Try January in Lodi — A New Way to Explore Wine Country

January does not have to be a month to simply endure. If Dry January is your choice, Lodi supports that, too, with plenty of seasonal experiences beyond wine. If you are still drinking, consider an alternative with an upside: Try January.

The concept is easy: replace habit with curiosity. Visit an unfamiliar winery, order a varietal you have never tried, or choose a food-and-wine experience outside your normal routine. Small firsts become stories, making the month feel fuller and more memorable. Start exploring Lodi one discovery at a time.

Three Simple Ways to Try January

1. Order a Varietal You Have Never Tried

Lodi produces 130+ varieties, giving you plenty of reasons to move beyond your regular wine rotation.

If Cabernet Sauvignon is usually your choice, consider:

• Tempranillo — food-friendly, bright, and structured
• Barbera — juicy acidity and remarkable versatility
• Petit Verdot — bold, dark, and powerful

If Chardonnay is your usual pour, explore:

• Albariño — zesty, citrusy, and coastal in character
• Vermentino — fresh, herbal, and clean-finishing
• Viognier — aromatic, lush, and surprisingly versatile

Zinfandel fans can stay with Lodi’s signature grape while changing the experience:

• Sample old vine Zinfandel
• Choose a single-vineyard Zin
• Taste one Zin beside another and make a true comparison

Try January idea: Ask for a “dealer’s choice” pour. Explain what you normally enjoy and invite the tasting room to select something similar enough to appeal to you, but different enough to be new.

2. Discover a Winery You Have Not Visited

Lodi has 60+ winery tasting rooms, so there are likely several places still waiting on your list.

Choose an approach:

• The hidden gem: Visit the place you have passed 20 times.
• The opposite atmosphere: Trade cozy for modern, or modern for rustic.
• The deep cut: Select a winery because it pours a varietal you have never tasted.

Try January idea: Plan two stops. Begin at a “New to me” winery, then visit your reliable favorite. Compare the surprises from each experience.

3. Add Something Delicious to Your Tasting

Winter can be an especially good season for pairing food and wine, without the heat and crowded calendars of summer.

Keep Lodi Restaurant Week, Jan 23 to Feb 1 on your radar. The event offers a natural reason to explore new restaurants, try new menus, and experiment with pairings.

Try January idea: Order a dish you would not normally choose and match it with an unexpected wine. White wine with winter food is entirely allowed.

Turn It Into a Game: Try January Challenges

A little structure can make the month even more entertaining. Try one of these mini-challenges.

The “3-2-1” Challenge

• 3 new-to-you wines
• 2 new-to-you wineries
• 1 wine-and-food pairing you have never experienced

Varietal Bingo With Friends

Build a bingo card around categories such as:

• “A grape I can’t pronounce”
• “A wine from a varietal I’ve never heard of”
• “A sparkling wine in January”
• “A red that’s not Cab or ZIn”
• “A white that isn’t Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc”

The winner earns bragging rights—and perhaps fries.

The “Ask for the Weird One” Challenge

At every stop, ask: “What’s the bottle you love that most people don’t know to order?”

That question can lead you to the most entertaining discoveries.

Try January Your Way, Including Zero-Proof Options

You can take part in the spirit of Try January without drinking:

• Visit a new restaurant, coffee spot, or dessert destination.
• Enjoy a winery experience for the scenery and community, and choose a non-alcoholic option if one is available at Scotto's Wine & Cider or Durst Winery & Estate.
• Attend a new local event and focus on the moment rather than the pour.

Curiosity matters whether alcohol is part of the experience or not.

A Try January Itinerary

For a plan that feels like a small getaway:

Saturday

• Late morning: Visit one new winery.
• Lunch: Make room for a restaurant pairing experience.
• Afternoon: Stop somewhere that feels entirely different from your first winery.
• Evening: Prepare dinner at home with a bottle you have never purchased.

Sunday

• Have coffee and walk downtown.
• Make a Restaurant Week reservation (Jan 23 to Feb 1) or choose a lunch spot that is new to you.
• Buy one “wild card” bottle to open later in the month.

Lodi has long invited discovery through approachable tastings, welcoming people, and an incredible range of wines. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or live nearby and want a fresh experience, let January be your opportunity to try something different. We’ll raise a glass to that.

Related Lodi Experiences

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Lodi Restaurant Week: A 10-Day Celebration of Lodi’s Diverse Dining Scene

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Beyond Zinfandel: Explore a World of Wine in Lodi

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Author

Wes Rhea
President & CEO @ Visit Lodi

As CEO of Visit Lodi, Wes Rhea focuses on helping people have great trips—and sometimes taking one himself. A lifelong traveler, he enjoys wine tastings, quirky museums, and unexpected turns down country roads. After nearly two decades leading destination marketing in California, he remains most interested in what comes next. His current obsession is Lodi-grown Cinsault.

Related Places

Scotto’s Wine & Cider

14 S School St,
Lodi, California 95240-2115
(209) 224-8590

Durst Winery & Estate

10173 Acampo Rd,
Acampo, California 95220-9480
(209) 601-1413