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Akaylia Sidener, left, of Jessie's Grove Winery, pours a taste for Chris Ary during the Treasure Island Wine Fest on Sunday. (Jordan Guinn/News-Sentinel)
Lodi wineries draw crowds to San Francisco for weekend's Treasure Island Wine Fest
As Blue Angel fighter jets roared over San Francisco's skyline for the opening day of Fleet Week and salty air sprayed up from San Francisco Bay, more than 1,500 wine enthusiasts sampled varietals from more than 40 Lodi wineries on Treasure Island on Sunday.
The Treasure Island Wine Fest featuring Lodi wines was a success, said Charlene Lange of LangeTwins Winery.
"The reception has been dramatic," Lange said. She said the event coordinators were looking for ways to improve the event for next year. They were going to have to get another tent for wine tasting, she said, because she anticipates more wineries participating and more people coming.
Between 1 and 5 p.m. on Treasure Island, the portable tent that housed the 43 wineries, and the Knowlton Gallery was packed elbow-to-elbow with guests sampling Lodi varietals and schmoozing with growers.
"It's a nice crowd of serious consumers of wine," said Courtney Thommen, one of the event's main coordinators.
Marie Rodgers is one such consumer. The Hawaiian native lives in the Bay Area because she is on active duty for the United States Air Force. She said her best friend bought her the ticket to the Treasure Island Wine Fest because she knew how much she loves wine. Rodgers said she is a "big fan" of wine in general, but knew very little about Lodi wines before Sunday.
She said she enjoyed the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi wine the most, but that she would definitely look for Lodi wines in stores and restaurants in the future.
"I've had some really good stuff," Rodgers said. "I liked what I had here."
Outside the bustling tent, a variety of seminars on wine pairing, sustainability and Lodi wines in general were featured.
People await their turn to enter the tent on Treasure Island that featured more than 40 Lodi wineries. More than 1,500 attended the event, organizers said. (Jordan Guinn/News-Sentinel)
Suzanne Ledbetter said more than 1,400 tickets were sold in advance for the event, and many more purchased tickets at the door on Sunday.
She said it was a great turnout, and that overcast conditions didn't stop people from enjoying themselves.
"It's a little chilly," Ledbetter said. "But the wine is flowing and keeping everyone warm."
Akaylia Sidener of Jessie's Grove Winery was inside the tent pouring to customers, and said the turnout at her table was excellent.
"I'm blown away," she said.
Sidener and the rest of Jessie's Grove Winery brought seven cases of wine to the event. There are a dozen bottles in each case.
By 3:30 p.m., she said she still had enough, but that they were going through the wine quickly throughout the day.
"The attendance has passed our expectations," she said. "I'm impressed with how many Lodi residents are out here today."
Lange said what made the event most successful in her eyes was Lodi's ability to create a name for itself and market in another city.
"We are doing what wine writers say we should be doing," Lange said. "Introducing ourselves to others."
Contact Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com
Dennis Whiteneck and Mary Furman enjoy Lodi wines at the Treasure Island Wine Fest on Sunday. Whiteneck and Furman are from Walnut Creek and enjoy drinking Lodi wine. (Jordan Guinn/News-Sentinel)
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pork chop wrote on Oct 13, 2009 12:52 AM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 12, 2009 11:07 PM:
T & C wrote on Oct 12, 2009 7:59 PM:
commentator wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:41 PM:
jrs wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:40 PM:
commentator wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:39 PM:
commentator wrote on Oct 12, 2009 1:38 PM:
T & C wrote on Oct 12, 2009 11:02 AM:
"A designated driver" is the best plan for having a great time, when away from home! It's too bad the Drunk driver going 80 MPH "Northbound" on the "Southbound" side of I-5 chose not to have a "Designated Driver when he hit the car I was riding in "Head-on in 1974"! I am still disabled because of his stupid behavior.
Before you criticize me about my "Position on Drinking & Driving".... why not experience such an accident yourself and see how much your life can change in a split second! I am just thankful I survived! So many victims of drunk drivers are killed! "
carlos wrote on Oct 12, 2009 10:58 AM:
Cogito wrote on Oct 12, 2009 9:54 AM:
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Oct 12, 2009 9:20 AM:
Yes, T&C, every participant at yesterday's Wine Fest got totally hammered tasting our fine Lodi wines. Your constant rants are old and predictable. "
jrs wrote on Oct 12, 2009 8:58 AM:
T & C wrote on Oct 12, 2009 8:07 AM:
T & C wrote on Oct 12, 2009 8:06 AM:
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