There was an old song from my college days which had the lyric, “Oh Lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again!” So where exactly is Lodi? And, why as a wine drinker, should I care? Well first, I care because the Lodi Appellation of California is producing some pretty good wines at a very “pretty” price!

Lodi, California is about fifty miles east of San Francisco, about fifty miles south of Sacramento, and about fifty miles north of Modesto, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. The Appellation extends east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and has a climate much like the Mediterranean region, with warm days and cool nights.

John Van Ruiten a Dutch immigrant bought his first vineyard property in the Lodi area in the early 1950’s and began growing grapes for sale to wineries. They opened their Van Ruiten Family Winery in 2000, after fifty years of farming grapes, and now three generations of family members tend the vineyards and manage their winery.

The 2005 Van Ruiten Vineyards Chardonnay is one of those wines I call a sleeper. I thought the 2005 vintage was so good that I bought all of the remaining cases from the local distributor. The wine has a wonderful floral aroma, reminding one of a fruit orchard in the springtime.

The wine is rich and buttery, with the taste of apples and pears, and a smooth creamy finish. We are pleased to offer you this terrific value wine at two dollars less than the regular price, which was a bargain to begin with. Pick up a bottle and enjoy it with grilled teriyaki chicken, or my favorite -- a cold seafood salad of shrimp and king crab.