Gardens, vineyards offer perfect backdrop for tastings

We’ve all seen the photos on Instagram of joyous people strolling through vineyards, sipping wines in beautiful gardens and celebrating picnics in the shade of graceful oak trees. It looks so romantic — and it is — but it is also daily life in Lodi.

With so many wineries showcasing their stunning landscapes, outdoor tours and tastings are favorite activities. So slip on your sneakers, and soak up that picture perfect al fresco fun.

BOKISCH VINEYARDS

Winemaker Markus Bokisch and his wife, Liz, love exploring Spanish grapes like Graciano, Verdejo, Monastrell and Albariño. You can explore them, too, in their garden tucked away in the Clements Hills overlooking the winery’s organic, sustainably farmed Terra Alta Vineyard.

Start with a halfhour vineyard tour to inspect the distinctive grapes upclose, then check out the winemaking facilities and learn about how the winery’s vision was developed while Markus and Liz were living in Spain in the early 1990’s. Next, taste the wines and add on a tapas pairing for small bites crafted by Liz. That might mean seasonal nibbles like prosciuttowrapped melon or Manchegowrapped apricots (perfect with a chilled Garnacha Blanca).

Then, purchase a bottle of your favorite wine and relax in the garden on classic Adirondack chairs under umbrella shades.

JESSIE’S GROVE WINERY

The story of the bucolic property would make a great movie. Dating back to 1868, the homestead was founded by Joseph Spenker, a German immigrant who became a gold miner, then a farmhand, then a foreman, a merchant, a successful retail operation owner and finally, a farm owner growing wheat, alfalfa, watermelons and grapes.

Today, you can admire some of his original farming equipment on display in the outdoor tasting areas and oak groves, and in the tasting room that is a historical 1850’s mortise andtension structure. You’ll learn that the winery’s namesake Jessie was Spenker’s daughter with his wife, Anna, and that the current ownerwinemaker, Greg Burns, is Jessie’s greatgrandson.

Grab a seat in the rustic garden decorated with cascading flowers, wine barrels, antique tractors and a stunning, gnarled Zinfandel vine planted in 1900. Some of the wines you’ll enjoy include SinSo from grapes planted in 1886 (the name is the pronunciation of the southern FrenchMoroccan Cinsault grape), and a classic, Estate Vintner’s Choice Zinfandel that is a blend of ancient and old vine grapes.

You also can gather on the lawn for live music and food trucks on select days. June 26, for example, features a performance by ForeJour, paying tribute to the music of the 1980’s mega bands Foreigner and Journey, complemented by food from Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen, Sal’s Eats and Busted Knuckle BBQ food trucks.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KAUFMAN Huiyin Fu and Sid Kishore, both of San Jose, drink wine at Heritage Oak Winery in Acampo. The 106acre estate is nestled along the north bank of the Mokelumne River.

Above: Nela Aban, left, and Leilani Lim drink wine at Bokisch Vineyards. Right: Bokisch visitors can relax in the garden in the Clements Hills on classic Adirondack chairs under umbrella shades.