After a mere moment of hesitation, Sarah Fox, general manager of the Ryde Hotel, agreed to lead an impromptu excursion.

From hitting the water to cycling and running, there are always exciting events going on in and around Lodi.

Welcome to Lodi. Please relax and sip some wine. You’ll find wines here are generally excellent, affordable — and often poured for you by the vintner who made them.

Favorite place to eat: If I am going out to dinner with my wife Shelby, we like The Dancing Fox. It has great food, a great environment and great pies for dessert.

Barbara Miller used to routinely take her dog on evening walks by the river near her home — but not anymore. About eight to 10 weeks ago, Miller and some neighbors say they spotted a mountain lion roaming in a field near a river. But by the time she'd found her camera, hoping to capture a picture of the elusive creature, it was gone.

A Lodi winery is the connection between a University of the Pacific graphic design student and wine bottles on store shelves in Switzerland.

Thanks to a restaurant owner with a foundation in politics, Republican political consultant and policy adviser Karl Rove now knows where Woodbridge is.

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.

The 2011 Michael Klouda Lodi Stem Theory ($26) is a worthy follow-up to winemaker/owner Michael Klouda’s debut wine from last Spring, the 2010 Michael Klouda Broken Vine Lodi Zinfandel. A couple of things going for Stem Theory:

She radiates confidence and sex appeal. Her long hair — always fiery red with subtle waves hanging around her shoulders — is her signature. Sometimes she appears frivolous and carefree, her body wrapped around a wine bottle with that wide red smile. Other times, she is contemplative; lying at the edge of the Lodi Lake with a glass of purple wine in her hand and strappy heels on her feet.

Elk Grove is seeking approval to move its sphere of influence boundary south toward Galt, and at least one Galt City Council member is concerned.

1. ‘Julia Child says, “Bon Appetit”!’

What’s the attraction: A historic downtown area in the Sierra foothills, where you can wander in and out of boutiques, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and art galleries.

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.

For the last 15 years, Rick Grewel of Stockton has been a passionate pilot. 

Wine drinkers have spoken! What they are saying is they love many of Lodi’s wines, from blends to Zins. At the Consumer Wine Awards Competition in April, Lodi-area winery took home awards given by everyday wine drinkers. The awards include these platinum- and gold-winning wines from the Lodi appelation;

I have been trying to corner this column for well over a week now, and have finally pinned it down between laundry and watering flower pots. Also in the mix was a family gathering at California Al’s for Second Son’s and my joint birthday. A little newcomer to the group was my great-grandson, Second Daughter’s grandson via her son. I’ve already had a step great-grandson for a while, via Second Daughter’s stepdaughter. Gets complicated, doesn’t it? It’s nothing compared to the relationships among my forebears!

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

Roy Yates leases property on four ranches, where he takes care of 105 cows and several calves. Not only that, but he also makes business decisions, prepares paperwork and watches the livestock market so he can decide when to sell his cattle.