FORBES by Liz Thach, MW “When I saw the George Floyd tragedy on TV, I wondered what can we do to help here in Lodi?” said Rodney Tipton, Managing Partner of Acquiesce Winery. “After working so many years internationally, I knew that people of color were underrepresented in the wine industry, so that seemed like...

We were fortunate enough to have renowned wine writer, sommelier Randy Caparoso join us for a blind tasting with our LAIC scholars . . . here’s his blog post: Visiting wine scholar Andrew Mihm blind tasting six Lodi wines with six comparable wines from Southern France. This past Wednesday, June 9, Acquiesce Winery owner/grower/winemaker Sue Tipton pulled...

KG Vineyard Management – Madelyn Ripken (far right) explaining LODI RULES sustianable winegrowing among Kolber Ranch Zinfandel (Lodi Delta) The Lodi Appellation is the largest wine grape growing region in the US with more than 110,000 acres and 100+ grape varieties and with more than 80 thriving tasting rooms today, we realize the potential of...

JUNE 2021 ENRICHMENT PROGRAM – The Itinerary We are so pleased to welcome our first 5 scholars to Lodi! Here’s their schedule below. As you can see they’ve been really busy getting to know the LAIC winery owners, winemakers, vineyard owners and key personnel. Sunday, June 6 Afternoon arrival and Airbnb check-in 5:30 PM —...

Article by Randy Caparoso, Wine Journalist and Photographer Klinker Brick Winery head winemaker Joseph Smith, an Afro-Latin originally from Belize, and among a minority holding key positions in the Lodi wine industry A group of Lodi vintners have come together to form an organization called the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective, or LAIC. LAIC’s first activity is scheduled to take...

Bob Highfill The Record LODI – Shortly after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers, Rodney Tipton came across a social media post. It showed a list of Black wine professionals and said please do your part to magnify their voices. And by the way, there’s not much inclusion of race in the wine industry, the...