California is world-famous for the wine that this State produces. Some of the best wine in the entire globe is produced in California, so if you are visiting this beautiful area, it really would be a shame not to visit a winery or two.
Wine country in California really is some of the best parts of this State, and with grapevines that are some of the oldest in the world, Lodi is a great place to go.
If you are in California, and you love wine, it really would be rude not to go to Lodi.
If you are a wine enthusiast, then you’ve probably heard Lodi referred to as the Zinfandel capital of the world. While this statement is true, it isn’t just Zinfandel that is produced in Lodi.
In fact, there are lots of different types of wine that you can check out while you’re in Lodi.
If you are planning a weekend trip around Lodi, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’re taking a look at 11 of the best wineries in Lodi to visit over the weekend.
If you are planning a weekend trip to Lodi, then one of the first things that you need to consider is how to get there. Lodi is in the countryside, so you might be wondering how you can get there.
Especially if you are planning a day trip over the weekend to Lodi during a long trip to one of the larger cities in California.
If you are visiting Sacramento, San Francisco, or Stockton, then a day trip to Lodi is easily done. In fact, a day trip to Lodi is recommended to escape the hustle and bustle of these cities.
So why not go on one of the busiest days of the week? – a.k.a. The weekend!
While you could probably get to Lodi using either public transport or a cab, the best way to get to Lodi is to drive. So, if you haven’t got your car with you, we would recommend hiring a car.
Even if it is just for the day and night that you spend in Lodi.
This is especially important if you want to visit multiple wineries in Lodi or some of the wineries that are off the beaten path.
With a hire car, you’ll easily be able to drive between the different locations and visit them all at your own leisurely pace. So driving to Lodi definitely is the best idea!
Is Lodi Wine Good Quality?
Before you drive all the way out to Lodi, you might want to find out more about the wine that is produced in Lodi.
If you are a wine enthusiast, then you will already know that the wine produced in this region is some of the best not only in the country but also in the world. However, if you’re new to wine, let’s take a look at how good Lodi wine is.
Lodi wine is of incredible quality, and the reason why wine produced in this region is so good all begins with the grapes.
The Lodi wine region has a stunning Mediterranean climate, and this warm temperature really helps the grapes in the vineyards of this area to grow healthily.
The grapes are growing in ideal conditions, so almost always the grapes grown in Lodi will be very high quality.
As we said earlier, Lodi is the place that produces some of the best Zinfandel in the world. So, if you are interested in good quality Zinfandel, then Lodi is a great place to go.
However, Lodi doesn’t produce just Zinfandel. As you go around the different wineries in Lodi, you will quickly realize that there are quite a lot of different styles of wine produced in Lodi. They are all super high quality!
The best thing about the wineries in Lodi is that they very much have a “small town” feel.
Based on the experience that you will have in these wineries alone, you would never be able to tell that the wine produced in these vineyards is some of the best in the world.
The experience that you will have in Lodi really is incredible. The wine is out of this world and the hospitality is just as good.
All in all, it is definitely worth a visit if you are already in one of the nearby cities. So, let’s take a look at some of the best wineries in Lodi.
The Best Wineries To Visit In Lodi
As we have said, there are quite a lot of different wineries based in Lodi, so you have plenty of different places to choose from.
There are lots of different wineries all of which produce different styles of wine, so we would certainly recommend visiting a couple of different wineries if you can.
Below, we’ve included 11 of the best wineries in Lodi. So, if you’re struggling to decide which wineries are best for you to visit during your trip, check out this short list to help you choose the best wineries for your visit.
One winery that we would definitely recommend visiting in Lodi is Bokisch Vineyards. This location is interesting as the wine produced here is inspired by Iberian wines, and focuses on Spanish varieties, rather than American wines.
Run by a husband and wife team, this vineyard has a very personal feel. You can tell that all the staff works super close together to produce the wine that is made in this location, and that makes it that much better.
So, we would definitely recommend visiting if you are in the region!
Another outstanding winery to visit in the area is the Michael David Winery. You might notice that this name sounds a little familiar, that is because this company is behind the Freak Show wine label.
Michael David Winery is another family-run winery that was founded by brothers Michael and David Phillips. The brothers come from a long line of grape growers, so they know exactly what they are doing.
This winery is incredibly charming, and the buildings designed for wine tasting truly are something special. It is definitely worth a visit!
Alternatively, if you are looking for an urban winery to visit during your trip to Lodi, then St. Amant Winery is the place to go.
Housed in an industrial building, this winery is totally different from every other winery on this list. That is what makes it special.
As we have seen, a number of different styles of wine are produced in Lodi. St. Amant winery specializes in Portuguese wines and has the family-run vibe that we’ve also seen in the last two wineries. You really should check it out!
Just like Bokisch Vineyards, Intercoastal Vineyards is also run by a husband and wife-team. This gives the wine a very special flare and also gives the winery itself a brilliant vibe.
There are a couple of different styles of wine produced in this vineyard, and the area where you taste the wine is truly beautiful. A great experience from start to finish that you really should try out.
If you want a very different experience, then you need to go to Estate Crush. Estate Crush is a custom crush facility in Lodi that produces a couple of different styles of wine.
You might not expect much from the wine produced here, specifically because their facilities aren’t on the same level as the other vineyards we’ve looked at. But we can promise you, the wine from this location is definitely worth a try!
Perhaps one of the most famous locations in Lodi is Acquiesce Vineyards. Susan Tipton is the owner of this famous location, and it is well known for producing delicious white wines. In fact, this winery only produces white wines.
This winery executes white wine in such a way that it doesn’t have to produce any other types of wine. The white wine is good enough to do all the talking for this winery, so be sure to check it out!
Alternatively, if you are really interested in Portuguese wines, we would recommend checking out St. Jorge winery as well as St. Amant winery.
St. Jorge Winery is a boutique winery that produces lots of different types of wine. Their selection of Portuguese wines is absolutely incredible, and during a wine tasting at this location, you’ll be able to taste plenty of different wines.
The property is incredible, and the wine is even better. You really need to check out this winery to really appreciate how great it is!
If you want the best of both worlds, check out Scotto’s Wine and Cider. As the name suggests, this winery not only produces wine but cider too (see also “Best Wineries In Temecula“). So, you will easily be able to taste both, all in a single trip to this vineyard.
Located in downtown Lodi, this winery has a totally different vibe from the others we have looked at. It is cool and chic, and generally considered to be a “fun” area to hang out.
This winery definitely tries to target a younger crowd, but the wine is so good that you should check it out, no matter your age!
Another great place to check out in Lodi is Viaggio Estate and Winery. This winery is something special, and that is because it specializes in Italian styles of wine (see also “Italian Food Guide: Best Wine For Italian Food & Pasta“).
Viaggio Estate and Winery are based on a Tuscan-style estate nestled among a variety of vineyards. They have a large tasting room that regularly runs tasting sessions, but there is a lot more than just this going on in Viaggio.
In addition to this, the estate also runs live music on Friday evenings and offers food too. If you are new to drinking wine, this is the winery to visit!
If you want to visit a historic winery in Lodi, then you should check out Oak Ridge Winery. Oak Ridge Winery is the oldest winery currently operating in Lodi, and you can find their wines across the country.
For a winery as successful as Oak Ridge, you would expect its winery to be massive. But this isn’t actually the case. Instead, Oak Ridge is a small and humble winery that has a very charming tasting room.
Visiting here is a real experience, so you really need to check this winery out!
Finally, we have to give a special mention to Lodi Wine Social. Located in downtown Lodi, this spot is actually home to two different types of local wineries, and you can taste both on-site. Cool, right?
If you want to visit a winery but want a cool and trendy experience, then Lodi Wine Social is the best place for you to go in this region. Plus, you don’t have to travel out into the countryside to visit!
Summary
In short, there are tons of beautiful wineries to visit while you are in Lodi, but the wineries we’ve included in this guide really are some of the best.
So, if you are in Lodi for the weekend, we would really recommend checking out one of the wineries we’ve included here.
We hope you have found this guide helpful, thanks for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Wineries Are There In Lodi?
There are quite a lot of wineries located in Lodi, and the number of vineyards in this area has steadily increased.
As the wine from this region has become more and more popular, more wine producers have decided to try their hand at producing wine in this region.
At the time of writing, there are around 60 different wineries based in Lodi.
What Wine Is Lodi Known For?
There is no denying that Lodi is best known for producing one of California’s most popular types of wine – Zinfandel.
However, it isn’t just Zinfandel that is produced in this region as this area is also known for producing Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and Merlot. So you will be able to taste lots of different types of wine in Lodi.
Does Lodi Produce More Wine Than Napa?
If you are visiting California from outside the USA, and want to visit the wine capital of this State, you might find yourself drawn to Napa.
However, while Napa Valley produces a lot of delicious wine, it actually produces less wine than the Lodi region. So, if you want to go to the area of California that produces the most wine, you should go to Lodi instead.
My name is Jon, and I am the founder of this site, Nautivinewine.com.
I started this site to share my love of wine with everyone, from beginners to seasoned wine connoisseurs.
Perhaps you are looking to expand your knowledge on wine, or maybe you just want to know which wines to pair with chicken and fish. No matter the question, I can answer it for you here.
