Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines

During this time of COVID-19, there’s a lot of virtual wine tastings for wine writers and wine lovers alike. While it’s not the same as tasting in person, these online wine experiences are getting out the message, that there’s a lot of great wine out there that might not have been on your radar, and serves as a great introduction to wines you might not know much about. Recently I had a virtual tasting with Oak Farm Vineyards of Lodi, California, with Dan Panella, Co-owner and Director of Winemaking, and Sierra Zeiter, assistant winemaker, thanks to Colangelo & Partners PR. I was struck by the intensity and “aliveness” of the four different wines, which embodied their varietal essence to the max, perhaps even surpassing their native Italian incarnations. It’s as if an extra dollop of California sun brought out their full potential, with the deft hand of a winemaking team to find the best techniques to finish these wines.

Courtesy of Oak Farm Vineyards

Dan Panella of Oak Farm Vineyards

Chad Joseph and Dan Panella at Oak Farm Vineyards

Although Oak Farm Vineyards has been around since 1864, the Panella family bought the 70 acre property in 2004. The Panellas had lots of experience farming in the Lodi region, working their agricultural magic since 1936. Dan, the third generation, set his sights on replanting the property in 2012, concentrating on Italian and Bordeaux winegrape varietals, and building a sleek new winemaking facility and tasting room. With guidance and advice from local consultant Chad Joseph, Panella sought to “push the envelope of what Lodi can do”. Working in Mother Nature’s lab, Panella and his team are focused on evolving Lodi wines, tinkering with different yeast strains, blending different vineyards and AVAs, French and American oak aging, and what he considers his secret weapon, stainless steel Italian barrels.

Offering several Estate Grown bottlings, Oak Farm Vineyards produces five whites, two rosés, and over a dozen reds, including a few vineyard specific Zinfandel wines from renowned Lodi vineyards. “Quality over quantity” is Oak Farm’s mantra, they actually thin the crop of clusters by 50%, to concentrate the fruit and make the best quality wines possible, a necessary trimming due to Lodi’s rich soil, which allows grapevines to thrive almost too much. Fourteen varietals are nurtured at Oak Farm, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, and Fiano make up the whites, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Primitivo, Sangiovese, and Petite Sirah comprise the reds. Two different Rosé wines are made, the estate bottle is a blend of Barbera and Sangiovese, and a single vineyard Grenache rosé from a different AVA.

These are the four wines that I sampled:

Oak Farm Vineyards Fiano 2019 (SRP $26) - a nod to Dan’s father’s Italian heritage, this white wine is a showstopper! A recent addition to Oak Farm, this award-winning Fiano has caught fire. Floral and herbal, with melon, apricot, and buttered pecans aromas, this is a vibrant, fresh white that turns complex on the palate. With notes of citrus and minerals, it’s expansive mouthfeel turns round, giving body and weight to the wine, due to aging in neutral oak and on its lees for over 6 months. Flavorful and distinctive, with a long finish, this Fiano is best served cold, so refreshing by the glass, but pairs very well with seafood and light salads.

Oak Farm Vineyards Rosé 2019 (SRP $26) - estate grown 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Barbera, this aromatic and fruity wine has a Jolly Rancher quality on the nose, lots of cherry and strawberry fruit, with a touch of lemon. But, it is surprisingly dry on the palate, with mouthwatering acidity and an underlying savory note that provides intrigue, probably due to the nature of Sangiovese. Produced in a saignée method, which means bleeding off the red wines during processing and finishing the juice like a white wine, it offers an intensity of flavor and a lingering finish. Fresh and lively, this Rosé is perfect for summer drinking and eating, but I think it would be a very good wine for all seasons.

Oak Farm Vineyards Barbera 2018 (SRP $25) - this silky, lush and spicy wine is a party in your mouth! So seductive in its cherry cola, pomegranate, ripe plum and spice profile, beautifully balanced with vibrant acidity and soft tannins. The nutmeg, herbal and vanilla oak notes really accent the wine, and while mostly Barbera, there is a splash of Petite Sirah to add weight, structure, and color. The nose is so fragrant, it’s hard to pull yours out of the glass to take a sip. This Barbera has a special cork, called the Diam 5, that lets the right amount of oxygen trickle into the bottle, evolving the wine for up to five years. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait to drink it, so immensely pleasurable now, by the glass or with any Italian red sauce dish. Panella said this wine is one of their top sellers in the tasting room, and I can see why.

Oak Farm Vineyards Tievoli Red Blend 2018 (SRP $22) - a unique blend of Zinfandel, Primitivo, Barbera, and Petite Sirah makes for a bold, complex wine. Award-winning, this wine is all about the dark fruit and vanilla spice, smooth and balanced with a long finish. Panella notes that the name “Tievoli” is “I love it” spelled backwards, and that each varietal contributes something special to the blend. Zinfandel brings the jammy essence of plums, blackberries and raspberries, Barbera gives the wine brightness, Petite Sirah donates structure, weight, and color, and Primitivo contributes earthy and spicy notes. Silky and easy to drink, it’s good by the glass, or with hearty fare, and even delicious chilled. Another popular wine among fans of Oak Farm Vineyards!

These wines are available online, through oakfarmvineyards.com/Store and at the tasting room. Oak Farm Vineyards has plenty of outdoor space for wine tourism and tasting, and other hospitality areas for private events when the time comes that we can get together. In the meantime, wine is our bond, and Oak Farm Vineyards is a bright spot for wine lovers. And, if you’re not acquainted with Lodi wines, this link to my three part in-depth report on the Lodi region will win you over. Lodi offers something for everyone, with over 100 varietals grown, Albariño to Zinfandel, these fascinating wines are also easy on the budget, many selling for under $25. Named by Wine Enthusiast as the 2015 Wine Region of the Year, Lodi offers such diversity and quality, and a commitment to sustainable farming through their Lodi Rules program. Excellent wines at amazing prices, Lodi is a wine lover’s dream come true.