Lodi ready for tasting in the great outdoors
Wineries want consumers to know they are anxious and ready to serve in a variety of ways.
Wineries are happy to ship wine, almost all have pick-up service, some offer delivery within a specified area, and though indoor tasting rooms are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, several wineries are open for outdoor tasting experiences in accordance with San Joaquin County guidelines to protect employees and guests, including physical distancing and disinfecting protocols.
The Lodi Winegrape Commission has posted at https://www.lodiwine.co m a list of wineries open and operating under the guidelines. The list includes each winery’s days and hours, and phone number.
The tasting experience will look different, but Lodi’s warm hospitality and eagerness to share the region’s delicious range of wine grape varieties and wine styles have not changed. To help navigate the current environment, the commission has launched its own set of guidelines:
Make reservations
Call ahead or go online to reserve a tasting experience prior to visiting. Reservations are highly recommended at all wineries and are required at several. I’ll add my two cents here: While on the phone, ask the winery for its house rules, such as safety protocols, are dogs allowed, do they have food, can you bring food?
Dress for the weather
All tasting experiences are being held outdoors, so dress accordingly, be prepared for warm weather and although most places offer shaded seating, be prepared, just in case.
Be patient and safe
The customer’s safety and enjoyment are priorities and wineries and the winemaking community are taking a variety of measures in accordance with state and county guidelines to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Not every winery in Lodi will reopen at the same time or operate in the same way. The commission urges guests to be patient with winery staff and other guests. Everyone is doing their best to adapt to the current environment.
Have fun
Last but not least, have an amazing time. Lodi can’t wait to see you.
Among the super cool outdoor tasting experiences in Lodi, Spenker Family Farm Winery and Vineyards has a goat farm that supplies their on-site goat creamery from which they make frozen yogurt to pair with their wines. The kids can see the goats and Bettyann and Sarah Spenker’s homemade cheese is delicious and available for sale.
Several wineries have found creative ways to engage consumers in lieu of opening their tasting rooms at this time. For instance, Acquiesce Winery in Acampo, owner/winemaker Susan Tipton’s white wine house of Rhone varieties, hosts virtual tastings with resident wine educator and sommelier Norma Poole at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Tipton also has created a tasting experience package for pick up or shipment that includes three of her most-awarded wines with a tasty treat specially selected to pair with each wine.
LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards in Acampo has created an athome blind tasting kit with samples of four of their white wines, a tasting mat, instructions, tips and hints on how to blind taste and the answers. Kits can be ordered and picked up at the winery or shipped in California only.
So, there’s plenty to do on the Lodi wine trail amid the pandemic. Just make sure to check out https://www.lodiwine.com for the list of wineries that have reopened, and check out their websites or give them a call for details and reservations.
Notebook
Ironstone Family Vineyards won gold medals at the 2020 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition (Robert Whitley and Mike Dunne) for the 2018 Ironstone Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (95 points, Best Zinfandel, Platinum Award); 2017 Ironstone Estate Grown Sierra Foothills Reserve Meritage (93 points); and the 2018 Ironstone Lodi Petite Sirah (93 points).
Mikami Vineyards in Lodi received a gold medal and 90 points for the 2017 Mikami Vineyards Zinfandel from Sunset Magazine, the second gold medal and 90-point score for this vintage after owner Jason Mikami’s win earlier this year at the San Francisco Chronicle International competition.