![]() ![]() ![]() Once we got our license to do custom crushing, we drove up and down the coast showing potential buyers what our grapes can do. “How do we sell these grapes, market them, and find people to buy them? Around 1994 we began custom crushing and selling wine from these grapes on the bulk market. All these vineyards are own-rooted, on sub-surface irrigation.” Marian’s Vineyard, planted in 1901, is the oldest, and the rest date back to the 1940s. Our home property on West Lane has 8 different blocks of Zinfandel, ranging from 5 acres to 15 acres. On average we sell to about 25 wineries out of that, about 11 different Zinfandel buyers from two zin properties. Right now we farm about 600 acres on five different properties in the Mokelumne River-Lodi appellation. I am a fifth generation California farmer, and our operation continues to be family run. “Our family has been farming in California since 1855, and we have been here in Lodi since 1965. Growers’ Perspectives: What It Takes to Sell Zinfandel Fruit Bruce Fry (Mohr-Fry Ranches): “The four growers on our panel today have been particularly successful in connecting their vineyards with winemakers because they have been able to tell the story of their old vine vineyards, and communicate the value and quality of their product to winemakers willing to pay for those grapes.”Įxcerpts from the panel discussions, along with notes on the Zinfandels presented by each of the eight panelists: We also know that, with the cost of farming today, these vineyards probably need to go into more premium priced wines.” “Our goal is to keep these vineyards for generations to come by connecting them with winemakers across California and in other states, and find these grapes a home. Most of it is grown by independent growers who have been farming their vineyards for generations – something you don’t see as much anywhere else in the world, except in Lodi. ![]() Amant Winery winemaker/owner) Stuart Spencer kicked off the proceedings by reminding the audience of vintners and growers: “Zinfandel has a place in the hearts and minds of the Lodi community. Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director (as well as St. Zinfandel Workshop (from left) moderator Stuart Spencer with panelists Bruce Fry, Jeff Perlegos, Keith Watts and Markus Bokisch.
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