Jon Bjork
@jonoflodi
Working behind the scenes for Lodi wineries.
But if you adjust 2026 GDD down to the 5 year average as of May 1, the bulk of the growing season is tracking under 2025, which was on the cooler side. The more optimal (non-hot) weather along with much more occurrence of hens and chicks is drastically bringing ripening forward.
In Lodi, this year has also been a climate outlier. We had a larger share of our heat before May. This makes our current GDD accumulation look almost as much as the hot 2024 vintage.
Viognier in the rain. Bloom just starting at Berghold Vineyards in Lodi. Some small hail today, but no reports of any damage yet.
My backyard Lodi Petite Sirah opened up on 3/17. The 2026 vintage is off to a slightly early start. Previous bud breaks on those vines were 3/25/25, 3/21/24, 4/9/23, 3/22/22, 3/28/21, 3/26/20, 3/30/19, 3/30/18, 3/25/17, 3/22/16, 3/14/15, 3/14/14, 3/21/13, 3/26/12, 3/17/11, 3/19/10 and 3/16/09.
Just read the letter from Nov 3, 2025 again. This was a state law change as you can see from this photo. My guess is that they got complaints that January 15 was a bit short notice after the holidays. I'm glad they changed it, because it was very difficult to get any answers through the holidays.
I hate what this will do to representation for Lodi, CA. (I can literally walk across 3 boundaries from my house.) We very much like Josh Harder. Glad this will be temporary. I don't see another choice in making the House effective in representing my interests.
Love these end-of-season "spoon" tomatoes! We just throw them into salads. Nice sweet/sour balance.
This morning’s Lodi Merlot pick at Berghold Vineyards. Perfect weather we’ve been having giving us excellent flavors. @Visit_Lodi for @Lodi_Wine #Merlot #Wine #Grapes #Lodi
A few of my favorite shots from this morning’s pick of Lodi Mokelumne Glen Vineyard Kerner for Markus Wine Co. @Visit_Lodi for @Lodi_Wine #Kerner #Wine #Grapes #Lodi
Berghold Vineyards Viognier this morning during this cooler summer in Lodi. Markus collects clusters to test for sugar, acidity & flavor. We might pick these later this week or early next week. (22.9 Brix & pH 3.2 for fellow numbers nerds.) @Visit_Lodi for @Lodi_Wine #Viognier #Wine #Grapes #Lodi
An interesting view from starting up our sampling at Berghold Vineyards in Lodi this morning. This is an old vine Shiraz clone that makes for nice crispy fresh wine. Too bad we don't have any orders for these grapes yet. Par for the course this year. @Visit_Lodi for @Lodi_Wine #Wine #Grapes #Lodi
Backyard Lodi Petite Sirah 2025 harvest from Saturday. Mostly for juice, but at a very nice natural sugar/acid balance with just enough emerging flavors to still be interesting. We did leave a few clusters for the angry birds that had already done their own sampling.
We love this cooler weather in Lodi! Very little mildew compared with 2023 which was cool and devastating. Our GDD was running almost exactly along the average of the last 5 years until the 16th, when it took a turn under average. We'll see what happens...
Exhibit A. Otherwise beautiful clusters of Petite Sirah if it weren't for a couple of peck-sampling birds.
An excellent way to start your day in Lodi! Kudos to Jess Lander for beginning her coverage of our wine community. Read more: bit.ly/VisitorCente...
My dump bin after removing basal leaves, third clusters and wings off of very happy Lodi Petite Sirah. No one needs extra fruit this year.
Markus inspects Lodi's 89 year old Nicolini Ranch Carignane this morning as it wakes up. We're hoping we won't see frost or hail on these ancient vines. And we'd love a year without heat spikes.
Wine is about relationships. Put unprovoked tariffs on your neighbor and it's no surprise they will stop drinking your wine. Very damaging to be losing our best customers when we need them more than ever. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Tariffs on Canada are triggering an expected removal and boycott of California wines. This will have immediate and long term damaging consequences for our industry. Remind me again why we are starting a trade war with our northern neighbor?!? Hear the LCBO's remarks: www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...