There’s something magical permeating through the crisp autumn air in Northern California that magnetizes us toward “wine country”.
Of course, when we think of NorCal and wine, Napa Valley is the first destination to come to mind.
But did you know Napa is like a pea in a pod compared to a lesser-known region just 2 hours east of San Francisco?
That’s right, as much as Napa is hyped as a premiere wine getaway, somehow, one of their NorCal neighbors has slipped through the cracks for far too long.
The delightful small town of Lodi spearheads the Golden State’s largest wine region and is perfect for a fall escape.
Easily walkable, home to dozens of wineries, and typically considered more affordable than the glitz and glamour of Napa, it’s time to shine a light on Lodi as your next place to relax and unwine’d.
Take A Lodi Of This: The World’s Zinfandel Capital!
Excuse me while I nerd out a sec – Lodi brings in over $350 million in wine revenue and nearly half of California’s premium grapes are sourced from this hidden gem.
So, how does Lodi remain relatively unknown?
Well, this can be attributed to a variety of reasons, but Napa has done a masterful job of creating a name for itself largely through tourism experiences and celebrity hype.
As the go-to for “winos”, Napa has held a spotless track record offering world-class products, resorts, and winery experiences to visitors year-round.
Most notably, Napa is a bit close to major cities in the Bay and California’s capital, Sacramento.
While Lodi is not hard to reach by any means, Napa is inarguably more convenient and beats Lodi to the punch, becoming synonymous with ‘California and wine.
That being said, don’t sleep on Lodi – it’s not a snooze fest here! Truth be told, once you visit, Napa may remain in your rearview mirror forever.
This charming small town will capture your heart with more intimate wining and dining, plentiful picturesque scenery bounded by scenic lakes and rivers, and postcard boulevards lined with boutique shops and art galleries.
Wineries Galore In NorCal’s Best Kept Secret
At least 5 dozen wineries call Lodi home. That’s more than enough to keep busy, even for your crazy aunt (it’s okay; we all have one!).
When you visit Lodi, the first thing you should do before anything else is download the Lodi Wine Trail Map to scope out what you’re into, but being the ‘Zinfandel Capital’, that might be your answer.
Think of it this way: I like to take double-decker bus tours in cities I’ve never been to.
It’s not so much for the bus ride itself as to get a feel for the area and pin some spots that pique my interest.
Downloading the map will save you time knowing where all the best wineries are located. In fairness, some stand out more than others, especially those that have stood the test time of time.
I mean, nothing ages like fine wine, right?
Whatever you do, don’t skip out on Acquiesce Vineyards, set on 18 acres of pure bliss capped with a rustic 100-year-old barn to set the mood for a picture-perfect moment in your reel of travel memories.
This winery specializes in a variety of whites, but if you’d like a sip of Spain, then Bokisch Vineyards may be more up your alley.
With so many to choose from, hopping around may be your best bet to find your niche. Speaking of hops, Lodi’s beer scene is booming, too, with popular breweries such as Idol Beer Works and The Dancing Fox, a winery-brewery hybrid (the best of both worlds if you ask me!).
Lodi’s Fall Splendor
Can’t we all agree wineries are a lot more fun if you don’t spit out your adult grape juice? No need to go full ‘Hawk Tua’ pretending you’re a wine connoisseur.
That being said, if you don’t have a case of the “wine woozies”, Lodi is a great place to explore the outdoors and immerse yourself in seasonal splendor.
One such way is the town’s beloved Lodi Street Faire, a fun fall event held bi-annually in October where 14 blocks of downtown streets are flooded with vendors.
Lodi is also an underrated place for ‘leaf peeping’ with astounding scenery along Lodi Lake and the flowing Mokelumne River, where you can book a tour exploring both bodies of water through October.
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