Lodi Wineries Readying For Amgen Tour Of California's First Trip
LODI (CBS13) — For the first time in 10 years, the Amgen Tour of California will ride into Lodi.
The tour chose the central valley city to host Stage 2 of the California race.
At Estate Crush, owner Bob Colarossi helps Losi winegrowers start their brand.
"All the way through crushing, destemming, fermenting, oaking, aging, finishing, and we give them back finished product," he said.
But there's another California activity he helped start—he was the race's first managing director. It took him 10 years to finally get the bikes to ride into Lodi.
"More than 4 billion people either through the internet or television," he said. "It really is a chance to create a picture perfect postcard of what Lodi's all about, what the people are about, and what the wine is about."
Off of Highway 4, Jessica Van Ruiten's family is about wine. Her grandfather started the award-winning winery after World War II. Now she's ready to take the brand into the spotlight.
"We're definitely in the shadow of Napa. We're trying to get our foot out there. We're making a huge impact," she said.
The Stage 2 finish line on May 11 in Lodi promises to highlight Lodi's wines.
"We'll have a one-day event, one-day permit and we'll have multiple wineries all pouring at once," Colarossi said.
Lodi vintners and Van Ruiten confirm they're putting in bids to get on that finish-line block party, but wineries are also hoping to lure cycling tourists to their own tasting rooms.
"We're anxiously awaiting to get together and come up with some marketing ploys to really put us out there and get involved with it," Van Ruiten said.
