Thousands converge on Lodi area to take part in Wine and Chocolate Weekend

It was raining cats and dogs Saturday, but that didn't deter lovers of everything wine and chocolate. And milder weather greeted visitors on Sunday.

The 10th annual Wine and Chocolate Weekend drew an estimated 2,500 people to 23 area wineries and to the Wine and Visitors Center over the weekend.

"It was a tsunami yesterday, and a tsunami of people," Richard Gray, owner of Barsetti Vineyards said on Sunday.

"It's kind of a jump start to get you started for Valentine's Day," Galt resident John Gordon said outside the Wine and Visitors Center on Turner Road on Sunday.

Despite Saturday's downpour, the bigger crowds came Sunday, observers said.

Six limousines took young women participating in a bachelorette party to wineries throughout the area Saturday, said Carol Ann Hackley, a public relations professor at University of the Pacific.

Vintners, such as Ron Mencarini, co-owner of Abundance Vineyards on Ray Road, were also pleased to see a younger crowd coming to enjoy some of the Lodi-Woodbridge wines that were available.

The wine industry used to promote its product to the 10 percent who typically purchased 90 percent of the wines nationwide, said Visitors Center manager Michael Perry. Now, the wine industry — from the Lodi area and elsewhere — is attracting all age ranges, Perry said.

Visitors enjoyed red wine and chocolate both days at various wineries. Highlights included angel food cake and crackers in chocolate fondue mix at the River Bluff Cellars table at the Wine and Visitors Center, and several pieces of chocolate with wine inside at the Barsetti Vineyards table.

Barsetti had chardonnay dipped into small pieces of dark chocolate, white chocolate with merlot and white chocolate with strawberries and zinfandel mixed together.

"It's a very lovely event," Hackley said Sunday afternoon at the Wine and Visitors Center. "The pride of Lodi showed."

Hackley husband, Cole, who toured wineries both days, said it appeared that there were more actual wine connoisseurs on Sunday.

"(Saturday), they were drinking," Cole Hackley said. "Today they were sipping."

Rachel Gordon of Vacaville particularly enjoyed the apricot on the stick with banana and chocolate at the Michael David Winery on Highway 12.

"Each place had something different," she said.

Her daughter-in-law, Yvonne Gordon of Galt, said she enjoyed talking to the people who run the tasting rooms. And Rachel Gordon noted that the wineries had something extra, such as hand lotion, candles and jewelry.

As Yvonne Gordon put it, "It was a very good ending to the day."

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Why do wine and chocolate go so well together?

Vintners and visitors to the Wine and Chocolate Festival over the weekend shared a variety of ideas on why the two seem to work so well together.
Michael Perry, manager, Lodi Wine and Visitors Center: "There's the romantic side with Valentine's Day coming up and Easter. The natural components with red wine and especially dark chocolate."
Carol Ann Hackley, professor, University of the Pacific: "They're both healthy. Red wine and dark chocolate are good for the heart."
Richard Gray, co-owner, Barsetti Vineyards: "It enhances the flavor of the chocolate and the flavor of the wine. Port goes well with dark chocolate."
Brant Davis, River Bluff Cellars: "More of the heartier wines go together with chocolate. If you were to try out some petit sirah after that chocolate (fondue), it would bring out the strong fruit components in that wine."
Source: News-Sentinel staff.

First published: Monday, February 12, 2007

Reader Feedback

T & C wrote on Feb 16, 2007 8:43 AM:

" Maybe that million from the new wallymart can go towards the first bed and breakfast at one of those wino'rees. "

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avid reader wrote on Feb 12, 2007 1:19 PM:

" To T&C: you are a dolt! "

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Oh My! wrote on Feb 12, 2007 11:43 AM:

" I can't believe T&C found something to complain about with this event. These events are wonderful for our community. Congratulations to the wineries and event planners. With nice weather the event would have been twice as good. "

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Haters wrote on Feb 12, 2007 11:15 AM:

" I dont see whats the big deal about you guys complaining about the wine tasting. I am sure people are smart enough not to get plastered and then go drive home after wine tasting. Lodi is popular for our wine, so I think this event was great. And I agree, move on from the super center! Talk to the community if you dont like it, since they voted for it! "

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Dean Horse wrote on Feb 12, 2007 10:31 AM:

" And by the way. I hardly think Pat Patrick and Susan Hitchcock are on very good terms since the Chamber not only didn't endorse her but actively worked against her re-election. "

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Dead Horse wrote on Feb 12, 2007 10:29 AM:

" Happy Days, why do you continue to beat this Walmart dead horse? The citizens of this community voted overwhelmingly for a Super Center. What's wrong with competition? It's not like we haven't had a Walmart for the past 15 years. What's the big deal? If there was ever the "will of the people" this is it. Move on! "

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Happy Days wrote on Feb 12, 2007 10:25 AM:

" With this success, I hope the City will consider a "Wine & Wal-Mart Weekend" or perhaps a "Wal-Mart and Chocolate" weekend. Afterall, if we listen to Pat Patrick and his buddies on Council (sans Ms. Hitchcock of course), you'd think Walmart was the best thing for us! "

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T & C wrote on Feb 12, 2007 7:23 AM:

" The man said "Saturday they were drinking and Sunday they were sipping". As a host at many tasting events here in Lodi in the 90's, I know how inebriated those "sippers" can get. The city of Lodi needs to quit funneling city funds to these wineries and spend that money on activities for Lodians that're affordable. $35 dollar tickets make me laugh. City Council, keep those "good ole' boyz" pockets lined! "

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T & C speaks wrote on Feb 12, 2007 7:18 AM:

" I, also, for one, don't want my city taxpayer money spent promoting any event that encourages one to go drink and then get into their vehicle and drive. Was the LPD, CHP and sheriff told to stay away Chief Hansen? Quit spending my tax money on these county wineries with those 15,000 sq. ft. homes on them and the hummers in the drive. Move that visitor center to downtown Lodi. "

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T & C wrote on Feb 12, 2007 7:11 AM:

" It's nice to see the Sentinel says the wineries are doing well, but I'd like to know why the visitors' center is located in front of the "good ole' boyz" Wine and Roses facility and not downtown Lodi and why the city spends our money promoting these wineries that are in San Joaquin County and not Lodi.Whose decision was it to also bring Wine and Roses downtown after giving Hazel's all that money to fail? "Good ole boyz" waste our money. "

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