Lodi's Bold Brands Done Right at the Source
West Lodi / Hwy 12 Corridor · Lodi · Winery Tasting Room · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Michael David Winery – Main Tasting Room’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Michael David's tasting room, the branding hits first — Freakshow, Earthquake, 7 Deadly Zins — these aren't subtle names. But behind the circus-tent marketing is a winery that's genuinely serious about Lodi, and the tasting room reflects that with a lively, no-pretense energy that's hard not to like.
The list is tight and entirely estate-focused, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you came for. If you're here for Lodi exploration, you're in the right place — Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Tannat, and Petite Sirah blends all show up, which is more regional range than most tasting rooms bother with. The Inkblot Cabernet Franc and Inkblot Tannat are the most interesting bottles on the menu, representing a more serious side of the operation that the Freakshow label tends to overshadow. Don't expect to find anything outside the Michael David portfolio — this is a house list, start to finish.
Flights and individual pours cover 8–12 options on any given visit, which is generous for a winery tasting room. The lineup rotates across their full range, so you can get from the easy-drinking Misfits & Mavens Sauvignon Blanc all the way up to the Earthquake Zinfandel in one sitting. No half-glass awkwardness here — this is built for tasting, and the format works.
Freakshow 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon — $20
Twenty dollars at the source for a Cab that retails nationally — you're not paying a restaurant markup here, you're paying what it costs to make it. That's the whole point of coming to the winery.
Michael David Inkblot Tannat
Tannat is one of the most underplanted grapes in California and most people walk right past it. Lodi's heat actually suits it — you get the grip without the brutality. Worth a pour even if you've never heard of the variety.
Earthquake 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
At $26 it's still not expensive by any stretch, but the Earthquake Cab is the most widely distributed bottle in the lineup — you've probably seen it at Costco. Nothing wrong with it, but it's not why you drove out to Lodi.
Michael David Petite Petit + Charcuterie board from the tasting room
Petite Sirah and Petite Verdot together make for a dark, dense pour that cuts through cured meats and aged cheese without apology. It's a crowd-pleaser that earns it.
The Bottom Line
If you're in Lodi and haven't done the Michael David tasting room, you're leaving a gap in your California wine map. The prices are absurdly fair at the source, the Inkblot lineup rewards the curious, and the energy makes it easy to stay longer than you planned.
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Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
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Proper
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Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Acceptable
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If you think Lodi means bulk Zinfandel and nothing else, Bokisch is the correction you didn't know you needed. Come for the flight, leave with a bottle of Graciano and a slightly revised worldview.
Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
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Proper
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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Hope & Grace is for the Napa visitor who's tired of Cabernet tourism and wants something with a point of view. The list is short, the prices are fair for the appellation, and the small-lot focus gives you something to actually talk about on the drive home.
Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Proper
Downtown Parkway · Gatlinburg · Winery Tasting Room
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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