America’s Top Zinfandels Come from Ancient Vines in This Easygoing California Town

Lodi, California

Move over, Napa – Lodi’s been growing wine grapes since before Prohibition, and today this laid-back Central Valley town produces more wine grapes than any other region in California.

With over 100,000 acres of vineyards specializing in bold Zinfandels and Spanish varietals, this under-the-radar wine destination offers all the flavors without the pretense or crowds of its famous northern neighbors.

Lodi’s Historic Zinfandel Vineyards Set World Standards

These vineyards have a deep-rooted history in the sandy loam soil, producing over 40% of California’s premium Zinfandels.

The Steacy Ranch in Lodi, planted in 1907, was among the first vineyards on St. George rootstock. Mokelumne Glen Vineyards also grows the largest collection of German and Austrian grapes outside Europe.

At Jessie’s Grove Winery, you can taste wine from 122-year-old vines while exploring an 1870s barn full of original farm tools.

The Region’s Only Snake Conservation Center

The Serpentarium at Lodi Lake focuses on protecting Central Valley reptiles.

Behind special glass panels, 23 types of snakes, including twelve rare San Joaquin Coachwhips, and other native California snakes such as gophers and rattlesnakes.

Since 2019, their breeding program has returned 156 snakes to the wild. Join daily sessions to watch snake feeding and safely handle some reptiles with expert guidance.

The Gateway Arch is a National Historic Landmark

Designed by architect E.B. Brown, the gateway arch was originally built as an entrance to the Tokay Carnival in 1907. Today the arch remains a central symbol of Lodi’s history and is located at Pine and Sacramento Streets.

The iconic California Bear atop the arch was added around 1910 and later rebuilt with plaster in the 1940s, including the addition of a 23-karat gold-leaf finish in 2001.

The Winter Home of Thousands of Sandhill Cranes

From October through February, around 5,000 to over 14,000 Sandhill Cranes gather at the Isenberg Crane Reserve, forming the largest winter group in North America.

Try the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve for guided Sandhill Crane Wetland tours. Early morning you can watch these birds, whose wings span six feet, take off together. The reserve also offers special viewing huts along the cranes’ flight paths giving photographers clear shots without disturbing the birds.

A Living Museum of Rare Cherry Trees

Lodi’s Cherry Demonstration Garden protects 42 cherry varieties, including popular ones such as Bing and Brooks. Some trees come from branches grafted from California’s oldest cherry trees (planted in the 1850s). In April, the Cherry Heritage Festival celebrates these unique fruits with tastings and cooking shows.

Try the Cherry Sunrise tour. Even the Cherry Demonstration Garden collaborates with local universities to promote research and education on cherry farming.

A Unique Salmon Viewing Experience

Located about 2 miles east of Clements, the hatchery can be reached by taking McIntire Road north from State Route 12. The Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery lets you watch salmon year-round through 20-foot windows. You can see adult salmon during fall spawning and young fish in spring.

In October 2024, EBMUD biologists recorded the passage of 3,824 migrating fish in one day, marking the largest one-day salmon count in over 30 years.

A Historic Night Market Tradition

Since 1922, Lodi’s Thursday Night Farmers Market has been California’s oldest evening market occurring from May 15 to August 28.

It still uses three original weighing stations from the 1920s and features over 65 vendors and a delightful blend of artisanal crafts, fresh produce, and live entertainment.

Stroll past an array of delectable food stalls serving mouthwatering treats, including tacos, wood-fired pizzas, kettle corn, or freshly baked pastries.

Tip: Find street parking on several main avenues, such as Elm Street, School Street, and Pine Street.

The Last Flame Tokay Grape Vineyard in America

Lodi keeps the country’s only commercial Flame Tokay vineyard, producing special table grapes and unique wines. Known for their crisp skin and rich, fruity flavor, try one right from the vine on a harvest tour. There are only a few remaining plantings, with most being less than three acres.

While Lodi was known as the “Tokay Capital of the World” in the early 20th century, today, only a few producers, such as Sabelli-Frisch and Monte Rio Cellars persist.

A Bike Trail Connecting Historic Wineries

The Lodi Zin Trail links 14 wineries with 22 miles of bike paths. Many wineries provide picnic areas where cyclists can enjoy their purchases. Some local rentals include special wine carriers for bikes and services to drive cyclists home safely.

Try spring (March to May) for mild weather and fewer crowds. Cyclists can also learn about soil types and past harvests from the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center.

A Museum of Historic Fruit Box Labels

Nestled within Micke Grove Regional Park, the San Joaquin County Historical Museum houses the Product Labels Collection which consists of more than one thousand fruit and vegetable, canning, and wine bottle labels.

Explore a variety of colorful grape labels on the back of the Samson and Transport trucks from the 1920s that hauled boxes of grapes to the packing houses for railroad transportation throughout the country.

A Leading Center for Olive Oil Testing

One of North America’s three certified olive oil testing centers operates in downtown Lodi. Lodi’s diverse terroir influences the flavor profiles of its olive oils, with producers like Calivirgin offering various oils that reflect regional characteristics.

Expert tasters teach about 16 official olive oil qualities, often using oil from local century-old trees and you can compare oils to learn how soil affects taste.

A Center for Watermelon Research and Education

Lodi’s Watermelon Research Station created famous varieties like Sugar Baby and Yellow Doll watermelons. They keep seeds from 217 watermelon types to protect different varieties for the future. The station runs America’s only public watermelon breeding workshops.

Their fields show how watermelons have changed from ancient types to modern ones developed in Lodi’s special growing conditions.

Science’s a Big Deal in Lodi Too

You have to visit the Natural Sciences Museum, owned by the Barnabite Fathers, which was founded in 1833. It offers a large collection of animal specimens sprawling over 300 square meters. There are almost eight hundred fossils in the paleontology section.

Here you can admire quartzes and amethysts in the mineralogy section and sea shells from all over the world in the malacology section. Near the Old Hospital in Lodi, you will find the Paolo Gorini Anatomy Collection, a collection of anatomical samples.