Top Boutique Wineries in Lodi You Have to Visit

Our top pick for the best boutique winery in Lodi. Brothers Steven and William Carson founded Drava in 2014 — Steve with an Enology & Viticulture degree from UC Davis, William with an Economics degree from Vanderbilt and a life story that includes Alaska, Morocco, the Virgin Islands, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia. They produce under 500 cases per year from hand-selected, hand-harvested Certified Sustainable winegrapes in small half-ton and one-ton lots. The results are extraordinary: 10 medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition including a Double Gold for the 2018 Petite Sirah and Gold medals for the Sangiovese and Pinotage. Every visit is personal — Steve or William will be hosting you themselves. Ask William about his rare bottle of Slovenian wine from the oldest winegrape vine in the world, a 450-year-old vine with only three known bottles in the US.

One of Lodi's most architecturally striking tasting rooms — built from Corten steel that's designed to rust on the surface while maintaining its structural integrity, rising from the surrounding estate vineyards. In warmer months, the massive sliding panel doors open up and the tasting room becomes a large indoor/outdoor space with a patio, fire pit, and live music on weekends. Winemaker Layne Montgomery is self-taught and award-winning, producing Zinfandel, Tannat, Petite Sirah, and Vermentino alongside wines sourced from exceptional Lodi growers. Dogs, kids, and outside food are all welcome. Several of M2's wines donate a portion of the purchase price to local animal rescues.

A fifth-generation family farm and one of the most historically significant wineries in Lodi. The first vineyard was planted by Greg Burns' great-grandfather Joseph Spenker in 1886 — those Cinsault vines are still alive and producing today, and are believed to be the oldest in the US and possibly the world. Owner and winemaker Greg Burns is a former rodeo rider and ski patroller who took over the family vineyards in 1994 and never looked back. With 280 acres in production and the wisdom of five generations behind him, Greg handcrafts wines that carry genuine history. If you get the chance to meet him, you'll understand why guests keep coming back.

A tiny operation producing under 1,000 cases per year, distributed exclusively through wine club and regional gourmet restaurants. The tasting experience here — led by manager Michael Perry — is one of the most informative and entertaining private tastings in Lodi. Winemaker Ryan Sherman is primarily self-taught and relies almost exclusively on native yeasts, meaning only the yeast naturally occurring on the harvested grapes and in the air. Less predictable, but far more expressive. The wines pair exceptionally well with food and reward the curious palate.

A white wine oasis in a region famous for reds. Winemaker Susan Tipton followed a dream and built something genuinely special — small-batch, award-winning white and rosé wines made from Rhône varieties including Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, and Bourboulenc. The wines are fermented in stainless steel, showcasing pure, fresh fruit. Susan was named Best Woman Winemaker in the 2022 International Women's Wine Competition. Every tasting in their 100-year-old converted barn is paired with small bites designed by a Creative Food Pairing Chef — one of the most complete tasting experiences in Lodi.

A fourth-generation Lodi Appellation farming family producing wines, vinegars, and olive oils from sustainably grown fruit. Ken Gifford runs the 140-acre farm; his wife Jackie makes the wines — Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal winners including a non-irrigated Chardonnay and Merlot from their Thornton Ranch and Old Vine Zinfandel from 80-year-old vines. The tasting room on Thornton Road is part tasting room, part shop, and part production facility. On weekends in warmer months there's usually a band on the patio, and Jackie and her team make every guest feel at home.