Zinfandel, the “quintessentially California wine,” according to Stuart Spencer, director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, flourishes in vineyards across the state, spanning Sonoma County in the north, Paso Robles in the south, and the Sierra Foothills in the east. But perhaps no region is so closely associated with the grape yet so little known to casual wine consumers as Lodi. Its sandy floodplain soil and wide day-to-night temperature disparities are ideal for zinfandel production, while the Central Valley town’s inviting, under-the-radar scene makes for a great place to sip in a relaxed setting.