It was a bright morning in our vineyards, with the early summer heat already creeping in. Lizzy James vines basked in the sunlight, standing gnarly and wild, leafy tendrils spilling over themselves as they have done every late spring since they were first planted in 1904. On this day, however, these old vines welcomed new visitors for the first time.
A caravan of cars enthusiastically arrived, led by our fearless Proprietor and Vineyard Manager Kyle Lerner. A group of about 30 Harney Lane aficionados hopped out, eager to learn more about Kyle’s personal experience with this historic vineyard. Many had heard stories about Lizzy James over the years and virtually all had sampled our flagship Lizzy James Old Vine Zinfandel, but tasting, learning and even touching these vines was a new kind of experience.
The whole Harney Lane Family was present to share in the history and storytelling from a farmer-turned winemaker’s perspective. Guests gathered beneath a small tent set out near the shade of our cherry orchard, which stands beside the Lizzy James vineyard. A perfect time of year to visit, when perfectly ripe Bing cherries sit ready for picking.
As the wine flowed, so did the conversation. Kyle, never shy about sharing his experience farming in Lodi, dove right into the nitty gritty details, while Jorja, Kathy and our foreman Luis were also on hand to share more about their own relationships with Lizzy James. Guests were treated to a sampling of our new release 2017 Dry Rosé, which is partially blended with Old Vine Zinfandel, followed with the 2015 Lizzy James vintage, an exclusive Library selection and a final tasting of the beloved Lizzy James Port – sourced exclusively from its namesake vineyard.
This ‘tailgate tasting’ in the Lizzy James vineyard made for a memorable afternoon. We often talk about the “Grape to Glass” experience here at Harney Lane, and this is truly what we mean! Although our family has been farming this land for over 100 years, we are always amazed and grateful at what we receive in return, both from the vines and from our passionate guests. We look forward to hosting more activities that bring these two elements together – we hope you will join us!
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