The 8 Best Lodi Wineries To Visit
There are many reasons to visit the best Lodi wineries. The first reason may not be obvious to everyone. The Lodi wine region is producing some of the best wines in California. The top Lodi wineries helped the region gain special recognition from Wine Spectator. They named Lodi the wine region of the year recently.
The area has a rich history of grape growing that extends back before prohibition. One of California's most famous wine families, the Mondavis, started making wine in Lodi. There are strong connections between Napa and Lodi. Many Napa wines even contain juice from Lodi grapes!
Want to find out how great Lodi wine is without making a trip there? Here are some of our favorite Lodi wines.
So where is Lodi? This important wine region is located between the San Francisco Bay and The Sierra Nevada Mountains. Lodi has a Mediterranean climate which means warm temps in the day and cool evenings. This allows winegrowers to harvest a diverse variety of grapes including Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Italian varietals. The city hosts wine-inspired events including their annual Wine & Chocolate even and their Harvest Feast, a fall food, and wine pairing.
The best Lodi wineries are making a diverse range of varietal wines and blends. While Lodi is known if the old vine Zinfandel that grows here, there are many winemakers who now believe the area is ideal for growing California Cabernet Sauvignon.
Do you want to plan a visit to the best wineries in Lodi? We suggest you fly into Sacramento and rent a car. The drive from Sacramento to Lodi is easy. You will be able to find nice accommodations in Lodi that can serve as a base for visiting the local wineries. Wine tasting in Lodi is a joy. The wineries are unpretentious and the crowds are smaller than in Napa. Use our list of the best Lodi wineries as a starting point as you plan your Lodi wine tasting adventure.
When you visit the Lodi wineries, make sure you leave some time to visit the downtown. There are some wonderful restaurants with a real old-time California feel to them. You can quickly hit a few of the best Lodi wineries on foot in this area. There are also a few breweries in downtown Lodi if you need to convince a non-wine lover to join you on your trip!
[Bonus] Are you having trouble convincing a non-wine-lover to take a trip to the Lodi wineries? Let them know there are great craft breweries to visit like Idol Beer Works.
Jeremy Wine Company
Update: The tasting room is open daily. You can purchase bottles, glasses, or wine flights. You can drink on the patio. Parties with fewer than six people don't require a reservation. No one under 21 is allowed on the patio and they are dog friendly.
Our first winery on the list of the best Lodi wineries is Jeremy Wine Co. This boutique winery is owned and operated by husband and wife team Jeremy and Choral Trettevik. What started out as 5 tons of harvested grapes has grown to over 100 tons.
The tasting room is located in historic downtown Lodi in what was once a bank in the early 1900s. The vintage bar is from the 1800s where you can belly up and have a 6-glass tasting for just $10 which includes all of their top wines like Zinfandel, Primitivo, and Tempranillo.
One of the unique offerings is Jeremiah’s Jug which is literally a wine jug that you can return and refill. Other unique wines include their heart-shaped labels on their decadent Chocolate Port.
Jeremy Wine Company 6 W Pine Street. Lodi, CA 95240 209-367-3773
Michael-David Winery
Make sure you arrive at Michael-David Winery hungry. Why you ask? Because in addition to wine tasting, the winery has an on-site cafe. The Farm Cafe is the perfect place to indulge in comfort food like Chicken Parmesan and then satisfy your sweet tooth at the award-winning bakery.
Wine tasting starts at just $10 and lasts roughly 45 minutes. It's best to make a reservation as space can be limited. That's especially true on weekends.
If you want to indulge in an immersive wine and food experience, book a Bistro & Bottles tasting. You can reserve a beautiful spot next to one of the water features and enjoy 2 hours of personal service. There is a $5 deposit when you sign up for this online.
The winery also has a pond with private seating alongside, a marketplace to pick up gifts and picnic supplies, bocce courts, and an outdoor bar. The 7 Deadly Zins bottle is by far their most famous and popular, and at just $16 a bottle, you can afford to add a few bottles to your collection.
Michael-David Winery 4580 W Hwy 12. Lodi, CA 95242
Oak Farm Vineyards
Live bands, food trucks, and $15 wine tastings? What more could you ask for? How about a slew of varietals that you won’t find at just any winery in Lodi - Gewürztraminer, Cortese, and Tievoli. The unique tasting options make Oak Farm one of the best wineries to visit in Lodi.
Oak Farm offers a few different tasting options and a tour. You can book these through this reservation site. Current pricing is available when you click the link.
Oak Farm Vineyards is known in Lodi as the winery that gives you the Napa experience without inflated prices. The grounds are massive and they have a central courtyard where you can bring your own picnic. The winery features large fireplaces and high ceilings. The Historical Legacy Tour is a popular tour among visitors which gives you a history lesson dating back 150 years of local history, a full flight tasting, and a walk through the vineyard.
Oak Farm Vineyards 23627 N Devries Road. Lodi, CA 95242
Harney Lane Winery
Harney Lane Winery knows something about winemaking - they’ve been doing it for over 100 years. This is definitely a winery for red wine lovers as their most celebrated wines are Zinfandels and Cabernets. They do offer a dry Rosé and Chardonnay to break up the 9 reds they have on hand.
Tastings are $20 for a flight of 5 wines. Wines can also be enjoyed "by the glass" or bottle.
A more elevated tasting experience is the Home Ranch Tasting & Tour where visitors can explore the grounds and winemaking facility with a knowledgeable guide whilst sampling some of their more coveted wines from their portfolio.
The tour costs $40 per person and you need to contact the winery in advance to make a reservation.
Harney Lane Winery 9010 E. Harney Lane. Lori, CA 95240 209-365-1900
Oak Ridge Winery
Oak Ridge Winery is the oldest operating winery in Lodi. In addition to their namesake label, the winery also produces six other labels including Lodi Estates and 3 Girls.
The tasting room is unique as it is located inside a stunning 50,000 gallon California Redwood tank. While the zinfandel is the fan-favorite, the Non-Vintage Champagne with notes of fresh lemon, apples, and grapefruit is what most visitors are raving about. Their wine club offers 50% off a case of wine on your birthday!
Good to note: the tasting room is closed on Mondays and they even have boxed wine.
Oak Ridge Winery 6100 E. Hwy 12. Lodi, CA 95240 209-369-4769
Van Ruiten Family Winery
The Van Ruiten Family Winery has been producing quality wines for over 50 years. Their award-winning wines are proof of the fruits of their labor. Each week the tasting room menu is rotated to feature a selection of their Signature and Reserve wines.
The tasting fee is $10- $15 depending on the vintages you select. You get to taste six of their current selections for that price.
Sundays are the best days to enjoy music on the outdoor patio. Picnics are welcome. Some of their most popular wines include the Old Vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and the Rosé.
Van Ruiten Family Winery 340 W Hwy 12. Lodi, CA 95242 209-334-5722
d’Art Wines
The eye-catching wine labels are all designed by talented artist and winemaker Dave Dart who blends his creativity on the outside and inside of the bottle. D’art specializes in reds, specifically estate-grown Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. Dave is a big believer in Lodi's suitability for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
This is a nice alternative if you're tired of Lodi Zinfandel. We know, it's hard to tire of the big, bold, jammy flavors of Lodi Zinfandel. But a world-class tasting of Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon is always popular with visitors. That's one of the reasons D'Art Wines is on our list of the best Lodi wineries to visit!
The outdoor area is large and you can find Maggie, their dog, rolling around in the grass. Art fills the tasting room where you can taste a flight for just $10. The tasting fee is refunded when you purchase a bottle of wine. Members get perks like dinner in the barrel room, outdoor movie nights, and Release parties.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Dave. You can read about his winemaking style and some of his thoughts on why Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon is so special.
d’Art Wines 13299 Curry Ave. Lodi, CA 95240 209-334-9946
Leer Vineyards
Visiting Leer Vineyards is a family affair. The family-owned and operated winery makes each guest feel welcome. It is as if they were inviting you into their home.
The Leers are passionate about supporting our service mend and women. They offer wines (Heroic Red and Valiant White) to benefit Military Foundations’ Homes for Wounded Heroes. The tastings are just $10 and feature three reds and three white wines. Just as popular as the wines are their outdoor concerts featuring rock tribute bands. Part of the tasting room is made to look like a vintage gas station and at certain times have food trucks on the premises. All this combines to make this one of the best Lodi wineries to visit.
Leer Vineyards 1011 E. Pine Street. Lodi, CA 95240
Conclusion
We believe these are the best Lodi wineries for visitors, but this is just a small sample of the local wine scene. When you plan your Lodi wine tasting tour, you can use our list as a starting point. Please explore beyond our list and let us know who we should add the next time our list of the best Lodi wineries is updated!
Drink Wine | Save Money
MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THE CODE CWA15 TO RECEIVE OUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON THE PRIORITY WINE PASS.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of the Wine Pass!
The best way to save on Napa wineries, hotels and transportation. Get free assistance with planning your visit from Napa insiders!
