Lodi AVA

Lodi is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Central Valley of California, at the northern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, within portions of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, east of San Francisco Bay. The wine appellation was established on February 13, 1986, as the nation's 84th, the state's 48th, Sacramento County's second and San Joaquin County's initial AVA by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Lodi District Vintners Association proposing a viticultural area named "Lodi."^[6] At the outset, the viticultural area encompassed 458,000 acres (716 sq mi) and culivated 39,000 acres (16,000 ha) of wine grapes.^[1] In 2002, the area was expanded totaling 93,500 acres (146 sq mi) with 10,840 acres (4,390 ha) under vine. In the western portion by 27,500 acres (43 sq mi) with 5,240 acres (2,120 ha) of vineyards and in the southern section by 66,000 acres (103 sq mi) with 5,600 acres (2,300 ha) added to the original boundaries within San Joaquin County.^[2] The appellation lies in southern Sacramento County and northern San Joaquin County. Its western border is outlined by Interstate Highway 5 and the eastern border is adjacent to El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties.^[7]
On July 17, 2006, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury established seven new viticultural appellations within the boundaries of the Lodi viticultural area. The seven new AVAs are Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Clements Hills, Cosumnes River, Jahant, Mokelumne River and Sloughhouse. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.^[8] The plant hardiness zones are 9a and 9b.^[9]

Lodi

Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1986[1] 2002 Expansion[2]
Years of wine industry	139[3]
Country	United States
Part of	California, Central Valley, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County
Sub-regions	Alta Mesa AVA, Borden Ranch AVA, Clements Hills AVA, Cosumnes River AVA, Jahant AVA, Mokelumne River AVA, Sloughhouse AVA
Growing season	279 days[4]
Climate region	Region IV[1]
Heat units	3570 GDD units[1]
Precipitation (annual average)	18.26 to 24.03 in (463.80–610.36 mm)[1]
Soil conditions	Hanford, Delhi, or Dinuba alluvial fans; or San Joaquin, Madera, Romona, or Redding in the terraces[1]
Total area	458,000 acres (716 sq mi)[1] 551,500 acres (862 sq mi)[2]
Size of planted vineyards	39,000 acres (16,000 ha)[1] 49,840 acres (20,170 ha)[2]
Grapes produced	Albarino, Alicante Bouschet, Alvarelhao, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Charbono, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Cinsault, Colombard, Dolcetto, Dornfelder, Flame Tokay, Gamay noir, Graciano, Grenache, Kerner, Lemberger, Malbec, Malvasia, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Pinotage, Riesling, Roussanne, Rubired, Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Souzao, Symphony, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, Trousseau gris, Valdiguie, Verdelho, Viognier, Zinfandel[5]
No. of wineries	64

History

The Lodi region has been home to grape growing since at least the 1850s when wild grapes would grow down from trees along the edge of rivers. This led some trappers to call the Calaveras River, which runs through the southern portion of the area, "Wine Creek."^[10] Historically, the region was originally named "Mokelumne" (/moʊˈkɛl.əm.ni/ moh-KEH-luhm-nee)^[11] by the Miwok Indians which is translated as "the place of the fish net." Known earlier as the Rio Mokellemos, the present spelling of Mokelumne was set in 1848 by John C. Fremont. The "Mokelumne" settlement was renamed "Lodi" in 1874.^[12][13] As of 2024, Lodi area farms run by multi-generational families were producing 20% of the California wine.^[14]

Viticulture

Although Lodi is historically known for its Flame Tokay and old vine Zinfandel,^[15] Lodi also produces large quantities of Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc and specifically Albariño.^[5][16]

• 
  Cabernet Sauvignon
• 
  Old Vine Zinfandel