MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023.  BY LODI WINEGRAPE COMMISSION.

Todd Maley 

Maley Vineyards / Owner & Grower

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEEN FARMING WINEGRAPES?
Our family has been farming in Lodi since 1864. I have been farming winegrapes for 35 years. My sons, Reid and Blair, are the 6th generation of farmers.

TELL US ABOUT WEGAT VINEYARD.
Planted in 1958, Wegat is a historic, head-trained vineyard on the far west side of the Mokelumne River AVA. It’s a quintessential west-side Zinfandel vineyard with Tokay sandy loam soil that produces floral fruit with notes of berries (boysenberry, raspberry) and earthy undertones. My father, Joe, and his brother, Louie, raised the St. George rootstock before planting it and doing their own grafting on dairyland once farmed by the Wegat family. Wegat Vineyard is the “crown jewel” of the 330 acres our family farms and is LODI RULES certified sustainable. Above photo of Wegat Vineyard by Randy Caparoso.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF FARMING WINEGRAPES?
Selecting the right variety for your site. Everything else is pretty basic.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’D LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT LODI?
Lodi is a small town at heart. It’s a great place for families.

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
That I’ve produced two vintages of Santa Cruz Pinot noir. It’s been a long-time dream to grow grapes in Santa Cruz.

 

Todd Maley is currently on the Lodi Winegrape Commission Board and is a founding member of the Lodi Native project – be sure to check out his Maley Brothers Vineyards Lodi Native Wegat Vineyard Zinfandel (Mokelumne River). He farms sustainably under the LODI RULES program and is transitioning a small block into organic farming. If you’re into handwritten letters and old school charm, Todd is the farmer for you! He takes pride in working with all winegrape buyers, whether they want 2 tons or 102 tons.

To learn more or to purchase winegrapes from Todd, he can be reached at 209.327.5597 or toddmaley@att.net. Vineyard tech sheets for Wegat and LJ Zin Vineyards coming soon.

Featured image by Randy Caparoso.


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