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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Our family has been growing grapes for eight generations, dating back to a small German, now French village Alsace.  We have been growing premium wine grapes in the Lodi appellation for five generations.  We were one of the very first farming families to introduce French clones to our region, and have experience growing many varieties of grapes.  We farm hundreds of acres some of which date back to our families original properties, which are over 100 years old.

http://www.mettlerwine.com/mettler/index.jsp

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Ripken Vineyards & Winery appeals to adventuresome wine drinkers with mostly non-traditional varieties producing extraordinary flavored wines. We consider ourselves an artisan “barnista” winery that is uniquely different, electric, eclectic, quirky, esoteric, even wacky, but never boring or weird. Our motto is, “No Boring Wines!” We make wines of conviction!

http://ripkenwine.com/index.html

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In 1997, our family established Miramont Estate Vineyards. Nestled in the Sierra foothills, our vineyard and boutique winery are located in the Lodi appellation in California. Our Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes thrive in the Mediterranean climate where they are bathed in golden sunlight, caressed nightly by cool Pacific breezes, and then harvested under starlight to protect their luscious flavor at its peak.

http://www.miramontestate.com/index.html

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These days, Michael and David Phillips represent the fifth generation of growers in Lodi, and things are changing. With 500 acres of premium wine grapes, there is plenty of room for experimentation and innovation. The vineyards are irrigated by the Mokelumne River, which carries crystal-clear water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, depositing minerals into the rich soils upon which the grapes thrive. Though not certified organic, Michael~David Winery strives to use all natural methods including integrated pest management, beneficial insects for pest control, trellising, leaf pulling and natural mined sulfur for mildew control.

http://www.lodivineyards.com/index.htm

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Onus Wines is a small boutique winery in the Lodi Appellation that specializes in both premium Cabernet and Chardonnay.

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The Kapiniaris Family has grown wine grapes and has made wine for more than five generations.  With our family’s early cultivating practices and winemaking techniques in Greece, Konstantino Kapiniaris, youngest of six siblings, was fortunate to bring his family’s passion to the wine grape growing region of Lodi, California.

http://www.stamawinery.com

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Mettler Family Vineyards, Lodi CA – How the Harvester Works from The Vino Life on Vimeo.

Here is a great video of Jason Eells of Mettler Family Vineyards explaining to us how the harvester works.

Abundance Vineyards is a family owned and operated boutique winery. It has evolved from hard work and creative minds melding together to create over a decade of quality, fine standing wines The owners, Dino and Ron Mencarini, have been pioneers in the Lodi winegrowing region since before 1951. Their passion for the industry brought about their interest in producing great wines for an even greater value. The family lives by the philosophy of “Good friends, good food and good wine bring about an ABUNDANTLY good time!”

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Thinking back to Europe, vineyards were recognized for the great wines they created. Great wines were created in the vineyard and the winemaker’s relationship with the seasons. It was simple and traditional winemaking. It is that relationship we strive for in our winemaking; to protect the qualities of great vineyards.

http://www.lucaswinery.com

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