Region:

West Lodi

1973 W. Turner Rd.
Lodi, CA

(209) 368-0880

Winemaker:

Greg Burns

Medium

Days/Hours:

Daily, 12:00 to 5:00

Large

Picnic Facilities:

Event Facilities

Merlot, Carignane, Old Vine Zin, Petite Sirah, Syrah

Chardonnay, White Wine Blend

The Winery:
The family ranch that became Jessie’s Grove was established in 1868. The first vineyards were planted in 1888, and the family continued to add vines as time passed. Every effort has been made by the family of the founder, Joseph Spenker, to preserve the ranch as close to its original state as possible. In keeping with that the tasting room is in a building originally built in 1870 and a museum is housed the original barn built in the 1870s. There is also a 32 acre oak grove that is a nature preserve. The winery is named for Joseph’s daughter, Jessie, a naturalist who grew up on the 320 acre ranch.

The Vineyards:
The vineyards at Jessie’s Grove are a treasure, and include 117 year old Carignane vines, as well as 40 acres of several different aged Old Vine Zinfandels. Some of these Zins were planted in the late 1800s. Many vineyards have been named for horses that roam property, such as the West Wind vineyard, source of a wine that won the treasured 12 best Zins of Lodi award.

The Wines:
These are wines of deep, intense flavors that only old vines can provide. West Wind is made from vines that date to World War II. This is a big, luscious wine with coffee, licorice and big black fruit characteristics. Another of their wonderful Zins, Earth Zin and Fire, has a more jammy and spicy character. This is one of the few wineries that offers an Old Vine Carignane, Unique, which is smooth and complex with a definite brambly characteristic.

The Winemaker: The winemaker at Jessie’s Grove is Jessie’s great grandson, Greg Burns.