Zinfest at Lodi Lake on May 19th!

The ZinFest Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 from 12 noon-5:00 pm at Lodi Lake Park.

Sip, swirl and savor from a selection of 250 handcrafted wines from 50 Lodi wineries. Passionate winemakers and winery representatives welcome guests, offering practical knowledge and sharing their delicious wines. Enjoy local provisions, learn some new tips at the ZinFest Wine and Cooking Schools, or relax along the beautiful Mokelumne River to an eclectic mix of live music. Guests can peruse merchandise from regional vendors and take home a commemorative bottle of custom blended Old Vine Zinfandel from the ZinFest Wine Shoppe. There is no better way to celebrate the fantastic wines of Lodi Wine Country! Tickets include a ZinFest wine glass, wine tasting, participation in seminars and entertainment. Festivities are held from 12 noon – 5 pm.

Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the gate and are available for purchase after March 12th. You can click here to purchase tickets.

Must be 21 years of age to attend. As a friendly reminder, even great wines should be enjoyed in moderation. Designated drivers are strongly encouraged. Designated driver tickets are available for $10 each.

ZinFest takes place at Lodi Lake Park, located at 1101-1301 W. Turner Road in Lodi, California. Click here for directions and parking information.

The Wine Savor the bounty of the Lodi Appellation’s array of varietals- from Albarino to Zinfandel. With 250 Lodi wines to taste from, wine novices and aficionados are sure to find a new favorite!

The Food Indulge in regional cuisine from the best of San Joaquin County’s gourmet food purveyors. A selection of items will be available for purchase from each vendor, reasonably priced under $10.

Entertainment Lounge along the Mokelumne River or get up and groove to an assorted mix of live entertainment. Enjoy live bands, strolling entertainers and the ZinFest Piano Bar – where you can purchase a glass of wine, request songs and sing along with familiar tunes!
Merchants

Browse from a collection of artisan merchants as they display one-of-a-kind merchandise. Take a piece of wine country home with you, whether it’s local olive oil or reclaimed wine barrel furniture.

ZinFest Cooking School From regional celebrity chefs to local, award winning culinary experts, ZinFest takes great pride in creating fun and informative cooking classes for event guests. One winery is featured in each class, partnering winemaker with chef, for an engaging tasting and educational experience. Discover a new favorite dish and become the star of your next dinner party. The ZinFest Cooking School is open to all guests, with new demonstrations taking place each hour.

ZinFest Wine School Trendsetters and legends unite in the ZinFest Wine School. Listen as local experts and guest speakers engage in topics from “Blending your own Zinfandel,” to what cheese pairs perfectly with Lodi wines, and much more… Sip, savor and swirl your way through the afternoon. The ZinFest Wine School is open to all guests with new demonstrations taking place each hour. 

For more information on the event, including events on Friday, May 18th and Sunday, May 20th, click here!

Lodi's Wine and Chocolate Weekend is February 11th and 12th

Here's a press release from my friends in Lodi. I hope you'll be able to join us for the upcoming Wine and Chocolate weekend. There are lots of events planned at the participating wineries, and even food available besides chocolate! Cheers!! 

-cg

LODI, Calif.– Lodi’s annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend – held each Valentine’s Weekend – has quickly become one of Northern California’s “must do” events for many wine and chocolate lovers. The fifteenth annual celebration of tasty decadence is scheduled for Saturday, February 11th and Sunday, February 12th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Event attendees will have the opportunity to visit more than 45 participating wineries and take part in hosted activities ranging from wine and chocolate pairings, barrel tastings, live music and cellar tours. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win over 100 prizes including the “Golden Ticket” which will be hidden in a commemorative chocolate tin.

“Lodi’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend is a fabulous event for anyone who loves wine, chocolate, someone special or any and all of the above,” said Ryan Sherman, winemaker and partner at Fields Family Wines – one of the participating wineries. He added, “Best of all you get to experience the passion of LoCA and what makes the Lodi wine region so memorable, fun and approachable.”

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.lodiwineandchocolate.com or by calling the Lodi Wine and Visitors Center at 209.365.0621. Advance tickets cost $45 per person and $55 per person during the event. Tickets include a commemorative wine glass, a chocolate tin, wine tasting and admission to all participating wineries. Tickets are valid for both Saturday and Sunday and there is no charge for designated drivers.

LoCA – short for Lodi, California – is one of the state’s most historic wine regions and home to more than 100,000 acres of winegrapes farmed by more than 750 growers as well as more than 80 wine tasting rooms. With more than 60 varieties currently being grown, Lodi offers a diverse portfolio of wines. While long known as a superior producer of Zinfandel, the area has also been producing award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. Newer varieties to the area include Albariño, Tempranillo, Viognier and Syrah.

For more information about the Lodi wine region, visit: www.lodiwine.com.

You can find LoCA on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.

Pink October! Lodi Pink October Race for Awareness is this Saturday, October 15th

Online registration is closed now, but I want to tell you about the Pink October Race for Awareness this Saturday in Lodi!!

The race begins at 8:00 AM, so get there at 7:00am to complete your registration! I know I have some Stockton and Lodi readers, too, so let's get moving, ladies!!

Meet me at the Geweke Toyota/Scion Dealership: 1020 S. Beckman Rd Lodi, CA

The registration is $30 on race day, or you can do a team registration for $100 for up to 8 people.

All proceeds from Pink October events benefit the Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation. The Foundation helps local women who are struggling financially due to breast cancer by helping to pay their bills.

 

Parking on race day is available at Geweke Toyota Scion and nearby areas. The race route is flat and goes through East Lodi. The run is competitive, walk non-competitive. Awards will be given out at the pancake breakfast after the race. Please visit www.pink-october.org for more information. 

 

 

The Lodi Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi and F & M Bank help to make this event for Pink October great fun each year. Each participant receives a t-shirt, goodie bag from local merchant donations and our signature "Pink Pancake" breakfast provided by Lodi Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi. 

 

Pink pancakes!?!? OMG! :)

 

The GEWEKE CARING FOR WOMEN FOUNDATION focuses on creating awareness for the need of early detection for breast cancer. The foundation directly helps women who are in the fight for their life and struggling financially to stay afloat. 

 

All money raised through Pink October events will go towards helping Breast Cancer Survivors who are struggling with financial needs. 

The Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation began in 2006 in Yuba City. The foundation has helped breast cancer patients buy firewood to heat their home, pay rent, funeral expenses, car repairs, mortgage payments, PG & E bills, medication and so much more.

This year the foundation will be working closely with our partners, the Ben Schaffer Cancer Institute, Delta Sierra Hematology and Oncology, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Hospice of San Joaquin, Community Medical Centers, Woodbridge Medical Group, and American Cancer Society to help identify patients that have financial needs. The assistance will be immediate and support will be more important than ever this year. 

The Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation's Facebook page is located here.

I hope you will join me for the race this Saturday!

Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend this Sat & Sun, Feb 12th and 13th!

Lodi happens to be the location of three of my favorite wineries: Michael David, Lange Twins, and M2. So every year, I look forward to visiting them for the Wine & Chocolate Weekend. 

This weekend's event (February 12th and 13th) involves over 40 participating wineries from 11am to 4pm each day. You get the opportunity to travel from winery to winery and experience each winery’s hosted activities such as wine and chocolate pairings, live music, barrel tasting and cellar tours.

This year, you can win one of over a 100 prizes (including a wine getaway!) by unwrapping the “Golden Ticket” which will be hidden in this year’s commemorative chocolate tin!!

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.lodiwineandchocolate.com or by calling the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at 209.365.0621. Ticket prices are $45 in advance or $55 during the event. Tickets include an event wine glass, a commemorative chocolate tin, wine tasting and admission to all participating wineries. One ticket is valid for both Saturday and Sunday and there is no charge for designated drivers. For more information, visit lodiwine.com or join us on Facebook at facebook.com/LodiWine.

Eggplant Parmigiana Persuasion & the 7 Deadly Zins

Before you begin to make this fabulous recipe, pour yourself a glass of this!!





Recognize the label? It's Michael-David Winery's Seven Deadly Zins. Always a go-to Zinfandel to grab if you are not sure what red wine to buy (it's widely available and most red wine drinkers I know like it).

Here's the rundown of the wine: It's an Old Vine Zinfandel blended with small
amounts of Petit Sirah and Petit Verdot then aged in American oak. 14.5% alcohol.

After you have poured the vino, get yourself cooking, because this one takes about an hour to an hour and a half--especially if you are making a big salad to go with it like I did. :)

Oh yes, I forgot to mention we'll also be using the wine IN the tomato sauce!


ZINgredients:
1 large eggplant
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion chopped or sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes (strained)
1/2 bottle of Michael David Seven Deadly Zins
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup flour
2 large eggs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 parsely
Your favorite Italian herbs
Fresh basil (chiffonade)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/3 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced


Directions:
(if you are going to bake your recipe and skip the frying, preheat your oven to 400-425° first)

1. Slice the eggplant crosswise (I had the longer eggplants, so I sliced them lengthwise) into 1/2 inch rounds. Salt the eggplant liberally and lay flat on paper towels and place paper towels over the top of the eggplant. Set a serving plate or something heavy and flat over the top of them (glass baking dish works well).

2. While the eggplant is draining, heat some oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and garlic and cook them until translucent. Add the tomatoes and the wine. Crush the tomatoes up with a wooden spoon and blend in with the wine. Season with salt and pepper, and add the red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 minutes so the sauce will reduce.

3. Pat the eggplant slices dry. Pour the flour into one bowl. Beat the eggs with a little salt and pepper in the second bowl. In a third bowl, mix together
the panko, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, oregano, the other Italian herbs/spices you picked, and just a little salt. Remember, we salted the heck out of the eggplants, so we won't need much in the breading. Dredge the eggplant slices first through the flour, shaking off the excess. Dip eggplant in the egg and then in the panko. Set aside on a wire rack.

4. (If you choose to fry your eggplants, follow step 4a). Place your breaded eggplant slices in a lightly oiled baking dish (spray them with cooking spray to get them extra crispy) and bake at 400° for 10 mins, then flip them and bake them for 5-7 more mins. After you take out the eggplant, bak the temperature in the oven down to 375°.

4a. Pour canola oil into a large skillet and get the oil hot enough so that water drops will sizzle in it. Cook the eggplant slices until golden brown and crisp. Set
aside to drain.

5. I find if you spread the tomato sauce on the bottom of the dish, the eggplants you worked so hard to get crispy get soggy. No good. So I just layer the cooked eggplants on the bottom of a baking dish and then spread the tomato sauce over them. Then, sprinkle Parmesan over the tomato sauce. Place the mozzarella slices on top of the eggplant. Cook for 20 minutes or until the cheese melts and is golden brown.

6. When you take it out of the oven, top it with the fresh basil. Serve with spaghetti or shirataki noodles (that is my lo-cal substitute.)



Fried Version


Baked Version

Winner of Zinfest Tickets

Congrats to Tina, you won the pair of tickets for Zinfest on Saturday. I will contact you with info on where to meet for the tickets and the shuttle to Lodi.

Have a great time and thanks to everyone who entered. More contests coming soon!

Zinfest Ticket Giveaway!

I am giving away a pair of tickets WITH transportation INCLUDED to the Lodi Zinfest on Saturday! The giveaway is sponsored by Sacramento Wine Tours.



To enter to win, become a fan of cakegrrl.com on Facebook, and leave a comment in the comments section of this post! Who is your favorite Lodi winemaker?!? (Personally, I like Lange Twins and M2 wines best, but will Saturday's festival bring a new favorite?)

I will pick the winner on Thursday. Also, you can be entered more than once if you have a twitter account and retweet about the contest. Good luck!


Lodi Wine Country will host the 6th Annual ZinFest Wine Festival – ‘Wine, Food and Fun at Lodi Lake,’ May 14 – 16, 2010. This weekend long celebration is the region’s most anticipated wine event of the year.

For more information on the 6th Annual ZinFest Wine Festival, please visit their website at www.zinfest.com or contact the Lodi Winegrape Commission at 209.367.4727.

3rd Annual Lodi First Sip, November 14th & 15th!

Get ready for the 3rd Annual First Sip, November 14th & 15th!

Travel through Lodi Wine Country and visit over 40 locations for this exciting end of harvest celebration weekend.

Take the 'First Sip' of Lodi's 2009 vintage wines straight from the barrel. Compare them to what has been in the bottle for some time.

Winery activities include educational seminars, winemaking contests, food pairings, demonstrations, tours and more! Join the fun!

Here is a link to participating wineries & their activities for the weekend.

While you're celebrating The First Sip, stop in downtown at The Dancing Fox Winery & Bakery. Just down the street, visit Lodi Wine Cellars. Hit the trail and check out Mokelumne Glen, The Coliseum, Cosentino, St. Jorge and Viaggio Wineries for new experiences and wines!

Pick out a favorite wine to share with family and friends just in time for your Thanksgiving table!

Take advantage of pre-sale discounts- online ticket sales end November 13 at midnight. Order now for your $10 discount.

Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the door of any participating winery. (Tickets purchased after November 6 will be held at Will Call at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center). For more information, visit www.firstsiplodi.com.

Inaugural Treasure Island WineFest on October 11th

Next weekend, wine lovers will have the unique opportunity to sample premier Lodi wines while taking in the breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay from the Pavillion by the Bay at Treasure Island. Lodi Wine Country growers and vintners are pleased to announce the inaugural Treasure Island WineFest to be held on Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 1-5 p.m.

The Treasure Island WineFest will give consumers access to the names behind the brands of Lodi’s award-winning wines while enjoying culinary creations from Wine Valley Catering. The cost of admission will be $55 in advance or $65 at the door.

The Treasure Island WineFest will take place on the last day of Fleet Week. There will be an airshow flying simultaneously, promising incredible views for attendees. Organizers of the event hope Bay Area consumers will view Lodi wines as California’s hidden treasure. Lodi wines offer excellent quality, value and variety that are sure to please every palate.

There will be seminars during the day including:
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Learn Your Lodi “ABZ’s” (Trade & Media Exclusive)
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – The Perfect Pair – Fiscalini Cheese & Lodi Wine
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. - Lodi Rules – Certified Green Wines of Lodi
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Blockbuster Zins of Lodi

The event will feature handcrafted wine exclusively from the Lodi region, where
sustainability is a primary focus. Lodi leads California in sustainable viticulture practices with its third party certification program known as the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing, www.lodirules.com. The goal of the program is to reduce the environmental impact of winegrape production through the use of sustainable practices.

Lodi’s wine region produces approximately 20% of California’s total winegrape production—more than Napa and Sonoma combined! There are over 60 grape varieties in production ranging from the traditional Cabernet and Chardonnay to exciting new varietals such as Vermentino and Tempranillo. The region has experienced exponential growth since the early 1990’s, with over 75 wineries now bringing international attention to the local industry.

Wineries in attendance will be: 181, 337, Abundance Vineyards, Barefoot Wine, Barsetti Vineyards, Benson Ferry, Berghold Vineyards & Winery, Bokisch Vineyards, Borra Winery, d’Art Wines, Gnarly Head, Gnekow Family Winery, Grands Amis Winery, Harmony Wynelands, Harney Lane Winery, Heritage Oak Winery, Ironstone Vineyards, Jessie’s Grove Winery, Klinker Brick Winery, Lange Twins Winery, Loredona, The Lucas Winery, m2 Wines, Macchia, Maley Brothers, McConnell Estates, Mettler Family Vineyards, Michael David Winery, Mokelumne Glen Vineyards, Oak Ridge Winery, Onus, Peltier Station, Ripken Vineyards, St. Amant Winery, St. Jorge Winery, St. Sophia, Stama, Talus Collection, Trinitas Cellars, Uvaggio, VanRuiten Family Winery, Vicarmont Vineyards & Winery, Vino Con Brio, Watts Winery, & Woodbridge Winery.

For additional information on the Lodi region and the Treasure Island WineFest, please contact the Lodi Winegrape Commission at (877) 367-4757, or visit www.lodiwine.com and www.tiwinefest.com.

Taste it All at the Taste of Lodi…

The last weekend in September is fast-approaching and that means it's time for the annual Taste of Lodi, held at Wine & Roses Hotel, Restaurant, & Spa on September 27th from 1-5pm!

Featured restaurants this year are: Alebrijes Mexican Bistro, B&T Catering, Bellindora Vinegars, Black Tie Gourmet, Catering by Travis, Cecchetti Olive Oil, Chocoholics Divine Desserts, Dancing Fox Winery & Bakery De Vinci's Delicatessen DeGrandes CaféJan's Sweet Treasures, Just for Friends Catering, Lodi Olive Oil, Panera Bread, Rosewood Bar & Grill, Shangri-La Asian Bistro, The Chalkboard Café, Tin Roof BBQ, and Wine & Roses.

Featured wines from: Abundance Vineyards, Akin Estates, Barsetti Vineyards, Berghold Vineyards, Bokisch Vineyards, Borra Vineyards, Cosentino Winery, Dancing Fox Winery & Bakery, d'Art Wines, E2 Family Winery, Gnekow Family Winery/Campus Oaks, Grands Amis, Harmony Wynelands, Harney Lane Winery, Heritage Oak Winery, Ironstone Vineyards, Jessie's Grove Winery, Klinker Brick Winery, Lange Twins Winery & Vineyards, Lobo Loco Wines, LLC, Lodi Amateur Vintners Association, l'Uvaggio Di Giacomo, M2 Wines, Macchia, Maley Brothers, McConnell Estates, Mettler Family Vineyards, Michael-David Winery, Mokelumne Glen Vineyards, Peirano Winery, Peltier Station, St. Amant Winery, Stama Winery, Turner Road Vintners, Twin Fin/3 Blind Moose, Van Ruiten Family Winery, Viaggio Winery, Vicarmont Vineyards & Winery, Vino Con Brio, Watts Winery, Weibel Family Vineyards & Winery, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.

There will be wine seminars that take place throughout the day, chef demonstrations, and live music. The Port, Cigar and Chocolate Pavilion will be a great place to pair wine with some complimentary treats.

For ticket information, please click here.

The event's title sponsors are Sacramento Magazine and Food 4 Less.

Zin...tastic Saturday!

Yo ho ho and a bottle of Zin!

Saturday I attended the Lodi Zinfest for the first time with my gal pal J, along with hundreds of other thirsty thrill seekers. It was a pleasant drive and a beautiful day. I tasted (and dumped) several new labels (new to me, but not new to the winemaking world), and tried some better than average (for a festival) fare. Saw one of the state fair wine judges there and said my hellos. :)

Upon arrival, J and I were greeted (skwawked at) by this fine young lady. A proud member of the Lodi Red Hat Society!

She was giving everyone a mini-loaf of Cottage Bakery ciabatta. I call this "damage control sustenance" for anyone who was there to drink (guzzle).

Met a winemaker by the name of Layne Montgomery. He is the owner of M2 Vintners. You can find several of his wines in Sacramento area wine shops and restaurants. I brought back a bottle of their Old Vine Zinfandel for Garrett and I to taste and review during our podcast taping next week.

Some of my other favorite winemakers of the day included Van Ruiten (I will particularly point out their Old Vine Zinfandel for its subtlety! Very mild and approachable to someone who might not normally like the boldness of a zinfandel), Stama, and Mettler. I did taste some white wines upon our arrival, and one prior to leaving, but for the most part I tried the zins all day long.

The food worked on a (kind of lame) ticket basis. An average event attendee paid $25 admission, and then was charged extra for any food they wanted to eat. I do want to point out though, that the food was reasonably priced.

Since I had access to the VIP tent, there was no way that J & I would go hungry, but we wanted to try foods from the different vendors and support them for being there. The most interesting thing we tried was a fruit cup with lemon and chile powder from Las Tapatias of Stockton. The cup contained slices of pineapple, melon, cucumber, and mango and was doused liberally with lemon juice and sprinkled with chile powder. It was delicious and paired wonderfully with some of the crisp white wines we tried when we first arrived. The fruit and the wine were also a welcome treat to ward off the heat and any annoyance from the very thick crowd. :)

Then it was onto the Wine and Roses booth... most recently (in)famous for being the former home of Top Chef 2 contestant Michael Midgely.
Wine & Roses (not to be confused with Guns & Roses... "Sweet Child O Mine" plays in my head everytime I hear the W & R restaurant name) sold their Waldorf Salad and Vegetarian Sandwiches on Whole Wheat Bread. The sandwiches were a great vegetarian option, packed with marinated eggplant, portobella mushrooms, and roasted red pepper.

A taco platter from Black Tie Gourmet. Delicious, fresh corn tortillas.

Charm N Candy Bouquet sold their "Wine Fudge". A few fudge varieties were merlot and white zinfandel. I think they also had a cab flavor as well. I tried the merlot fudge, and in theory it is a good concept. However, I did not really care for it. What I did not like about it was that instead of a varietal or even any kind of wine flavor, I tasted a lot of... well, heat/alcohol...

THESE balsamic vinegars were terrific! I am sending for a sampler pack to also review with Garrett on The Kitchen Exchange.

This vendor (Sima's) sold jams, perserves, and jellies such as Quince and Pomegranate, which he was sampling on pita bread strips. He also had rice and spice mixes for sale.

Chef Robert Ray of the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco prepared Seared Salmon with Butter Beans, Pancetta, and Balsamic Reduction during a cooking and wine pairing demonstration.

We ended our Lodi visit to the tunes of the Smithereens. They took the stage from 5-7pm, and several people were spotted shimmying like they hadn't since the high school prom. One man even thought he was an airplane. Well, you know how the song goes... "Red red wine, you make me feel so fine, you keep me rockin' all of da time..."

If you missed the Zinfest, there are plenty of other events coming up this summer at the individual wineries. Do take note that some of the wineries do not have tasting rooms, but plenty of them do (if you have already been to Napa, Amador and El Dorado, get in the car and drive down for the afternoon!).