Stonum Vineyards and Winery on Alpine Road is part of what makes Lodi special.
Family owned and operated; small and unspoiled; charming and welcoming.
Recently, I visited Stonum for the first time and was treated to warm hospitality, beautiful grounds and delicious wines.
The Stonum family’s roots in Lodi date to 1979 when they purchased 17 acres of prime agricultural land planted to cherries and Tokay table grapes and a 60-year-old farmhouse. The orchard and vineyard were replanted to zinfandel and over time, improvements in the vineyard and a family’s dream culminated in 2009 with the release of Stonum’s Signature Estate Zinfandel.
That’s the Reader’s Digest version. Dig deeper and you’ll realize this family has given everything it has into their business of growing and sourcing environmentally friendly, sustainable wine grapes to craft delicious wines.
The entrance to Stonum (pronounced Stone-uhm) is framed by a bountiful organic flower and vegetable garden next to picnic tables under shade umbrellas and a scenic pond. On this day, visitors enjoyed Stonum’s wines seated on the shaded patio amid the cooling Delta breezes and the rustling 15-acre estate zinfandel vineyard. Other patrons opted to lounge inside Stonum’s handsome post and beam tasting barn.
I took a seat inside the tasting barn where I met Maridel Alma Stonum, a former nurse at San Joaquin General Hospital and the widow of Mike Stonum, who founded the eponymous winery with his sister, Kathy Stonum, the winemaker. Mike passed away in 2019 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Though the loss was devastating, the family steadfastly continued to nurture the business, farm and make wine.
“We didn’t even think about it,” said Kathy Stonum, when asked if the family ever thought of giving up without Mike. “We started this from nothing. Everything you see now, we built. It was our dream, and I would never not do it.”
Alma handles retail and client relations. She is delightful and treats guests like family. Of course, if you were family, she’d put you to work. Stonum is a true all-hands-on-deck family business with all aspects of the operation conducted in-house. Mike’s daughter, Francesca Stonum Kerney, changed careers to focus on the business when her father passed away. She wears several hats but is most noted for managing the estate vineyard and planning events on the spacious property. Francesca also leads yoga sessions at Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort & Spa. Kathy continues to make the wine and takes great pride adhering to an artisan winemaking philosophy to craft single-vineyard, single-varietal wines that speak to Lodi’s terroir.
“Our winemaking philosophy is fairly simple,” Kathy said. “We are minimalistic. Our grapes and the other grapes we source are grown sustainably. I start with good grapes, and if I do that, my job is so much easier.”
Stonum’s estate zinfandel vineyard (eight acres planted in 1980, seven adjacent acres planted in 1988) is the source for several of their wines, and they source other varietals from some of Lodi’s top growers, including Ron Silva (Silvaspoons Vineyards) and Madelyn Ripken-Kolber and Ben Kolber (KG Vineyard Management). Stonum has seven wines in its “classic” portfolio and will add an eighth on September 12 with the release of its first albariňo. More on that later.
Tastings are $20 per person; the fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle.
Here is the current lineup:
2023 Shipwrecked Sauvignon Blanc (silver medal at the 2025 Invitational American Fine Wine Competition, $28 retail, $22.40 wine club)
Tropical notes associated with the Sauvignon Musque clone, and a hint of key lime are balanced by zesty acidity. Unfiltered / 252 cases produced.
2022 Chardonnay (silver medals at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the 2024 Invitational American Fine Wine Competition, $30 retail, $24 wine club)
Stonum’s vineyard designated chardonnay was sourced from KG 10-3-DeCosta Vineyards and farmed by the Kolbers. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, the wine went through malolactic fermentation for a clean, refreshing and surprisingly rich chardonnay with a fragrant nose of citrus, white nectarine, gardenia, and green apple. On the palate, the bright acidity was tempered by notes of honeysuckle creating a smooth, balanced, layered finish. Unfiltered / 125 cases produced.
2022 Estate Rosé of Zinfandel (double gold medal at the 2024 American Fine Wine Rosé Competition, $26 retail, $20.80 wine club)
Sourced from Stonum’s estate vineyard, this rosé had a substantial body and a pleasing nose and palate that suggested strawberries, Bartlett pear, and citrus. Fermented in stainless steel and aged seven months in neutral French oak. Unfiltered / 121 cases produced.
2023 Estate Rosé of Zinfandel ($26 retail, $20.80 wine club)
Also from the estate vineyard, fermented in stainless steel, the 2023 was aged five months in neutral French oak for a more fruit-forward presentation. An interesting note of cinnamon mingled with strawberries on the palate. Unfined / unfiltered / 157 cases produced.
2021 XI Estate Zinfandel (double gold medal at the 2024 Invitational American Fine Wine Competition, $35 retail, $28 wine club)
Aged 18 months in new French oak, the 2021 was deep, dark, rich and full-bodied with hefty tannin and bright acidity. Juicy black fruit, dried red fruit, and white pepper were evident on the nose and palate. Unfined / unfiltered / 209 cases produced.
2022 XII Estate Zinfandel (gold medal at the 2025 Invitational American Fine Wine Competition, $35 retail, $28 wine club)
For the first time, Kathy picked two rows from the 1988 plot to blend with fruit from the 1980 plot. The younger zin was picked early, which lent light color and bright acidity to the wine. Elegant nose and palate. Crunchy red and blue fruit, medium-plus acidity, and well-integrated tannins through an extended maceration and 16 months in second-year French oak barrels.
2022 Petite Sirah – “The Vetee” (gold medal at the 2025 Invitational American Fine Wine Competition, $35 retail, $28 wine club)
From a small vineyard on Lodi’s west side named “Coyote Crossing,” owned and farmed by the Kolbers, this was a fruit-forward expression with ample structure consistent with this variety. Blackberry jam and hints of vanilla on the nose, invited sips that revealed those same characteristics in harmony with the acidity and tannins. Unfined / unfilerted / 220 cases produced.
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, $45 retail, $36 wine club)
Sourced from Silvaspoons Vineyard in Alta Mesa, one of the Lodi American Viticultural Area’s seven micro-AVAs. In Alta Mesa, the soil is comprised of dense clay and heavy gravel conducive to growing quality cabernet. The 2020 vintage had all the tell-tale dark fruit aromatics and flavors, like cassis, blueberries, and blackberries, and aromas of leather, tobacco, and cedar from oak barrel aging.
Stonum’s KMS Collection, introduced in 2022, allows Kathy to experiment with new varietals The current portfolio is the 2021 Estate Saignee Rosé (wine club exclusive, double gold at the 2024 American Fine Wine Competition, $30), the 2022 Estate Rosé of Zinfandel (double gold at the 2024 American Fine Wine Competition, $26), the 2023 Estate Rosé of Zinfandel ($26), the 2021 Rendezvous Rosé of Carignan (silver medal at the 2024 American Fine Wine Competition, $26), and the 2020 Carignan “Unbroken” (gold medal at the 2023 American Fine Wine Competition, silver medal at the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, $35).
Stonum’s wines are sold through the tasting room and its wine club.
The following quote has always been a favorite of Stonum family matriarch, Joyce Stonum MacPherson and has guided and inspired the family through the years: “To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream; not only plan but also believe.” – Anatole France, 1896.
If You Go
16388 North Alpine Rd., Lodi, CA
Tasting room hours: Friday-Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Website: stonumvineyards.com
Phone: 209-224-8130
Note: Stonum is pet-friendly; charcuterie boards with artisan crackers, select cheeses, salami, fruits, nuts and chocolate are available for $20; Stonum has space to host private events, parties and weddings. Call the winery for more information.
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