A Delicious Pork Chop Recipe Inspired by Lodi’s Bounty

The largest wine-growing region in California sits rather unpretentiously in the Central Valley. Situated near the Delta, the agricultural community of Lodi is home to some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California and many other crops including stone fruits. This month’s recipe for Bone-in Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce is a perfect example of the saying “if it grows together, it goes together” — cherries and Zinfandel are a perfect pair. You’ll find the pork chop recipe below.

If you’re a Zinfandel lover, you’ve probably heard about Lodi. It’s always been a Zin lover’s paradise and some of the growers in Lodi shipped the majority of their grapes out to winemakers in other parts of the state. But Lodi’s high-quality vineyards have always been more than capable of producing excellent wines. Realizing this, in the last couple of decades more growers began holding back some of those grapes to produce their own wines. At the same time, other vintners from around California discovered the potential in Lodi and purchased their own vineyards there. Lodi’s Mediterranean climate with cooling Delta breezes means that the region is ideal for a huge diversity of wines. 

Lodi is kind of happening right now. What you’ll find today is a fun and casual wine scene with lots of big, fruity Zinfandels to be sure. But there are also a surprising number of wineries that feature lighter, brighter reds as well as crisp whites. So even if big jammy wine isn’t your jam, you’ll be able to find something you love in Lodi where now more than 100 different varieties of winegrapes are grown.

When it Comes to Sustainability, California Rules

LODI RULES is a certification program for sustainable winegrowing that was started in 2005 by the Lodi Winegrape Commission. As one of the original sustainable viticulture certification programs in the country, it has been used as a model for other similar initiatives. LODI RULES is based on a set of sustainability measures such as protecting the natural environment, soil and water conservation and efforts to increase biodiversity. The overall aim is to ensure that Lodi remains a thriving winegrowing-region for generations to come. 

There are many excellent wineries to visit in Lodi as well as farm-to-table restaurants — which in the Central Valley is more a way of life than a trend. You’ll also find plenty of U-pick orchards and farmstands where you can sample some of the area’s abundance. In the meantime, get a taste of Lodi right in your own kitchen.