Destination: Weekend in Lodi

By Kimberly Horg-Webb

The View across School Street in Downtown Lodi. (J. Hamilton)As the famous song suggests, people can easily get “stuck in Lodi” for the weekend by spending time wine tasting, shopping, and eating at the various restaurants located throughout the city. With so much to do and see, visitors may have to plan a second trip to see it all.

There are 70 wineries sprawled out in various locations so wine tasters can pick up a Wine Trail Map at any winery, or download it in advance by visiting the Lodi Visitors website at  visitlodi.com/winecountry_map.php where visitors can create their own wine tasting excursion. The Wine Trail Map shows all the wineries including areas with a close grouping of wineries.

A great place to start your wine tasting is Ripken Vineyards in Lodi. The winery has a motto to live by, “No Boring Wines.” The third generation of winemakers in the Ripken family, Susan Ripken, says they try to focus on the more unique varieties that are less popular like Primitivo, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Tempranillo, and Carmine. She says these wine’s personalities are fun and exciting too, not the boring “pour and ignore.” 

“We love to talk to you and share our knowledge and allow our visitors to get firsthand knowledge from the owners and winemakers like myself,” Ripken said.

Ripken’s most popular wine is the El Matador Tempranillo. This is their flagship wine. The 2006 (current release) has received many medals. They also have a popular 2008 Petite Sirah, which just got a double gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Another top pick is the 2008 Carmine which is dark in color with hints of boysenberry and black cherry.

Every summer Ripken holds three Full Moon BBQ’s featuring live music and wine tasting. They invite guests to bring their blankets and chairs and enjoy the summer evening while listening to music. This summer’s events are scheduled on June 17, July 15 and August 13, all from 6-9 p.m. 

Ripken Vineyards is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. and by appointment during the week.

“Lodi is a great town! Our downtown area is a fun street filled with restaurants, shops, and entertainment,” Ripken said. “If you’re planning on coming to visit I’d recommend Wine & Roses (hotel), wine tasting, a relaxing massage, and then hitting our downtown for a great meal and some entertainment.” 

Downtown Lodi is a popular location because of its multiple tasting rooms, shops, and restaurants. There is also a lot of live music downtown on weekend evenings. Hutchins Street Square Performing Arts theatre (which is just off of downtown) usually has some sort of entertainment whether it is plays, concerts or comedy on the weekends.

Sunny View InnVisitors who come for the weekend can find a variety of hotels and inns to rest their wine filled heads.  Choose from standard chains, charming B and B’s, to the luxury resort-style hotel, Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa.  Two of its newest properties, the Holiday Inn Express, and Hampton Inn & Suites, are conveniently located to restaurants and wineries. If a cozy, historical country inn is more your speed, try the Inn at Locke House in nearby Lockford, and its especially charming, three-level Water Tower Suite which occupies their old (but beautifully restored) water tower.  And even closer, in Lodi, try The Cottages on Armstrong that offer a comfortable, private retreat amid the vineyards along Lodi’s wine trail. Here at this family-friendly retreat you will find three charmingly appointed two bedroom cottages complete with kitchens, and each sleeps 4 to 5 people.

“The nice thing about Lodi is that you can get from one part of town to the other in 20 minutes or less,” Nancy Beckman, President and CEO of Visit Lodi! Conference & Visitors Bureau, said.

Outdoor dining at Rosewood, one of the restaurants on School Street. (Jill Means)Lodi not only has a lot of wineries but has a large number of restaurants. Both Ripken and Beckman recommend the restaurant at Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa (located on Turner Road), Rosewood Bar & Grill, and School Street Bistro for burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers (which are both on School Street).

There is also the Lodi Beer Company and Shangri La Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar, (both located on School Street) and Alebrijes Mexican Bistro (located on Ham and Lockford).

Phillips Farms Café has a great breakfast or lunch if someone is looking for casual café dining. It has the Michael-David Winery in it and has fresh produce, frozen and fresh baked pies, as well as some small farm animals and a bocce ball court.  It is located off Highway 12, call (209) 368-7384 for directions. “Phillips Farms Café is just all in all a fun location with great wines,” Beckman said. 

There are a variety of wineries that offer visitors whatever unique wine or atmosphere that is sought after. Dave Dart, owner of d’Art Wines, believes both wine and art are subject to individual tastes so wine tasting should include as many of the senses as possible. “Art and winemaking is an expression,” he said.  “You can stroll and smell our vineyard, our grounds are beautiful for a picnic, the music is floating, my art is colorful, and the wine is sensational.”

Dart started dabbling in art at the same time he started making wine, in 2000. He displays his work in the tasting room and also designs the labels, which feature his art. He says he is proudest of his estate wine, Cabernet Sauvignon. The Tempranillo and Petite Sirah are his two other top picks. 

The winery is open Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. After leaving d’Art, Dart suggests a nice stroll or dinner on School Street.

The Dancing Fox Winery and Bakery is another hot spot in downtown Lodi on School Street that has 17 different wines including wines and ports made from local cherries, crisp whites to big reds. The wood fired pizzas are a favorite among the locals, along with the fox trot sandwich, Greek salad, and cranberry walnut salad.  Dinner specials are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday but the most popular is the Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. which features an omelet station, multiple pastry selections, French toast, and fruit platters. 

Co-owner Colleen Lewis purchased a Llopis oven from Barcelona Spain and had it shipped over. She now creates fresh bread from organic grains and uses a stone mill to grind her own fresh flour. The most favorite of all her breads are the multi-grain, ciabatta, and focaccia. 

It is decorated with old world wall paintings and wall touches, special candle and hanging patio lights. The winery room is filled with oak wine casks. Some of Gregg Lewis’, CEO/President of The Dancing Fox, favorite wines are the Cabernet Franc, Red Zorro, Rumpelstilt-Zin and the Reserve Merlot (which just won best of class at the 2011 Consumer Wine awards in Lodi). 

“Downtown Lodi on School Street is a beautiful experience for all. From shopping to dining to wine tasting, there are many options to choose from,” Lewis said. 

After shopping, eating and strolling downtown; visitors can take a short drive to have a glass of wine in a converted 50,000 gallon redwood tank. Oak Ridge Winery is one of Lodi’s oldest operating wineries and is well known for its Old Zin Vines (OZV). It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a one stop location, visitors can sample wine from more than 40 wineries and culinary specialties from local favorites at the tenth annual Taste of Lodi event on Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Hutchins Street Square. There will be wine seminars featuring the latest from local vintners, chef demonstrations, and guests can experiment with their own unique pairings of food and wine as well as listen to live music. To purchase a ticket in advance go to tasteoflodi.com or call (800) 798-1810.

For more information about planning a weekend in Lodi visit visitlodi.com.

Contacts:

Ripken Winery. (209) 367-0646, www.ripkenwine.com

D’ Art Winery (209) 334-9946,  www.dartwines.com.

Oak Ridge Winery. (209) 369-4758, oakridgewinery.com

The Cottages on Armstrong. (209) 369-1360, www.cottagesonarmstrong.com

Inn at Locke House  (209) 727-5715, www.theinnatlockehouse.com

Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. (209) 334-6988, www.winerose.com

The Dancing Fox Winery and Bakery. (209) 366-2634, www.dancingfoxwinery.com

Phillips Farm Café & Michael David Winery (209) 368-7384, www.michaeldavidwinery.com

Lodi Beer Company. (209) 368-9931, www.lodibeercompany.com

Shangri La Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar. (209) 366-0539, www.shangrilaasianbistro.com

Alebrijes Mexican Bistro. (209) 368-1831, www.alebrijesbistro.com

Rosewood Bar & Grill. (209) 369-0470, www.rosewoodbarandgrill.com

School Street Bistro, 209-333-3950, www.schoolstbistro.com