Welcome to Lodi! Bokisch Vineyards

Welcome to Lodi California! An AVA (American Viticultural Area) that produces more wine by volume than all of the other AVAs in California. Yup. An area that is often, either, looked down upon when compared to Napa or Paso Robles, and/or misunderstood. What do you think when you see Lodi on the bottle?Before my first visit it was my go to area for wines made from Old Vine Zinfandel, and it still is. Yet now it is also a place where I can seek out exceptional wines made from the best grape varieties of the Iberian Peninsula; Tempranillo and Touriga National being the top two. Yes, grapes from Spain and Portugal have been at home here for more than 30, some more than 40, years!The first stop on my list is Bokisch Vineyards. About a twelve or so minute drive east of Lodi, Bokisch sits where the hills of the Sierra Nevada begin. They specialize in several Spanish varieties. For me that means Tempranillo. Their style of Tempranillo is a little bit of Rioja and Toro but of course not either one. It is recognizable but different in a good way. I recommend the same amount of aging in the bottle as any of the best from Rioja and Toro, a minimum of 7 years from the bottle date. I can’t wait to drink my Bokisch Tempranillo with some of my friends from Spain; see if they can tell the difference. On to my next Lodi Winery!