Lodi area wineries among best

By Brian Ross
News-Sentinel staff writer

Here is a listing of Lodi and foothill-area wineries. Although every effort was made to provide up-to-date listings at press time, some information may change seasonally — so it’s a good idea to call in advance when planning your visit.

• Delicato Vineyards — 12001 S. Highway 99 and French Camp Road, Manteca. Tasting from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Tours held at 11 a.m. daily except Fridays. On Fridays, tours are held at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Phone: (209) 824-3500

• Gnekow Family Winery — 17347 E. Gawne Road, Collegeville. A new tasting room has been built to accommodate the growing crowds. Wine tasting hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call for further details: (209) 463-0697.

• Jessie’s Grove Winery — 1973 W. Turner Road, Lodi. Tasting from Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: (209) 368-0880

• Lucas Winery — 18186 N. Davis Rd., Lodi. Tasting Thursday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. A free 60-minute vine-to-wine tour and tasting is available Thursday through Sunday at 2 p.m.

Special tours are available by appointment for groups of up to 20 at a cost of $10 per person. Guests under 21 are free. Phone: (209) 368-2006

New tasting room is now completed. Phone:(209) 368-2006.

• Oak Ridge Vineyards — 6100 E. Highway 12, Lodi. Tasting room is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. Gift shop, picnic area. Phone: (209) 369-4758, ext. 7

• Olde Lockeford Winery — 12470 Locke Road, Building 100, Lockeford. Wine tasting, unique fossil and mineral exhibits. Call for tour. Phone: (209) 727-9770.

• Peirano Estate ó 21831 N. Highway 99, Acampo Tasting Room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday.

Peirano Estate is a family-owned operation which boasts some of the oldest zinfandel vines in the area.

Located on the west frontage road parallel to Highway 99, just north of Acampo Road, the tasting room was at one time the Peirano family’s home.

The estate has been in the family for 100 years, since Giacomo Peirano established it.

Giacomo Peirano is great-grandfather of the current owner Lance Randolph.

Peirano also has a gift shop, deli, and picnic areas surrounded by 300 acres of grapes, for those who want to make a day of it. Phone: (209) 369-9463. E-mail: pr@peirano.com

• Phillips Vineyards — 4580 W, Highway 12, Lodi. Tasting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Gift shop, picnic area, deli/cafe. Tours are available by appointment. Phone: (209) 368-7384.

• Spenker Winery — 17303 N. DeVries Rd., Lodi. Tasting and tours by appointment. Phone: (209) 367-0467.

• St. Amant Winery — 1 Winemasters Way, Lodi. Tasting by appointment; Phone: (209) 367-0646

• Van Ruiten-Taylor Winery — 340 W. Highway 12, Lodi. Tasting Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. Phone: (209) 334-5722

• Woodbridge Winery — 5950 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo. Tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to tasting, the winery holds a public tour each day at 9:30 a.m. Private tours and tastings are available by appointment. Phone: (209) 365-2839

CALAVERAS COUNTY

• Black Sheep Winery — 634 French Gulch Rd., at Main Street and Murphy’s Grade Rd., Murphys. Tasting from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and by appointment during the week. Picnic area, gift shop. Phone: (209) 728-2157.

• Chatom Vineyards — 1969 Highway 4, Douglas Flat. Tasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tours by appointment. Phone: (209) 736-6500.

• Rios Vineyards — 1154 Pennsylvania Gulch Rd., one mile east of Murphys. Tasting Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (209) 728-1020.

• Kautz Ironstone Vineyards — 1894 Six Mile Rd., 1 mile south of the Murphys Hotel. Tasting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tours are conducted at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Deli, gift shop are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A rare 44.5-pound gold nugget is on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (209) 728-1251

• Malvadino Winery — 7501 Sheep Ranch Rd., Mountain Ranch. Winery operates a tasting room in Murphys at 4570 Algiers St. Tasting is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Phone: (209) 728-9030

• Milliaire Winery — 276 Main St., Murphys. tasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 728-1658

• Stevenot Winery — 2690 San Domingo Rd., Murphys. Tasting 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tours available by appointment. Phone: (209) 728-3436

AMADOR COUNTY

• Amador Foothill Winery — 12500 Steiner Road, Plymouth. Tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Picnic areas, views. Phone: (209) 245-6307

• Argonaut Winery — 13675 Mount Echo Drive, Ione. Tasting room is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. Phone: (209) 274-4106

• Charles Spinetta Winery — 12557 Steiner Road, Plymouth. Tasting room is open Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: (209) 245-3384

• Deaver Vineyards — 12455 Steiner Road, Plymouth. Tasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 245-4099

• Domaine de la Terre Rouge/Easton Wines — 10801 Dickson Road, Plymouth. Tasting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Phone: (209) 245-4277

• Clos du lac Cellars/Greenstone Winery — 3151 Highway 88, at Jackson Valley Road, Ione. Tasting 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; Tours by appointment. Phone: (209) 274-2238

• Karly Winery — 11076 Bell Road, Plymouth. Tasting noon to 4 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 245-3922

• Montevina Winery — 20680 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth. Tasting 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 245-6942

• Renwood Santino Winery — 12225 Steiner Road, Plymouth. Tasting 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4:30 on Weekends. Phone: (209) 245-6979

• Shenandoah Vineyards — 12300 Steiner Road, Plymouth. Tasting 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 245-4455

• Sobon Estate — 14430 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth. Tasting 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Phone: (209) 245-6554

• Story Winery — 10525 Bell Road, Plymouth. Tasting noon to 4 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Picnic area; tours by appointment. Phone: (209) 245-6208

• Sutter Ridge Winery/Sutter Creek Vineyards — 14110 Ridge Road, Sutter Creek. Tasting 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Phone: (209) 267-1316

• TKC Vineyards — 11001 Valley Drive, Plymouth. Tasting 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday; by appointment on weekdays. Phone: (209) 245-6428