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Klinker Brick Winery — A Lodi Wine Country Legacy

Klinker Brick Winery
15887 N Alpine Rd, Lodi, CA 95240-9331, United States
(209) 333-1845

Overview

Discover one of Lodi’s most celebrated wineries at Klinker Brick Winery. Six generations of the Felten family have built a tradition centered on exceptional grape growing and award-winning winemaking. The winery is known for acclaimed Old Vine Zinfandels and handcrafted wines that express the character, history, and terroir behind Lodi’s reputation as a premier California wine destination.

The welcoming tasting room combines rustic charm with contemporary style. Guests can sample estate-grown wines made from some of Lodi’s oldest vineyards, including bold reds and crisp whites. Every pour reflects the winery’s dedication to quality, innovation, and family tradition.

Reasons to Visit Klinker Brick Winery

A Lodi Family Heritage

The Felten family’s history reaches across generations. Their ancestors traveled from Germany and Russia to the American Midwest before ultimately making their home in California’s Central Valley. Lodi’s fertile soils, warm days, and cooling Delta breezes attracted the family, who first grew watermelons before seeing the area’s significant promise for premium wine grapes.

The Feltens were among Lodi’s early agricultural pioneers. They helped make Zinfandel a signature variety in the region and planted it alongside Carignane, Tokay, and Alicante Bouschet. Their vineyards contributed to Lodi’s emergence as one of California’s premier winegrowing regions.

For many decades, the family grew grapes for home winemakers throughout the East Coast and Canada, harvesting the fruit carefully and sending it by rail. As winemaking changed, the Feltens advanced their agricultural methods with tools such as drip irrigation and modern vineyard management practices, improving fruit quality while supporting vineyard sustainability.

The Move from Grape Growing to Winemaking

After close to a century of supplying grapes to other winemakers, Steve and Lori Felten founded Klinker Brick Winery in 2000. The winery began with one bottling of Old Vine Zinfandel, a wine that conveyed the richness and complexity of Lodi’s historic vineyards and opened a new chapter in the family story.

The winery takes its name from the dark-colored klinker bricks found in many historic Lodi buildings. These bricks represent strength, individuality, and endurance—qualities that remain central to Klinker Brick’s winemaking philosophy.

Wines Inspired by Lodi

Klinker Brick crafts each wine to reveal the distinctive character of Lodi’s vineyards while drawing on generations of family knowledge.

Whether you have long enjoyed wine or are visiting Lodi Wine Country for the first time, Klinker Brick Winery provides an authentic tasting experience shaped by history, craftsmanship, and a passion for exceptional wine. Klinker Brick remains a cornerstone of Lodi’s winemaking legacy.

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