Lange Twins Winery - family-run sustainable winery in Lodi

 

Lange Twins Winery and Vineyards family not only includes the twins, Randy (General Manager) and Brad (Vineyard General Manager), but also many other family members handling various parts of the operation including office and human resources, consumer direct sales, vineyard management, winery operations, public relations and more. The Lange family, along with other team players, including Chief Winemaker David Akiyoshi, formerly chief winemaker at Mondavi’s Woodbridge operation, have come together to form a leading wine producer in Lodi that not only is highly successful, but also one of the “greenest” operations in the wine industry.

The Lange family is fourth generation winegrowers and farmers in the Lodi area. In November 2005 they took the next step, opening the new Lange Twins winery. This generational investment was designed for the fifth and sixth generations to stay in the winegrowing activity that has done so well for the family in the past. This modern, very green winery was built in only 10 months in the center of their 7200 acre operation. The winery was designed for producing wine from over 40,000 tons of grapes per year, yet is currently only handling half that amount.

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A $1 million incentive from PGE has lead to this very green environmental friendly operation. In the vineyard, Lange Twins has strived to have minimal impact on the environment, planting and nurturing native oak trees, introducing native plants for wildlife buffers around the vineyards, and utilizing conserving drip irrigation systems. Owl boxes, hawk perches, bat boxes, song bird boxes and the wildlife buffers aim to utilize natural pest controls over chemical solutions.

In the winery an extensive 250 Kw solar array is one of the largest in the industry. A non-petroleum based dust control program coupled with extensive use of recycled products and other environmental friendly operations have made this winery stand out in a region that is foremost in sustainable operations. Approximately 90% of the winery systems operate on their own produced energy, greatly reducing the carbon footprint. The solar array is designed to shade the crush pad from the intensive Lodi sun and the panels are active on both the top and bottom of the panels, taking advantage of the light reflected off the stainless steel equipment on the crush pad!

The 2008 Lange Twins Sauvignon Blanc has abundant aromas of grapefruit, citrus and melon following on with a palate that has a great balance of acidity and flavors leading to a rather long succulent finish.

The 2008 Viognier has won many awards. It is a blend of both oak and stainless steel aged Viognier that gives it a great floral aroma and flavors of pineapple and pear with notes of spice.

The unique Petite Petit is the 2008 Lange Twins Petite Sirah Petit Verdot blend that is particularly striking on the nose delivering a complex mixture of dark fruits and spices following on with similar flavors on the palate and a great balance of acidity and tannins to deliver a nicely integrated wine.