA, on several occasions, as it was a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Oakland when I lived in the Bay Area. Boasting some of the oldest vines in California, the signature yield is Zinfandel, the specialty coming from the famed old gnarly vines. You’ll also find warmer expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Carignane, and Tempranillo, as well as Italian grapes like Primitivo and Barbera. For white grapes, you’ll find a lot of Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, and even some Sauvignon Blanc. Given the outsized value you see in Lodi wines, as well as the approachability of it all, I’m also an advocate for folks exploring the area. Here’s a quick recap of my most recent trip to Lodi’s AVA.
After closing our stay at the Kissel, we drove the 76 miles to Lodi, CA, to begin a day of wine tasting.
Notably, if your route takes you east on I-580, you’ll pass by another heavily underrated wine region – Livermore, CA, which, for the less-time-conscious-more-adventurous folks, could be a fun detour.
Rolling into town, our first stop for the day was LVVR Sparkling Cellars.
I’ve been visiting LVVR for a few years now, back before they opened up their current tasting room and production studio. You may not immediately think of Lodi when it comes to standout sparkling wines, but owner and winemaker Eric Donaldson knows what he’s doing. Though there have been slight variations in his offerings over the years (and oftentimes, you’ll find additional wines exclusively available at the winery), you can typically expect at least seven different sparklers of different varietals with varying levels of residual sugar. LVVR’s Albariño Reserve and Barbera Reserve are two of my favorites.
We made a quick pickstop at d’art wines, not to taste but to purchase a few wine checks, as predictably between Walla Walla and today’s expected purchases, we’d need better means to port our wine home.
The next stop for the day, Harney Lane, is a spot that serves up, amongst other stellar wines, a classic Old Vine Zinfandel – their Lizzy James. With a simple yet elegant tasting room, wonderful scenery of the grape vines, and a fun garden grove to enjoy your tasting or pour, it’s a great place to pass some time.
The final stop of the day before checking into the Wine & Roses Hotel & Spa was Jessie’s Grove. A winery that also has a horse farm, Jessie’s Grove produces several wines over a few labels at various price points.
The plan was to meet some old friends here, so we enjoyed a leisurely flight and some snacks over the conversation. I’m a fan of the Royal Tee and Westwind Zinfandels as well as the Earth, Zin, & Fire – an affordable ‘porch-pounder.’ I don’t tend to reach for dessert wines but quite interestingly Jessie’s Grove has a block of legacy grapes they use to make a Tokay – a traditional sweet wine (from Hungary) that’s affected by noble rot – a condition caused by the fungus Botrytis. Though it’s unclear if the primary grape used to make the wine is Furmint, the grapes do come from the original 1886 plantings on the property.
Though this was a short Lodi trip, it was another enjoyable experience. I recommend visiting the region.
SOME of My Favorite Lodi Producers
- The Lucas Winery – My vote for the most complex, refined, and balanced zins in the area.
- LVVR Sparkling Cellars
- Jessie’s Grove Winery
- Harney Lane Winery
- Mikami Vineyards
- Macchia Winery
- d’Art Wines
- Peirano Estate Vineyards
- Peltier Winery & Vineyards
- m2 Wines
- Fields Family Wines
For natural/minimal intervention wines, try:
- Markus Wine
- Perlegos Wine (Mostly conventional wines with a few that lean more natural)
Here are some larger producers from the region whose wines you might be able to find in a store near you:
- Michael David Winery
- Klinker Brick
Where to stay? Where to eat?
Wine and Roses is a comfortable spot that has an elevated motel romance drive-in feel. If you’re staying there, you only need to walk a few places to eat at the Americana House (formerly Towne House Restaurant). Though I’ve never been locals swear by Pietros for Italian food. Or, for some quick-hit-the-spot-eats, find the highest-rated taco truck closest to you.
You can find all the reviews from this Walla Walla to Lodi wine trip here.
