Lodi

Wine School & Tastings

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Verdelho vines in the Vista Luna Vineyard of Bokisch Vineyards in the Borden Ranch sub-AVA of Lodi. August 1, 2009

Verdelho vines in the Vista Luna Vineyard of Bokisch Vineyards in the Borden Ranch sub-AVA of Lodi. August 1, 2009

Grape grower, vintner, and Italian variety specialist, Markus Bokisch shows off his Vista Luna Vineyard (Albariño in the background) in the Borden Ranch sub-AVA of Lodi, while we enjoyed Bokisch Winery and Vineyards’ luscious 2008 Garnacha Blanc, sourced from the Vista Luna Vineyard. August 1, 2009

Albariño grapes in the Vista Luna Vineyard of Bokisch Vineyards in the Borden Ranch sub-AVA of Lodi. August 1, 2009

The parking lot view of the Macchia winery. August 1, 2009

Owner and winemaker, Tim Holdener, expounds on his winemaking philosophy inside the barrel room at his Macchia winery. Tim specializes in Zinfandel and Italian varieties. August 1, 2009

Winemaker, Chad Joseph (left), and Mettler family member, Kyle Lerner (right), talk about the making of the Mettler family’s Harney Lane Wines. August 1, 2009

Long-time grape growers and winemaking newcomers, the Mettler family bottles Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Albariño, Primitivo, and dry rosé under their Harney Lane label. This is their Primitivo vineyard adjacent to the tasting room, located in the Mokelumne River sub-AVA. August 1, 2009

Harvey Lane’s beautiful Primitivo grapes, only a couple weeks from harvest. August 1, 2009

Fifth generation grape grower, Steve Felton, talks about his latest Klinker Brick Zinfandels and Syrah. With his wife Lori, Steve owns and manages 15 vineyard blocks in the Mokelumne River and Clements Hills sub-AVAs. They began their Klinker Brick label in 2000. August 1, 2009

At over 120 years old, these vines in the 4½ acre Royal Tee Vineyard (named after one of the horses on the ranch) at Jessie’s Grove are the oldest vines in Lodi and among the oldest Zinfandel vines in the world. Located in the Mokelumne River sub-AVA, Jessie’s Grove is named after founder Joseph Spenker’s daughter and her protected grove of oak trees on the property. Today the property is overseen by Jessie’s granddaughter Wanda Bechthold and her son and winemaker, Greg Burns.  August 1, 2009

Zinfandel is known for its uneven ripening. Here’s an extreme example on a 120 year old vine in Jessie’s Grove’s Royal Tee Vineyard – raisins, pre-veraison, and almost ripe all on the same cluster! August 1, 2009

One of the Lange twins, Randy, shows us the massive presses at The Lange Twins Winery. August 1, 2009

Chief winemaker, David Akiyoshi, shows us around The Lange Twins’ giant, new custom crush facility. August 1, 2009

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner amidst the stainless steel forest which is The Lange Twins Winery. August 1, 2009

Randy Lange (pictured, center) and his twin brother Brad are, in addition to contract vineyard managers and now custom crush providers, long-time grape growers themselves with properties in Lodi, Clements Hills sub-AVA, and Clarksburg, growing 18 different grape varieties. Now in its fifth generation of farming in the area (the family began growing grapes in 1916), Lange Twins is a true “family affair” with every adult member of the Lange twins’ families – both wives and all five children – an integral part of the family business. August 1, 2009

These are less than half of the gargantuan storage and fermentation tanks available at The Lange Twins custom crush facility. The winery has plans to double its existing size in the future. August 1, 2009