Just off the highway is a stylish concrete and stone winery building with a beautifully landscaped arbor-covered patio. Inside it feels like a small medieval castle with its tall, sloped ceiling, massive chandelier and cool tile floors. There is an ample supply of gourmet gift and deli items, pottery and wine accessories. A landscape mural adjacent to the wine-tasting bar dominates the back wall.

The Van Ruiten family wine business goes back 50 years to when a young Dutch immigrant settled in the Lodi area and developed his first vineyard. Today, three generations of the Van Ruiten family work together to tend over 800 acres of vines and manage the new winery.

The state-of-the-art facility produces handcrafted wines, including their estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, and their special red and rose blends. They also produce Sauvignon Blanc from grapes sourced in Lake County as well as late-harvest Zinfandel and Viognier. The family believes that hard work and uncompromising commitment to top quality are the cornerstones of their business.