LODI – Lodi’s window into its world of wine, the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, is remaining open until 6 p.m. on weekdays starting Monday, Sept. 11, giving visitors an extra hour to taste the awesome that is Lodi.

Soon, those getting off work at 5 p.m. and others coming into town a little bit later in the day can enjoy the expansive tasting bar featuring a wide selection of regional wines and so much more for an extra hour during the week.

Also new at the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center is the Reserve Wines tasting menu, which debuted Aug.21.  And, wine flights will appear on menu in the coming weeks that will showcase Lodi’s various sub-AVAs, highlight specific varieties, or offer other themed and unique experiences for guests, both locals and out-of-towners.

What a great place to start

At the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, guests can find everything they need to begin a memorable journey through Lodi Wine Country, Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Region of the Year in 2015.

Maps displaying more than 70 winery tasting rooms and wine industry publications are available, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff is there to answer any questions.

Merchandise including t-shirts, hats and wine accessories, and a selection of some 180 different bottles are all available in the center’s retail shop. Guests can get a sense for the great wines of Lodi at the oversized tasting bar, where a selection of regional wines are available from a menu that changes weekly. Take a stroll through the demonstration vineyard or unwind and relax at the comfortable indoor and outdoor patio seating areas.

The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center is managed through the Lodi Winegrape Commission, which represents approximately 750 winegrowers who collectively farm more than 110,000 acres and more than 125 varieties of winegrapes. Its mission is to serve the common interests of all California Crush District 11 winegrape producers, enhancing the profitability and visibility of winegrape production through marketing and promoting of Lodi winegrapes.

The Lodi wine region, located 25 miles north of Manteca, benefits from diverse soils and a classic Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool evenings.  A major winegrowing region since the 1850s, Lodi cultivates more than 125 distinct winegrape varieties, from its classic old vine Zinfandel to grapes native to Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and more.  

The region includes 90 wineries, and seven distinct sub-AVAs.  Lodi leads the state in sustainable farming with its comprehensive Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing, which was the first third party-certified sustainable winegrowing program.  In 2015, Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded Lodi the prestigious Wine Star Award for “Wine Region of the Year.”

For more information about the Lodi wine region, visit lodiwine.com and lodigrowers.com.