A Taste of Portugal

ST. JORGE WINERY PLANTS PORTUGUESE VARIETALS IN LODI

BY SUZANNE LEDBETTER / D SOPHIA ELLE

Avisit to St. Jorge Winery transports guests to a land far away, where many of Lodi’s founding farming families have roots—in Portugal. Owners Jenise and Vern Vierra have created an oasis amongst the vineyards in Lodi Wine Country that pays homage to their Portuguese heritage in grandiose style. Upon arrival, guests enter a charming courtyard featuring ornate statues, tranquil water fountains, Roman columns, and Mediterranean landscaping. Guests are cheerfully greeted and welcomed with a smile from Jenise while Vern tells the history of the property, wines, and his Portuguese heritage.

The winery is a tribute to Vern’s grandparents, who hailed from the Portuguese Azores Islands, and from whom Vern fondly remembers learning about winemaking. Vern’s grandfather, Joe Azevedo, immigrated from the island of St. Jorge, and was incredibly proud of his Portuguese heritage. So, in 2007, when the couple decided to launch a winery in the burgeoning Lodi wine region, Vern knew exactly what he wanted to name it—St. Jorge.

The picturesque property boasts a small but powerful 3,500 case production winery specializing in Portuguese wine varietals like tinta roriz, touriga nacional, and alvarinho. But being in Lodi Wine Country, the Vierras also planted the region’s signature zinfandel grape alongside cabernet sauvignon and syrah. They also planted two acres of trincadeira, a unique Portuguese variety with only four acres planted in the United States. Their trincadeira wine is made as a one hundred percent stand-alone wine, another unusual aspect of their winemaking approach.

In June of 2021, St. Jorge was awarded a Best of Class award and 96 points for their alicante bouschet (typically a blending grape) from the California State Fair. The wine pours a deep, vibrant rouge red.

St. Jorge is also the only winery in the country producing a rosé port, Vinho Rosa Dolce, crafted from tinta toriz and carignan grapes. Ruby red in color and with intense fruit aromas, the wine is made for summer sipping alongside strawberry shortcake or sorbet. St. Jorge also offers a port wine club, featuring five other styles including touriga national, with flavors of spice and herbs.