About Lodi
Lodi is California's most under-appreciated major wine region, a 90-minute drive east of San Francisco where some of the oldest continuously producing Zinfandel vineyards in the world still bear fruit. The AVA was established in 1986 and contains seven distinct sub-AVAs, with 85+ wineries and an extraordinary 85+ grape varieties planted across the region.
The flagship variety is Zinfandel, Lodi makes more Zinfandel than any other region in California, but the breadth of plantings is what makes Lodi unique. Old-vine field blends, Mediterranean varieties like Aglianico and Tempranillo, Spanish white varieties like Verdejo and Albariño, German Riesling and Gewürztraminer, Lodi grows them all on its sandy loam Mokelumne River soils. The Lodi Rules sustainability certification, the first in the United States, has been a model for responsible winegrowing.
Visiting Lodi feels different from Napa or Sonoma, it's more agricultural, more casual, and dramatically more affordable. Tasting fees are typically $10-$25, walk-ins are welcome at most producers, and the focus is on the wine rather than the experience. Downtown Lodi has a walkable wine district with a dozen tasting rooms in a few blocks. Two days lets you cover the major estates plus downtown.
Sub-Appellations
Click any sub-region below to filter the winery list to that specific AVA.
Wineries in Lodi
Browse all Lodi wineries →
