This article is about the Lodi wine region. I will summarize the wonderful experience I had in Lodi for the Wine Bloggers Conference in pictures, featuring the many high quality wines I enjoyed while there.

Many people associate Lodi with zinfandel. That would be a fair association since Lodi produces some of the world’s finest zinfandel. But if that all you know about Lodi then you don’t know Lodi at all. The post-modern history of Lodi begins with the legendary Robert Mondavi. Did you know he was from Lodi?  That’s right! Mondavi graduated from Lodi high school and established a well-known winery in Lodi called Woodbridge 1979. Although Lodi had been producing wine for decades, Mondavi, with Woodbridge Winery, ushered Lodi into what he called “The Golden Age of California Wine” by introducing modern winemaking techniques. Fast forward to 2005, Lodi established its own rules for sustainability with the formation of the “Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing.” These rules have set the standard for sustainability and are followed by countless other wine producers throughout the US. In 2006, Lodi divided its AVA into seven official sub-appellations to better distinguish sub-regions unique landscape and soil. What does all this mean to you, the consumer?

It means Lodi is producing a wide variety of killer wines at value prices!

Yes, Lodi is home to some of the most elegant Old Vine Zinfandels in the world. Lodi is also home to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. However, Lodi is also home to a wide variety of Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Southern Rhone varietals. AND….they are all fantastic.

I tasted so many of these wonderful wines at the Wine Bloggers Conference I must give a shout out to each producer. So please take a moment to journey with me through Lodi and get a better understanding why Wine Enthusiast named Lodi the 2015 Wine Region of the Year.

If you STILL have not tried wines from Lodi what are you waiting for? The Lodi winemakers are crafting outstanding wines at very reasonable prices. Many of them are too small to have out of state distribution but that’s okay because you can order any of these wines from the wineries web sites. You will be so glad you joined the Lodi wine loving crowd!

Thank you to all the great people with the Lodi Wine Commission and all the winemakers for your wonderful hospitality. I would gladly get stuck in Lodi again!