Lodi Wine Visitor Center

If you are visiting Lodi, you need to make sure that this is your first stop. I was familiar with some of the wines, but had no idea how many exceptional wines this region offered. Paul Marsh and Allison Champion were very gracious with their wine and knowledge, and they gave excellent suggestions on where to visit and which wines I would like. I can't wait to join their wine club - I bet there are going to be some fantastic offerings that I can't wait to try! Thank you for your hospitality -I can't wait to come back.

A shocking abundance of souvenirs in this tiny visitor center! Small but cozy. The staff warmly told me to grab any brochures from the wall. And when I asked real questions, I was sweetly directed to search online instead 🙃

Always an enjoyable experience here. A knowledgeable staff and an excellent assortment of wine showcasing Lodi grapes prompted us to become wine club members. Looking forward to the upcoming months with guided tastings and Meet the Winemaker events!

Great first stop and introduction to Lodi wineries. Anna was super helpful and able to share helpful information about the wines available, wine makers at the different wineries throughout the area. Fun to be about to try some bottles here that are not available elsewhere.

Consider this your mission control for the beginning of the expiration of the region (because after tasting this wine, you'll forget where you parked). The Lodi Wine Visitor Center isn't just a building; it's a wonderfully boozy, information-packed hub where you can sample the goods without the winery hopscotch—before you commit to the marathon. The staff here are the real heroes. They are wine nerds who speak fluent "Delicious" and, more importantly, they are armed with the sacred Lodi Wine Trail Map. You can get delightfully tipsy on their rotating selection of stellar, under-the-radar Zinfandels and unique Spanish varietals, all while they circle the must-see spots tailored to your palate (and current level of intoxication). You will leave here feeling educated, slightly wobbly, and holding a treasure map to Lodi’s best-kept secrets. Go for the wine, stay for the wisdom, and make sure your designated driver knows the way to the starting line!

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! This was a beautiful discovery 😍 of fine wines. Home grown here in Lodi. Friendly atmosphere, with charming gathering places, in various corners of their courtyard. There was even a Vineyard that you could walk through to educate oneself on. Well layed out, be sure to add it to your bucket list of things to do whenever you're in this neck of California. Follow me and catch up on all my sites and places to just sto into. Check out "Beautiful Places in Hawaii"...enjoy! Ciao for now.

It was a short stop but hubby and I enjoyed this visit. Waited for them to open so we can buy some wine before meeting a friend. Great Memories, lovely place!

Thank you Brooke, we were so glad to have this fantastic experience tasting a little bit of Lodi during my work trip! This is such a brilliant concept to have in town. I appreciated it so much! Lodi does not disappoint with their wines and we will be back in the area for sure, cheers!

Awesome tasting room! We took a leap of faith and went out of our way to visit this awesome tasting room. Great wines and great service .Located in what seems like a residential area. WORTH THE VISIT!

What a hidden gem. The setting around the center is beautiful with its gardens and interesting educational opportunity to learn of vines and grape varieties. The highlight of the visitor center was sitting in the enclosed patio among the wisteria and other beautiful plants and trees while sampling and appreciating local wines. This couldn't have happened without the professional, educational and friendly, Anna, CMS. Anna really loves what she does and knows her wines, so evident in her description and history. So appreciated her recommendations as well. It was such fun to serendipitously share our love of Ireland - thank you Anna!

So usually I've had stellar experience (hence the three stars vs one) at the visitors center but yesterday was less than. To start off we brought our two pups. Because of this, we wanted to sit in the front patio like we usually do so as to have our own space. The lady working who I'd never seen before (older w/ short brown hair) quickly said they were not sitting anyone there because they didn't feel like bringing the couch cushions out. Usually Leonard has served us and even if the patio is quiet he's never had a problem with us sitting in front. Okay though, not a problem...so we go find a spot on the patio. The table was pretty small for the party of four humans and two pups that we were, but we made due. As she brings the menu she makes a somewhat awkward comment that we can only have five tastes...that the government has passed a law that means that's the limit. I said, oh, okay (having not remembered what the rules were before). So I asked: how many could we taste before? She said the whole menu. Alright then, no problem. Rules are rules. So we select our pours, one of which was from Bokish, a favorite of ours. When I said that she quickly said that they got a new wine maker recently and some added info as to assume that it's not the same quality. Again, odd, right? But then the last straw was that our pups heard a noise as someone was moving something on the other side of their fence. Our pups got startled and barked a couple times. At this point there were people on either side of us, and both parties actually introduced themselves to our pups and said how much they liked them. When our pups barked the couple times they did, the people didn't bat an eye as it wasn't even excessive. No more than a minute after them barking, the lady comes to us and says let's get you your next couple tastes quickly because your pups seem like they're ready to go. She then ramped up our service and it made a relaxing service into one where we felt we were getting kicked out essentially. Then she was a bit feisty when we gave the last name of our wine member...she asked for his first name because she said there were multiple with the last name. He gave his full name and then nickname and said I don't have that long name, I have the other one. All in all I wouldn't go back if she's the one serving us. We all have off days but from beginning to end we felt unwelcomed like we typically do.

This is a great way to start your Lodi wine experience!! nice clean wine center which offers tastings of the local wines - Really nice hostess, and nice table to sit at ; wine barrels and regular seating. Looks like there's an outside patio. You can pick up a local map your wineries and plan the rest of your excursion

Our group had such a lovely time here on a Sunday afternoon. We were helped by Paul who helped create a custom tasting menu of only vegan wines for me. I have never had this happen before. He was knowledgeable about the filtration of wines in the region and accommodating on the spot. What a professional! Vegan wine drinkers, you are in good hands here!

Knowing that Lodi is the capital of Zinfandels we drove from San Diego to experience this known fact. We walked into the Lodi Wine Visitor Center and we were greeted by Anna. We informed her of what types of wines we were looking for and she immediately opened up a wine map and suggested quite a few wineries. Anna walked through the wine center with us and pointed out quite few varietals that we were interested in tasting and purchasing. Anna was knowledgeable, friendly and professional. I recommend that you stop at the Lodi Wine Visitor Center before adventuring out to the wineries. Anna will definitely educate and encourage you to explore the area. Thank you Anna for your wonderful recommendations! Norma,Bob, Lou & Don

Normally my experience is Great! However back in December, we had a group of people join us for a first timers birthday wine tasting event (approximately about 9-10). We called ahead of time to schedule. Granted a large group can be a little louder drinking and such so I get it. But I don't understand if you are sensitive to large groups, maybe explain they have a limit ahead of time. The older lady with short dark/gray hair and glasses went to the birthday girl, not the member or any of the older people there, but the youngest of the group and scolded extremely rudely "Can you keep it down I can't hear myself think!" I didn't find this out till we had moved on to the next stop. The younger lady helping us was friendly, courteous, and received quite a bit of sales. This place used to be able to accommodate larger groups pre-covid. Its possible they just aren't able to anymore with the same customer service. :(

Being new in town, this location was a must for me, and no regrets. I love that you can taste wines from a variety of Vineyards/Wineries in the area. My favorite part is that they change their tasting menu weekly. Of course, I had to become a member and love taking people that visit me from out of town to the Lodi Wine Visitor Center.

We stayed at the wine and roses hotel for 2 nights which our entire experience was amazing with the exception of this place. The wine person could care less that 3 of us came in there to check it out. Practically rolling his eyes and completely ignoring my daughter who was in a wheelchair. No hello, no acknowledgement completely could care less. The establishment looks nice and could accommodate people nicely but I don't need to spend my time or money at a place that doesn't care or maybe thinks he's better than most.

I'd rather go to the wineries directly. This was not very informative for me. Thank you The people serving are ok

Good food - menu definitely cater to the older generation so be ready for that. Great ambiance... very cute grab & go restaurant attached to the tasting room. Service is super friendly but slow... just just know that going in

Beautiful tasting room on a beautiful property. Offers indoor seating as well as outdoor seating on two different patios. Leonard and Antoinette led us through a fantastic tasting of local wines, all of which were new to us and were very good. We bought several bottles and are excited to go back!

Absolutely gorgeous tasting room with patio! We stopped by because we were not sure what would be open during COVID and were surprised to be able to taste on site. The gentleman who served us was knowledgeable and we left with a better idea of the area and where to visit next. Start here first!

We stopped in and spent maybe 5 minutes there. Didn't taste any wine and that's about where the welcome wore off. That's fine. We took a look around and left. If you don't have a plan when you get to Lodi, go ahead and stop. If you want a quick snack from the deli that's probably a better option. The staff at the wine tasting had the music too loud to hear her recommendations. Show less

Not very helpful. The guy working there was pleasant but seemed to recommend the wineries that are sponsoring this spot. The map was great and helpful in navigating the area since it was our first time there.

Our favorite get-away from Arizona for true r&r is Lodi, for the genuine friendliness, a few nights's stay at Wine & Roses hotel, walking at the lake and nature preserve, and visiting favorite wineries as well as those new to us. Being wine club members, we always start with a tasting at the Lodi Wine Visitor Center for an overview, recommendations, and current wine map. Yesterday Samantha made us right feel at home as we relaxed and enjoyed tasting local area wines. Thank you, Samantha, great job!

This was our first time going to the wineries in Lodi & we stopped here first. I am so glad we did, as this set the tone for the remainder of our tasting experience. 08/19/17 we came in right after they opened and we're greater by a nice guy. He was warm, friendly, fun and social. We had the best time just making conversation as it came naturally for oh parties. He definitely knew his stuff!! He talked about the process, the history, his experiences, and more. While talking to him we mentioned our love for moscato wines and offered up a moscato that was NOT on the tasting menu. We tried it, we loved it, and we purchased 3 bottles of it. During our tasting experience we had also mentioned that he was our first stop and hat we planned on going to more. After getting to know us and our likes, he provided us with a map of wineries and circled a few wineries that he felt we may enjoy. Several hours we returned to purchase 2 additional Cabernet wins and went home. I definitely recommend this location and we will be back.

I have visited the Lodi Visitor and Wine Center on several occasions and am always impressed. Was there with a couple of friends last week for a wine tasting before dinner at Towne Restaurant. The wines were supurb and our host, Steve, was great! Attentive, informative, cordial and professional! I recommend visiting Lodi Visitor and Wine Center when in the area. The facility is calm and inviting and is on the property of Wine and Roses, which has beautiful grounds.

We have been wine club members here for 4 or 5 years and appreciate the service provided by Jeremy Bowe and his staff. The quarterly shipments can be all whites, a mix or all reds. What makes this special is that each bottle is from a different winery so one is introduced to new tastes with every shipment. Free maps of the 80 plus wineries in the region are frequently updated and very useful. Being only 40 miles away, we also enjoy the pickup parties where we get to taste the wines in the shipment and speak with the winemakers. If visiting the area for the first time, this should be your first stop.

I've gone here many times in the past, when it was the Wine Discovery Center, if I'm remembering correctly, and it was always a really pleasant experience. This time, a couple of employees were OK and the rest were just plain rude or indifferent. The place was not busy, so it's not that they were slammed. But in the cafe, my friend and I stood looking at the blackboard for quite some time and it wasn't until I asked what happened to the rest of the menu that someone said, "Oh, menus are over there." The food was fine, though I still got the impression from the staff that there were other things they'd rather be doing. Then we went into the visitor's center itself. I decided to pass on the wine tasting (not that anyone noticed me looking at the list of pours for the day and offered to set me up with a tasting.) Then I perused the shelves and thought I'd ask a staff member for a recommendation. When the woman asked if she could help, I made the mistake of asking for a suggestion for an "everyday red", forgetting that this is code for "I don't want to spend a lot." She made a couple of suggestions and then just walked away. When I went looking for her she asked another employee about my request and I didn't sense any enthusiasm from him either, so I bought a bottle of something I already knew about. Meanwhile, they missed out on the chance to upsell me on a tasting and perhaps a wine that would intrigue me - maybe it's because I'm a white-haired female and they presumed I wasn't a potential good customer? Here's the thing: I know wine. I sometimes buy modest bottles, I sometimes buy nicer ones, but if nobody cares to actually sell the product then I could care less about buying it. Oh, and I live in the Bay Area so the chances of my returning would ordinarily have been good. Now I'm not so sure.

I arrived early in the day due to an unrelated appointment in the area. It has been a while since I have been to the Lodi Wine Visitor Center and they were not as busy as usual since it was well before noon, but the wine tasting and discussion was helpful and pleasant as was the information provided. It was a very enjoyable experience and an easy way to discover new wines from the area. I left with a case plus an additional bottle that I really liked, but it was the last bottle of that wine that was available on the day that I visited. This is an easy and efficient way to discover wines from the area even if your intent is to visit the wineries. They also provided a winery map that I intend to use in the future, but this is a great place to start.

A great place to start touring Lodi wine country. The visitor center staff were very friendly, knowledgable and pleasant. They offered a free tour that walks in their garden which grew flowers and a few varieties of grapevines. It was a good place to see how different types of grapes differ from each other side by side and what were some of the agricultural considerations when planting grapevines. I've never learned anything like this in any of the Napa wineries. Inside the visitor center, guests can also taste wines and make purchases. So if you are in a hurry, this is a one stop shop and they do carry good stuff. We bought 2 bottles from them before we even set our foot onto any wineries.

We stopped in Lodi on our way to Sutter Creek and realized we were just a little too early to visit the wineries. So we stopped here to get some ideas on where to go. They have wine tasting here as well, featuring wines from the region. I found my new favorite - a Michael David Sauv Blanc. The two people behind the counter were incredibly friendly - we had a nice visit, tasted wine, and got some great recommendations for wineries and lunch. It was the perfect place to start the day in a beautiful building.

All employees I've encountered at the Wine & Visitors Center are always upbeat, friendly and helpful. They have outdoor, covered patio seating with comfortable chairs and tables for your wine. They also share the space with Wine & Roses and the music is controlled by the cafe, so they can't control if it is too loud until they can let the cafe next door to turn it down. I've always experienced a fun and outgoing environment and helpful staff with smiles always on their faces!

When our friends from out of town came to Lodi on 7/31 to visit we decided to check out the Visitor Center as we had never been there to wine taste. The young lady working there barely looked up from the computer during our hour or so there. She did pour wine for us, but then right back to staring at the computer. Very unfriendly vibe. I was embarrassed that we chose to take our friends there. Won't go back. I'm sure this is the first stop for many out of towners and I'm not impressed with this representation.

I had high hopes for Lodi. I was on business in the area ... and had just visited Sonoma for a day. I was not all 'wined out' but didn't want to drive the 1.5 hours back to Napa/Sonoma ... so I googled a way I could score a fix before wine withdrawal set in. Lodi in the past was an area where many of the Sonoma or Napa vineyards grew grapes that needed a warmer climate or they didn't have space for. Not surprisingly, someone figured out that rather than just grow the grapes ... they could set up tasting rooms and grab tourists and thus, Lodi wine country was born. Personally, I think Lodi Wine Country has all the atmosphere of a child's lemonaid stand near the highway. Basically, the wineries are just small, flat fields of grape vines with a highway intersecting them. It looks more like farming land than wine making. I will not return because of the lack of atmosphere ... even the wineries are often just a bar style tasting room with a few outdoor tables next to a processing plant that looks factory-esque. The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center is the starting point for anyone wanting to visit the blah wineries here. There is a tasting room with a $5 fee which features some of the local wines. The tasting room/store seems to be the only way to get information about the area. I stopped in expecting to find a kiosk manned by a friendly information person. Instead, I was told to go to the tasting bar if I wanted information. There was one lady working the tasting bar ... there were lots of tourists doing tastings. I felt awkward having to go up and interupt their tastings to ask a question. I wanted to know which were the most picturesque wineries to visit and have a few glasses of wine at. After having to rephrase my question several times because she didn't understand what I meant by picturesque (I guess when all of the wineries in Lodi are next to a highway ... it could be a confusing question) she pointed out a few of the most popular wineries and went back to pouring the wines for tastings. Technically, I wouldn't call this a visitor center due to the lack of a person to answer questions. I would call this the 'Lodi Wine Tasting Center'. They have a small table with free maps and a few brochures but mostly this is a tasting room and store. I would not come back to Lodi ... its just highway stands. Not traditional wineries. If you want to taste and buy local wines, this is a good spot for you but really its just like any other wine store with tastings in CA. Not a visitor's center.

Nice facility with good selection of local wines. Ambiance is beautiful, and staff very friendly-knowledgeable compared to neighbouring wine regions of Napa and Sonoma. We tried smaller tasting for 12.00. We were only ones on patio for tasting. The interior patio was very cute and away from traffic noise. If you purchase 2 bottles per person the tasting is free. I felt wine tasting was little expensive for what served. Also, their markup per bottle was high compared to buying direct from vineyard. Example: one local bottle of wine was $10 more at Lodi Wine center than the actual vineyard was selling for same bottle. Also, winery tastings direct at vineyards are generally less expensive. Bonus: if you don't want to drive out to local vineyards this is a good option for local wine tasting. There's also a restaurant next door, and my family who lives locally dine there often. This facility would be great for a wine tour saving groups from driving out the the county. Also, I thought it would be more of a tourist board facility for area. But they had only 1 map of vineyards in area, and facility mostly about wine tastings. Next time, I try wine tasting selection, and if loved something, I'd drive out to vineyard to purchase given their markup for better deal.

Very Helpful! We were able to describe our favorite wines and they made some great suggestions of places to go. The wines we tasted there were also great. The staff was very engaging and informative. It was a great experience.

It was worth the stop to get the detailed brochure of all the wineries in the area. Your experience will differ depending on who your host is. The gentleman that handled my pours was friendly enough. I didn't care for the "$5 for 4 tastes of your choice" approach. I felt like I was blindly taking a stab in the dark for something I would like. I love a good zin but fell far short of falling in love with anything I tried here.

Don't bother. Sure: the Visitor Center will be helpful with ideas and recommendations for where to visit - but so will the wineries. More importantly: the wineries will waive the tasting fee when you buy something. Not so the Visitor Center. Lodi has plenty of good wineries that offer tastings at decent prices - don't bother tasting here. If they gave some rebate for buying bottles here, I'd be happy to up the rating. Until that happens, pick up some maps if you want, ask some questions. But save your tastings for the actual wineries.

I'll start by saying that I enjoyed the large area that the tasting room is in and that there was a couch and some chairs so that we could "lounge" a little while we tasted. There is also a lovely little "café" and store next to the tasting room that is very nice and seems to offer some very yummy food (we didn't have any food). The wines were good, I believe they said that they switch out the menu weekly to rotate the variety of the wines. What I would have liked to seen more of was more personality in the wine pourers. There was not much conversation at all...at most just telling me the name of the wine I was being poured. There was no description of any of the wines I was being given and just not a sense of warm and fuzzy. My husband and I have been to MANY wineries in Lodi and love that 99.9% of the wineries we have visited there we have always enjoyed ourselves. Its not always the wine that makes it a wonderful experience, I thing that the experience comes more from the atmosphere and the people pouring the wine. Unfortunately we didn't have this experience at the Visitor Center :(

Such a beautiful place, a great place to learn about wine, serene, loved it! Great staff, can't remember his name, a young black guy, who was really really knowledgeable and told us alot about the region, very passionate about the food and wine culture. Thanx! Great back yard with model vineyard with major varietals, so you can see how they grow. Cool. Lodi is a nice little town, but getting there is a bit depressing.

So, who goes to Lodi for a holiday? Your looking at her. Honestly, there are some nice wineries in the area that Mr. B had missed from last trip. That was totally unsettling for him. God forbid he had overlooked/missed a few good ones. So our B&B host suggested we start with the Visitor Center. That way, he could pick and choose which, if not all of the 500 wineries and 80 tasting rooms, he wanted to visit. The Visitor Center is a nice place to start, newish, where you can taste, see, and buy many of the local wines. What impressed me the most, non drinker that I am, and other than it's obvious architectural attractiveness, was the impressive and beautiful display of unique wine labels representing this appellation, some extremely eye catching. It is like visiting an art gallery. Wine tasting is $5. You can find it right next to the exclusive Wine and Roses Hotel/Resort. For those who remember the Creedence Clearwater lyrics referring to Lodi, thank god it has changed. Guess we'll be back. Mr. B missed some more. "Oh, Lord, stuck in Lodi again."

Hoping to do some wine tasting, but we were obviously annoying the employee so we left

Love this place, thought it was attached to wine and Roses but I guess not. Service is on point and they bond with you! They also ship and have an amazing selection of local wines, even sparkling

Wanted to meet up with some girlfriends who live in the central valley, so we decided to do some wine tasting in Lodi. The visitor center was recommended as a good meeting place to start our day. It was hands down our best experience during the whole day! We arrived before they opened so we were able to belly up to the vast bar and get to tasting right away. The gentleman pouring for us was very knowledgeable not only about the wines he was pouring for us, but for the other wineries in the area. He gave us quite a few suggestions of places we might want to visit during our day. His suggestions were not only for the wines, but for the fun kitschy things at the wineries. Like old oak bars that had been shipped from old brothels back east to pipe organs. Random fun things to check out while sipping wines. Who knew! He knew that two of the girls with our group had never been wine tasting so he felt it was his personal mission to find ones that they'd like. It was very nice to be treated like we were the only people in the place. Highly recommend starting here so that you can kick off your day and be shipped off to some great wineries on the very extensive wine map!

I visited the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center a year ago during a one-day exploration of the general Lodi area. I encountered some of the nicest, most helpful, most courteous people at the Visitor Center. First, I did a tasting. No, not all of the wines were to my liking, but that's what a tasting is all about, to sample wines one hasn't had before, and determine if anything is worth purchasing. Second, they advised me regarding an easy route to visit a number of wineries prior to my having to head to Sacramento. VERY helpful! Third, I had been doing some tasting in other parts of California, and had a partial case assembled. I inquired about shipping the case to my then-home in Chicago, and they advised me that they could arrange that if I purchased some of their wines to round-out the case. I bought some wine, brought in my case, and paid them to ship the wine to me. It made my life so much simpler and easier. I am truly grateful to the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center for everything they did for me!

I damaged myself here, in the most delightful way possible. I was ably assisted in my debauchery by my host, Fungai (like Funguy, but pronounce the first "u" to rhyme with "zoo." The name means "think before acting" in whatever the native tongue of Zimbabwe is. How cool is that? My name means "used to be" in the native tongue of Wyoming.) In case you're lost, please understand: in the native tongue of Lodi, "visitor center" means "free wine bar." Fungai poured wine, dispensed knowledge, talked about the relative residential construction practices of Zimbabwe and America, and was just generally a fantastic fellow. Now, I'll say good things about anyone who gets me drunk, but the catch here is I actually mean it. Plus, Fungai introduced us to Stama Vineyard, which we enjoyed visiting almost as much as the visitor center. I don't know whether Lodi, the State of California, or the ATF limits the number of pours one can legally dispense at a wine bar, and I don't want to get anyone in trouble, so let's just say that whatever the maximum number of pours a person could legally, ethically, morally, or physically pour for another human being is, that's about how many I had. This was near the end of an otherwise alcohol-free day, and yet I had to go lie down before supper. I felt like a Tampa retiree.

If you're gonna pop off this tour in a proper way, you have to make this your first stop. If you're going up the 99 like you should, get off on Turner and keep heading west, and just when you think you're lost or passed it, it's on your right hand side. Super friendly and helpful pourers. They carry all the local wines and know everything about them. My pourer was a nice older lady that kept pouring me more than I paid for. "I just love this one and thought you should try it." Very sweet. This place will get you buzzed and point you in the right direction with a map in hand. She swore by the Zins, but I wanted to try something else. There was a 9 grape variety that is aged separately for a year and then blended, I didn't like it. Then I tried the Barbera. I was also a newbie to this variety, and it was the one I liked the best. After I found out it's a variety native to the Piedmont area, I knew why I liked it. If you're new to the Lodi Wine Country this is a good stop to point you in the right direction. The prices range from $17.99 to $35. My bottle of Barbera was 24.99. There's a hotel and restaurant attached.

This is a great place to start your wine tasting day in Lodi. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, and in addition to having maps and directions to all the wineries, they can point you to tasting rooms that have the varietals you like the best. The Visitor Center also offers tastings themselves, which can be particularly handy on mid-week days when some winery tasting rooms aren't open. You get four tastings for $5 (free if you stay at Wine And Roses - http://www.yelp.com/biz/wine-and-roses-lodi) from a rotating list of eight to 10 wines. Overall, I wasn't that impressed with the wines the Visitor Center offered the day we were there; maybe two out of eight were wines I liked. But since they're drawing from nearly 90 wineries in the area, there's bound to be a range of quality, and some days will be better than others.

I'm always a fan of stopping at this place if I can't actually find the time to taste around Lodi wineries. My best friend lives in apartments within walking distance so I end up here more often than not. Last week I met Ed who has been many among the wonderful and informative staff. He gave my friend and I a very genuine experience. I highly recommend going in and seeing Ed (he informed me works Monday, Friday, and sometimes the weekend). He is older, retired, sweet, helpful and very accommodating. And that's not to leave the other woman that was working out of the loop. She was happy, giggly, and gave us a tip or two. She was just not the main person helping us. I can be very picky about my zin and he was able to pick out some wonderful recommendations. I always walk in saying I'll only buy a bottle, but always leave with at least two, sometimes a whole case. Admittedly the wine is a bit cheaper if you go to the actual winery but the selection of it being all in one spot more than makes up for the difference. Last week I tried a dry Moscato which was heaven. And of course I liked the usual Klinkerbrick Old Vine Zin. A new addition was St. Amant's and Mettler Family. The tasting fee is 5 dollars a person and only waived with a six bottle purchase. Seniors (70+) are complimentary. The fee didn't used to be so steep but I guess that's the price of housing a lot of different wineries and making sure your staff is knowledgeable. Another thing to note as of recent ... the format of the facility changed. There aren't really any of the touristy extras you find in gift shops and the tasting bar itself changed sides. Still in the front as it was before, but on the left side when you walk in. For parties of people with kids, there is a huge park right next door. So kids could go play (supervised of course) while the other adults have their tasting. And perhaps all could enjoy a picnic with a nice bottle of newly found wine. Lodi is seemingly in the "middle of nowhere" as often people put. But if you do find yourself out there and you like wine, this is THE one place to stop. I can promise, you will find something there to like.

Started our Lodi tour at the Visitors Center with the $5 wine tasting by Ed, who still has a New York accent, even after 35+ years in CA. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines and vineyards in the area. Since Lodi tends to be a weekend-winery kinda area, we were very glad to start here on a Monday to taste (and ultimately purchase) a couple bottles of wine. My only suggestion: When discussing which wineries to visit, be VERY clear about your intent. Do you want to experience a winery's atmosphere, buildings, grounds, etc.. or are you looking to taste some of the region's best wines? Trust me...you'll get different lists and recommendations.

Mediocre selection of wine for tasting. I didn't even do a tasting. If I ever do a tasting again in Lodi I probably won't stop here. But's it's a clean, nice facility. And they do have information tourists would find useful.

First stop in any of the wine tasting adventures I go on with the hubby is the Visitors Center. I am used to going in, getting a free tasting there and complimentary tasting coupons for other wineries as well as suggestions on where to eat and which wineries have the wines that we like. This place didn't meet 2 of those expectations. The tasting was not free and we weren't given any complimentary tasting coupons. But they were great about giving recommendations on wineries and places to eat. The tasting was pretty cheap at $5 and they had a good selection. The lady that helepd us was super friendly and helpful in deciding on where to go. We went the day before Thanksgiving and she pointed out which wineries were for sure going to be open. The center is on the same site as a hotel and spa so it's nice just to walk around to check things out. We're alreasy planning a return visit.

The Center is our starting point on a road to discovery. By that, I'm referring to Lodi's pretty unknown status as the largest wine making region in California. It's rough around the edges, it's informal and friendly, it's not prettified. We definitely get the sense that this is what Napa and Sonoma used to be before they were overrun by fake chateaux, wine snobs, and tourists. The folks at the Center provide you with maps and guidance on wineries you might want to visit. The tastings are based on wines grown in the area. Go with their recommendations. I recommend the wine club because it samples the best wines, chosen by a committee, from different wineries, ensuring that you're not limited to one vintner. Some of the poorer Yelp reviews make no sense and I'll call them out: The guy who never tasted any wine at the Center but decided they had a poor selection. The other guy who thought the area wasn't pretty enough because it lacks the fake Napa-style buildings. Keep in mind that you will be among the first generation to appreciate Lodi's wine, small town before property values soar, and the wonderful setting near the Sacramento delta.

For the people that gave bad ratings...If you're looking for a French-Bourdeau Winery, this isn't the place....it's a Visitors Center. But in my opinion, it's the BEST place to start your journey in Lodi! Not only can these folks help you map out your wineries as they pour you Lodi varietals. They can also offer you an exceptional wine club value which allows many benefits. We have been wine members for almost 2yrs and come in to visit quarterly to pick up our wines and taste. These folks do an excellent job, stop by and say hello!

Despite getting rained on, wild winds, and the fact we were in the middle of nowhere Lodi, last February's Lodi Wine and Chocolate Festival with fellow Yelpers Kirk B., Carol F., and GS was a surprisingly fun event. Clearly Central Valley friends from Turlock and Manteca are the only reason I'd ever visit (and even though they'll lie to you and say they're San Francisco-centered urbane hipsters, scratch 'em hard enough and you'll find Stanislaus and San Joaquin County blood...that's right, Kirk!), but I was pleasantly impressed. The wines themselves were balanced, intriguing, well-crafted, and damn good. The chocolate, when available, was magnificent. It was still in Lodi. That was a problem. But other than that, I have to grudgingly admit I had a lovely time. But it was still in Lodi.

Great place to stop and sample some wines. Pretty place with great folks especially Chris who waited on us. She was attentive and knowledgeable. Definitely knew her wines and was a delight to talk with. Thanks Chris!

A very nice tasting room in Lodi offering a flight featuring mainly zinfandels, the pride of the area. Our pourer was a very nice young man who was quite knowledgeable about the wines. Clued us in about an event which takes place in the fall on Treasue Island in SF which will feature Lodi wines. Great stop if you're in the area.

Absolutely the best! Knowlegeable, friendly staff, great selection of wines. If you have never been to Lodi wineries, definitely this should be your first stop.