A Few Lodi Wineries That You Must Experience

I wasn’t too familiar with the Lodi region until the recent 2016 Wine Bloggers conference (which took place in Lodi). You can read my Lodi Wine Bloggers coverage here. During the blogger conference weekend, I tasted a lot of Lodi wines but didn’t really get to visit many wineries, so when the Lodi Winegrape Commission invited me back for a visit to experience some Lodi Wineries, I immediately accepted the invite!

Fast forward to my recent visit experiencing Lodi Wineries this May: I began my fully packed day starting at 10am and concluding around 4pm. Then, I ventured to the ZinFest Vintner’s Grille that evening. Since I had to make the 90 mile drive from San Francisco to Lodi, I decided to head up Thursday night. This meant I got to spend the night at the acclaimed Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant, and Spa before my big day in Lodi on Friday.

Wine & Roses Hotel

I felt fortunate that my Lodi Wineries itinerary included a stay at the fabulous Wine & Roses Hotel. This hotel was beyond charming with spacious rooms, an incredible pool (the first place I went upon getting back from the tasting on Friday), and a delicious restaurant that had amazing breakfast on both Friday and Saturday mornings. I highly recommend checking it out during a trip to Lodi.  The restaurant’s service was amazing. Plus, I had one of the most attentive waiters ever, and it was such a lovely experience. I will for sure be returning to the Wine & Roses Hotel for any future trips to Lodi. Thanks again for hosting me as your guest for this Lodi getaway! 2505 W Turner Rd, Lodi, CA 95242

Lodi Wineries

The Wine & Roses lobby, I love the cozy, intimate feeling of the hotel.

Lodi Wineries

The pool where I enjoyed some R & R after my full day of wine tasting and fun!

Lodi Wineries

The Palm Room I stayed in. It was quite spacious and I loved that there was also a terrace with seating.

Lodi Wineries

The lovely Lodi welcome bag that greeted me upon my arrival to my room. Thanks so much. I love this tote and have already started using it on my travels. I love a great tote, so perfect for road trips!

Lodi Wineries

Towne House Restaurant’s picturesque outdoor seating area located within Wine & Roses Hotel.

Lodi Wineries

Please find the amazing Lodi Wineries I experienced on this trip below!

Oak Farms Vineyard

Our first stop during my day exploring Lodi’s Wine Country was Oak Farm Vineyard, one of the larger Lodi Wineries. Owners Dan and Heather Panella were my hosts, and they were incredible. For a fairly young couple, I would guess late thirties or early forties, they sure have accomplished a lot considering their beautiful winery, amazing assortment of wines, and the creation of a very established well-known brand. This winery is great if you want to taste through a lot of varietals and also enjoy a relaxing experience on their various patios. The setting is gorgeous with beautiful landscaping and lots of trees and greenery to really help you relax and enjoy Wine Country life. Wine Club members also have their own bocce court area which is super fun and relaxing.  23627 DeVries Rd, Lodi, CA 95242

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

The lineup of wines I tasted with Owners Danny & Heather. I really loved the Chardonnay and the Fume Blanc, and, the Zinfandel was quite lovely out of the reds. Typically, I find Zinfandels a bit heavy and very high in alcohol, but this Zinfandel was very nicely balanced and super drinkable. Also, I love their label that the property’s large oak tree inspired. (shown below).

Lodi Wineries

The delicious Oak Farms Fume Blanc I fell in love with! It was very light and delicate with a creamier taste than a typical Sauvignon Blanc. Any one who likes Chardonnay, like yours truly, I recommend trying the Fume Blanc as they have similar characteristics.

Lodi Wineries

Cheers to this stunning winery. I love this view from the courtyard that looks out into the vineyard (behind the glass). So picturesque and lovely!

Lodi Wineries

The beautiful hallway that connects the outdoor tasting room seating with the wine barrel room. The view from the seating area looks through here to the vineyards and is stunning!

Lodi Wineries

This is the oak tree the winery was named after.

Lodi Wineries

Michael David Winery

A trip to Lodi would not be complete without a visit to this historic farm stand and winery, Michael David Winery. “Michael and David, are Michael and David Phillips, brothers whose family has farmed fruits and vegetables in the Lodi region since the 1850s, cultivating wine grapes for nearly a century. Michael and David constitute the 5th generation of grape-growers in the Phillips family, with the 6th generation now joining the family business.” Credit source, MichaelDavidWinery.com.

I loved this spot for its variety of experiences, varying from shopping the fruit market items, to lunch in the cafe or wine tasting indoors or outside.  I loved visiting and enjoying lunch at their café with owner David Phillips, who owns the winery with his brother, Michael Phillips. Also, the casual vibe of the café and their delicious seasonal menu made this experience fabulous. I enjoyed a Shrimp Salad and a the Tortilla Soup (which is a must try)The food was great and I loved the intimate setting. It truly had that small, local feel.

After lunch we did a tasting in the tasting area adjacent to the restaurant. They were just about to open a new tasting room which I was able to preview (so stunning). So, I am really excited to visit next time to taste in the new space! 4580 West Highway 12, Lodi, CA 95242

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

As you enter the winery and market, this is one of the first things you see. I love how this truly feels like a market (which it was before becoming the winery and tasting room).

Lodi Wineries

They’re known for their homemade pies. I tried one at lunch and it was divine. I see why people suggest that during every trip to Michael David Winery you pick up a pie to go!

Lodi Wineries

The charming Michael David Café where I enjoyed lunch with Co-Owner David Phillips.

Lodi Wineries

The delicious seasonal Shrimp Salad I enjoyed. Perfect for a hot day in wine country, nice and light with tons of yummy flavor. One of my favorite tasty bites among the many wonderful Lodi Wineries.

Lodi Wineries

Cheers to the amazing visit at Michael David Winery and to this lovely Rose.

Lodi Wineries

The beautiful gardens where guests can relax during their visit to Michael David Winery.

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries
Durst Winery & Estate

Our last stop of the afternoon was Durst Winery & Estate. This had a completely different feel to it than the other three Lodi Wineries; Durst Winery is located on the Durst’s residential property and it has a smaller, more intimate vibe. Upon arriving, we decided to do the wine & food pairing outside in the garden. It was a no brainer, what else would you do on a gorgeous day in Lodi? Blue skies and stunning gardens line the seating area where we tasted through the wines; I was in heaven.

Since I’m from San Francisco, I forget what 85 or 90 degree summer days are like and I miss them. Having grown up in Chicago with hot summer days, I truly crave a few days just like that… Cassandra Durst, the owner, and her amazing team led this tasting. Not only were their wines delicious, but each wine was paired with a small bite, in one case sorbet. For a very special, intimate, curated wine & food pairing, I suggest you visit Durst Winery & Estate. They also have spectacular grounds and plenty of seating, so plan to stay a while and settle in. 10173 Acampo Road, Lodi, CA 95220

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

Owner Cassandra guiding us through the tasting. To the right of the picnic table are their gorgeous gardens. I mean, what a picturesque setting!

Lodi Wineries

The food pairing we enjoyed with our tasting, talk about over the top. As a foodie– I love this! As always, there’s something special in every visit to my favorite Lodi Wineries.

Lodi Wineries

Lodi Wineries

The interior tasting room. After an hour or so in the garden, we toured the winery and concluded with our last tasting which paired with the sorbet.

Lodi Wineries

Tasting the sparkling wine paired with the sorbet. The sparkling was a bit sweeter than I was expecting; however, Cassandra explained that customers always ask for a sweet sparkling wine. So, she was really just responding to her guest’s requests.

Lodi Wineries

Enjoying a barrel tasting before we concluded our visit at one of the amazing Lodi Wineries.

Durst Winery & Estate photos courtesy of Julie Nicole Photography.

This post was sponsored by the Lodi Winegrape Commission in partnership with The JetSetting Fashionista. As always, I only write about destinations and places I thoroughly enjoy and want to share with my readers.

If you enjoyed discovering these Lodi Wineries, check out some of my other top 10 California blog posts including Napa Top 10 Wineries, Sonoma Top 10 Wineries, Sta. Rita Hills Top 10 Wineries, and Anderson Valley Top 10 Wineries, Russian River Valley Top 10 Wineries.

 

2 Responses
  • Wendy Brannen
    June 21, 2017

    Emily,

    Enjoyed this write-up! We were thrilled to have you back. Only regret I didn’t get to spend time with you myself (busy weekend!).

    Many thanks for your kind comments 🙂

    Wendy

  • Ryan
    June 28, 2017

    Great post! I need to visit these producers when I make it back to Lodi!

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