Wine trail: The road to discovery

By News-Sentinel staff

The Lodi Wine Trail is the perfect tool for discovering Lodi’s wine appellation.

Taking the trail — or portions thereof — by bicycle brings the wine experience up close and personal and gives bikers the opportunity to stop and smell the grapevines.

Although it was created with car traffic in mind, bikers are often seen taking the trail by two wheels. The flat roads and wide shoulders make biking the 35-mile Wine Trail a delight.

Suggestions for biking the wine trail.

Route No. 1: Begin at the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, 2545 W. Turner Road. Turn left on Lower Sacramento Road and meander through the quaint town of Woodbridge. Make a left turn on Mokelumne; left on Davis Road to Lucas Winery. Backtrack north on Davis Road, turn left on Woodbridge Road and then left on Turner to Jessie’s Grove Winery.

Next, backtrack on Turner Road and turn left on DeVries Road to Spenker Winery. Continue right on DeVries Road and then another right on Sargeant Road and left on Ray Road. Carefully cross Highway 12 to Phillips Vineyards, which also includes a well-stocked produce store and restaurant.

Ride east on Highway 12 to Van Ruiten-Taylor Winery and head north on Davis Road, right on Turner Road and back to the Wine and Visitor Center.

Route No. 2: Again, begin at the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center and turn left on Lower Sacramento Road. Travel over the Mokelumne River bridge in Woodbridge and then right on Acampo Road to Peirano Estate Vineyards. Continue on Acampo Road heading east and then right on the frontage road. Turn left on Woodbridge Road and proceed under Highway 99 to Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. Continue east on Woodbridge Road and then left on Dustin Road and right on Acampo Road. Make a right turn on Bruella Road, crossing the Mokelumne again, and right on Victor Road/Highway 12 to Lawson Creek Vineyards (call ahead for tasting) and then further down the road to Oak Ridge Vineyards.

Next, continue west on Victor Road/Highway 12 and right on Guild Road to St. Amant Winery.

Now you can either backtrack this trail to the Wine and Visitor Center or continue north on Guild Road and then left on Turner Road. If you choose the Turner Road option, proceed with caution at the railroad “tunnel.”

The best advice is to get on the sidewalk and walk your bike over the crossing. The Wine and Visitor Center is about three miles from Highway 99.

Don’t forget to wear your helmet.