VINTNER'S CHOICE

20 Vintage Experiences to Savor In Lodi Wine Country

The San Joaquin Valley accounts for 50 percent of California's winegrape crush, making it every bit as noteworthy as that well-known wine valley to the north. Pair this fact with the region's standout wine experiences-full moon barbecues, movie nights, art tours, and wine camp for grownups among them-and some might say its, gulp, even better. Following are twenty of our favorite ways to sip the life fantastic in Lodi wine country.

For a list of Lodi Wine Events, click here.

Tapa the World
Sample the unique Spanish wines at Bokisch Vineyards, which have garnered the attention of none other than top wine critic Robert Parker, but by all means savor the experience with good company and great food. Bokisch hosts a private tapas party-think small plates, big flavors-each fall for members of its wine club. Leeks with blue cheese, canapés of Boqueron, and feta and figs are among the different dishes-and it only gets better from there.
(209) 334-4338, www.bokischvineyards.com

Prints Charming
In the service of originality, there's nothing wrong with being label-conscious. Commit to retiring the monogrammed M&Ms idea for special occasions (we're done, aren't we?), and personalize your next Lodi wine country event with wine bottles affixed with a customized label showing your smiling mug, your "save the date" reminder, or a far more interesting "Thanks for helping us celebrate." (800) 690-9463, www.personalwine.com

Wine Down
You love wine-body and soul-but your relationship might need some TLC and attention as well. Revive and reconnect with your sweetie at the Spa at Wine & Roses, where the couple's Celebration for Two will indulge you and yours with a warm, candlelit bath, a couples' massage, and two glasses of the resort's private label wine. (209) 334-6988, www.winerose.com

Read Between the Vines
Improve your shelf life considerably with Lodi On the Label, a literary compendium to all those Lodi wines you so love. This gem of a book, equal parts wine guide and historic novelette, features the stories and memories of local winemakers and wineries alongside gorgeous photos, making a great gift for Lodi wine collectors. (209) 825-8095, www.lodionthelabel.com

Tapped For Greatness
Experience a brewed awakening at the Dancing Fox Winery and Bakery, where espresso and wine tasting are not the only imbibing opportunities. The downtown Lodi eatery is tops of the hops as well, offering beer tastings and specials every Thursday night during the downtown Farmers Market, with special pricing and glassware to match the "Beer of the Night." September marks the start of Dancing Fox's "Beer Experience," featuring eight different beers and unique pizza pairings once a month. (209) 366-2634, www.dancingfoxwinery.com

Through the Grapevine
Spinning your wheels trying to designate a driver down the long and wine-ding road? Call on the personalized concierge services of Vintage Limo to taxi you and a selected tasting party here, there, and everywhere you want to go. Some of the service's customizable tours include lunch, and if you can swing it, ditch work and take the four-hour, mid-week wine tour, Wednesday through Friday. (209) 333-2657, www.vintagelimo-sedan.com

Naming Names
Do you secretly wish you came up with some of Lodi's most clever wine monikers? (Whoever named Michael-David's "7 Deadly Zins" is a genius.) Take the Macchia Winery challenge to name its next great wine. Submit an adjective ending in "ous" and, if too "ingenious" to ignore, it may appear on a future bottle of Macchia vino. Bragging rights will be yours, and so will $100 in "Macchia bucks." (209) 333-2600, www.macchiawines.com

Ahead of the Glass
Do your stem swill research at the first-ever Taste of Lodi Wine Camp September 25. This hands-on vintner's experience-a full day of winemaking A-Z-coincides with its namesake event and includes a viticulture demo, grape picking, vineyard tours, lunch with a winemaker, a blending class, interactive activities, and a food and wine pairing instructional. (209) 365-1195, www.tasteoflodi.com

Best Cellars
Head for the Cellar Door, a unique wine tasting gallery, for "flights of Lodi's finest" and gourmet tasties, but stay for the festive extras. The Cellar's selection of handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, art glass, and wine-inspired items complement local wine pours. The space also provides a venue to showcase untapped area talent: Salsa Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays, and live music are among the Cellar Door's rotating events. (209) 339-4394, www.lodicellardoor.com

Bakers Delight
Get your just desserts at Lodi's Crush Kitchen and Bar. The restaurant's beer and wine list is extensive, including endless local, domestic, and imported selections, but its dessert menu is absolutely supreme, so put a cork in it to partake of some seriously sweet treats. While the seasonal fruit tart and cheese plate are divine finishers, the gooey s'mores-an artisan delight made from housemade mallows, graham crackers, and dark and milk chocolate-is one for the recipe books.(209) 369-5400, www.crushkitchen.com

Face the Music
Pull up a musical chair at Van Ruiten Family Winery, where audiences of all ages are invited to gather together under the covered outdoor patio from 1 to 5 p.m. every Sunday through the end of summer for live music and an even livelier atmosphere. When the temperature drops, the party moves indoors, where revelers and wine lovers are welcome to warm up by firelight with a glass of wine. Food parings are also available. (209) 334-5722, www.vrwinery.com

Pair Up
You've got the perfect Vino Con Brio wine just waiting to be uncorked (begging for it, actually) and several guests coming over to enjoy, but you have nothing else equally worthy to serve for dinner-now what? We all need some virtual kitchen help on occasion, especially if it's a special occasion, so Vino Con Brio also offers recipes online that pair exceptionally well with their wines. The apricot chicken and the Estate Viognier are quite simply a match made in heaven. (209) 369-5392, www.vinoconbrio.com

Basket Case
Let the slaws come out at Heritage Oak Winery, where picnickers are invited to spread out a blanket, pop the cork, and relax on the scenic shores of the Mokelumne River. Your own sips and eats are welcome, but those who opt not to brown bag it can stop by the tasting room and pick up a pre-packed picnic sack, complete with tablecloth, cloth napkins, wine glasses, corkscrew, and utensils, as well as fresh fruit, gourmet cheese, and salami. Post-picnic, take a hike through the vineyards amid the songs of the western bluebirds that call Heritage Oak home. (209) 986-2763, www.heritageoakwinery.com

Screen Play
Before the credits roll on the end of summer, enjoy reel entertainment at Miramont Estate Vineyards, which hosts Movie Night at the Winery. These special evenings screen cinematic classics such as His Girl Friday and Arsenic and Old Lace in high-definition on an outdoor, twelve-foot screen for guests, who will also enjoy a beautiful wine and cheese pairing and celestial evening skies. Reservations requested. (209) 877-3178, www.miramontestate.com

Art and Palate
Pasos Vineyards has made an art of making wine, thanks to its artist-in-residence, David Jon Foster, whose studio gallery is located above the winery's tasting room. On weekends you can watch the artistic process as it unfolds, and Foster also hosts the Pasos Vineyards' summer and fall art shows, the latter of which will feature an artist reception, live music, wine tasting, and the film, "Explorations." (209) 727-3153, www.pasoswinery.com

Best Buds
If your flowers have gone to pot in the heat, reset your summer table with freshly picked flowers from Michael-David Winery. The popular U-pick wildflower garden is small but delightful, and smells positively wonderful. As one of many diversions at the winery-don't miss the tasting room, bakery and market, petting zoo, or the fresh-baked pies-this small botanical surprise will occupy those too young to belly up to the tasting counter for a zesty Zin. (209) 368-7384, www.lodivineyards.com

Fruit Cocktail
One of the best things about Ripken Winery's Full Moon Barbecues, which each summer feature dinner, wine tasting, and live music, is the party favors that you can take home for a fall fete of your own-and when we say "favors," we really mean "flavors." Case in point: Ripken's rosy-pink 2005 Rosato-Sangiovese, the ideal mixer wine for an anytime, at-home sangria. Blend two bottles with berries or sliced citrus fruits, two cups of sparking soda, and a hint of syrup, to taste. (209) 367-9463, www.ripkenwine.com

Agri-Cultured
On your market, get set, go-to Lodi for the downtown Farmers Market, a little bit of everything, all in one spot. Fresh produce, delicious wine, colorful flowers, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and a kids' zone mark this Lodi mainstay, which takes place every Thursday night through the end of September. So bring your basket, your eco-friendly tote, or your good-time attitude and celebrate with 10,000 of your closest neighbors. (209) 369-8052, www.downtownlodi.com

Take a Stand
Fresh fruit and yummy pies mean good times ahead. Stock up on bulk nuts, homemade candies, dried fruits, handcrafted vinegars, and chicken pot pies at Clements Ridge Produce, a sunny stopover with something deeply satiating for everyone. Old-fashioned candy barrels and the smell of oven-baked goodies lend Clements Ridge its gingham charm, but excellent wine tastings and surprisingly satisfying espresso blend the present effortlessly with the past. (209) 759-3850, www.clementsridge.com

Cultivate Community
To further his philosophy that the people around a table matter just as much as the food atop it, winemaker Robert Mondavi has partnered with the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) to further Giving Through Gardens, an initiative that works to transform unused outdoor areas into bountiful community gardens. Donate an eSeed to the cause online via the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi website, and Woodbridge Winery will donate $1 for each seed. (Don't forget to pick up a garden-fresh recipe while you're at it!) (209) 365-8139, www.robertmondavi.com/wbrm [SJM]