A Wine Adventure in Lodi California

2:36 a.m. (Daylight Savings Time-an hour already lost) Awake with anxiety I might oversleep, and twenty minutes before my alarm, I stumbled out of bed. 

Indulge me for a few minutes with this read while I take you on my first solo wine travel adventure through the wine region of Lodi California.

Thirty-five miles south of Sacramento lies the Lodi AVA.  These unassuming family wineries dot the two-lane highways of this sleepy agricultural wine producing community. Lodi is a treasure of vineyards and forgotten wine varietals, and they are quietly producing some of the best wines in California. Zinfandel is the most widely grown grape in Lodi, and it made Lodi famous. I think grape growers and winemakers would want you to know, you can grow almost any grape varietal here to maturity and produce a variety of wine styles.

What sets Lodi apart from other California wine regions is the lack of pretense. Many of the grape growers in this region are farmers first, and being stewards of their land is their top priority.

My focus during my travel to Lodi was to discover the small batch artisan gems which I often refer to as the Vin De Garage (a French description applied in Bordeaux with a group of winemakers who were making small batch, stylistic wines). I hit the jackpot with two wineries Acquiesce and Heritage Oaks.

First stop Heritage Oaks Winery Tom Hoffman, is a wine grower, winemaker, and a fifth-generation farmer and owner of Heritage Oaks Winery. A beautiful sprawling 120 acres with 80 acres of planted vineyards. Tom manages his vineyards and oversees every detail of grape growing and wine making. If you want to experience the different varietals grown in Lodi this is the place to be since Tom grows twenty-five different varieties. He enjoys Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French varietals. These are very small plantings producing just enough fruit to produce small batch artistic wines. He still grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petite Syrah, Chardonnay and of course Zinfandel for the big growers like Gallo but enjoys the small production for himself.

I enjoyed a flight of five wines which included a 2017 Charbono, a grape varietal widely grown in Argentina with French roots. Lots of brambly fruits, plums, cherries, and very food friendly. A 2018 Petit Verdot, and a Cinsault blew my mind. You don’t often see cinsault standing on its own. A 2020 Malbec and a 2020 Syrah were enjoyable too.

Next stop was Acquiesce Winery and Vineyards This was a special experience for me. These women are part of a pioneering group of female winemakers and owners that are reshaping the landscape in Lodi, fostering future generations of women in viticulture.

Sue Tipton is the owner and founding winemaker of Acquiesce. Christina Lopez is the current winemaker. These women are producing phenomenal white Rhône varietals, and a bit of rosé in the sea of zinfandel vines in Lodi.  These wines are crafted from estate grown grapes, meticulously hand-harvested, sorted, and whole cluster pressed, reflecting their passion throughout the winemaking process.

I had the pleasure of talking with Christina Lopez, the talented winemaker. She shared with our small group the winery’s inspiring regenerative journey that began in 2023, and the ongoing process of gaining deeper knowledge to work in harmony with Mother Nature.

After the tour of the vineyard, Sue Tipton, joined me while I was enjoying a flight of their new releases. Her wines were paired expertly with small bites to create harmony and a symphony of flavors. Sue has a innate understanding of the human connection to food and wine.

I enjoyed a flight of six wines, which were all delightful. The standouts for me were the 2022 Picpoul Blanc a lesser known of the Rhône grape varieties, followed by the 2022 Bourboulenc a grape varietal grown primarily in southern Rhône, which was a bit more intense. The 2022 Jolie was very enjoyable too.

The Dog Days of Summer are around the corner here in North Florida. Sue’s wines will be perfect to pair with summer food to enjoy with family and friends. I am excited to follow their journey in the coming years.

I came away from this adventure with a deepened appreciation for the land, the history, and the wine produced in Lodi. This wine enthusiast could not imagine a better experience.

Special thanks to David Scott Allen Cocoa and Lavender for the introduction to Sue.