MEET OUR PEOPLE

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Todd Maley

Maley Vineyards / Owner & Grower

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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.
Wegat is a head trained vineyard on the far west side of the Mokelumne River AVA. It’s a quintessential west-side Zinfandel vineyard which makes floral fruit with earthy undertones. My father, Joe, and his brother, Louie, raised the rootstock (St. George) before planting it in 1958 on dairy land once farmed by the Wegat family. They grafted east-side Zinfandel plant material onto the rootstock. Wegat is the “crown jewel” of the 330 acres our family farms.

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.