Lodi Wine Country – Highway 99 West Wine Trail

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Joe Becerra

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lodi wineries
Begin your visit to Lodi wineries at the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center

Best wineries on Highway 99 West Trail

There are some 80 wineries in Lodi wine country. After many trips to Lodi, Janelle and I 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. Here are our selection of the best Lodi wineries West of Highway 99.

Please note: Tasting rooms are closed during the Shelter in Home orders. Go to the winery’s Website for purchase and curb side pickup.

  • Fields Family Winery – Small lots of wine, native yeast only
  • Jessie’s Grove – Home of the oldest Zinfandel vines
  • Lange Twins – Now in its 5th generation of family ownership
  • M2 Wines – The Petit Sirah is outstanding
  • Michael David – Noted for its big and bold old vine Zinfandel
  • Van Ruiten – Another grower, turned winemaker

Best Lodging and Dining in Lodi

Winery Descriptions and Tasting Room Hours

Fields Family Winery

This is a very small winery worth a visit for its laid-back style and no-frills winemaking approach. Wines are made in small lots with native yeast and no filtering, letting the vineyard doing the talking. Fields makes some interesting varieties of wine. These include Tempranillo, Vermentino, Cinsault, and a blend of 50% Vermentino and Grenache Blanc.

Jessie’s Grove Winery

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 thought of drinking wine made from grapes that old made it taste all that much more delicious.

Lange Twins Family Winery and Vineyards

Now in its 5th generation of growing grapes and producing wine, the Lange Twins Winery offers visitors a look at the state-of-the-art winery and sustainable practices throughout the winery operation. The tasting room is called the Press Room. No, not press as in a newspaper, but as in crushing grapes. From the Press Room, visitors can view the day-to-day operations of the winery. Lange Twins produces an extensive lineup of wines.

m2 Wines

With a start date of 2004, the m2 winery has come a long way producing some of Lodi’s finest wines. M2 moved to a new winery and tasting room in 2014. Red wines are the standard at m2, with an old-vine Lodi Zinfandel leading the way. If you like Petite Sirah, you are sure to like the one produced by m2

Michael David

Michael David is one of the oldest and biggest wineries in Lodi. Michael and David Phillips are 5th generation growers in Lodi. The winery is noted for making old vine Zinfandel. The winery has attached some interesting names to the wines. Seven Deadly Zins is widely popular in supermarket wine departments. Earthquake Zin is just that, a big boy Zin that packs a punch. The tasting room also has a small café open for breakfast and lunch.

Van Ruiten Family Winery

The story of this winery began in the 1950’s when John Van Ruiten settled in the Lodi area and planted Zinfandel vines. Fifty years later the family owns 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.

Old Vine Zin in Lodi wine country
Old Vine Zin in Lodi wine country

More on Lodi Wine Country

  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.

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