Lodi Named World Wine Region of the Year

Written by BEA KARNES (Patch Staff)

Ever been to Lodi? It’s in California’s Central Valley, south of Sacramento and about 65 miles east of Napa.

Until now it was a town you blew past on highway 99. Now, it may be worth a weekend getaway. Lodi has just been named 2015 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Spectator. The prestigious honor will be officially awarded at the Wine Star Awards Dinner in New York City in January.

Honestly, most of California would consider Lodi a backwater place--so how did it get named the best wine region in the world? As recently as 1990 it had just eight wineries. Just 25 years later it has 85 wineries growing more than 100 grape varieties. Wine Spectator hailed the region’s “risk-taking innovators.”

In addition to making great tasting wines, Lodi was noted for its sustainability, “Lodi further set itself apart from other regions with the establishment of the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing in 2005,” writes Wine Spectator. “These encourage sustainable farming, a lighter hand with pest management and better air quality and water management, among other benefits.”

While Lodi was chosen for innovations over the past few decades, its agricultural roots run deep. Stuart Spencer, winemaker and owner of St. Amant Winery, told Wine Spectator, “This is a place where the police cars are decorated with grape clusters and the high schools are named after grapes.”

If you enjoy wine festivals, Lodi holds an annual ZinFest Wine Festival each May. This year’s festival included winery tours, wine tasting, cooking classes, regional cuisine, live music and more. In 2016, the festival will be held May 13-15.

--Image via Shutterstock