St. Amant Winery is a family owned winery located in Lodi, California that prides itself in producing handcrafted wines of superb quality. Founded in 1979 by Tim and Barbara Spencer, St. Amant crafts distinctive wines from Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian varietals in addition to California’s own Zinfandel.
The 60 acre property west of Lodi has been owned and farmed by the Spenker family for more than 100 years. At a home winemaking party Chuck and Bettyann met and fell in love. They started the winery in 1994 as an outgrowth of their interest in maintaining and demonstrating the high quality of their Zinfandel grapes. Jan-April: by appointment (209) 367-0467 May-Dec: Sat & Sun 12-4pm or by appointment
What makes Lodi wine so unique is that it is actually grown and made in seven different AVA’s; each one boasting its own distinct character, soil conditions and micro-climate. In fact, conditions here make it possible to grow more kinds of varietals from around the world than anywhere else in California. Anywhere else, period. The results of which you’ll discover as you navigate your way around these parts. Enjoy.
The folks at Harney Lane Winery believe that great wine really does start in the vineyard so when they vigilantly farm their vineyards to have a jump start on excellent quality wines. After lots of discussions over their homemade Old Vine Zinfandel, they decided, as a family they would like to share it with you. Harney Lane Winery handles their own winemaking with the same care as the vineyards. All fruit is handpicked; hand sorted, fermented in small lots and then barrel aged.
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.
Woodbridge Uncorked is located in quaint downtown Woodbridge, featuring 6 local boutique wineries.
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.
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.
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.
Helen and Dave Dart started their dream as home winemakers with a passion for great wines. After winning several awards in that category, they decided to make small lot commercial wines to share with like-minded enthusiasts.
What does a Spanish dancer have to do with a winery that has a French name? Absolutely nothing and everything. It was one of the first artworks created by Dave around the same time he and Helen began making wine at home. This piece has served as the winery's logo since their days as garagistes. Their journey began when they took Best of Show at the Sacramento Home Winemakers wine competition with their very first wine, a 2000 Syrah, igniting their passion for winemaking. Although Helen has French heritage, the name Dart is purely English.
Now residing on their Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, where the winery is located, the tasting room is a feast for the eyes. Dave and Helen have adorned the space with Dave's photo art, reflecting their travels around the world. Most days, Helen is present in the tasting room, eager to share her special wine-pairing recipes and insights into winemaking.
Through the tasting room lies the barrel room, where Dave and his daughter, Jessie, handle the winemaking process. They divide their responsibilities, with Jessie managing fermentation and barrel aging while Dave focuses on master blending and bottling.
The d’Art team is their most valuable asset. Visitors are warmly welcomed in the tasting room, where the couple loves getting to know their customers.
