August 2008 - Wine Recipes
Lodi Wine Country
Located in a rural area east of San Francisco by the Sacramento River Delta, the Lodi Wine Country is characterized by its warm sunny days, cool breezy nights, and sandy soils. These conditions make this region a prime grape growing area. 18% of California?s wine grapes come from Lodi.
Visitors to the Lodi Wine Country will appreciate the rural atmosphere and friendly tasting rooms. Wine tasting is usually complimentary. While sampling wine in this area, you may notice the abundance of Old Vine Zinfandel. Lodi is fortunate to have many old Zinfandel vineyards, which are at least 50 years old. Old vines have fewer and smaller grapes that produce more intense flavors, color, and sugar. The wines are typically more full bodied and complex than younger vines.
Wineries are scattered throughout Lodi and nearby communities. From Interstate 5 go west on Turner Road into Lodi. Your first stop will be Jessie?s Grove Winery. This winery is in a secluded spot where you can taste wine, picnic and even enjoy a concert on summer evenings. They have a big buttery Chardonnay and many other fine wines to sample.
Just around the corner on Davis Road, you will find The Lucas Winery. Taste some their wines and enjoy a short tour of their vineyard and barrel room. Back on Turner Road continue going east to reach the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center where you can explore their exhibits, pick up maps, and sample Lodi wines for a small fee. They serve wines made from Lodi grown grapes. Since many wineries from outside the area purchase wines from Lodi, you could well be tasting wine from wineries throughout California.
Wine and Roses is right next door to the visitor center making this a good time to stop for lunch. Wine and Roses is a resort and restaurant. The grounds are beautiful and the food is always fantastic. They serve lunch and dinner during the week and brunch and dinner on the weekends. You will enjoy the ambiance created by live music, excellent service, and lush landscaping.
After lunch, explore some of the wineries east of Highway 99. One of my favorites is a new winery owned by David and Helen Dart . D?Art specializes in red wines. From Highway 99 exit east on Harney Lane and turn right onto Curry Avenue. All of their wines are great, but be sure to try the Port and the Old Vine Zinfandel. Return to Harney Lane and continue going east to reach Vino Con Brio and Harmony Wynelands. Both are small, friendly wineries that are fun to visit and have a large variety of good wines to sample.
If you have time, drive into Lockeford on Highway 88 for a visit to Vino Piazza. Vino Piazza could easily be your single destination for a day of wine tasting. This complex has 12 wineries serving wine. Don?t miss tasting the Old Vine Zinfandel at Macchia. It?s one of the best Zinfandels you will find in Lodi. These small, family owned wineries will delight you with their friendly service and good wines.
Plan a trip to the Lodi Wine Country where fantastic wines are waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.
About the Author:
Kathy Howe and her husband, Steve, spend much of their free time tasting and enjoying wine. Their interest in wine is reflected in their Web Site, http://www.cheers2wine.com - a comprehensive guide to the California Wine Country.
Short Review on Wine Recipes
Lodi Wine Country
Located in a rural area east of San Francisco by the Sacramento River Delta, the Lodi Wine Country is characterized by its warm sunny days, cool breez...
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Headlines on Wine Recipes
French wine snobs (The Oregonian)
Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:03:21 PDT
It's the all-purpose nostalgic voice-over line, and it's the first sentence we hear: "It wasn't always like this." Well, of course not. Especially if it's spoken about California's Napa Valley wine country, as it is at the beginning of the new wine-centric movie "Bottle Shock."
thanks for the memories
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:05:18 PDT
osephine said: if you and your man are into food, (we are), try point reyes and cheese at cowgirl creamery hmm, ok why not? Kathryn suggested: The new Ferry Building is wonderful - so much fun to walk through, and you could stop in at the Slanted Door for lunch Go past the Golden Gate Bridge, up to the Marin headlands for view you soon won’t forget. A mud bath in Calistoga Linda said: I ate at the Alice Water’s restaurant in Berkely. It was wonderful. looks it (51
Bottle Shock: Now Playing In Select Theatres
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:02:04 PDT
Shot on location in the breathtakingly beautiful Northern California wine region, Bottle Shock is the true story of an upstart band of wine makers and their dream of winning the historical 1976 blind wine tasting in Paris. When novice vintner Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) bought the Chateau Montelena, he risked everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted California Chardonnay. Meanwhile in Paris, struggling wine seller Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) is planning a publ
Review: Bottle Shock
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:46:23 PDT
Review: Bottle Shock Posted by GOD On August - 14 - 2008 Keep an eye out for “Bottle Shock,” an independent film starting to make its way around the country. A hit at Sundance, “Bottle Shock” is a hugely entertaining movie that serves as a love letter of sorts to the 1970’s, wine, and America’s ingenuity, which seems to be a thing of the past these days. Based on a true story, “Bottle Shock” chronicles the events that led up to the historic 1976 blind wine tasting competition in Paris in
Wine Trails of Washington
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:37:12 PDT
Steve Roberts, the author of Wine Trails of Washington, is a very busy man. Not only has he visited more than 200 wineries in a year in the course of doing research for this book, not only does he maintain a well-designed, complementary website, Wine Trails NW, but he is currently on the road in Oregon where, having begun this June, he intends to visit its 208 wineries by November! In an effort to help keep this heroic gentleman in gas money (he says he put 30,000 miles on his car seeking
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Labels: Grape Wines | Hanna Wine
