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.

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

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.

It helps to be a “one and only.” Talking about the Grand Tasting at the 16th annual Rhone Rangers Celebration that took place March 23 in San Francisco.

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.

Visit Lodi!, the community's visitors bureau on North School Street, has added Yogesh "Yogi" Patel to its board of directors and named Diane Niggli board chairwoman for 2013.

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

Lodi's younger generation has been accused of a lot of things, but sitting around drinking grandma's traditional deep red wine is not one of them. The new generation of wine drinkers is looking for more: chuckle-inducing logos, light and interesting flavors, something adventurous they can be excited to share with friends.

When Julie Coldani offers tastings of her family’s olive oil at trade shows, there is one question she almost always gets in return.

When Brandon Sywassink arrives at a vineyard and hops out of his truck, the first tool he reaches for isn't a pair of pruning shears or work gloves. Sywassink boots up his iPad and opens an app called LandView to see what tasks are on the list for this particular plot of land. This time of year, that might include mowing between each row, tying up vines or repairing wires.

Despite some strongly worded protests by three neighbors, Oak Farm Vineyards got the green light to expand its winery on a private portion of DeVries Road.

With a new county ordinance governing wineries in limbo, more and more winemakers are applying to San Joaquin County to either construct a new winery or expand their existing one.

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.

Due to financial concerns, the organization that promotes Downtown Lodi businesses will fold.

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?

WineAmerica, the national organization of American wineries, has selected Mark Chandler as its executive director, effective in February, according to a press release distributed on Thursday.

Galt Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Frank Gayaldo is stepping down from his role after mere months in the position, but he insists he's doing it to put more time into his international connections which could ultimately bring more jobs to the city and region.