Lodi wine protection bill clears hurdle

A bill to protect the Lodi wine brand gained unanimous support this week from the state Assembly.

Known as the Lodi Wine Grape Growers Labeling bill, AB 2397 moves next to the state Senate.

If approved, it would require winemakers in Lodi's smaller wine regions, or sub-appellations, to include "Lodi" on their labels.

The goal is to prevent winemakers in the smaller regions, like Clements Hills or Borden Ranch, for example, from just listing their own name and leaving Lodi out.

That's become a problem in Napa and Sonoma, where subregions like "Alexander Valley" have begun to make a name for themselves, but exclude the larger region on their wine labels.

Local grape growers initiated the bill. They got Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, (R-Stockton), whose wife grows grapes in the Lodi appellation, to sponsor the bill.

"What we're doing ... is protecting our investment," said Bruce Fry, a local grape grower and Lodi District Grape Grower Association board member.

"Lodi growers have invested millions of dollars to establish a Lodi brand," added Kyle Lerner, LDGGA president.

Growers pay an annual fee to the Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission to market Lodi wine across the globe.

Mark Chandler, executive director of the commission, said the bill has "wide support" in the local industry.

He added, however, that it will "in practice" change nothing now. Winemakers in the smaller regions already include Lodi on their labels, along with their own names.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.