Though her day job is in an office, Amy Blagg simply can’t get away from the farming life she grew up in. Her work for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation, both locally and on a state level, was recognized by the California Farm Bureau Federation in March.

Everyday backyard gardeners know that gophers can be a true nuisance.

Shaped by the land and climate and further molded by the economy and markets, Lodi’s agricultural landscape over the decades has evolved from grain to watermelons to grapes.

Two brothers and a sister in Thornton are busy farming in three counties, yet they find the time to be involved in small local boards, raise money for charity and participate in community activities.

Sue Ripken is only one woman, but depending on the room she’s standing in, she holds any number of jobs for Ripken Winery.

Larry Lawrence stands on the main patio at Viaggio Winery, picking through a ring of keys to open a locked wooden door. It leads to the room where he and his wife, Terri Lawrence, had hoped to open a little sandwich counter to serve visitors to Viaggio, a dramatic estate on the Mokelumne River.

Effective leaders are often affable and diplomatic. As executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Camron King humbly blends traits in his ongoing work with winemakers and growers to promote the area.

Sometimes a wine is better off made without much human intervention — in order to allow its provenance to speak for itself.

When Robert Torres started working for his family's winery as 5-year-old boy, he helped his grandmother on their home bottling line. She would fill the bottles by hand, and Torres would screw the cap on before it was tightened with a machine.

Ever wonder where farmers and their employees learn to safely use sulfur and other chemicals in fields and orchards?

Dear Jerry: It must be hard being the governor of California. Everyone wants something from you.

It was tough being a dog in Lodi's early days. In October 1906, Lodi presented "a sorry appearance to the tourist," according to the Lodi Sentinel, and wandering dogs got a small portion the blame. The dusty town of 1,900 residents still had the look of a pioneer farm settlement with unrestrained dogs, cows and other animals wandering around the dirt streets. Animal droppings throughout the town were common nuisances.

One of the finest Zinfandels made in California today is one that even the most devoted Zinfandel lovers have never heard of — made by Mikami Vineyards, sourced from a 15-acre vineyard owned by Jason Mikami, located on the west side of Lodi's historic Mokelumne River AVA.

Grape growers and wine industry officials in San Joaquin County learned some good news Friday. This year's crush had a record fall harvest — and record prices paid by wineries.

Sutter Home Winery will be expanding its west-side crushing plant over the next three years, which could result in 400 new jobs for Lodi.

Ever wonder how changing the trellis system could improve your vineyard? Are those invasive pests still bothering Lodi vines?

In 1923, Lodi was a progressive city of 8,000 with a bustling business core, modern schools, dynamic fruit shipping industry and miles of valuable vineyards encircling it. Yet, Lodi was so overlooked that it was mismarked on maps.

The Lodi Chamber of Commerce will host an Outstanding Citizens Award Celebration later this month to celebrate their 90th year in operation this month.

One of Lodi's most coveted Zinfandels over the past dozen years has come from a 10-acre vineyard owned and meticulously farmed by Craig Rous. Rous Vineyard is located in the heart of the east side of Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA — a level pocket of some 30 feet of porous sandy loam soil, built up by millenniums of overflow from this major waterway, pushing down from the Sierra Nevadas.

When you hear Ross Schmiedt talking about the quality of wines, his family history, and sustainable grape growing — something he does all the time, with inspiring ebullience even from the confines of his wheelchair (in recent years Schmiedt has been impaired by ALS) — you soon realize that in his mind, all three things are one and the same.

Grape growers in the Lodi Appellation are having a booming year, but experts say it’s too soon to reveal the great prices Lodi winegrapes are earning.