Lodi

Lodi sits in the northern San Joaquin Valley, just east of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and about 35 miles south of Sacramento. Cool evening breezes off the Delta and deep sandy soils have made it one of California's biggest winegrape regions for well over a century. For a long time most of those grapes left town in trucks. Over the past few decades Lodi has become a destination of its own, with dozens of tasting rooms, an official visitor center and a reputation for old-vine Zinfandel.

For Palo Alto, Lodi has two advantages over Napa and Sonoma. It is closer to the freeway with no bridge to cross and it is far less crowded. This guide covers the drive, the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, how to plan your tastings, downtown Lodi and the sandhill cranes that winter in the Delta nearby. For wineries even closer to home, see our Livermore Valley guide. For an overview of tasting options, see wine tasting near Palo Alto.

Getting there and drive time

From Palo Alto, take Highway 237 east to Interstate 880 or Interstate 680, then Interstate 680 north to Interstate 580 east over the Altamont Pass. Continue on Interstate 205 to Interstate 5 north. Leave I-5 at Turner Road or State Route 12 and head east into Lodi. The trip is about 90 to 95 miles and takes 1.75 to 2 hours in light traffic.

This route crosses no toll bridges, which is one reason Lodi is cheaper than wine country north of the bay. The catch is the Altamont Pass. Interstate 580 is a major commuter corridor and it backs up westbound on weekday mornings and eastbound on weekday afternoons. Friday afternoons heading east are the worst. On a weekend, leaving Palo Alto by 9 a.m. usually means an easy drive.

There is no practical transit from Palo Alto for a day of tasting. Rideshare cars can be scarce among the vineyards, so plan for a sober driver. If you need a car, you can compare rental cars from SJC or SFO.

The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center

Lodi's winegrowers opened the visitor center in 2000 on Turner Road, west of downtown in the Mokelumne River appellation. It is the best first stop in town, especially if you do not yet know which wineries to visit. According to the Lodi wine commission's visitor page:

• Address: 2545 W. Turner Road, Lodi.
• Hours: daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tasting: staff lead guided tastings from hundreds of wines made from Lodi-grown grapes, with a list that rotates weekly.
• Vineyard: a demonstration vineyard on site shows how the vines are grown and trained.

The Visit Lodi listing gives the tasting price as $12 per person for a seated flight of four wines, waived with the purchase of two bottles. Prices can change, so call 209-365-0621 to confirm. Staff can suggest wineries that suit your taste and tell you which ones need an appointment.

Planning your winery visits

The Lodi wine commission's directory lists about 50 wineries and tasting rooms. Many are open daily for walk-ins, but some open only on certain days or by appointment. A few tips:

1. Check each winery's days. Several small producers open only on weekends or by appointment midweek.
2. Cluster your stops. Wineries group along Turner Road and Highway 12 west of town, around Woodbridge and east of town toward the foothills. Pick one area.
3. Expect lower fees. Tasting fees here are generally well below Napa's and are often waived with a purchase.
4. Ask about old vines. Lodi has some of the oldest Zinfandel vineyards in California. Many tasting rooms pour single-vineyard old-vine bottlings.
5. Look for Lodi Rules. This is a local sustainable winegrowing certification and you will see the logo on many labels.

One example: Michael David Winery

Michael David Winery, on Highway 12 west of town, is one of Lodi's best known producers and a good stop if you want food too. Its website lists wine tasting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a cafe from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., a bistro from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a store and bakery from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 4580 West Highway 12. Check the site the day you go, since hours can change by season.

Downtown Lodi

Downtown Lodi is a compact grid of older brick buildings around School Street, with tasting rooms, restaurants, coffee shops and antique stores within a few blocks. The Lodi Arch, a Mission Revival arch built in the early 1900s, marks the entrance to downtown on Pine Street near the train station. Parking is easy compared with any Bay Area wine town. A downtown tasting room crawl on foot is a good way to finish the day, especially if the designated driver wants a walk.

The town's best known hotel, the former Wine and Roses, has been renovated and rebranded as Appellation Lodi. If you want to stay over, you can compare hotels in Lodi. Sacramento is about 40 minutes north and has many more rooms.

Sandhill cranes at Woodbridge

Each fall, thousands of sandhill cranes fly south to winter in the Delta wetlands west of Lodi. Watching them glide in to roost at dusk, calling as they come, is one of the great wildlife sights in Northern California and a perfect end to a day of tasting.

The best known viewing spot is the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, also called the Isenberg Sandhill Crane Reserve, at 7730 W. Woodbridge Road. According to the CDFW reserve page:

• The crane wintering season starts in late September.
• The South Site is open to the public at all times. Park in the paved turnout and walk in through the pedestrian gate.
• The North Site is open only to docent-led tour groups, which CDFW runs during crane season by reservation.
• Facilities are minimal. The nearest restrooms and refreshments are at Flag City, near Interstate 5 and Highway 12.

Arrive about an hour before sunset and bring binoculars and a warm layer. Our birdwatching guide covers the Baylands and other spots closer to Palo Alto.

When to go

Tule fog is a real hazard on Central Valley highways on winter mornings. Slow down, use low beams and leave plenty of space. Our weather guide compares the valley with Palo Alto's climate.

A sample fall day

1. 9 a.m. Leave Palo Alto and cross the Altamont Pass.
2. 11 a.m. Start at the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center for a flight and some advice.
3. 12:30 p.m. Lunch at a winery cafe or downtown.
4. 2 p.m. One or two winery tastings in a single cluster.
5. 4:30 p.m. Drive 15 minutes west to Woodbridge for the cranes at dusk.
6. 6 p.m. Head home with a sober driver. Westbound traffic over the Altamont is usually lighter in the evening.

Prefer a guided tasting day? You can browse wine tours and tastings, though most tours from the Bay Area head to Napa and Sonoma.

Frequently asked questions