Between the big city and majestic mountains sits Lodi — California’s small town answer to big-time flavor. This wine is reminiscent of the field blends made by California’s pioneering winemakers. The blend is made up of a large variety of grapes grown in this region: Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tannat and Souzao.

Many of the popular California red blends you see on the shelves are various wine companies’ solution for having too much Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel in their tanks. Just get the grapes real ripe, blend them together and leave a good dose of residual sugar. Rather than follow this model, we instead sought out high quality wine made from old vines in the heart of Lodi and the Sierra Foothills. We think it’s a better red blend.

To make the wine, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel and then aged in a blend of concrete and oak for 6 months. Big aromas of cassis, blackberry, and plum with traces of vanilla and cedar. Textured, full-bodied and larger than life, you may just have to stretch out your mouth for that first sip.