The official arch entrance to Lodi’s business district was built in the Mission Revival-style in 1907 for
the Tokay Grape Carnival.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 157
In downtown Lodi, we noticed that there were several
interesting murals on some of the buildings, and we learned
that they had been painted in 2006 by a group of letterheads
(sign painters) who called themselves Walldogs. The project
was led by a local sign artist named Tony Segale, who
recognized that Lodi needed to illustrate its history and
add some art to a variety of blank walls throughout the city.
Two additional murals were added to the original nine a
few years ago.
While walking to view the murals, we passed the Jeremy
Wine Company that produces micro-lots of unusual wines.
After tasting a few of them, we asked if they could be
purchased in Florida. Owner Jeremy Trettevik said “no,” as
his wife Choral chimed in with “We can ship them to you.”
By the time we returned home, our wines had arrived. We
are still enjoying them.
Since Lodi is wine country, we spent the next few hours
going to three very unique wineries. The first was Acquiesce,
where owner and winemaker Sue Tipton led us through
some of her southern Rhone-inspired whites. Rather than
overdesigning her wines, she prefers to let the grapes and
the land speak for themselves. Sue makes only whites and
ages them without oak to keep them crisp.
From here, we went to St. Jorge Winery, the centerpiece of
a 15-acre estate that is styled after a Tuscan villa. The owners,
Vern and Jenise Vierra, served us paella to go with their
Portuguese-style reds and whites that Vern first learned to
make alongside his father and grandfather. Jenise is a natural
hostess with a flair for design and hospitality.
Our final stop for the evening was at Oak Farm Vineyards,
owned by the Panella family, who live in a historic 1876
Colonial Revival-style home framed by ancient oak trees. The
home is located next to a vintage barn and the new tasting
room that is in the heart of the almost 70-acre vineyard. Their
uniquely designed tasting room rivals the most luxurious
ones in Napa and Sonoma. The Panellas, third-generation
Lodi farmers, currently grow three white varieties and eight
reds that they are making into fine wines.
As a wine destination, Lodi, with its more than 450 labels,
is well worth adding to your bucket list. However, Lodi has
more than just wine. Its restaurants, boutiques, galleries and
unique attractions make Lodi a wonderful alternative to its
higher-priced and more-crowded neighboring wine areas.
Lodi has definitely undergone a transformation from grape
supplier to a fine wine destination with its own enviable
white and red wines. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, call the Lodi Wine
and Visitor Center at (209) 365-1195 or go online to visitlodi.com.