What did a trip back to Lodi Wine Country find? Modesto columnist on what’s there
I received a dining out card to the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento. We were able to book a room for two nights on the Delta King Hotel, a historic paddlewheel riverboat on the Sacramento River.
We had a five-minute walk to the restaurant. The Firehouse Restaurant was definitely a splurge with old school elegance and perfect service, professional but not stuffy. Corkage was $35. Our 20% tip on a bill under $5 got the Mastercard computers all flustered. Let’s hear it for the gift card. We had a good time and enjoyed our stroll back to the ship.
The next day, after breakfast on the Delta King, we walked to the Crocker Art Museum, had delicious fish and chips for lunch, drove to the Tower Theatre for a movie, took a nap, found an excellent Italian restaurant for dinner and then crashed for the night.
All roads lead to wine
We left for Sacramento on a Monday and knew we couldn’t get into the Delta King until 3 p.m. The Navigator suggested we do a bit of research in Lodi. I agreed. Lodi is one of our favorite wine regions with more than 85 wineries with 100 varieties in production. We were headed north on Interstate 5 and stopped at Michael David Winery and Van Ruiten Winery. Both are close to the freeway and open on Mondays.
The good news is, not much has changed since the pandemic. Fees for tasting are still in the $10-$15 range for 5-6 tastes. Most will waive the fee with purchase of a bottle or two. Most Lodi wineries accept walk-ins but on weekends it is wise to make a reservation.
Michael David Winery opens at 10 a.m. and tasting is $10. They have an onsite cafe/bakery that has fantastic food. The Van Ruiten Winery just east from Michael David on Highway 12 opens at 11 a.m. and has tastings inside or outside for $15. We had the place to ourselves and could choose our five tastes including the reserve wines. We were pleased to find out Lodi Wine Country is still Lodi, excellent wines at fair prices and great people.
We drove home Wednesday on Highway 99. Just before Lodi, I turned off to visit Peirano Estate Vineyards. I wanted to find out what “The Other” was all about. I discovered it was a 2021 red blend. The back label said it was tastefully seductive and sin-sually delicious and the front label said “The Other.” This was a very unique stop. There were no tasting fees, all the wines were $16 and the hostess was excellent. If you buy a case, you’ll get 50% off. I bought a mixed case of a little of this, that and the other for just $96. Midweek getaways are the best!
What’s on our table
The Navigator’s favorite wine is Pinot Noir. The Navigator is a super chef, loves to cook and I, of course, love to eat. I try to keep her happy by always having a Pinot Noir available. The saying, happy wife, happy life is true as we move toward our 56th year. I was saddened when Costco ran out of La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($18). Their fill-in wine is La Crema’s Monterey Pinot Noir ($15). It’s a good deal with a $23 SRP. The District 7 2022 Monterey Pinot Noir by Scheid Family Wines is worth tracking down. The SRP is $18 and it is sale priced around $14. I bought six for $12 each online through the Reverse Wine Snob. If you have a favorite Pinot, please let me know. Cheers!
Questions? Comments? Find me on Facebook or at rgwinton@yahoo.com.
