Hundred Year Old Vines to High Tech

Lodi was fun. Just about two hours out there and a little more coming back, due to some bridge traffic caused by the Giants game. Once you get past Tracy you start to see a corn field here, some grape vines there, and then it's orchard country. Walnuts, peaches, almonds, melons and of course grapes grapes grapes. This country grew grapes until Prohibition, then they tore out the vines and planted walnuts. Then they tore out the walnuts and planted grapes again.

But some of those old vine zinfandels are still there and still producing. We tasted zins from 100 year old vines today at Klinker Brick winery and Primitivos at Sorrele. (Same grape, different name.) They are not Rafanellis, but they are very good.

But man, it's hot out there. You don't linger in the sun. And you can't really taste very much wine either.

It was a long drive just to visit a couple wineries, but seeing good friends we hadn't seen in awhile made it all perfect. And then we stopped at Pazzia on 3rd Street for dinner, our old favorite haunt where we hadn't been in so long the owner's beard has gotten gray. Pazzia's pizza is just as good as ever -- the best we know of in S.P.

We kept passing lines of young, well dressed men, waiting to get into various buildings. Turns out there's some kind of tech convention in town and many companies in Pazzia's neighborhood were hosting after-parties. Lots and lots of men. Some looked like teenagers, but most in their twenties and thirties. No women.

So this is the answer to the eternal question, ladies: "Where do you go to meet guys in this town?" South of Market. You've heard it here.