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. It was established as a designated wine growing appellation on February 13, 1986 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Lodi District Vintners Association to establish a viticultural area named "Lodi."^[5] The viticultural area originally was 458,000 acres (716 sq mi) of which 39,000 acres (16,000 ha) were cultivated with wine grapes.^[1] In 2002, the area was expanded by 27,500 acres (43.0 sq mi), with 5,240 acres (2,120 ha) cultivated, in the western area and in the southern portion by 66,000 acres (27,000 ha), 5,600 acres (2,300 ha) cultivation, of the original AVA boundaries in 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.^[6]
On July 16, 2006, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury established seven new viticultural areas within the boundary of 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 to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.^[7]

Lodi

Wine region
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1986[1] 2002 Expansion[2]
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[3]
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[4]
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."^[8] The farms run by multi-generational families were producing 20% of the wine in California in 2024.^[9]

Grapes and wines

Although the appellation is probably best known for its old vine Zinfandel, Lodi also produces a large quantity of Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon blanc.^[4]

• 
  Cabernet Sauvignon
• 
  Old Vine Zinfandel