Top Lodi Wineries to Visit
Lodi is old vine Zin Country
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There are some 40 wineries in
Lodi wine country. After three trips to Lodi, we list our
favorite mix of wineries. Take two days to explore these
wineries and to visit the old downtown area of Lodi. Be sure
to let us know if you find a great winery and tasting room
we missed. Vote for your favorites. |
Other wineries worth exploring in Lodi
- Michael David Vineyards - Makes Earthquake Zin
- M2 Winery - Several award-winning wines
- St. Amant - "Delicious" Tempranillo
- Borra Vineyards - 1975 start for this family winery
- Abundance - Modern tasting room, Bocce Courts
Winery Descriptions, Driving Directions, Tasting Room Hours
Harmony Wynelands
There are two attractions at Harmony. One is of course the wine
and the second is the amazing pipe organ. If you are lucky and
the place is not too busy, someone will crank up the pipe organ.
It is controlled by a laptop computer and there is a nice selection
of old favorites. Harmony makes a nice variety of wines including
a very dry and delicious Rosé. One wine varietal you seldom
see these days is Alicante Bouschet. Harmony makes a good one from
vines in Lodi that are 85 years old. Seeing and hearing the historic
pipe organ is worth the trip.
Tasting room open Monday to Friday, 11 to 5 pm; Saturday, 11 to
5:30;
Sunday, 12 to 5 pm.
(209) 369-4184, e-mail: info@harmonywynelands.com, Harmony
Wynelands
Harney Lane
This is definitely a winery you don't want to miss for several
reasons. The family owners began farming vineyards at Harney Lane
in 1904 and recently started making their owne wine. The tasting
room is beautiful, complete with a cozy fireplace. Best of all we
found all their wines to be very well made and quite delicious.
They make two Zinfandels; the one from Lizzy Vineyards is excellent
and is made from Zinfandel vines planted in 1904. Don't pass up
the Rosé; it is one of the better ones we have tasted.
Very dry and crisp.
Tasting room open Thursday to Sunday from 12-5pm
(209) 365-1900, email: info@harneylane.com Harney
Lane
d'Art
Yet another very interesting small family-owned winery. One wall
of the tasting room is filled with photographs by owner Dave Dart.
Dave has taken several of his best photographs and has used his
skills with photoshop filters to turn them into unique pieces of
artwork. Dave also does artwork with his wines. Once a home winemaker,
he has taken his winemaking skills to a professional level. This
is a small operation so the wines are only sold at the winery or
through the winery's website. Don't pass up the Petite Sirah;
it is very good.
Tasting room open Friday to Sunday, 12 to 5 pm
(209) 366-2653, email: dave@dartwines.com, d"art Wines
Van Ruiten
The story of this winery began in the 1950 when John Van Ruiten
settled in the Lodi area and planted Zinfandel vines. Fifty years
later the family ownes 800 acres of vineyards and a beautiful winery
and tasting room. The family keeps only the best grapes for the
Van Ruiten label, producing some very exquisite wines. Our favorite
wine on our visit was the 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel from Happy Holme
Vineyard, the first vineyard planted by John Van Ruiten in 1954.
Tasting room is open daily from 11 to 5 pm.
866-334-5722, e-mail: info@vrwinery.com. Van Ruiten
Jessie's Grove
The first thing
you see as you approach the entrance to this funky
and cozy tasting room is a sign that reads "Jessie's Grove, home
to the oldest Zinfandel vines." These vines were planted in 1888
and are still providing fruit for the winery. Not only are the vines
old but so is the tasting room building. It was built in 1870 and has
been upgraded, except for the exterior. We liked the wines we tasted,
especially the Old Vine Zin. Just the tought of drinking wine made
from grapes that old made it taste all that much more delicious.
Tasting Room is open daily from 12 to 5 pm
(209) 368-0880, e-mail: info@jgvwines.com, Jessie's
Grove
Macchia
It is a family affair here at the Macchia tasting room. Mother and
daughter were working the tasting room when we visited and provided
us with much insight into the Macchia wines. Macchia in Italian
means "the spot." For Macchia owners Tim and Lani Holdener,
this translates into finding that special vineyard spot which
will produce the finest grapes possible. They make several different
single-vineyard Zin and Italian varietals of wines. The Zins have
curious names like "Serious,"
"Voluptuous," and "Outrageous." This a fun
winery to visit and you can play Bocce and picnic while you sip.
Tasting room open Thursday to Monday 11:00 to 5:00 pm
(209) 333-2600, Macchia
Berghold
Joe Berghold used to be the CEO
of
Six Flags
and he turned his tasting room into a very entertaining venue.
The wine tasting bar is a magnificent antique mahagoney wood structure
that is absolutely stunning. So is the array of American Victorian
antiques that surround the tasting room. The biggest kick is a
12-piece mechanized band. We were lucky enough to hear it play.
We safely say that the wines match the decor of the winery. We
thought that overall these wines were the best we tasted on our
visits to Lodi.
Tasting room open Thursday to Sunday, 11 to 5 pm, or by appointment.
(209)-333-9291, e-mail:info@bergholdvineyards.com,
Berghold
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