Harney Lane Winery
9010 E Harney Ln, Lodi, CA 95240
Website: https://www.harneylane.com/
My husband and I on our first trip to Lodi rounded out the end of the day with a stop at Harney Lane Winery. Our inaugural visit to this wine country did not disappoint. We hit some great places – Michael David, Klinker Brick, Mettler. What more could we expect at this winery? One thing stands out to me any time I think of this place and that is family. Reviewing their website they talk about living on Harney Lane for 100 years and that they think of visitors as extended family. That’s exactly the feeling I got when we visited. Our host was the proprietor’s wife, Kathy Mettler. She told us about their family story as she poured wines for us and seemed so humbled to have us try the family wines.
Outdoor patio at Harney Lane
Let me back-up a bit to give a full picture of the experience at this winery. Pulling in was like driving up to someone’s family home. The building blended in with the surroundings with it’s earth-toned stucco and stone facade. Trees and bushes framed the entrance. To the left of the entrance was a pathway that led into an outdoor patio area. In the center was a fire pit, encircling it were some Adirondack chairs. The entire patio was shaded by well manicured trees and plants. It was a peaceful place to sit and have a glass of wine. As we entered the tasting room there was a basket on the floor and a sign that said “Grab a picnic basket and enjoy the grounds”. Inside the tasting room was just as homey as outdoors. There was an area off to one side with a stone fireplace and some cushioned seats. On the opposite side of the space was a long, granite top tasting bar that could easily accommodate 10 people side-by-side.
It was a pleasure to taste wines with Kathy. The stories were the best part. She told us about how her husband’s family had been making wine grapes for other wineries for a very long time. In fact, George Mettler’s great-grandfather started farming grapes in 1906. It wasn’t until 2007, and five generations later, that George decided he wanted to make his own family wines. He certainly didn’t make a bad decision. Unfortunately George passed away in 2013 but his family is still carrying on his legacy. Just like most of the Lodi wineries, their Zinfandels stand out. I was enamored with the jammy, chocolatey Old Vine Zinfandel from the Lizzy James vineyard (named after George and Kathy’s grandchildren). It had delicious raspberry and blackberry fruit. They also produce an Old Vine Zinfandel Dessert Wine that is a delight. Beyond Zinfandel, we tried an Albariňo, buttery Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and the Patriach’s Promise red blend in honor of George. We thoroughly enjoyed the wine and our visit, and we’ll always remember Kathy’s gracious hospitality.
Kathy Mettler – Harney Lane Winery