San Joaquin County

San Joaquin County is Lodi — the old-vine capital of the state. Mokelumne River sand holds zinfandel plantings that predate Prohibition, trunks thicker than your forearm, roots driving twelve feet deep. Over a hundred wineries pour within a twenty-mile square, most with shaded patios, hitching posts, and water bowls at the gate. The Delta breeze arrives by four and drops the afternoon ten degrees. Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River Trail open leashed walks along the water. Pair an old-vine Lodi zinfandel with a sunset stroll. The county pours more wine per acre than most, and the dog gets a welcome at every stop.