On Monday, the expected final day of the state to follow COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions, plenty of parking and tables were available at the Oak Farm Winery in Lodi. The scene can change in less than 24 hours if the capacity limits are lifted. Warren Semper and his wife sat in the tasting room. They arrived in Lodi after a two hour flight from Arizona and said they had waited more than a year for the wine experience. Semper described the sip of wine as sweet. “We were 18 months without travel, we couldn’t wait to get out. We got the full vaccination and traveled to Mexico about a month ago,” said Semper. “We felt that at the time it was warranted we took the precautions and now we are at a point where we can resume normal lives.” As Semper and his wife took the last few drops from their glasses, they told KCRA 3 that Lodi was just a short drive on the way to Maine and Boston. Stuart Spencer, executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, said wineries didn’t have to stop sales despite the lack of tourism during the pandemic. “People didn’t just drink wine on Friday nights. They started at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon and it helped us survive and we are grateful to all of the people who enjoyed a glass on a Tuesday afternoon, ”said Spencer, the tasting room manager at Oak Farm Winery, said people had showed their support by either walking in, buying bottles, or making online sales. Spencer said most of the Lodi wineries reopened earlier this year with limited capacity. He hopes many more tourists will go down the vine when the state leaves the pandemic behind. “We can move back inside. We don’t have to worry about social distancing and we don’t have to worry about customers wearing masks in the place because it has created many challenges and obstacles for all of us, “said Spencer. A challenge remains, a challenge of facing other restaurants and businesses: hiring people ready to return to work. Spencer said Lodi businesses are no exception to this struggle.

LODI, California –

On Monday, the expected final day of the state to follow COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions, plenty of parking and tables were available at the Oak Farm Winery in Lodi. The scene can change in less than 24 hours if the capacity limits are lifted.

Warren Semper and his wife sat in the tasting room. They arrived in Lodi after a two hour flight from Arizona and said they had waited more than a year for the wine experience. Semper described the sip of wine as sweet.

“We were 18 months without travel, we couldn’t wait to get out. We got the full vaccination and traveled to Mexico about a month ago,” said Semper. “We felt like we took the precautions during the time it was warranted, and now we are at a point where we can resume normal life.”

As Semper and his wife sipped the last few drops from their glasses, they told KCRA 3 that Lodi was only a short trip to Maine and Boston.

Stuart Spencer, executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, said wineries didn’t have to stop sales despite the lack of tourism during the pandemic.

“People didn’t just drink wine on Friday nights. They started at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon and it helped us survive and we are grateful to all of the people who enjoyed a glass on a Tuesday afternoon, ”said Spencer.

Cara Slater, the tasting room manager at Oak Farm Winery, said people showed their support by either walking in, buying bottles, or selling online.

Spencer said most of Lodi’s wineries reopened earlier this year with limited capacity. He hopes many more tourists will go down the grapevine when the state leaves the pandemic behind.

“We can move back into the house. We don’t have to worry about social distancing and we don’t have to worry about customers wearing masks because it has created many challenges and barriers for all of us to get around them. “Said Spencer.

One challenge remains that other restaurants and businesses face: recruiting people who are willing to return to work. Spencer said Lodi businesses were no exception to this fight.

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