Alta Mesa – Characterized by heavy clay and gravel soils that hinder deep rooting, the district is a
flat mesa area. It is the second warmest of the new appellations and typical plantings are the Cabernet family (Sauvignon and Franc), Merlot, Syrah, and of
course, Zinfandel.
Borden Ranch – Here you will find well-drained soils of Laguna and Dry Creek, and varied topography
reaching up to the Sierra foothills.
Clements Hills – This is the transitional area between the flat San Joaquin Valley floor and the
eastern Sierra foothills, lots of rounded rolling hills with varied micro climes that are a bit warmer and wetter than the western part of the Lodi AVA.
Cosumnes River – Prone to maritime fog, cooler and windier than many parts of the
Lodi AVA. Here is where you will find more of the white varietals.
Jahant – This is the smallest of the new AVAs and lives in the central part of the
larger AVA. Named for its unique pink soil, this area has a more cool and dry growing season. Growers are planting more whites now, but a number of red
varietals were originally grown here.
Mokelumne River – The City of Lodi is the hub of this appellation, and it is
characterized by an alluvial fan of sandy loam, well-drained soils. Cool and breezy (compared to the other AVAs), you will find many of the area’s major wine
facilities here.
Sloughhouse – This is the warmest of the appellations, in the northeast corner of
the Lodi region. It has less fog, but more winter rain. Red varietals dominate.
