Arthur O’Connor, first visited Lodi during a three week trip from Australia to spend time with Randall Graham the Owner and “President for Life” of Bonny Doon Vineyard based in Santa Cruz.  Randall took Arthur out to sample grapes at two vineyards, they were traveling in Randall’s fully restored 1969 Citron, called the Cigar Volant.  Arthur was amazed that the layout of the roads, vineyards, irrigation channels exactly mimicked his own home town, on the other side of the planet, in Australia, called Mildura.  Mildura was one of two towns in Australia built using the plans from California’s central valley, Arthur was amazed to realize he knew all the back roads.  “So I told Randall, let’s take the back way, across the channel and between properties on their way to visit the second vineyard, which we did”  said Arthur.   Lodi has always held a special place for Arthur, "it is the coolest of the central valley towns, influenced strongly by the Sacramento River delta and San Pablo Bay.  The fruit has amazing fruit intensity and generosity and I have always wanted to get back to making wine from Lodi and now I finally have."

“The fruit of Lodi is exceptional, the wines from the region tend to be average, which I don’t understand, the fruit is amazing. I’m so proud to have finally made two wines that I believe express the amazing fruit intensity that Lodi has always promised.”