Lodi Wines- Top Picks on a Budget
We have searched and sipped throughout the wine country of California and think we have found the best (undiscovered) region that is home to some of the tastiest Zinfandels.
We can’t say enough about this almost undiscovered wine region of California. Located between the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada Mountains lies Lodi Wine Country, a region quickly emerging as one of California’s most exciting wine destinations.
Long growing seasons marked by warm days, low humidity, delta breezes, and dramatically cooler nights encourage the grapes of Lodi to full maturity, ripe flavors, and often higher levels of alcohol (Yippee!). We are really crazy about the Zinfandels pouring out of the sustainable land in Lodi. One in particular has erupted our tastebuds- 2014 Predator Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 750 mL
Lodi Wine Grapes
Over 100 different grape varieties are grown in Lodi, with colorful and flavorful Spanish and Portuguese varietals like Tempranillo, Albarino, Verdelho, and Touriga Nacional finding an exceptional second home in the region’s Mediterranean climate.
While the big, fruit-filled, spicy nature of truly Old Vine Zinfandel placed Lodi wine country on the map, it’s the diversity of varieties that is inspiring winemakers today to create regional wines of distinct varietal character.
Familiar international red grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and the high-profile Zinfandel along with the white wine grapes of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio represent Lodi’s top plantings and account for close to 20% of California’s premium wine grape production, making Lodi grapes a significant contributor to California’s overall wine market. Hosting less than a dozen wineries in the early 1990’s, Lodi’s wine-making scene is exploding with more than 80 new wineries (and counting) calling Lodi home.
Lodi’s wine history has nurtured deep roots in the grape growing side of the viticultural coin; however, the region’s quality grapes, ambitious growers and lofty winemaking goals have spurred a wine revolution that’s created a natural paradigm shift – inspiring local grape growers to give a regional voice to their grapes by taking the next step and trying their hand at winemaking themselves or hiring a consulting winemaker to showcase the best of the vineyard in the bottle.
The results speak for themselves, with many long-time growers making their dual mark on the industry in the grapes and the glass.
Curious about tasting some Lodi wines for yourself? Then check out our Top Picks for Lodi Wines under $20!
2012 Dancing Coyote Lodi California Zinfandel 750ml Wine
2008 Herman Walters Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 750 mL
2013 Renwood BBQ Zinfandel California 750mL
Recent Comments
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Hi Lodi:
As much as I love wines (and believe me I do), WA blogs are typically there to write about your progress. There is a pretty strict policy when it comes to spamming here at WA. I know it was never your intention to appear as a spammer. But what helps for people is to read inspiration from other members on their struggles, their journeys, their progress with the training, failures they have had along the way, successes, their first sales, etc.
I created a training which might help: Rules of WA Blogs
Hi Stephhill,
Thank you for the information. That really helps. I was definitely NOT trying to spam on the WA site at all. In the past, I have included these kinds of blogs so that others can see how I set them up and included links. I will take it down. I have made great strides in my efforts to get on the first pages of Google and it has finally paid off. Perhaps I should just explain HOW I got this site on the first page of Google- that may be more helpful. I appreciate the feedback either way. Trish
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Nice post on wines there are so many different grapes, had a tour round France's wine region