This month’s wine club celebrates a truly special milestone.
In 2025, we not only mark our 30th year partnering with the Fry Family, but we also honor their incredible 170-year legacy of farming in California.
It’s rare for any family business to survive beyond the second or third generation. Yet this year, with the addition of Bruce Fry’s daughter, Mohrgan, to the operation, Mohr-Fry Ranches proudly enters its sixth generation. Their story is a true testament to perseverance, tradition, and family roots.
The Mohr and Fry family farming legacy stretches back to the 1850s, when Cornelius Mohr—Bruce Fry’s great-great-grandfather on Jerry Fry’s maternal side—left his job aboard a whaling ship in San Francisco Bay. Trading the sea for the soil, Cornelius began farming on a Mexican land grant in Mt. Eden, near what would later become Hayward.
In 1965, facing growing urban sprawl in the Bay Area, the family made a pivotal move to Lodi. There, they purchased the property that today is their home ranch—where we proudly source our Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet.
Our partnership with the Fry Family isn’t built on written contracts or formal agreements. It’s built on a handshake, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to do the right thing. We’re honored to share the fruits of that partnership with you. Enjoy the wines—and the story they carry in every bottle.
As mentioned above, 2023 was one of the coolest growing seasons we’ve experienced in many years. We began harvesting Marian’s Vineyard Zinfandel on September 11—two to three weeks later than usual. The cooler weather produced plumper berries with minimal dehydration, brighter acidity, and beautifully vibrant colors. The 2023 Marian’s Vineyard Zinfandel is likely the lowest alcohol version we’ve ever bottled, coming in at just 13.5% (although the label might state 13.8%). Our winemaking approach follows the Lodi Native philosophy, focusing on minimal intervention: native yeast fermentation, no new oak, and a natural style designed to showcase the unique character of this historic vineyard. The resulting wine is highly aromatic and will only grow more expressive with time. After about a year in bottle, it gains additional weight and texture on the palate. This is a delicious, beautifully balanced Zinfandel with the structure to age gracefully for 10–20 years. 279 CASES
Our Petite Sirah from Mohr-Fry Ranches is quickly becoming one of our most popular and celebrated reds. The vineyard block, located just a few hundred yards from Marian’s Vineyard, is now approaching 30 years old. Petite Sirah vines don’t always age gracefully. They are especially vulnerable to Eutypa, a fungal disease that infects pruning wounds, leading to lower yields and somewhat ugly vines, but with Bruce’s careful farming these vines consistently produce delicious fruit. Lodi’s signature summertime Delta breezes help moderate Petite Sirah’s naturally rustic character, lifting the fruit flavors and softening its bold, robust structure. The result is a full-bodied, richly textured wine with vibrant fruit and beautiful balance. Delicious on its own, it also pairs perfectly with grilled meats, hamburgers, and hearty fare. Renowned for its deep color and intense flavors, Petite Sirah has long been a hidden gem in many of California’s top red blends. At Mohr-Fry Ranches sandy soils and warm climate, the variety thrives, producing a wine that captures both power and grace. 336 CASES
This heirloom variety rose to fame during Prohibition, prized for its thick skins, loose clusters, and dark color, which made it ideal for shipping. Unique among wine grapes, Alicante Bouschet has red flesh, not just red skins—a rarity in viticulture. Mohr-Fry Ranches has been farming Alicante since 1922, and we’ve had the privilege of working with it for the past several years. One of its hallmark traits is that it ripens at lower sugar levels, typically producing lower-alcohol wines. While many modern winemakers mistakenly believe Alicante needs to reach 25° Brix to show character, the opposite is true: its finest qualities emerge naturally around 21–22° Brix. The exceptionally long, cool 2023 growing season allowed us to harvest this fruit on November 2nd—the latest pick date we’ve ever had. The resulting wine is just 12.6% alcohol, showcasing Alicante’s vibrant aromatics, delicious flavor, and its deep historical roots in Lodi and California winegrowing. 133 CASES
Our second vintage of Heritage Red blends equal parts Marian’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Mohr-Fry Ranches Petite Sirah, and Alicante Bouschet to create a lively, aromatic red bursting with vibrant fruit and spice. In warm Mediterranean climates like Lodi, many believe that the best wines are blends—and I can’t disagree. By combining these three heritage varieties from Mohr-Fry Ranches, we’ve crafted a distinctive wine that truly speaks of its place. The Zinfandel brings ripe, red-berry fruit; the Petite Sirah adds deep color, structure, and dark fruit notes; and the Alicante Bouschet ties it all together with a spicy, vibrant lift. This wine is a pure expression of Lodi—its sandy soils, cool Delta breezes, and long, sunny summer days. To me, it tastes like Lodi, Mohr-Fry Ranches, and St. Amant all in one glass. Enjoy! 222 CASES
