4 Lodi Wineries Making Surprisingly Great White Wines
In the last 20 years Lodi has grown from a wine growing region, supplying grapes to wineries around the state and beyond, to a winemaking region in its own right. It’s also become much more of a California wine destination for visitors. While 20 years ago there were only 8 tasting rooms open to the public, now there are over 60.
Though Lodi is best known for zinfandel, and specifically old vine zinfandel, the Lodi AVA which encompasses 7 distinct subregions, produces 100 different grapes varieties including quite a few outstanding white wines in addition to reds. Here are some favorites, worthy of tasting on your next visit to Lodi tasting rooms.
Chardonnay from Lucas Winery
Eliza Hess and Heather Pyle-Lucas photo credit Amy Sherman
Lucas Winery may have started out as a zinfandel only winery in 1978, but today winemaker Heather Pyle-Lucas, (who previously made wines at Mondavi) is also known for her chardonnay. The winery she runs with her husband is solar powered and certified organic CCOF. They hand harvest their grapes and all their wine is sold direct. A small operation, Pyle-Lucas is in the midst of handing over day-today operations to winemaker Eliza Hess, who was previously an intern and assistant.
The chardonnay at Lucas is made from grapes that they purchase from nearby vineyards and is an elegant style that is designed to age anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Their current release is the 2017 Lucas Winery Estate Chardonnay which is 13.5% ABV. It goes through fermentation in both mostly neutral oak barrels and stainless steel, but no malolactic, so the oak is restrained. The highest priced chardonnay in Lodi, it sells for $44 and we dare say, it’s worth every penny.
Dan Panella and Marilia Nimis-Schrader photo credit Amy Sherman
Fiano from Oak Farm Vineyards
Oak Farm Vineyards owner Dan Panella makes a staggering number of wines with his Italian winemaker Marilia Nimis-Schrader, who was born in Friuli. While making mostly red wines including petit verdot, merlot, barbera, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, sangiovese, malbec, primitivo and of course zinfandel, they also make a few outstanding white wines including albarino and fiano.
They made 400 cases of 2021 Oak Farm Vineyards Fiano Single Vineyard Series, as part of their single estate program. A favorite variety of the owners because it comes from the same region as their family in Italy, the fiano goes through a long cool fermentation (they often use a combination of native yeasts and inoculated juice), then spends 5 months in neutral oak barrels on light lees with no stirring. The result is fruity and citrus aromas, and zesty lemon and ginger notes, complexity in the midpalate and an elegant finish. Oak Farm was the Lodi Winery of the Year in the NY International Wine Competition in 2021 and 2022 and won Double Gold for their Sauvignon Blanc and Gold for their Albarino in the 2022 NY International Wine Competition.
Albariño from Bokisch Vineyards
At Bokisch Vineyards Markus and Liz Bokisch along with winemaker Elyse Perry focus on Spanish style wines, both red and white, but the single vineyard style albariños are particularly noteworthy.
Perry says the dramatic diurnal shift of 40-50 degrees and the funneling of a breeze through the delta helps to ripen the fruit and yet allows for plenty of acidity. She picks at low sugar levels to preserve the fruit. The winery was the first to plant albariño but another dozen or so wineries are now planting it as well. Perry makes 4 albariños, including 2 estate bottles and a sparkling version. Zesty fruity wines, that show a wide range of notes from tropical fruit to stone fruit to petrichor. Perry’s dream? To make a Lodi cava.
Grenache Blanc from Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards
Sue Tipton is the owner and winemaker at Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards, a unique endeavor that focuses on Southern Rhone influenced white wines. Tipton settled in Lodi in 2000 on property that had 12 acres of zinfandel. But Tipton doesn’t make zinfandel at Acquiesce.
Typical of several of her wines, the Acquiesce Grenache Blanc is made from clones that came somewhat indirectly from the Chateau de Beaucastel in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region. The grapes are hand-picked and pressed in clusters, and fermented in stainless steel which yields a brighter, fresher style with aromas of apple and pear and vibrant minerality.
Lodi Wine Visitor Center Interior photo credit Stephanie Russo Photography_Lodi Winegrape Commission
Looking to explore Lodi white wines? Make the Lodi Wine tasting room from the Lodi Winegrape Commission your first stop. They have a tasting bar that offers 8 wines, rotating each week along with plenty of maps and other resources. A few other white varieties you’ll find in Lodi include bourboulenc, gewürztraminer, grüner veltliner, marsanne, muscat, pinot blanc, pinot gris, picpoul, roussanne, verdelho, vermentino, viognier, xarel-lo.