10 Must See Wineries in Lodi California.

When it comes to California wine most think of the Napa and Sonoma area. With both of these areas being very popular it has become pricey just to go in a winery to do a tasting. On the weekends you are dealing with traffic that slows down your tour of the valley. There are many other areas of California that have exceptional wine and are often overlooked. The Sierra foothills that lie along the 49er highway have some great wineries. There is the area of Paso Robles that has produced some beautiful wine. Down in southern part of the state is the area of Temecula also making a name for itself in the wine industry. Just on the outskirt of Silicon Valley is Livermore which also has a number of great wineries. There are probably 16 distinct regions in California that grow and produce wine. In an area that has the oldest consecutive growing Zinfandel grapes is Lodi, California. When I ask people, have you ever been to Lodi and done some tasting? I usually get a look like I am kidding. I point out some facts about the area and yes they do have some great wine. Here I will tell you about some of the 60, much overlooked wineries of the Lodi area.

Vino Con Brio at Amarosa Vineyards:  this is a beautiful, warm and friendly winery.  This is a family run winery and offers a nice relaxed atmosphere for you to enjoy your visit.  Surrounded by Cypress trees and lush gardens this is an ideal stop on your tour of Lodi wineries.

Berghold Vineyards and Winery: this is another great stop on your tour of the area.  Try their Cabernet and if you like sweet dessert wines they have a wonderful one.

Jessie’s Grove Winery: this winery is like stepping back in time with its old school charm of wine producing.  This is one of my favorite wineries in California.  With historic features and country charm this is will be an unforgettable visit.

Michael David Vineyards: this winery has it all, gardens, pond, ducks, goats and some friendly sheep.  They offer a full restaurant which is a nice stop on your busy day of tasting.  This family has been here since the Civil War.  And yes they have exceptional wine.  One of their most known labels is “7 Deadly Zins”.

Woodbridge by Michael Mondavi: now who hasn’t heard of Woodbridge or of Mondavi?  This winery will not be what you expect.  It is not an overdone, commercialized setting and worth a visit.  Many times with wineries that do produce lower priced wine we tend to think that is all they do.  Going to the winery you will be able to taste some of their higher end wines.  This is also true of the Delicato Winery. 

Delicato Family Vineyards: this winery has been in business for nearly 85 years and the hard work that this family has put into their winemaking shows.  Their Shiraz is a favorite of mine.

Borra Vineyards: this is a family run vineyard. The Borra family emigrated from Italy over three generations ago.   Step into their cozy tasting room and enjoy. 

Oak Ridge Winery: this is one of the few places that I have done a barrel tasting without forking out a few dollars to do it.  This winery offers a unique experience and some great wine.  Did I mention you also stand in a big barrel!

Spenker Winery: is another one of my favorite wineries.  I have always had a good experience when visiting Spenker.  Nice people and I always leave with a bottle or two.

Klinker Brick Winery: one of my all time favorites.  The last time I was there it was by appointment only but well worth it.  The owner Steve is very friendly and knows his stuff.  He doesn’t have a so called “tasting room” but the set up is even better.  For me sitting in a barn sipping wine is like how it should be.  Good company and good wine how can one go wrong

This is just a small sampling of the wineries in this area of California. One can easily spend a few days here here in Lodi tasting wine. Lodi is very close to the wineries of the Sierra Foothills which is another good stop. Not too far to the south west is the Livermore area which offers some great wineries. As with any adventure it is a good idea to do some research and planning. Ask friends that have visited the area and find out what they’ve enjoyed. For the most part I have enjoyed about every winery I have ever visited. For me I always try to find something positive to take away from my visit. If you are visiting the San Francisco area and want a change of pace when it comes to wine tasting; then this is it.

Read about wineries in Livermore Valley, California.  Livermore is located southwest of Lodi and has one of the oldest wineries in California.  And!  If you have never been to Napa Valley to do some wine tasting, it is about an hours drive north from Lodi.

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