Being stuck in Lodi isn’t what it used to be. Over the last two decades Lodi has transformed from your grandpa’s jug wine producer to one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world. And the wine is ridiculously awesome. So awesome in fact, that even if you think you have never tasted a Lodi wine, chances are you probably have on some level. Lodi accounts for more grapes grown then both Napa and Sonoma combined, a lot of which are sold to…Drum roll……….a lot of your favorite wineries in both Napa and Sonoma. So what’s so good about Lodi wine you ask? Well for one the price is right. The bang to buck ratio is just absurd. You can easily find several bottles of wine for under $25 that can compete with your favorite $50-$80 bottle from other wine regions. And If you’re into high ratings and awards, Lodi has no shortage of those either. But what makes Lodi so special to me is they still do it for the love. Lodi isn’t full of corporate owned behemoths or Vegas like tasting rooms that provide you better views than wine. It’s full of people who truly love what they do. And the great part about it is if you walk into a tasting room, you are likely to run into the people behind the wine staffing the bar. And you will find no pretentiousness or wine snobbery here, just people who love wine and enjoy good conversation.  So if you love wine, are a little short on cash these days, and like to talk to people passionate about wine and what they do, Lodi is most definitely a place you should visit. But if you can’t, settling for a bottle of Old Vine Zin or any of their up and coming Spanish varietals can be just as satisfying.

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