{"id":7044643,"date":"2026-08-23T06:23:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T06:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/lodi-winegrape-commission-blog-4\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T06:23:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T06:23:58","slug":"lodi-winegrape-commission-blog-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7044643","title":{"rendered":"Lodi Winegrape Commission – Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\tMay 26, 2026 |
\n\t\t\tAllison Champion \n\t\t<\/p>\n

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Where should you go to experience California\u2019s top award-winning wines? The 2026 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition<\/a> results point to Lodi.<\/p>\n

The competition\u2019s top honors, Best of Show Red and Best of Show White, went to Lodi-grown wines.<\/strong> Add in multiple \u201cBest Of California\u201d varietal awards and 182 medals to wines from across the region, and this year’s judging offers a snapshot of what’s pouring in Lodi’s tasting rooms right now.<\/p>\n

Results like these are worth tasting in person. All you need is a weekend and a tank of gas. Lodi’s tasting rooms will handle the rest.<\/p>\n

The 6 Best of California Winners from Lodi<\/h4>\n

Each of these wines was named the best of its varietal or category in the entire state of California:<\/p>\n

2023 Inkblot Cabernet Franc, Michael David Winery (100 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAwards: Best of Show \u2013 Red; Best of Region \u2013 Red; Best of California Cabernet Franc<\/p>\n

2025 Grenache Blanc, Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards (99 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAwards: Best of Show \u2013 White; Best of Region \u2013 White; Best of California Grenache Blanc<\/p>\n

2024 Earthquake Zinfandel, Michael David Winery (98 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAward: Best of California Zinfandel<\/p>\n

2023 Red Wagon Pinot Noir, Collier Creek (Peltier Winery & Vineyards) (97 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAward: Best of California Pinot Noir<\/p>\n

2024 The Corset Red Wine, Oak Farm Vineyards (96 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAward: Best of California Rh\u00f4ne Red Blend<\/p>\n

2024 Delicious Barbera, Macchia (96 points, Double Gold)<\/strong>

\nAward: Best of California Barbera<\/p>\n

For the full list of Lodi medalists across every category, browse the searchable results database<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What These Awards Represent<\/h4>\n

The California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the oldest wine judging in the country, dating to 1854. Wines are organized by region, judged blind by a panel of sommeliers, winemakers, and wine professionals, and scored on what’s in the glass.<\/p>\n

When wines from Lodi earn both Best of Show titles, multiple Best of California honors, and 182 total medals, the results reflect something bigger than any one bottle. As a whole, they reflect a region of growers and winemakers farming with intention, working with a wide diversity of grape varieties, and producing wines that consistently perform at the top of California’s oldest wine competition.<\/p>\n

The Lodi Wine Difference<\/h4>\n

Here’s the part that often gets overlooked: these medal-winning wines are pourable, accessible, and waiting for you now.<\/p>\n

In Lodi, award-winning wine comes without the barriers. The average tasting fee is $16. Many of our 60+ tasting rooms welcome walk-ins. The people pouring your wine are often the same people who grew the grapes, made the wine, or both.<\/p>\n

You don’t need a reservation to taste a Double Gold bottle. You just need a free Saturday.<\/p>\n

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A Best in Show Tasting Itinerary<\/h4>\n

Here’s one way to spend a day with all five award-winning wineries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stop 1: Oak Farm Vineyards<\/h5>\n

Suggested time: 10:00-11:15AM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Start your day on Lodi’s northwest side with the 2024 The Corset Red Wine, named the best Rh\u00f4ne red blend in California. Oak Farm<\/a>‘s tasting room sits on a working farm with century-old oaks, and the experience pairs estate wines with farm-to-glass hospitality.<\/p>\n

Stop 2: Michael David Winery<\/h5>\n

Suggested time: 11:30AM-1:00PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head 7 miles south to\u00a0Michael David<\/a>\u00a0for lunch at the Farm Caf\u00e9 and a tasting that covers two Best of California winners under one roof: the 2023 Inkblot Cabernet Franc (Best of Show Red, scored a perfect 100) and the 2024 Earthquake Zinfandel (Best Zinfandel). The Inkblot grapes come from a nine-acre vineyard on Lodi’s west side, just a stone’s throw from the winery itself.<\/p>\n

Stop 3: Macchia Wines<\/h5>\n

Suggested time: 1:30-2:30PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

It should take you about 20 minutes to make it to Macchia<\/a> in Acampo, an area packed with wineries just northwest of Lodi. Taste the 2024 Delicious Barbera, named the best Barbera in California. Macchia is also known for its wide variety of Old Vine Zinfandels and Italian varietals, so plan to taste broadly while you’re there.<\/p>\n

Stop 4: Peltier Winery & Vineyards<\/h5>\n

Suggested time: 2:45-3:45PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just across the street, you’ll find Peltier<\/a> pouring the 2023 Red Wagon Pinot Noir (under their Collier Creek label), named the best Pinot Noir in California. The winery’s\u00a0WineStation system allows guests to select from 24 different estate-grown, certified sustainable wines daily, in pour sizes including a 1oz taste, 2.5oz half glass, or 5oz full glass.<\/p>\n

Stop 5: Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards<\/h5>\n

Suggested time: 4:00-5:00PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

End the day at Acquiesce<\/a>, the only winery in the California focused exclusively on white and ros\u00e9 wines made from Rh\u00f4ne varieties. The 2025 Grenache Blanc earned Best of Show White with a near-perfect 99-point score. While you’re there, taste through their other top performers from the same competition, including the double-gold Grenache Gris (97), Picpoul Blanc (96), and Sirens estate white blend (95).<\/p>\n

Build the day your way<\/h5>\n