September 2019 Vol. III, No. 3 An Exclusive Newsletter for The Vintners Club Members Lodi Vintners Notes

What’s Inside From the Winemaker You Should Have Been There! Member Spotlight Featured Recipe from Our Staff The Rippey Reserve Room The Vintners Club Exclusives Upcoming Events Current Wines

From the Winemaker

Wow, August provided us with some record setting hot days! Overall, this year has been a more even and therefore less challenging growing season. It seems like a more traditional start to the harvest with our first arriving mid-August. After last harvest, everyone is hoping that this continues and we have a pleasant, smooth, even ripening. Not all varietals are picked at the same time. Grapes for sparkling wines are the first to be picked, usually in early August, marking the start of "crush." Next, most of the white grapes make their way from the vineyard to the crush pad. Harvest continues through late October – sometimes early November – for red varietals, as they take a bit longer to reach full maturation. Harvesting of grapes begins later than most other varietals and typically lasts the longest. This year the vines at Lodi Vintners are heavy with fruit that is naturally flavorful. The juice from these grapes holds the promise of memorable, award winning wines. Why wait 2 years when you can stop by The Tasting Room to sample great wines from our portfolio including our second bottling of The Crossing. 2019 Zinfandel grapes on the grounds of Lodi Vintners Cheers! Tyson Rippey You Should Have Been There! Where has the time gone! On June 1st we had our The Vintners Club Release Party. Another successful gathering of you, our loyal club members. June 22nd and 23rd was a fabulous Wine and Junk Food Pairing weekend featuring painings from The Tasting Room staff. July 27th celebrated our 5th Anniversary of The Tasting Room and the release of the new bottling of The Crossing, this shipment’s featured wine. Watch for future events posted to Facebook, our webiste, and our Constant Contact emails.

Member Spotlight:

Danielle and Walt O’Grodnick have been members of The Vintners Club since the opening of The Tasting Room. They are frequent visitors to The Tasting Room, bringing family and friends to enjoy the great wines in the Rippey family of wines. Walt can be found helping hang holiday decorations at The Tasting and both volunteer for special events. They were selected for the Member Spotlight for their commitment to The Tasting Room and The Vintners Club.

Featured Wines

NV Napa Valley RFV The Crossing 2015 Lodi Concrete Reserve 2018 Napa RFV Zinfandel Blend: 76.7% Cabernet Sauvignon Blend: 95% Zinfandel, Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc 23.3% 5% Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation: Napa Valley Brix: 24.6 Appellation: Lodi Harvest: September 14 Alcohol: 15.1 Harvest: Sep 21 Brix: 23.6 pH: 3.65 Brix: 26.5 Alcohol: 14.2% Lot: 100 cases Alcohol: 15.5% pH: 3.51 Notes: Lush mixed berry flavors pH: 3.62 Lot: 161 cases indicative of the two varietals Lot: 180 cases Notes: Silver Award at the with a round, fruit driven middle Notes: The grapes for this 2019 State Fair followed by dry tannins on the full-bodied zinfandel are Wine Competition. finish that bring the wine into from 85-year-old head- Fruit handpicked and balance. An approachable wine trained zinfandel vines that delivered to our winery, with a surprising complexity. yield a luscious dark berry pressed and fermented in flavor. Aged for 20 months stainless steel. in French Oak. Retail Price: $30 Wine Club: $24 Retail Price: $45 Wine Club: $36 Retail Price: $24 Wine Club: $19.20 Rack of Lamb with Rippey Family Vineyards The Crossing Lamb and The Crossing is a natural food pairing that makes a perfect September meal. Prep: 10 min Cook: 45 min Total Time: 55 minutes Yield: 2 servings Recipe originally from Santa Barbara Winery Ingredients • 2 Tbsp white cornmeal • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, coarse • freshly ground black paper, to taste • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard • 1 rack of lamb for 2 (8-9 chops) Instructions • Preheat oven to 400° • Combine first five ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. • Prepare rack: French bones (or ask your butcher to do it), trim excess fat but leave enough for flavor. Coat fatty side and sides of rack with Dijon mustard. Coat mustard with cornmeal mixture. • Place racks on a baking sheet and bake for 25-45 minutes depending on the size and desired doneness. Slice and serve immediately. Serve with The Crossing and a side dish of roasted new potatoes with lemon and bay leaves and a salad of fresh spinach and mushrooms.

The Rippey Reserve Room The Rippey Reserve Room is available for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, or just relaxing with a glass of wine. This room has a large, spacious table that comfortably sits 10 people, ideal for food and wine pairings. Consider booking a Private Tasting in our Rippey Reserve Room as a special treat for yourself and a few friends. Call us at 209- 368-2019 to make a reservation.

The Vintners Club Exclusives A new The Vintners Club membership benefit begins this month. After being members for 1 year, members receive an annual free complimentary Sensory Aspects of Tasting for up to ten people in the Rippey Reserve Room. That is an over $400 value each year! Available Sunday through Friday at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. For details and to make a reservation, call us at 209-368-2019.

Upcoming Events Check the Lodi Vintners Website and Facebook Page for Details

Current Wine Releases REIGN

Lodi Vintners is the oldest bonded winery in the Lodi AVA.

Wine Your Rippey Family Vineyards Appellation Awards Retail Club Order 2014 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley Silver1 $35.00 $28.00 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi Silver1 $25.00 $20.00 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $65.00 $52.00 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi $30.00 $24.00 2018 Clarksburg $18.00 $14.40 2017 Petite Sirah Lodi $25.00 $20.00 2017 Petite Sirah Napa Valley $30.00 $24.00 2017 / Blend Lodi Silver2 $20.00 $16.00 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Lodi $20.00 $16.00 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Silver3 $24.00 $19.20 NV The Crossing Napa Valley $30.00 $24.00 2017 Zinfandel Lodi $20.00 $16.00

SIP 2017 Moscato California $15.00 $12.00 2016 Rosé California $15.00 $12.00

Reign Wine Company 2017 Rosé of Napa Valley $24.00 $19.20

Concrete Wine Company 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $75.00 $60.00 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi $20.00 $16.00 2015 Reserve Zinfandel Lodi $45.00 $36.00 2015 V2.0 Zinfandel Lodi $20.00 $16.00

Awards were given at the following Wine Competitions: 12018 San Francisco Chronicle, 22018 California State Fair, and 32019 California State Fair

WWW.LODIVINTNERS.COM ❖ 209-368-2019

$8 for a Regular Tasting Flight of 5 wines and $15 for a Reserve Tasting Flight of 5 wines. Complimentary for The Vintners Club members and up to two (2) guests.