INDEX OF STORIES

» Welcome to Lodi
» City offers a world of charms, attractions
» When you think Lodi, think of wine
» For wine lovers, Lodi’s charms are many
» Wine tasting: Basic rules every beginner must know
» Lodi-area wineries
» Lodi’s gateways to adventure await
» Love to tour and eat? In Lodi, you can do both
» What to see, fly, do
» Lodi — a nice, clean place to stay
» A tourist’s eye view of Lodi
» Festivals, music events fill Lodi’s calendar
» Local museums offer something for everyone
» For the Lodi-bound tourist, there are some must-sees
» Lodi can satisfy everyone’s appetite
» Lodi: The place to breakout — outdoors that is
» Grab your clubs and come out swinging
» Looking high, low for that something very old

By Brian Ross
News-Sentinel staff writer

There are those who may not yet realize just how many wineries have sprung up in and around Lodi in recent years — but the grand total of bonded wineries within the Lodi grape growing district has now reached 37.

That number is expected to multiply in coming years, as infrastructure is developed to accommodate larger numbers of visitors, said Mark Chandler, executive director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission.

And as the count of wineries here has grown, the number of ways to go about visiting them, the number of special events they host and their hours of operation have likewise expanded.

With the 2000 opening of the palatial new Lodi Wine and Visitor Center at the corner of Lower Sacramento and Turner roads, wine tourists now have an ideal jumping-off point for their tasting adventures.

The center not only offers tasting advice and an impressive set of educational displays, but also sells most locally made vintages. It also furnishes maps of the Wine Trail, an easy-to-follow, clearly marked route which uses distinct signage to guide visitors between destination wineries.

For those who prefer to taste without getting behind the wheel, Lodi is now served by Amtrak passenger rail — and plans are in the works to provide a Wine Trail bus which will pick up and drop off visitors at the Amtrak station on Sacramento Street for jaunts between Lodi wineries — all at a nominal fee.

As the number of visitors has climbed, many Lodi wineries have now begun to charge for tastings — but those fees are typically only a few dollars, and well worth the investment. Some, like Lucas Winery, even apply the tasting fee toward purchases over $25.

Anyone who’s ever been wine tasting in Napa is in for a pleasant surprise with the Lodi experience, in which they are typically able to chat directly with the wine maker about the particular vintage they happen to be sipping.

The atmosphere in Lodi’s wineries is generally folksy and relaxed — just like the city itself. Wineries are separated by just a few miles, for the most part, so a surprising number can be taken in during the course of a day; even more over a full weekend.

Another interesting feature of the Lodi wine tasting scene is the unique differences between the individual tasting rooms here; some are new, chic and stylish — designed especially to accommodate the new flow of visitors; while others, which have been around much longer, have a feel of history and a deep, rustic ambiance.

And the visitor will find a staggering array of wines available in Lodi, as well.

Many visitors are drawn to the area because of its reputation for producing world-class zinfandels at incredible values — particularly the “old vines” rendition — roundly recognized as the area’s flagship varietal.

But a lot of those wine lovers, drawn in by the grand old zin, ultimately wind up discovering how much more there is to Lodi wine.

Lodi-made Rhone varietals are now gaining national acclaim in the wake of an avalanche of awards over the past two years.

A replacement-vine labeling error in the early 1990s led to the accidental mixture of Roussanne and viognier grapes in several local vineyards — leading to one of the more fortunate accidents in recent years.

What began as a potentially costly mistake matured to be pure poetry in a bottle — and a veritable symphony of bells at the cash register for some local wine makers.

A number of Lodi wineries have cashed in on the blessed accident with proprietary labels containing the mystery mix: At Lodi’s St. Amant Winery, it’s called “Le Mystere;” while Michael-David Vineyards has dubbed it “Incognito” — and it has charmed wine lovers, unconcerned with the nectar’s uncertain lineage, continue to clamor for it faster than it can be produced.

Once you’ve seen Lodi, there’s plenty more for wine buffs to discover within just a short drive.

Along Highway 49 between Plymouth and Jackson, there are about 20 wineries — all of which have tasting rooms; add to this another dozen or so between Valley Springs and Murphys, and it’s clear that the Mother Lode offers a bonanza of wine tasting wealth to augment one’s trip.

For those interested in learning more about what Lodi has to offer wine buffs, check out the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission’s Web site.