Victor Vineyards
Rob Lawson's journey to winery ownership had many stops and starts. “My parents are Baptists, not a lot of wine at home,” he says. But, growing up in Lodi, he was able to work in friends’ vineyards and began a passion for wine as a waiter in Lake Tahoe. But still, no winery plans. After building a marketing and finance business in Southern California, marrying Beth (a teacher) and moving back to Lodi to start a family, Rob came close again to a vineyard by purchasing one next to the Mokelumne River – but primarily as an investment. But after selling his grapes to top wineries and watching them win awards for the resulting wines, the wine bug bit. By 2011 Victor Vineyards produced its inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir, Roadside Red and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The fabulous wines we featured:
2015 Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon
- Hold Time: 5+ years
- Pair With: fine cuts of beef, hearty winter stew
Tasting Notes: This Cabernet Sauvignon boasts rich, ripe aromas, with notable flavors of black cherry and currants. The lengthy finish will likely lure you to another glass.
2015 Lodi Roadside Red
- Final Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Ruby Cabernet, Zinfandel
- Hold Time: 3 - 5 years
- Pair With: grilled meats, a hearty stew, pizza or chili
Tasting Notes: This red opens with beautiful, complex flavors of super rich black cherries, blackberries, spice and rich toasty/vanilla French oak. Its soft, elegantly rich texture is complemented by a long, silky finish.
Winemaker's Notes
"Victor Vineyards also gets a helpful hand from the Lodi appellation itself. Cool ocean air from the Carquinez Straits gets funneled through Lodi so that our summer nights frequently cool down to 50 degrees or so. The warm days and cool nights contribute to the beauty of our wine. Lodi by far has the most consistently good weather in California for Zinfandel," explains Rob Lawson.
Lodi
Robert and Beth Lawson
Ian Lawson