Bob Highfill

Caltrans Public Information Officer, District 10; sports fan and wine enthusiast; former Stockton Record reporter #SupportLocalJournalism

Articles

Bob Highfill: Coldani Family Winery and Olive Mill showcases premium olive Oil and wine

1 week ago | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

The Coldani family has farmed in the San Joaquin Valley for more than 100 years,focusing primarily on row crops, alfalfa hay and cattle. In 2007, two years after planting their first olive tree, they formed Calivirgin in Lodi. Customers were enamored with their extra virgin and natural flavored olive oils,balsamic and red wine vinegars, and dipping spices.
Bob Highfill: Acquiesce Winery offers an amuse-bouchey experience

1 month ago | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

There are more than 60 tasting rooms open to the public in the Lodi American Viticultural Area. Almost all the tasting rooms in Lodi belong to family-owned-and-operated wineries. They are anxious to share with you their hospitality, unique stories, and of course, their delicious wines. Though I’ve done my darndest to visit them all over the course of the past 20 years, I haven’t.
Bob Highfill: Wine labeling resembles sitcom classic

2 months ago | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

I’m chuckling to myself as the scene of Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory plays in my mind. In one of the most hilarious sequences in television history, the two queens of “I Love Lucy” struggle to keep pace as chocolates they are supposed to box stream down a conveyor belt at increasing speed. They resort to stuffing their faces and shirts with bon-bons to keep pace. Comedy magic. My scene was not so hilarious, but I’m smiling anyway.
Bob Highfill: Make plans for Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Feb 8, 2025 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

The calendar has turned to a new year, and though winter is in full swing, it won’t be long before spring arrives and with it, a spirit of renewal. One highlight to the wine event calendar, one that signals the spirit of spring, is the Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend, which this year celebrates its 28th incarnation with two fun-filled days on Feb. 15-16.
Bob Highfill: 2024's 10 most interesting wines of Lodi

Dec 31, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

Lodi grows more than 100 varieties that are in commercial production, making it one of the most diverse, and thus, intriguing wine regions in the county. With some of the most innovative growers and winemakers anywhere, Lodi never fails to surprise and delight. I was asked by Randy Caparoso, noted wine writer, wine educator, sommelier, and restaurateur to contribute “2024’s 10 Most Interesting Wines of Lodi,” to the “Letters from Lodi” blog at Lodiwine.com.
Lodi Wines for the Holidays

Nov 27, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

I don’t get too hung up on wine and food pairings. I say go with the flow, especially during the holidays. Celebrate! Drink what you like with what you like to eat. But … and there’s always a but … the right wine can turn ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences. So, if you could use a helpful suggestion or two, I have some thoughts and enlisted help from some of my trusted co-workers at the Lodi Wine Visitor Center. I hope these suggestions add some pop to your holiday meals and get togethers.
Lodi wineries face growing crisis in the industry

Oct 25, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

Drink Lodi wine!That message is being shouted now more than ever by winegrowers, winemakers and wine industry professionals who say a crisis is afoot. Those who put food and beverages on the table have always dealt with challenges. But this is different.
The winegrape harvest is alive in Lodi

Sep 27, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

The most crucial time of the season is happening now when winegrowers and winemakers are busy all day and all night to culminate a year of attention and hard work. “This starts all the way back in January when my amazing vineyard staff comes in and we groom the vines, we feed the vines, we nurture them, we take care of them,” Kyle Lerner, owner, grower, and winemaker at Harney Lane Winery posted on social media. “We get them to their optimal performing levels.
The Lounge at Lodi Crush showcases the art of wine

Aug 29, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

Gerardo Espinosa Jr. has an eclectic blend of interests. He’s an architectural designer, a winegrape grower, a winemaker, an art aficionado, a music lover, a foodie, and an adventure seeker. Espinosa has brought his various interests together at The Lounge at Lodi Crush on Elm Street in downtown Lodi. Recently, I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon at The Lounge at Lodi Crush with my wife, Christiane, and our good friends, Sonja and Rick Behler.
Summer Is Made for Frolic & Folly

Jul 12, 2024 | stocktonia.org | Bob Highfill

I’ve been into wine for quite a while. And I had never heard of piquette. That is until I saw my friend, Jeremy Trettevik, talking about this wine style on social media. There was Trettevik on my phone screen, speaking with great enthusiasm, holding a bottle of Frolic & Folly, the latest and greatest release from his eponymous winery, Jeremy Wine Co. In the video, Trettevik explains piquette comes from the second pressings of the skins, seeds and stems (pomace).