California: Mettler Family Vineyards Opens Lodi Tasting Room

(Wines&Vines) - The Mettler family has grown grapes in the Lodi area since 1899—across six generations—and has produced wine under the Mettler Family Vineyards label for 15 years. But the family just recently opened its first tasting room after spending the past two years planning and finishing construction. A formal grand opening will be held Sept. 28 at the new tasting room and event center, on a 25-acre property on East Harney Lane in southeast Lodi, Calif., acquired by the Mettlers in 2011. The property is the site of the former Vino Con Brio Winery tasting room and Amarosa Inn. Acquiring the property was a logical move for the Mettlers, who already owned 70 acres of adjacent vineyard land.

Larry Mettler is the fourth-generation owner of some of the original property farmed by George Mettler in Lodi beginning in 1899. As Larry Mettler explains, “Mettler Family Vineyards really is a family operation, not just a name.” As owners, Larry and his wife Charlene Mettler are actively involved in the business overseeing operations and helping out in the tasting room. Each of their children holds a position in the business: Kimberly Mettler-Eells is general manager, Kelli Mettler is tasting room manager and Adam Mettler is winemaker. (His day job is as director of winemaking at Lodi’s Michael-David Winery, producers of 7 Deadly Zins and Earthquake wines.) In addition, son-in-law Jason Eells is vineyard manager, and Larry’s second cousin John Anagnos is operations manager.