Crystal Valley Cellars

A couple weekends ago, Vanity and I went out to Crystal Valley Cellars outside of Lodi. They are on Highway 88, in between Clements and Lockeford. They have big flags outside, and signs touting their CIGARZIN. We had visited my parents, and this winery was a convenient stop on the way home. (I know… we’re lucky.)

The place was small, upon entering we saw a few bottles with medals around them, and walked to the back area where the bar was. The kitsch for sale was easily passed by. There was one other couple in there, and by the conversation between them and the lady behind the counter pouring; I think they were in the wine industry (probably owners of another winery). Vanity and I were quickly offered to taste, and we enthusiastically said yes.

We both felt a little like outsiders as the conversation between the woman behind the bar and the other couple was ‘inside’. When she addressed us all, well, without sounding insulting with details, I’ll just say I wasn’t interested. The wine itself was good if you like it heavy. No matter what was poured, it was bold with flavor, and something like that just lies with personal taste. I liked most of it OK; Vanity could do without. I did like the labels though. Brown paper labels with bold typeset letters for CIGARZIN, THE CAB, and the like, I imagine make a good impression for a guy who wants to drink some wine when some of his friends are drinking beer. Good thing is, these bold wines fit well with that type too.

Crystal Valley Cellars is one of the wineries in the Cosentino Family of Wineries. The other two are in Napa. I think they need to decide how they want these wines to be considered, all Lodi, with a different label, or part of Cosentino (whose other wineries are in Napa). At present, it seems a mishmash of the two. Tasting there was like going out to dinner with a snooty cousin at a nice restaurant in your hometown. The food might be good, but you know there is that feeling that it’s better somewhere else.

I wouldn’t put Crystal Valley Cellars on the top of the list of Lodi Wineries to visit, but I would definitely appreciate someone with a bottle to share. No one should consider that a disappointment. The vineyard and tasting room are pretty out of the way, but they make some of their wines available online.

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Comments

[tim]

Its a big push by someone to make wine for the 30's somethings i guess. Ravenswood, who my parents sell to there slogan is "no wimpy wines" yet there latest endeveor is some Zin Zen or something like that. A mild fruity Zin, which is ok, but not what there normaly known for. /shrug

[Vanity Ruins]

I completely respect your taste in wines as you know, but those were really too harsh. I like 'bold' flavors (and other snobby terms ;) but almost all of the reds had overwhelming tannins.

[Sandi]

As you can see from my address, I, too, am "in the business". Sorry to hear you were disappointed in the wines at CV. I could recommend some other choices, most especially Lucas winery and Berghold. Got to your website from MySpace, and was interested to see a smart, handsome guy from Lodi--not too many of those around!
Enjoyed your blog--I'll be back!