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Michael-David Vineyards
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Wineries Food Wineries Restaurants American (New) Wineries, American (New) [Edit]
4580 W Hwy 12Lodi, CA 95242
(209) 368-7384
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
73 reviews for Michael-David Vineyards
Review Highlights
"So I've had 7 Deadly Zins and Earthquake countless times."
(in 18 reviews)
"Great place to start your Wine tasting."
(in 18 reviews)
"Get Don's Red aka Grandpa's wine."
(in 8 reviews)
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73 reviews in English
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Review from Mitch K.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the powerhouse of Lodi wine and I had to check it out. Not far off the 5, and very easy to find.
The staff here are fantastic. Valerie who poured my tastings was very knowledgeable and lots of fun.
All of the wines were quite delicious and well priced. They have a cafe and food market as well. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Lodi! -
Review from Jennae H.
Folsom, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I visited the vineyard around 2:00 PM (Saturday, January 7th) and the tasting room was packed! I wish hooks underneath the bar were provided, it's a pain to have to hold a purse the entire time. Anyway, $5 Tasting Fee for any 5 wines (free for members). If you purchase a bottle, the $5 will go towards the bottle price. There were adequate wine selections. I wasn't too impressed with the staff, they could have been friendlier. And what's up with the lack of cheese and crackers/bread?!
Bakery and Cafe:
Nice variety of items on the menu, appetizing, and moderately priced. I was really happy with our server, Merina/Marina, she was very friendly and made our experience more enjoyable! I had planned on trying a slice of pie but was disappointed when I found out only fruit pies were offered. Must.. have.. chocolate!! : (
Dine in for four:
Dave's Favorite Burger (Avocado and Swiss) - $7.95
Half order of Chicken Caesar Salad - $4.95
Garden Burger - $6.95
BLT - $6.95
Cup of Tortilla Soup - $2.95
Mimosa (More OJ than Champagne, boo!) - $5.00
Total without Tip - $37.66 (Not bad!) -
Review from Stacey P.
My bf and I came here last weekend to have our first wine tasting together. As we walked through the doors, we made a right to the wine tasting area. The staff was so friendly and answered everyone of our questions. For $5/person, we got to sample 5 wines of their tasting menu...
- 2008 7 Deadly Zins
- 2010 Incognito White Wine
- 2009 Earthquake Zinfandel
- 2009 Ancient Vine Cisault
- 2006 Pin Tower Zinfandel
My favorite, along with all the other yelpers, was the 7 Deadly Zins. It had a nice body to it and berry tones. A small let down was in the Pin Tower Zinfandel which is their dessert wine. The fact that it wasn't sweet. I learned after that it was a Port and fortified with brandy. The taste was good nonetheless but it just caught me off guard.
Tasting fees are waived for each bottle purchase. We bought a bottle of Don's Red for $8.99. We opened it up outside on their cafe patio. I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT and it was delicious. My bf enjoyed his Tri Tip Sandwich as well. Afterwards, we walked around the vineyard the view is beautiful. There's a lot of good photo opportunities on the porch swing and in front of the lake.
Thanks for the great afternoon, Michael-David Vineyards!Listed in: Lodi Wines
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Review from Teresa G.
Union City, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Michael david is a bit away from the the other wineries, but it's worth your drive. They have a selection of cheeses and snacks to help you get through the wineries. Their wines were very pleasant...
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Review from Terry T.
10/9/2011
I was surprised at how many people were tasting wines at 11:30 on a rainy Wednesday, after the first sip of one of their reds I can understand why the tasting bar was full. I enjoyed all the fragrant red wine I tasted.
It was hard to decide which two I wanted to take home. I ended up with the Earthquake Zin and the Ancient Vine Cinsault which is a blend of Rhone Varietals. I am going back for a bottle of the 7 deadly Zins and perhaps some other reds. I might even join their wine club even though it takes forever to drink the wine that I buy.
Turning in to the driveway the winery looks almost like a fruit stand, a nice change from the Napa area where the buildings seem to be as important as the wines. They do have a lot of reasonably priced local produce which I also purchased, and the restaurant looked interesting. I wasn't as impressed with the whites, but then again, I am not a white wine drinker, however the reds were so good, the employees so friendly, and the produce so fresh that they deserve a 5 star rating.Listed in: Wineries
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Review from Em L.
10/5/2011
If John Fogarty had been stuck at this winery/restaurant, "Lodi" would have been much more upbeat.
We gathered here to celebrate a family member's milestone. They offer an indoor restaurant, farmers market - cheese, seasonal veggies, breads- and a wine tasting room.
The restaurant serves delicious seasonal food in large portions. Their desserts are diviiiine!
Wines: Highly recommend the Incognito White, Petite Petit, Syrah & Heavenly Chards.
Be sure to check out the beautiful garden out back. It's the perfect place to brunch!
Oh, and there are animals here. -
Review from Sandy S.
Modesto, CA
11/26/2011
Enjoy this winery...casual and friendly. We love the Petite Syrah and the price is right as well. It's a great place to head last minute for the fact it's just up the road from Modesto when your in the mood for some wine tasting.
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Review from Alyssa H.
Sacramento, CA
1/2/2012
Great wine! They have some good, inexpensive wines, and some great, expensive wines!
The wine tasting room is cozy and easy going, no pressure to buy.
The staff is a little hit and miss, I guess it depends on who is pouring the wine.
The atmosphere outside is great with beautiful gardens and nice places to relax. They do have a farm on the property and my daughter's kindergarten class visited on their first field trip!
Great family, great wine...Cheers! -
Review from Brett N.
Rancho Cordova, CA
Updated - 9/15/2011
Updating my review, and taking away 2 stars. They now have decided they're snobby enough to tell their wine club members (myself included) that they aren't paying enough for their "good wines" and have started a more expensive "Reserve Club" on top of their existing.
Well, I joined so I'd have access to their best wines. And now I'm considering cancelling and crossing them off my list.
What was a good value is no more. Now they want 4 times as much for their Reserve Club. Sorry, your wines just aren't that good, and to now tell me I'm 2nd fiddle is kind of insulting.
My original review posted below.
This is the first place where I felt like joining the "wine club" was a decent value. They have excellent pricing on some really good wines, very friendly staff - and Don appears to be the most lovable guy in the room. Maybe he was a bit snookered on his red... (Don's Lodi Red!) Dunno, but I saw a couple from Canada that made a special trip to visit the winery talking with him, and he really made them feel welcome and appreciated their enthusiasm. I love good customer service!
Ok, to the winery. They've got a bakery, a small cafe, and some doo-dads you can also buy. Kinda pricey for doo-dads, but the fresh veggies and such looked like a fair value, especially knowing they didn't come from Mexico or further south!
Wines are a good variety. I was shocked when I found myself joining the wine club - because usually my favorite tasting is the port/dessert wines. I didn't find their all that great, but everything else was good and I felt the wines there were a lot better than many at 4 and 5 times the price of some of the more pretentious wineries in the area.
Don's Lodi Red is a really good table wine and affordable enough to buy a case or two for friends and family and not break the bank. 7 Deadly Zins is the house favorite it seems, they have 2 cabernets, both excellent, the ZinPort/dessert wine - well, I almost think they opened a bad bottle? I'll give it another shot.
Friendly staff, flexible tastings, all in all a nice time there.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/3/2011
This is the first place where I felt like joining the "wine club" was a decent value. They have… Read more »
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Review from C. W.
San Mateo, CA
10/12/2011
Sadly disappointed. We were on vacation and I was ready for some wine tasting in Lodi. I had done my research and narrowed my list down to just a few wineries. We planned our wine-tasting for a weekday when the crowds would be gone. This was our first winery for the day and I had been looking forward to tasting here.
The staff was not warm or very friendly. We asked to taste their Earthquake Zin and they didn't have any to offer for tasting nor did they have any bottles to purchase. How can a winery not have one of their signature wines available for the public to taste?
The wines we tasted were ok, but we were left feeling let down. I just took away another star thinking back on that day.
Oh well, on to better wine-tastings :) -
Review from cricket j.
Fullerton, CA
9/16/2011 2 photos
I went to Lodi specifically to stop by Michael-David Vineyards and pick up some RAPTURE unfortunately it's completely sold out and I had to sample some stuff.
Gotta love their EARTHQUAKE Zinfandel and Reserve Cabernet. It's no Rapture but comes in a close second. The M-D Zinfandels are very distinctive and have a very smoky smell and taste, not overwhelming but apparent.
I like the relaxed atmosphere of the tasting room. No pressure from the tasting room representative to join a wine club and generous pours. -
Review from Loan N.
Milpitas, CA
8/25/2011
Why did I join their wine club?
I absolutely love the atmosphere at this winery. The outside may not look outstanding, but walk into the doors, and you'll find a cute cafe to your left, fresh produce for sale ahead, and to the right is a wonderful wine tasting room filled with awesome staff. I learned a lot about wine from the staff.
Head outside in the back, and you'll walk into a green GARDEN filled with flowers and seating. The garden is my favorite spot on a warm day. Ideal spot for photographs. There's a separate flower garden too. Explore a bit more outside and you'll find a pond with geese. There's also a farm with chickens, goats, turkeys, and rabbits.
Wine tasting filled with an enchanting outdoor experience. ENJOY! -
Review from stacie s.
Sacramento, CA
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
First this place rates high for me b/c I love Zins and especially theirs. They have a very cute dinner right there too and the food was above average considering they were slammed. They offer some nice baked goodies and offer lots of samples (which may be the reason I wasn't too impressed with the food at the cafe b/c I overdosed on zucchini bread). After we left we stepped outside to the lovely gardens which were splendid. There is a nice seating area with some games (like bean bag toss) for the kids. It is right off the freeway (12 and 5) so there is really no other reason to NOT stop and check it out. Bon Appetit!
PS their pouring area was small. There wasn't a line but you could see the pourers were very busy. -
Review from Kele J.
Poway, CA
7/5/2011
I have worshipped this winery from afar for the last six months or so. I had the good fortune to stumble upon Earthquake Zin in a local San Diego bistro and it was love at first beautifully fragrant, decadent mouthful.
So, when I got the opportunity to visit Michael David today on the last leg of our SD to Northern CA and back again vacation, I was giddy with anticipation and I'm happy to say that I was most definitely not disappointed.
Wine tastings are $5, which is then credited toward any bottle purchase. We like only reds so we tried the Incognito Rouge, 6th Sense Syrah, Petite Petit, 7 Deadly Zins, the Earthquake Cab, Lodi Red, and finished with the Earthquake Zin. Amazing! Not a mediocre wine among them! I like the earthy wines, so I bought the Cab, my boyfriend bought the Incognito, and we also bought the Lodi Red, an inexpensive, but infinitely drinkable blend. The woman who poured for us was quite knowledgable but quick to admit that she was still learning. She did not steer us wrong.
We enjoyed our experience so much, we joined the wine club so that we could have this grapey goodness shipped to us four times a year AND get a sizeable discount on bottles and cases to be sent to our So Cal abode.
Lately we've been extremely disappointed with our Temecula tasting outings--crowded conditions, mediocre wines, surly someliers, and inflated tasting fees. Michael David is a breath of fresh air, a wine lover's paradisical dream.
In the future, I foresee numerous 20 hour roundtrip drives to imbibe in many more divine wine adventures at Michael David. -
Review from Steve K.
7/25/2011
7 Deadly Zins more or less put these guys on the must-visit list...
However, there is so much more to the Michael-David experience. They have a restaurant serving locally-sourced meals, a bakery, a small (but great-looking) selection of local produce, a wine tasting area (of course!), and much more, although we didn't try the restaurant on this trip.
It was fairly busy here on a Saturday afternoon, but we were able to get a wine tasting with not too long of a wait. Our pourer was very friendly and knowledgeable... The tasting fee of $5 each was refunded with the purchase of any bottle, so we ended up with the Petite Petit (nice price for an everyday blend) and the Earthquake Syrah (my personal fav). Some of their higher end wines are also very good and worth a look, such as Gluttony and Inkblot -
Review from TJ U.
Folsom, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved the earthquake Zin. The wine was good, but the wine tasting "area" was not my idea of a wine tasting room. The wine tasting room combines a small farmers market type store & a small 10 table cafe.
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Review from Ti B.
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
It wasn't what we usually go for. We like peppery, sweet, full bodied wines. These were ok. I liked the table wine best unfortunately. But the location is awesome! They have animals and a pumpkin patch! Great winery for kids!
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Review from Ann H.
Sacramento, CA
11/18/2011
Went here years ago, went back again for bachelorette party. What a huge fan I am! OMG. My sister LOVES LOVES LOVES the Lust. I wanted to hug the Gluttony and curl up with it in pajamas. I originally fell in love with their Earthquake Zin. I joined their wine club and will be going back for their Cinsault, Gluttony and Napa Zin. This winery has just too many awesome wines to ignore. The reason they don't have some for tastings sometimes when you come by is because they're so damn yummy and people buy them up quick. I was super disappointed this time going back for the Cinsault and not being able to get it. Luckily, I live close enough to swing by as needed...
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Review from Rachel M.
Wow - what a find!
My family from the UK is in town this weekend and we wanted to take them out and do something fun. So, after some research, my mom found this gem in Lodi.
At first glance, it doesn't look like much. But once you walk inside, you immediately see all of the fresh produce, bakery goodies, and other knick knacks (including wine, of course). To the right is the wine tasting counter. Each person may try 5 wines for FREE. You are given a list with a few of their best selling wines and you choose any. Except the reserves, which cost an extra $5 to try. But hey, that's still a good deal. My family tried most of the chardonnays and merlots and liked them all. My dad also tried one of their red dessert wines and thought that that was a tasty treat as well.
After doing some wine tasting, we stepped outside to their beautiful garden area with green grass, fresh flowers, flowery overhangs, and picnic tables. There's also a little area where you can see the ducks and geese int he pond. I could easily see this place as being a potential wedding site for a couple looking for a beautiful, convenient location.
We then decided to grab some lunch from the cafe. Most of their food is a "homemade" style, which actually made the meal more enjoyable. After hearing one of the waitresses talk about their famous chicken tortilla soup, I decided to go with that (with a lemonade, of course). Normally I don't order soup as an entree but this filled me right up. it was chocked full of spice, flavor, chicken, tomatoes, etc. It was also surrounded with some delicious, crunchy tortilla chips. I was given garlic bread on the side as well. My lemonade was refreshing and was definitely freshly squeezed. Major plus!
We each got a slice of their specially made apple pie with vanilla ice cream which was definitely a great way to end the meal. Their pie crust is delicious and crispy and is even sprinkled with cinnamon. YUM.
Our waiter, George, was attentive and kept checking on our table often.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this winery to friends and the staff is very knowledgable about wines and are very welcoming and friendly. Definitely stop by if you're close or in the area and are looking for some new, tasty wines to try or just want a bite to eat and look around. -
Review from Brad Y.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
FREE wine tasting? YES PLEASE!
You can pay $10 for the reserve tasting or taste all the other ones absolutely FREE.
Stepped in about 20 minutes before closing, but the bartenders were accommodating and welcoming. Poured about 7 glasses apiece for me and my friends which, to say the least, was welcomed with open arms.
There are some wines which I didn't know were produced by Michael-David and were surprisingly great! For those that like lighter, sweeter whites, I suggest trying the Symphony wine. Muscat and something else combined by one of the UC schools for a GREAT tasting wine!
After tasting all of the reds, I've got to say that the Seven Deadly Zins is still my favorite by far. -
Review from Dana C.
Lodi, CA
7/2/2011 4 Check-ins Here
We are wine club members and love it!!
The wine is excellent, one of the best in the area. The tasting room is always accommodating and clean. The market/produce is always fresh.
We will continue to enjoy Michael-David wines and all of the perks that being wine club members has to offer! -
Review from Pat G.
Lodi, CA
7/26/2011
Award winning wines!! Love their Earthquake Zinfandel. The tasting room is right next to their dining and nice yard full cute animals.
The hosts who pour wine are nice and fairly well informed, and can tell you much about the wines. The cafe server okay food. We buy a bottle, some fruit & cheese to eat outside. A charming place to hang out with your family. -
Review from Blake R.
Hercules, CA
6/1/2011
I have always been a fan of Michael David wines. EarthQuake Cab is one of my favorites.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.
The property is beautiful and has lots of space to enjoy a bottle of wine and play some games and take photos.
The whole EarthQuake series is great and worth a try -
Review from LeeLee C.
Milpitas, CA
12/23/2010 3 photos
For so many wineries we tasted everywhere, Michael-David delivered the best results among all the wines we tasted.
In such a small unassuming plaza, sharing the space with a grocery and bakery store, Michael-David's wines kicked ass. We tasted all their whites and reds and each of them are good. That's is what got me so impressed. I've been to countless wineries where they have one or two good wines out of a list of 7 or 8 tastings, but Michael-David can deliver each label with big body, strong flavor, smooth finish and a strong impression. I also like their Symphony a lot, it's a very easy drinking white without the harsh oakyness like Chardonnay.
We signed up for the wine membership at the end of our tasting, first wine membership for us! -
Review from Terry H.
Running Springs, CA
9/27/2011
Good selection of wines especially Zins. Other fun stuff to look at any buy. Staff is very knowledgable and helpful. The young lady that helped us circled 4 or 5 other wineries and they were all excellent.
Restaurant was having problem with a recently refurbished kitchen so I won't say anything about that other than there was a bad fly problem in there. -
Review from Mike T.
Sacramento, CA
9/17/2010
So I've had 7 Deadly Zins and Earthquake countless times. Both very solid $15-25 wines. So I had HIGH hopes for this visit.
I was quite disappointed with the experience. I walked away STILL only liking Earthquake Zin and Cab and 7 Deadly Zins. I would not buy any of the 6-7 other wines that we tasted. Additionally, the young lady pouring for us knew very little about wine other than the particular type of Michael David Sweet wine that her grandmother loves to get drunk with (not very professional).
Other than the pub-par wine and service, there is a cute little market to buy produce, vino, and fresh made pies. -
Review from Bobby l.
6/28/2010
Free wine tasting, YUMMY White wines, and I like their Windmill cab, a must try IMO.
Visit their back yard for a game of bocchi ball, enjoy the landscape, or a small picnic, or even pick some flowers (for free!) in their flower yard (bring your own scissors/knives and vases).
Inside, they have a cafe serving pies and breads, a small fresh veg/fruit , and of course wine!
Ended up buying 2 bottles of the Symphony, which is a great sweet wine. SO yummy, I'm going to get some more the next time I'm in the area! -
Review from M P.
Stockton, CA
6/23/2010
a pre-fathers day festivity -the fam went on a Saturday and it wasn't too overly crowded. We ate at the cafe and was pleasantly surprised by the freshness and quality of the food (plus reasonable prices! with typical lunch fare- Caesar and other salads, veggie burger, turkey wrap, etc.) they have a little outdoor patio that is covered which was very nice. (little pond with a few fish too!)
The attached market had tons of goodies, homemade breads, pies, produce etc. We snatched a peach pie from the hutch that was still warm! and VERY tasty :-)
Walk a few more steps and you're in the tasting room. Complimentary tastings are always nice. We loved the Sauvingon Blanc and bought a bottle...about $16 (but oh so gooood!)
Take a few more steps and you are outside amongst the most gorgeous garden and landscape setting. lush flowers and an expansive lawn was very inviting..perfect for a lazy afternoon picnic- Bocce courts were empty (it was a little too toasty outside)
we love michael david winery! -
Review from Beau H.
Sacramento, CA
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Went here years ago and it was average. Boy did it change! The wine tasting is second to none. Really good, customer service, and also tasty wines. We grabbed some grub at the cafe and it was amazing, fresh local produce and overall outstanding. We joined the wine club and will be back for sure. Check out the grounds, they are outstanding and worth a look and walk around with glass of wine in hand.
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Review from Brian C.
Beaverton, OR
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
A co-worker suggested we had an "end of year" (I work for a college) breakfast. I was glad she suggested it. When we went, about a month or so ago, there was some construction on the front entrance. We walked around the side entrance, which was actually preferable, because I got to see more of the grounds. To the right of the walkway was a large trellis covered with flowering vines. It provided shade for the two rustic wooden Adirondack chairs. I wish I had more time to sit there and take in the sunny view and quiet ambiance. I can't say it was as quiet and serene while we ate. The pounding from the construction was a bit loud at times. Aside from that, the waitress was friendly. She was on top of things without being too "involved" (I'm thinking about other servers that hover, almost TOO much, to the point where you can't enjoy your meal. Know what I'm sayin?) The feel was relaxed. Decor had a country woody feel AND clean. The eating area is adjacent to the store, which sells wine, bread (co-workers raved about their pear bread, which you can sample), and other food stuffs. All that said, on to the food!
I'm a sucker for deep fried, heavy breakfast foods. I ordered the country fried steak. They have many healthier, probably more sophisticated, options. I'm easy to please, and they did it well. It was a big slab of beef fried to a crisp. The breading and the meat never separated. On top, they generously slathered sausage gravy. There were well-sized sausage chunks, a great addition. The dish came with scrambled eggs, hashed browns, and sourdough toast. There were other bread choices. You could also get their home made apple butter. Others said it was delicious. Personally, I would've liked my potatoes a little crispier. Scrambled eggs were as I expected. The toast was delicious. I wish I had more space to eat it all. It was thick sliced, toasted, and buttered. Prices were really reasonable too. I only paid about 9 bucks after tax and tip, coffee included.
Definitely recommend it. Great place for breakfast. I imagine it'd be great for lunch too, but I can't say for sure. It'd probably get a five, if it wasn't for the construction. It is what it is. :) -
Review from TOOTSIE RUE m.
Sacramento, CA
8/10/2011
My very first wine tasting experience and it was AWESOME! Pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff. Went over the tasting limit I felt like a star! lol! Bring your friends for a wonderful grown experience. Non snobbery folks in lovely Lodi vineyards
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Review from sheryl m.
San Carlos, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
good wine!
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Review from Janet S.
5/9/2011
I REALLY like this winery tasting room. In addition to their wines, they have some delicious baked goods to sample: pumpkin bread, persimmon cookie, apple bread, pear bread . . . sooo good! After some bread noshing, made our way to the wine. Loved the Don's blend, which is still a reasonable $8.99. Also bought the Earthquake Zin and Petit Syrah. They have a beautiful garden w/ plenty of picnic tables. A must when you're in Lodi.
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Review from Greg F.
Elk Grove, CA
7/18/2011
One of the better wineries in Lodi, with a nice price point. Looking forward to attending their event in August!
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Review from Jessica L.
Sacramento, CA
5/11/2011
looking for a winery that isn't as pretentious as the Napa, Sonoma varietal (wine joke!) this is the place to come.
It was our last stop on the "Lodi Chocolate and Wine" Festival. The grounds were beautiful. Behind a man made pond we discovered chicken coups, turkeys (no they didn't smell bad), a bocce ball court and a lovely wooden trellis filled with patio sitting and adorned with flowers.
The inside might have been even cuter than the outside. Very nice gift shop area with little snacks for lunch, shirts and glasses for sale. They also has a large tasting area, with their famous "7 Deadly Zins" bottles on the walls, so of course I had to try it. it reminded me of being in a family kitchen. Granite counter tops, rod iron details on the chairs, the décor gave off a very warm feeling.
Let's just say we left with 3 bottles of wine and a "7 Deadly Zins" wine glass, so the wine was outstanding. The customer service was "on point" and we almost signed up for their wine club we had such a great experience.Listed in: Girl stuff
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Review from Eric H.
5/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
Food, fresh fruits and vegetables + wine = very nice.
This place is very low key from the outside. Looks a lot like an old country store front. Inside looks quaint in a simple way. The food in the cafe is very good. I stopped here for the 7 Deadly Zins that this wine maker has and was very pleasantly surprised by everything else they offer. The waitresses staffing the restaurant were very pleasant and helpful in getting us seated as soon as possible. The restaurant is cafe sized inside and they did their utmost to seat us in a timely manner. They even showcased another local wine by the front door.
All in all I recommend this place to anyone in the Lodi area that is looking for a nice place to stop, have lunch and take back some very good wine for later. -
Review from Cindy G.
Sacramento, CA
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Enjoyed our time on Saturday for the club owners wine pick up event. Enjoyed listening to the good music the band played and cheeses to taste along with a great assortment of wines. Felt like I was a a Family BBQ. Very relaxing, and comfortable day in the sun at the Michael David Winery.
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Review from JC D.
3/8/2008
You definitely have to end your tour here.
I drove up the 99 on my way from San Diego to Seattle, and winery hopped my way across to the 5.
The winery is also a produce store and deli. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by a couple of swaying wino girls that should have stopped drinking 3 glasses ago. The pourer used to live in my old 'hood, Mission Bay, and was familiar with the wine country in my home state of Washington. Small world. He was very generous with the pours and kept everyone entertained.
The wines have clever names like "Lustful Zin, Earthquake, Delish and 7 Zins." I'm not a fan of Zinfandels, but that's the major variety in this area because of the warmer climate. I bought a bottle of 7 Zins which is made by 7 different growers.
A perfect end to the day would be a bottle of wine, some cheese, a little bread and olive oil for dipping. There's some vine shaded benches on the side of the winery that are perfect for a sunset picnic.
The wines range from $18 to $62. Wine tasting is $10 for 3 wines, but he ended up pouring me 2 more. I don't know if they didn't want to charge me, but I only paid for my bottle of 7 Zins.Listed in: Wines on the Road
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Review from BETO D.
Mountain View, CA
1/7/2011
"Incognito" is my favorite wine from Michael David. It is very good and you dont have to surrender your first born to own a bottle. If you visit this winery and are a fan of red wine blends, i highly recommend this vino.
Lunch at the cafe is always good, fresh ingredients are evident in all of their dishes. -
Review from Matthew R.
San Ramon, CA
1/25/2009
Lodi is a great place to get away from the Bay Area for a little wine tasting. This town does not have the snootiness, that's often found at Napa Wineries. Tastings are very affordable and often times you can meet the Winemakers themselves.
Michael-David has a very unique tasting room, as it's just a counter in a General Store. Although they have a very primitive section for tasting their wine, you should should not be turned off. Not only is the staff very knowledgeable, they are quite friendly.
While there, I greatly appreciated their Seven Deadly Zins, Earthquake Zin, Heavenly Chard. At the time (7/05) it was hard to find their wines anywhere beyond their Winery and BevMo and a couple of boutique stores. Fast forward a couple of years and you can find them virtually anywhere (even Longs Drugs). Even with their bigger scale production, flavor and quality has not been lost.
This winery was also featured on Girl's Next Door (program on E!). One of the Bunnies root's are in the Lodi area. She brought the others to come visit and this was one of their stops along the way.
