Mettler Family Vineyards

A Generational Legacy

Mettler is One Gorgeous Winery! From the landscaped grounds to the beautiful tasting room to the great views.

Location:  7889 East Harney Lane, Lodi, CA.

Tasting Room Hours:  Open Thursday through Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mettler is one of Lodi’s Oldest Farming Families – been growing wine grapes since the late 1800s. One of the very first families to introduce French clones to the Lodi region.

The Wines

A Tradition and a Passion for Making Wine – Excellence from Vineyards to Wine Production!

I love that Mettler lets the fruit come forward in their wines to create intense and well balanced wines. I wanted a bottle of each, but settled on taking one home with me.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Like a “Liquid Ruby” in the glass! The nose is aromatic with intense flavors and oh so good on my palate. A great balance of savory, sweet and spice.

Petite Sirah

This is SEXY in a glass with richness and beauty! A dark purple in the glass (hello! wine wipes) with aromas of chocolate, jam and spice. I could taste the blackberries and blueberries and oh so juicy.

Zinfandel

The ‘Epicenter’ Old Vine Zinfandel!

A few words to describe this wine:

• Epic!
• Bold and Bright and Juicy
• Complex Yet Balanced
• Tasty Richness
• Depth of Flavors
• Savory and Sweet and Spice

Worth The Stop to Sip and Relax and Unwind!!!

Advertisement

Heritage Oak Winery

Tradition and History

Wine Tasting and Picnics

Outdoor Adventure and Birds

Heritage Oak Winery – Check Out Their Website.

Location:  10112 East Woodbridge Road, Acampo, CA.

Tasting Room Hours:  Monday through Friday 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Beautiful Land

Check out the hiking trail to the secluded beach along the Mokelumne River to stretch the legs, wade in or enjoy a picnic. There is also a picnic area near the Tasting Room.

The Winery’s Birds

Birds and Birdhouses! Western bluebirds, tree swallows. Birds are good for the winery because they eat insects. Barn Owls and Larger Birdhouses! Sorry folks, but the barn owls are welcome because they only eat rodents.

The Winery’s Wildlife Sanctuary

Mule Deer and Coyote to Fox and Wild Turkey to Skunk and Raccoon. The river is home to beaver and otter.

The Wines

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic, Crisp and Refreshing! Love the Fruity Citrus.

Chardonnay

Beautiful in the glass with a fragrant nose and lingering finish on the palate. Pears, lemon and honey.

Vino Tinto

The name alone is FUN to say! A great tasting red blend with Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Fruitiness sums up this wine.

Block 14 Zinfandel

Bright and Flavorful! Beautiful in the glass and one to take your time with and just sip.

Block 5 Old Vine Zinfandel

Beautiful and Intense and Great Tasting! Savory and Spice too. A full bodied wine great balance.

Petit Verdot

A blend of 75% Petit Verdot, 20% Petite Sirah and 5% Grenache. I love trying and tasting Grenache. Beautiful in the glass with an aromatic nose with fruitiness and subtle tannins. The mouth feel was soft and the palate was pleased!

Charbono

I love trying and tasting Charbono – RARITY to see on a wine tasting list! Certainly need to sip and savor with food. The color in the glass is amazing and the taste is very pleasing on the palate too. Smooth, Bold and has Character.

So Many Wines To Try and Taste! I Will Need To Come Back!

Harney Lane Winery

Family, Love, Laughter

Harney Lane Winery – Check Out Their Website.

Location:  9010 East Harney Lane, Lodi, CA.

Tasting Room Hours:  Open Thursday through Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tasting Fee:  $5 per person, which is waived with wine purchase.

Wine:Thirty is their Wine Club – love the name!

The Wines

Harney Lane is Hands On! All their fruit is handpicked, hand sorted, fermented in small lots, and then barrel aged.

Albarino

Beautiful in the glass with a great nose. Citrus, pear and pineapple. Crisp and Refreshing.

Dry Rose

The color of the wine in the glass is like no hue I have seen before in a Rose and in a good way. I thought the nose bloomed as the wine warmed in the glass. Melon and Berry. Dry and Balanced with Fruity Sweetness.

Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is a palate changer as well as a palate pleaser! Apple, pineapple, apricot with honeysuckle, butterscotch and caramel. I could really taste the apricot and caramel. Sweet with a little spice and very nice. I wanted to grab a bottle and enjoy the day.

Zinfandel

Beautiful in the glass with jammy goodness. Heart the berries and cherries. Rich velvety finish and leaves your palate wanting another sip or two or three. Just leave the bottle.

Tempranillo

I was excited to see Tempranillo on the Wine Tasting List. This Tempranillo would balance with Sweet Eats very nicely. It had my palate guessing and wanting more to figure it out. This Tempranillo will get better with age too.

Petite Sirah

Saved the BEST for last in my opinion. Like Dessert in a Bottle with layers of jamminess, cobbler and roasted coffee. Dark and beautiful in the glass with a great nose and pleasing the palate all the way through. This Petite Sirah would pair nicely with a variety of eats.

Here’s to Great Tasting Wines and Living a Life of Love and Laughter – Cheers!!!

Estate Crush

Crushing It In Lodi

Pouring 18 Wines, 45 Brands & 85+ Wines for Sale!!!

Estate Crush – Check Out Their Website.

Location:  Two West Lockeford Street, Lodi, CA.

Tasting Room Hours:  Friday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Barrel Tasting Tours & Wine/Cheese Pairing

The 2nd Saturday of Each Month at 1:30 p.m.

$22 per person and includes a winery tour, education, barrel and tank tasting, private wine and cheese pairing, and 20% Cellar Club discount on bottle purchases. Reservations Required!

I prefer to go out to the wineries. However, that being said I enjoy hitting the downtown area and checking out the wine tasting rooms too.

The Wines

So Many Wines To Try and Taste and So Little Time To Do It In!!!

I recommend this place for 3 reasons! #1 Variety in Tasting Wines. #2 The place to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner. #3 Great dinner recommendations.

Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy – Cheers!!!

Oak Farm Vineyards

A Family Winery

That Is Deeply Rooted

In the Lodi Wine Region

Oak Farm is one of the oldest properties in the Central Valley and founded in 1864! A great gathering place to stay a while to taste the wines and explore the grounds (a total of 70 acres with 10 acres of grounds for guests to explore and enjoy). The winery tasting staff knows their wines and offers great hospitality and customer service! Thank you for a great experience.

Welcome!

Oak Farm is so worth the drive out to the country to experience their wines! I wanted to while away the day with a bottle or two.

Location:  23627 North DeVries Road, Lodi, CA.

Tasting Room Hours:  Open Thursday through Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed Tue & Wed). There is a $5 Tasting Fee.

Check Out!

• The Vineyards.
• The Winery Tasting Room.
• The Great Lawn and Oak Tree.
• The Private Lake.
• The Rose Garden Patio with Arbor. Beautiful Roses!
• Historical Redwood Barn, originally built in 1864.

The Wines

Passionate About Wine!!!

I loved that there was a nice balance between white wines and red wines.

The Dolce Blanc – Translated means “Sweet White”

Chardonnay – Aged In Stainless Steel

Floral aromas on the nose with pear and apples in the glass. The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks blended with neutral oak barrels. Crisp, Refreshing and Smooth on the finish!

Chardonnay – Aged In Oak

LOVED this Chardonnay and it had my nose and my palate guessing as to what was all in there! This would pair well with a variety of foods due to the depth of aromas and flavors in this varietal. A Breathe of Fresh Air and Refreshing too!

Sauvignon Blanc

Great Balance – freshness, acidity, fruity! Aroma of peach, a nose of lemon and a taste of grapefruit and/or citrus.

Verdelho – Silver Medal Winner at the 2013 Consumer Wine Awards

Barbera

I wanted to lick my wine glass after tasting the deliciousness of this wine! Plum Jam and Dark, Black Cherries. I thought I could smell the baked, brown sugar goodness in this varietal!

Tievoli – An “Italian Style” Red Blend

#1 – Tievoli is the Italian slang word for “You Want This”.

#2 – Tievoli backwards is “I Love It”.

My initial thoughts in tasting this varietal is get me some Pizza, Spicy Sausage or a Hearty, Meaty Red Sauce! Elegance in a glass and medium-bodied. Ripe, Lushness and Soft that Dances On My Palate with a Lingering Finish!

Zinfandel

Dolcetto – Means “Little Sweet One”

This varietal comes from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. 

Winery Tasting Room

Private Lake with Oak Trees (Photos by RSheridan)

 Head To The Countryside – Cheers!!!

Lodi Wine and Visitor Center

Great Place to Start

Your Adventure In

the Lodi Wine Region

I have a confession to make I love checking out visitor centers when I travel! The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center is a great place to start if you are new to the Lodi Wine Region.

Lodi Wine – Check It Out!

Location:  2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, CA. (209) 365-0621.

Hours:  Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I enjoyed exploring the grounds with its beautiful landscaping of fauna and flora. Also, there is an area devoted to wine grapes and the varietals are marked, so you know what the vines look like for the various varietals.

Wine Map and Information

I like to go to the source and ask the staff of the Visitor Center for recommendations on wineries to check out! I enjoy a wine tasting bar, but love to go  out to the wineries even more.

Lodi Wineries – Check It Out!

Lodi Wine Events – Check It Out! ZinFest. Chocolate and Wine Weekend. Lodi Road Trip Passport. Oh My!!!

Wine Tasting Bar Anyone???

The Visitor Center has a wine tasting bar that features a wide selection of regional wines. Eight wines are served on a daily basis and the wines are rotated weekly. You can purchase bottles of wine too.

Tasting Fee:  $5 for a flight of 4 wines to try and taste.

The Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa

Check out the Wine and Roses hotel, restaurant and spa too! The Visitor Center is located on the grounds of The Wine & Roses.

LoCA – The Wines of Lodi California Wine Club

I checked this out and thought it was pretty SWEET!

Wine Club Members receive 3 to 4 bottles of different Lodi appellation wines 4 times a year. Each shipment also includes a newsletter, tasting notes, and recipes chosen by the winemaker for their specific wine. The average cost per shipment is $70 to $90 plus shipping. Enjoy exclusive hand picked wines for the Lodi appellation!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Happy Exploring & Wine Tasting – Cheers!!!