On May 16, Lodi’s heritage grape – Zinfandel – will be celebrated, swirled and sipped at the 11th annual ZinFest Wine Festival at Lodi Lake. Along with handcrafted Lodi wines from 40 wineries, the festival will feature educational and entertaining seminars at the ZinFest Wine & Cooking Schools, mouthwatering food from the region’s best restaurants, live music and more! Here’s our sneak peek at three Lodi Zinfandels to enjoy lakeside on the day of the event or with friends and family at your next backyard barbecue.
ZINFEST COMMEMORATIVE OLD VINE ZINFANDEL 
BY MCCAY CELLARS
The honor of crafting the ZinFest commemorative Zinfandel wine goes to one lucky Lodi winery each year. This year, the honor falls to McCay Cellars who gives us this lush, complex 2012 Old Vine Zin which exhibits layers of blackberry, cherry, earth and spice. A limited production at 70 cases, each bottle is individually numbered and proudly displays a replica of Vince McIndoe’s original 2015 ZinFest artwork. Pair this wine with barbecued ribs, pulled chicken sandwiches, or sausage and veggie kabobs. ($35)
MACCHIA WINES 2013 ‘MISCHEIVOUS’ ZINFANDEL
Playful by nature, this fruit-forward Zin is a blend of only the most perfect winegrapes from five separate vineyards – some of which are nearly 100 years old. Concentrated flavors of red and black berries are complemented by a soft vanilla finish. Perfect partners for this fun wine include BBQ chicken pizza, roasted vegetables and rich pastas laced with Provolone, Fontina or Pecorino Romano cheese. ($20) www.macchiawines.com
METTLER FAMILY VINEYARDS 2012 ‘EPICENTER’ OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
This zesty Zin opens with aromas of dried red currant, brambly blackberry and vanilla. Flavors are an explosive swirl of sweet raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry pie wrapped up with notes of sweet tobacco and pepper. This wine cries out to be partnered with wild mushroom risotto, grilled filet or New York strip steak, and semi-hard to hard, smoked cheeses like Gouda or Cheddar. ($20) www.mettlerwine.com
WHERE TO FIND THESE WINES:
Grab yourself a bottle or three of any of these Lodi Zins from the ZinFest Wine Shoppe at the ZinFest Wine Festival at Lodi Lake on May 16 (www.zinfest.com) or from the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, 2545 W. Turner Rd., Lodi, (209) 365-0621. Open daily 10am-5pm., lodiwine.com