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• Lodi police officer on way to train new Iraqi army leaders

• Juggler to wow circus crowds in Lodi this weekend

• Take care of yourself, former Texas governor tells Lodi crowd

• Lodi officers join thousands to remember peers killed in line of duty

• Regional Roundup

• Mahoney deposition in O'Grady case stayed

• Lodi tasting event teaches basics of winemaking

• Logbook

• Black community gathers in Stockton to protest ruling in inmate's death

• New county community development director expected to follow board's direction

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (170)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Public health care is a Christian option (85)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (52)
• The haves should help the have-nots (31)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (26)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (18)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (17)

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Lodi tasting event teaches basics of winemaking

Everyone knows that winegrapes eventually become wine. What happens during the journey from the bloom to the tasting room is another thing altogether.

Lodi's vintners will try to lift the mystery from the winemaking process during a wine passport event May 15-16. The eighth annual Vines to Wines tour gives wine lovers a chance to sample labels from 18 Lodi wineries and enjoy the area's scenic wine country, all the while learning about the techniques that go into making wines.

"A lot of people don't know how it goes from the vine to the wine," said David Sandri of Peirano Estates Vineyard. "They see the grapes and berries growing and the wine in the bottle, but they really don't know the steps involved."

Wine lovers can see how owls are used to protect crops at the Van Ruiten Family Winery on Highway 12. Peirano Estates on North Highway 99 will show off its nearly century-old Zinfandel vines.

At The Lucas Winery on Turner Road, French barrel-makers Seguin Morearu will show visitors the secrets behind the ages-old craft. Michael-David Vineyards, also on Highway 12, will feature a demonstration on how to blend wines to create unique varieties.

Combining wine tasting with hands-on demonstrations lets wine lovers in on the winemaking secret while exposing them to a variety of Lodi wines, said Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission.

"It demystifies the wine," Chandler said. "It makes them more educated as consumers, and it's a little bit entertaining."

Food and music are also staples of the two-day event. Lucas will feature crab-stuffed shiitake mushrooms to go with its ZinStar Zinfandel, or marinated strawberries for its popular Zin Blossoms label. Grilled sausage with Petit Sirah is on the menu at Peirano Estates, while Jessie's Grove on Turner Road will feature tri-tip with its Westwind Zinfandel.

Other participating wineries will serve food with their wines as well, said Lynette McClain, events chair for the Lodi Appellation Winery Association. Some wineries will also feature live music.

"It's designed to both entertain and educate," McClain said. "It allows people to taste fine wines without being intimidating."

The event also brings increased exposure to Lodi's Wine Trail, said David Lucas, owner of The Lucas Winery. Bringing people to town and "spoiling them rotten" will make them more likely to return with friends the next time they want to go wine tasting, he said.

"This is the most important (tasting event of the year)," Lucas said. "It is our opportunity to showcase the wineries in Lodi."

A two-day passport is $35 in advance, $45 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Lodi Memorial Hospital. For more information, visit www.lodiwine.com or call 368-2006 or (888) 700-5634.