Lodi Native™ is a collaborative project by six winegrowers of like mind, living and working in the Lodi American Viticultural Area -- particularly Lodi's historic Mokelumne River sub-AVA. Their mission: to turn the spotlight on the region’s heritage plantings – many of them dating back to the late 1800s – through sensible viticulture and minimalist winemaking practices, beginning with native yeas
t fermentation and use of no new oak. The focus is on Zinfandel, but on the taste of vineyards rather than varietal character or brand. WINEMAKING PROTOCOLS
> 100% Zinfandel bottlings from a single contiguous vineyard (exception: old vine plantings with long established field mixes) located within the Lodi AVA.
> Preference for established “old vine” plantings (i.e. pre-1962), with exceptions made for distinctive younger plantings.
> Native yeast (non-inoculated) fermentations only.
> No use of oak chips, dust or similar amendments.
> No acidification or de-acidification.
> No new oak or use of innerstaves in aging process.
> No water addition or de-alcoholizing measures.
> No tannin additions.
> No inoculation for malolactic fermentation.
> No use of Mega-Purple or other concentrate products.
> No filtering or fining.
> No must concentration, Flash Détente or similar extraction measures
> Proposed cuvées are to be submitted by each producer for sensory evaluation and subsequent approval of entire group.
> Preference for vineyards certified by Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing and/or CCOF.
