Lodi winery from the Phillips family, making Chardonnay, Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties including Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah.
The producer
Michael-David Winery is a Phillips family winery in Lodi, California, with Chardonnay, Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties including Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah. Adam Mettler and Derek DeVries are the winemakers named with those grapes. The winery aims each year to make all its wines Lodi Rules certified, using deficit irrigation, cover crops, natural forms of pest management and owl boxes for rodent control. Its broader Chardonnay concept combines three separately produced components before bottling, including stainless steel and French oak fermented styles.
Known for
Lodi Chardonnay and Old Vine Zinfandel
Notable facts
All 800 acres of the family’s vineyards are third party certified.
Each year, the winery strives to make 100% of its wines Lodi Rules certified.
Adam Mettler and Derek DeVries specialize in Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties including Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah.
The broader Chardonnay concept combines three separately produced components before bottling.
The story
The Farmstand Tasting Room
In 1984, Michael Phillips opened a small tasting room at his parents’ farmstand. The Phillips family had farmed in Lodi since the 1860s and cultivated wine grapes since the early twentieth century. David Phillips returned to Lodi in 1989 after graduation, a job in the wine cork industry and backpacking the world. Michael’s daughter Melissa later joined the team as the sixth generation. The farmstand tasting room is now the place known as Michael David Winery in Lodi.
The Farmstand Tasting Room
In 1984, Michael Phillips opened a small tasting room at his parents’ farmstand. The Phillips family had farmed in Lodi since the 1860s and cultivated wine grapes since the early twentieth century. David Phillips returned to Lodi in 1989 after graduation, a job in the wine cork industry and backpacking the world. Michael’s daughter Melissa later joined the team as the sixth generation. The farmstand tasting room is now the place known as Michael David Winery in Lodi.
From the atlas
Michael-David Winery
A Lodi, California winery from the Phillips family, with Lodi Rules farming practices, Old Vine Zinfandel and a Chardonnay assembled from three separately produced components.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
California
Place
Lodi
Family
Phillips family
Vineyard holdings
800 acres, all third party certified
Main grapes
Chardonnay, Old Vine Zinfandel, Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah
Named wine
Michael David Chardonnay
The Producer
The Phillips family has farmed in Lodi since the 1860s and cultivated wine grapes since the early twentieth century. Michael and David Phillips are fifth generation grape growers, and Michael’s daughter Melissa represents the sixth generation working in the business.
Adam Mettler and Derek DeVries are the winemakers, specializing in Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties including Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah. Each year, the winery aims to make 100% of its wines Lodi Rules certified. Its vineyard practices include deficit irrigation, cover crops and natural forms of pest management. Owl boxes provide rodent control because owls eat rodents.
Place
Michael-David Winery works in Lodi, California. Its visitor venue is at 4580 West Highway 12 in Lodi, with an on-site café, produce offering and bakery.
The Chardonnay carries Lodi as its origin. The address joins wine production with the farmstand setting where Michael Phillips opened a small tasting room in 1984.
Wines
Michael David Chardonnay is the named white wine in the range. The broader Chardonnay concept combines three separately produced Chardonnays before bottling. One component is crisp and fruit driven, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Another is softer and rounder, fermented in French oak barrels.
The range also includes Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties including Ancient Vine Cinsault and Syrah. Its bottles are organized around grape variety, with the Chardonnay defined by the combination of separately produced components.
In The Glass
The broader Chardonnay style moves from crisp, fruit driven stainless steel treatment to the softer, rounder feel of French oak barrel fermentation. The separate components create a wine with contrasting textures before they are blended for bottling.
A Bottle To Understand It
Open with Michael David Chardonnay 2017, a Lodi white wine from the winery. The broader Chardonnay note brings orange blossom, vanilla cream and jasmine, followed by a silky body with Granny Smith apple, honey and graham cracker through a lasting fruit finish. Those aromas and flavours describe the broader Chardonnay concept, not a vintage specific profile for this bottle.
Final Word
Michael-David Winery joins Phillips family farming in Lodi with Chardonnay, Old Vine Zinfandel and Rhone varieties. Its Chardonnay brings separately produced components together before bottling.