July 17th - This Date in Wine History

/
Lodiandsubs.png

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Phylloxera was discovered for the first time in Meursault in 1878.
  • The Carso DOC was created in 1985.
  • "Wine in the Afternoon" a song written by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand was released in 2006.
  • California's Lodi sub-appellations of Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Clements Hills, Cosumnes River, Jahant, Mokelumne River and Sloughhouse were designated in 2006.
  • California's Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA was designated in 2006.
  • Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

/
2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel

 2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel

$18

Medium ruby purple in color.  Bright and lively on the nose with aromas of strawberry jam, sweet oak spice, vanilla and blackberry pie.  Though rich in fruit and spice, the palette is pleasantly light with a juicy cranberry-like acidity.  Jammy berries, maple, cedar box and black plum dominate while subtle flavors of bay leaf, dried oregano and mushroom provide complexity.  Soft, chewy tannins provide structure and promise several years of aging in bottle, allowing the ample berry fruitiness to evolve and reveal more secondary savory notes.

Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis first met Bill Stokes, owner of Stokes Vineyard, over ten years ago while searching for old vine Zinfandel in the up-and-coming area of Lodi in San Joaquin County.  The fruit from Stokes Vineyard never disappoints with richness and intensity that comes from old vines with subtle spice notes that all speak to the vineyard management and site.

July 17th - This Date in Wine History

/
Phylloxera

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Phylloxera was discovered for the first time in Meursault in 1878.
  • The Carso DOC was created in 1985.
  • "Wine in the Afternoon" a song written by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand was released in 2006.
  • California's Lodi sub-appellations of Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Clements Hills, Cosumnes River, Jahant, Mokelumne River, and Sloughhouse were designated in 2006.
  • California's Saddle Rock-Malibu AVA was designated in 2006.
  • Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

Clements Hills - Wine Region of the Day

/
Clements Hills

Clements Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 85,400 acres, Clements Hills is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA in the southeast portion located in San Joaquin County.  It is nearly 40 miles from Sacramento and more than 10 from the city of Lodi.  The viticultural area is located in the northeastern portion of San Joaquin county south of the Borden Ranch appellation.  Nestled between the Calavaras River to the south, Liberty Road to the north, the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County and Elliott and Jack Tone Roads to the west, the region is a transition from the valleys to the west and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

It is centered around the town of Clements which was settled in 1857 by Thomas Clements.  Clements later donated 25 acres to establish the town as a railroad stop on the San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad which was ideal for the agricultural community that was growing.  The name Clements Hills has been in use since that time.

The soils in the appellation are varied but are alike in that they have low fertility and are a mixture of clays and loams.  The presence of the clays are sufficient to hold moisture in the soil. The region features an alluvial topsoil with varying lower levels comprised of granite and volcanic soils.

The climate is hot and muggy but gets some relief from coastal breezes that make their way through the hills. The climate of the area is generally warmer and wetter than the average in the Lodi region.  The increase in elevation to the east creates more precipitation and air drainage that moves away morning fogs and frost that would be caused by cool Pacific air coming up the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta.  The lack of fog also leads to more hours of sunshine to help the grapes achieve their maximum flavor.

This climate makes the region perfect for growing Italian and Spanish grape varieties such as Albarino, Grenache, Sangiovese and Tempranillo.

Alta Mesa - Wine Region of the Day

/
Alta Mesa

Located within the Lodi AVA, Alta Mesa is one of 7 sub-appellations approved in 2006.   Located on 55,400 acres, Alta Mesa is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento County. The decision to create the sub-appellations was done through the Lodi AVA Steering Committee.  This group formed by 16 members of the committee and over three years looked at the area through scientific and historical perspectives as well as community outreach.  Led by chairmen Markus Bokisch of Bokisch Ranches and Duarte Nursery and Keith Watts of Watts Vineyards steering committee backed the sub-appellation plan because it allowed winemakers and growers to differentiate between different microclimates and soils within the greater Lodi Area.

The name, Alta Mesa refers the the relatively high, flat land the area formed by the alluvial fans and terraces created bythe American and Cosumnes river.  The term “Alta Mesa” has been used since California was a Spanish and later Mexican possession.

The soils of the area are predominately the San Joaquin series (90%).  These soils are the official state soil of California and consist of brown to red loams and clays with clays and hardpan limiting the depth that root systems can reach.  The temperature of the region is warmer than the majority of the Lodi area appellations and it is cutoff from the cooler, ocean breezes from the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta.  In the winter this leads to fog as standing water meets cold air running off the Sierra Nevada mountains to the east.  The dense soil and low rainfall force the vines to grow smaller and focus all of their energy in producing their fruit, giving it a robust deep flavor. 

Alta Mesa AVA is unusual in that there are no bonded wineries operating within its boundaries.  Instead the appellation is most known for its fruit. The most common grape varieties are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Borden Ranch - Wine Region of the Day

/
Borden Ranch

Borden Ranch received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Sitting on 70,000 acres, Borden Ranch is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. The soils in Borden Ranch is alluvial with cobbles, clay pan, and clay loam. The terrain of Borden Ranch varies from around 50 to 500 feet above sea level, and the region is spot by the Dry Creek River. The climate features long sunny days with cooling breezes off the river. Borden Ranch, like much of Lodi, is populated by vineyards producing grapes to be sold outside the region. The varietals that are produced here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

River Junction - Wine Region of the Day

/
River Junction

River Junction received its designation as an AVA in 2001. Situated on 9,000 acres, the region is a sub-appellation within the larger Lodi AVA. The region is located west of the city of Modesto, where the San Joaquin River and the Stanislaus River converge. The region is known for its distinctive fine sandy loam soil that is very well draining and forces the grapes to develop deep root systems to seek out their water. The location of the region at the junction of two rivers is ideal for growing cool climate grapes as the rivers produce a marine climate throughout the region. The vast majority of the grapes produced in River Junction are Chardonnay.

Mokelumne River - Wine Region of the Day

/

Mokelumne River received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 87,500 acres, the region is a sub-appellation of the larger Lodi AVA. The AVA is named after the Mokelumne River, which drains out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and passed through the region. The soil in the region consists of alluvial fan deposits of sand and loam. The soil in the region is known for its retention of water, allowing for the fruit to be dry farmed, concentrating the flavors of the grapes. The rivers passing through the region put off cooling breezes through the region balancing out the warm daily sun, giving the region a Mediterranean climate. The warm days and cool nights give this region a longer growing season allowing for the fruit to develop its tannin structure and acidity.

Lodi - Wine Region of the Day

/
Lodi

Lodi received its designation as an AVA in 1986. Situated on 551,000 acres, Lodi contains sub-appellations Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Clements Hills, Cosumnes River, Jahant, Mokelumne River, and Sloughhouse. Lodi has a Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights. While the soil varies within the regions of Lodi, it mostly consists of a deep loam that is occasionally covered with large rocks and river stones. Best known for producing Zinfandel, Lodi's Old Vine Zinfandels have received world acclaim. Lodi also produces Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Sloughhouse - Wine Region of the Day

/
Sloughhouse AVA

Sloughhouse received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Sitting on 78,800 acres, Sloughhouse is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento County. The construction of levees in the Sacramento Delta led to a lowering of the water table and drying out the shallower tributaries of the Cosumnes and Deer Rivers. The rivers left behind alluvial deposits and river stones, which make up the soil and terrain of Sloughhouse. This shallow soil does not let the roots of the vines penetrate too deeply, and, as a result, the vines struggle for access to water and produce a robust fruit that is not watered down. The climate is hot with the vines receiving tremendous amounts of direct sunlight. With an elevation above 500 feet above sea level, Sloughhouse does not receive the same cooling morning fog prevalent through much of Lodi. The combination of the terrain and the climate produce deep flavors within the fruit and give the region its characteristic spicy flavors. The region is best known for its Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah production.

Clements Hills - Wine Region of the Day

/

Clements Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 85,400 acres, Clements Hills is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA in the southeast portion located in San Joaquin County.  It is nearly 40 miles from Sacramento and more than 10 from the city of Lodi.  The viticultural area is located in the northeastern portion of San Joaquin county south of the Borden Ranch appellation.  Nestled between the Calavaras River to the south, Liberty Road to the north, the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County and Elliott and Jack Tone Roads to the west, the region is a transition from the valleys to the west and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

It is centered around the town of Clements which was settled in 1857 by Thomas Clements.  Clements later donated 25 acres to establish the town as a railroad stop on the San Joaquin and Sierra Nevada Railroad which was ideal for the agricultural community that was growing.  The name Clements Hills has been in use since that time.

The soils in the appellation are varied but are alike in that they have low fertility and are a mixture of clays and loams.  The presence of the clays are sufficient to hold moisture in the soil. The region features an alluvial topsoil with varying lower levels comprised of granite and volcanic soils. 

The climate is hot and muggy but gets some relief from coastal breezes that make their way through the hills. The climate of the area is generally warmer and wetter than the average in the Lodi region.  The increase in elevation to the east creates more precipitation and air drainage that moves away morning fogs and frost that would be caused by cool Pacific air coming up the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta.  The lack of fog also leads to more hours of sunshine to help the grapes achieve their maximum flavor.

This climate makes the region perfect for growing Italian and Spanish grape varieties such as Albarino, Grenache, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Grenache.

March 12th - This Date in Wine History

/
  • Evolutionary Biologist, Francisco J. Ayala was born in 1934. He owns a vineyard in Lodi.
  • Luxembourg's Marque Nationale, the appellation for the nation was instituted in 1935. 
  • California's Pacheco Pass AVA was designated in 1984.

Consumes River - Wine Region of the Day

/

Unlike most of the Lodi area American Viticuttural Areas which mainly grow red wine grapes, the Cosumnes River appellation produces a significant amount of white wine.  Located between Sacramento and Lodi, California the Cosumnes River appellation is located in the low river plains among wetlands, levees, sloughs and creeks.

The name of the area as well as the river comes from the native Miwok peoples words for the type of people who settled in the area.  Cosumnes refers to the residents being the “Salmon People”.  Salmon still run in the river up to Rancho Murieta as the river draining west of the Sierras that has no major dam.  Because of this, the area is subject to occassional flooding or may even dry up at times.  The topography of the region slopes downward from the highest points in the eastern portion of the appellation to the southwest corner.  The river runs downstream through the AVA until in converges with the Mokelumne River and then into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta leading to the Pacific.

 This topography allows cool moist air to travel up the river delta cooling the river valley and creating maritime and inland fog in the region which cools the environment but is dissapated by the moderate winds blowing down from the Sierra Nevadas.  The soils are young and alluvial near the many water sources with older San Joaquin series deep, red, gravelly loamy clays covering fanning over the region.

Like many of the new Lodi  AVAs there is only one winery in the Cosumnes River Viticultural Area.  The property has been a working ranch for five generations and began planting grapes on the property in 1993. Cold weather vines do well here, and the region is known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

/

2014 Calstar Za Za Zinfandel

$18

Medium ruby purple in color.  Bright and lively on the nose with aromas of strawberry jam, sweet oak spice, vanilla and blackberry pie.  Though rich in fruit and spice, the palette is pleasantly light with a juicy cranberry-like acidity.  Jammy berries, maple, cedarbox and black plum dominate while subtle flavors of bay leaf, dried oregano and mushroom provide complexity.  Soft, chewy tannins provide structure and promise several years of aging in bottle, allowing the ample berry fruitiness to evolve and reveal more secondary savory notes.

Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis first met Bill Stokes, owner of Stokes Vineyard, over ten years ago while searching for old vine Zinfandel in the up-and-coming area of Lodi in San Joaquin County.  The fruit from Stokes Vineyard never disappoints with richness and intensity that comes from old vines with subtle spice notes that all speak to the vineyard management and site.

Borden Ranch - Wine Region of the Day

/

Borden Ranch received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Sitting on 70,000 acres, Borden Ranch is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. The soils in Borden Ranch is alluvial with cobbles, clay pan, and clay loam. The terrain of Borden Ranch varies from around 50 to 500 feet above sea level, and the region is spot by the Dry Creek River. The climate features long sunny days with cooling breezes off the river. Borden Ranch, like much of Lodi, is populated by vineyards producing grapes to be sold outside the region. The varietals that are produced here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

Alta Mesa - Wine Region of the Day

/

Alta Mesa by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Alta Mesa received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Located on 55,400 acres, Alta Mesa is a sub-appellation of the Lodi AVA and is located in Sacramento. The soil in Alta Mesa consists of clay, and gravel. The climate of Alta Mesa is warm with very little rainfall annually. The dense soil and low rainfall force the vines to grow smaller and focus all of their energy in producing their fruit, giving it a robust deep flavor. The most common grape varieties are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Jahant - Wine Region of the Day

/

Jahant

Photo of the Jahant Region by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

Jahant received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Sitting on 28,000 acres, Jahant is a sub-appellation to the Lodi AVA. Jahant features it's own unique soil named the Rocklin-Jahant loam soil. Rocklin-Jahant soil is known for its retention of water, meaning that the grapes in this region can be dry farmed. Dry farming vines leads to less water making it into the grape itself, concentrating the fruit and leading to a deep, complex flavor. Jahant is located in close proximity to the Sacramento Delta and receives the benefits of the cooling maritime winds flowing off the Delta. These winds cool the hot daytime sun and allow for a longer growing season than much of the rest of Lodi. The region is known for its production of Tempranillo and Sauvignon Blanc.