Lodi

Lodi

Ripken Vineyards & Winery

Swirling glass of wine - saman teher - pixabay

We go down the road less traveled. We appeal to wine drinkers that wish to explore the joys of Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Carmine, Petit Verdot, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, Graciano, Souzao, Touriga National, Grenace, Mourvedre, Montepulciano, Barbera, Dolcetto, or Corvina as blends or varietal wines.

Macchia Wines

glass of wine

Husband and wife team, Tim and Lani Holdener, who started the operation in the Lodi Appellation in 2001, have scoured California's premium vineyards to find the best grapes for over seven Zinfandels bottled and a handful of promising Italian varietals offered by Macchia.

Jessie's Grove Winery

picture of winery's Westwind Zinfandel

Jessie’s Grove Winery in Lodi specializes in crafting small-batch, artisanal wines that showcase the vibrant flavors of the region’s renowned grape varietals, such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. Visitors can explore the newly renovated tasting room, the historic barn, or enjoy a glass at the outdoor pouring stations, each offering a unique and personalized wine-tasting experience for every occasion.

With a commitment to sustainable farming, Jessie’s Grove ensures that each grape is carefully nurtured, resulting in wines that capture the true essence of Lodi. Guests can enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, exclusive barrel tastings at the historic estate, or peaceful picnics amidst the tranquil beauty of the Lodi countryside.

Barsetti Vineyards

grapes

Janis and Richard own 120 acres of zinfandel in the Lodi Appellation east of Galt, CA. Janis’ grandfather Barsetti came to America from the southern party of Switzerland in 1903. Her grandfather settled in the Galt area in 1911. Janis’ father and grandparents bought the property where the vineyard exists today, in 1941. Up until 1995, when the vineyard was planted, the land supported a dairy, beef cattle and crop operation. The birth of Barsetti Vineyards as a wine label began in 2001.

Michael David Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Michael and David Phillips represent the fifth generation of growers in Lodi, and things are changing. With 650 acres of premium wine grapes, there is plenty of room for experimentation and innovation.

The Phillips Family and Lodi have a long history together. They have been farming the soil since the 1860s and cultivating wine grapes since the early 20th century. The founders, brothers Michael and David Phillips, are 5th generation grape growers who raised their families in the vineyard. Now, the 6th generation has joined the team with Mike’s daughter, Melissa. The Phillips Family, more than most, understands the importance of leaving the land better than they found it for future generations. Their family legacy and love of Lodi drive their focus on sustainability.

Klinker Brick Winery

wine barrel and glass of wine - Pixabay

Steve and Lori Felten, fifth-generation grape growers in the Lodi region, uphold the tradition of cultivating "Old Vine" Zinfandel vineyards originally planted by their ancestors in the early 1900s.

Their family's journey began in Germany, Russia, and later the Dakotas before settling in Lodi. Initially producing watermelons, they soon recognized the region's ideal soil and climate for grape cultivation. They began planting various grape varieties, including Zinfandel, Tokay, Carignane, and Alicante. For over a century, the family has diligently nurtured the land with the goal of producing top-quality fruit. Zinfandel was among the first grape varieties introduced in the Lodi appellation, though it had already been established in other parts of California.

Originally, grapes were packed in boxes and shipped to the East Coast and Canada for home winemaking. In the early years, nearly all of the Zinfandel grapes were sent off, except for those used for home winemaking.

By the mid-1930s, grapes were primarily sold to cooperatives and larger private wineries, with only a small portion of production shipped east.

Historically, the vineyards were irrigated using flood or ditch methods, which led to larger yields of marginal quality due to the difficulty in regulating water application. In the late 1980s, the introduction of drip irrigation allowed for precise control over water distribution to each vine. This innovation enabled better control of vine vigor, resulting in healthier fruit and ultimately, lower yields. With the adoption of advanced vineyard practices such as shoot thinning, leaf pulling, color thinning, and the removal of second crops, the family was able to achieve the production of exceptionally high-quality grapes.

Part of the extended Felten Family includes their winemaker, Barry Gnekow, who is responsible for crafting the wines from the inaugural vintage. Barry, a Davis graduate with over 25 years of experience of winemaking, has a unique ability to bring the best of the vineyard into the cellar, year after year, producing wines of distinction for Klinker Brick.

Another extended family member is Lynne Whyte Barnard, the President of Klinker Brick Winery. Lynne has brought a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to the winery, having owned her own wholesale company and directing sales and marketing for prestigious wine producers in California. She was instrumental in the development of the Old Ghost wine, label design and has been responsible for selling all of the vintages produced to date, developing national and international distribution.

 

 

Heritage Oak Winery

winery's logo

One of the unique aspects of Heritage Oak Winery is that our customers are always invited to enjoy this beautiful piece of land we live on. To make this possible we have developed a hiking trail down to a secluded beach along the Mokelumne River where you can enjoy a quiet picnic.

Century Oak Winery

winery label to their Chardonnay

The 37-acre estate vineyard continues to provide highly sought after Cabernet Grapes and a few small Old Vine Zinfandel plots around the Acampo, Lodi and Woodbridge wine-growing areas also provide intense, high-quality fruit that help us make incredible wines. Each harvest is crushed, aged and bottled on site, with the family and winemaker running every step of the process.

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