The Central Valley has never been happier to see rain, even on the most famous weekend of the year for Lodi.
The 18th annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Festival (sponsored by Brix Chocolate) has people out in droves despite the weather. In one hand you have a glass of wine, and the other is holding an umbrella! Each winery is sampling their best wine, serving items made with chocolate, and serenading you with music by local talents. Chocolate port ice cream, truffles, chocolate chili, chocolate marinated BBQ meat, you name it, it’s out there for you to discover and enjoy. This two-day festival is over today at 4pm, but you can still purchase tickets at any participating winery for $65, and your designated driver gets in free. Your DD gets all the perks you do, minus any wine. Once you consider how much food you will both consume today, a $65 all-day date turns out to be a REALLY good deal.
Some wineries are having themed parties, or serving non-chocolate food like fire roasted pizza. Check out a list here of all participating wineries and what they will be serving.
This event is great for both the wine noob and the snob. With over 40 wineries participating, from Manteca to Galt, it is impossible to sample from all of them in one day.
But it’s okay if you missed yesterday, because I’ll give you a cheat sheet of the best wineries to go sample today.
Watts has AMAZING dessert wines. Three of them to be exact, and each bottle of Volt (my fav) is only $18.
Michael David’s Earthquake Petite Shiraz was delicious as well.
If anyone in your party needed a break from wine, The Dancing Fox has a creamy oatmeal stout sure to please the wine-tested pallet.
Harney Winery and Harmony Winery boast of spectacular picture taking areas, if you don’t mind a few seconds of rain. Vicarmont has certainly won for best theme; Roaring 20’s. Grab your sweetie and head out for fresh wood-grilled pizza and some swanky jazz, a la Downton Abbey style.
For inside photos, head to Downtown Lodi, where there are fifteen stations all within walking distance. You need to make Jessie’s Grove a priority, because they’re serving a port straight from the barrel, and you won’t taste anything as sweet or smooth all day. And don’t fret if you have forgotten to stop and take a picture in your enthusiastic wine buzz the entire day as long as you stop at H – G and take advantage of their free photobooth.
Although I usually write about coffee, there are many things you can sip. Sip on, friends!
