McCay Cellars

Well, I walked in saying I didn’t like white wines and Mike McCay said «yes you will». I’m glad he said that and poured me a glass. I loved every single wine I tasted there today and the atmosphere and people were great too!
Not an area where you’d think you’d find a winery, but I’m glad we turned around and decided to try it. My friend and I had a wonderful time and I will definitely be back very soon!
Don’t forget to join their wine club!

McCay Cellars is not a typical Lodi winery. Tucked into the back of an industrial strip mall, their tasting room is more typical of a funky new microbrewery. Do not let looks deceive, if you can find them, this is a great place to stop. A small sign indicates which non-​descript door to enter.
The tasting room is large and eclectic with a giant parachute and various picnic tables and artwork. You get a five-​for-​five with purchase refund, but they have a large list of wines to sample. They have some unique wines available, heavy on the Zin as your would expect. I really enjoyed the Lodi Native which had a different take on Zin, working with other wineries to revive the classic tastes.
This is not a typical Lodi wine experience, but I really recommend stopping by if you enjoy seeking out something different.

I am not sure which I like more about McCay Cellars: the outstanding quality of the wines being poured or the unprepossessing, «we can do that» attitude that pervades the idiosyncratic tasting room. If this doesn’t sound like the typical barrage of tasting room phraseology used to describe your average five-​star winery — you’re right. This isn’t that kind of place. You’ll not be having your wedding photos taken here (not unless you’re still drunk from too much sparkling Verdejo at Riaza), nor marvel at the sweeping, Falcon Crest-​esque landscape (a good word to use in your next Scrabble game), nor want to bring a souvenir Riedel wine glass home for the mantelpiece. And the place also lacks the appeal of being able to stroll through a beautifully appointed barrel room to take in the sights and sounds and smells of wine (supposedly) being made. Sure, there’s a comfortable couch for sipping in, and lots of open space for aimless wandering, and plenty of free parking, but when it comes to that historic wine cave tour you’ve been dreaming about, better do that at Schramsberg, not here on E. Turner Rd. I don’t think there are any wine caves around here.
So, why come at all, then? The wine. Served simply and without pretense from an extensive menu of choices. Harvested from well-​maintained local vineyards in and around Lodi — westside, eastside, hillsides, wherever the best tended grapes are to be found. Crafted by a dedicated winemaker with deep roots in the area using non-​manipulative methods, native yeasts, and kinder, gentler extractions. All packaged attractively with smartly made labels and informative tasting notes, with pourers on hand to assist you who actually have tasted the wines. Maybe even that morning, before you arrived.
A $ 10 fee — waived with bottle purchase — gives you 5 choices to pick, so you’ll likely shape your experience to your own preferences and/​or preconceived notions of what you think you would like. My advice is to shake things up, just a little. It would be easy to do an all-​Zinfandel tasting, since McCay makes many good ones, including several in a leaner, more expressive style that rely on old vine vineyards sometimes a century old (Lot 13 Faith being to my mind the quintessential example). The white offerings are also intriguing, the blends but also the single varietals, especially a pitch-​perfect Lodi Viognier that avoids being a peachy, high alcoholic mess and doesn’t try to cross-​dress as a California Chardonnay but actually embraces its Viognierness (another high-​scoring Scrabble possibility) by mixing fruit, flower, and minerality in equal, judicious measure.
While I was drawn to the single-​variety bottles, esp. the 2014 vintage whites and several of the 2012 old vine Zins, there are two blended reds of note that warrant second (and third) sips: a Zin/​Tempranillo/​Petite Sirah («Bruella Road») and a 4xZin and Petite Sirah bottling, «Paisley,» that is a big 14.6% barrel-​aged mouth filler without the tongue-​lashing tannic bite you’d get from many Bordeaux– or Rhone-​based blends. I was more attracted to the 2012 Bruella Road, I think because of the interesting combination of Tempranillo with the Petite.
In fact, I was saddened that I hadn’t saved a taste for the Petite Sirah at the end, opting instead to finish with a 2011 Cabernet Franc. While old vine Zinfandel may be the reason that the Lodi AVA is trending so hot right now on the Californian wine-​tasting map, it seemed clear that the vineyards in and around town were also yielding great alternatives to choose from, be it heritage vines of Carignane, Petite Sirah, or Graciano or newer plantings of Tempranillo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Petit Verdot, and the like.
But planning «to get (mildly) drunk in Lodi, again» (so sorry for that, John F. You deserve better) in a Holy Grail-​like quest for more mysterious Petite Sirah bottlings at Jeremy Wine Co. and Michael David, alongside a second stop here, is part of the fun of post-​trip travel planning. This may not prove to be a madcap, one-​night fling with McCay; perhaps there are some longer-​term possibilities. I doubt I’ll be joining the Cycling Club anytime soon (I’d rather torture myself using simpler methods without having to shell out thousands of dollars in carbon fiber and spandex to do so), but I just might well come back when the 2014 reds are primed and ready for pouring, since for some reason I think it will be good vintage year for my personal wine-​drinking preferences. Cheers for a great visit!

Excellent wines and friendly staff!!! Listening to a great band! Wonderful wine pick up party. Kelli is the best!

I love McCay wine. I first tried their wine at a random tasting place in downtown Lodi ever since then I’ve been a club member. Every time I’m in town I make sure to swing by and pick up a few bottles.
I love the reds (Equity, Trulux, Jupiter) but their white wines are also very well balanced. I highly recommend McCay Cellars.

I visited this tasting room 2÷22÷15 and am kicking myself for missing it! I would frequent M2 when it is was in the same vicinity and cannot believe I missed it. This place has some incredible whine especially their Zins. I am a big fan of the Jupiter Zin but all were great in their own way. We purchased some futures from their barrel tasting and am excited to get them! The atmosphere is totally unexpected, you walk up thinking what am I doing at a warehouse, but as you enter you see this is a really outstanding venue. Better late than never, I am very pleased to have discovered McCay and will definitely be back!

Great little winery, with some big and bold yet balanced reds! The tasting room is in a warehouse, which is a bit odd, but the second you enter, you are immediately greeted by some friendly and knowledgeable wine pourers in a warm and eclectic environment. All their wines were delicious, especially the zinfandels but also enjoyed their rose. They also have options for tastings, which can include some barrel tastings and they waive the fees with a purchase of a bottle of wine. Highly recommended!

Very cool, chill, laid back winery that embraces Lodi.
The winery has a slight hippy/​new school vibe that is a very refreshing change of pace. The inside design has quite a bit of thought put into it with nuances of Lodi every where. After your first sip of McCay wine you quickly and completely forget that moments ago you entered an industrial building.
Have been here more than once and have always been treated very well. Wines are top notch in the moderate to high price range for Lodi wines. Very yummy all around though.
Kudos McCay Cellars for pulling off a job very well done! Wineries like these are what are helping bring Lodi wines to the next level!

Had a great time tasting at McCay. This was my first ever experience in Lodi, and I’m happy I went to McCays. The wines were great– although the tasting room was pretty chilly, and unfortunately I think the wines were a bit too chilly (thanks, nature) because of it– so I don’t know if I was able to taste how truly great the wines were. However, would recommend checking this place out. A great atmosphere– we got to taste the wines on the list plus more, and even got TWO tastes out of a barrel. Our pourer (I’m sad that I didn’t catch his name) gave us a bottle of water and some delicious cheese along with our wine. Once I discovered that I could warm the wine up a bit with my hand on the glass, I realized the wines here were pretty great.
Definitely a great place to go if you’re looking for a variety of zins.
The room is in a warehouse that seems to be in the middle of nowhere, but when you go inside, the atmosphere is warm (despite the cold temperature outside) and the decorations are pretty fun and very «lodi»

Great people and great wine. Nice atmosphere for wine tasting. They really make it fun. Everything you want out of a Lodi wine tasting experience. Just felt the wines were a little pricey.

Great Family owned winery. You get up close and personal to the winemaker. I love their wines. I am visiting the tasting room again.

Very personable, everything you would expect from a winery and winemaker in Lodi. Their 2012 Rose is AMAZING! Will now try the 2013 Rose. Definitely stop in when you are in the area.

The woman who helped me order wine over the phone was fantastic. She was patient and thought critically to help me receive the wine in the most worry free manner.
I have fond memories of McCay Cellars from my numerous excursions to Wine and Roses in Lodi. Now I live in Austin, TX and the 2010 Jupiter Zinfadel is still one if my favorites. I’m very happy to have it once again thanks to the helpful staff at McCay Cellars.

Great wines! The women working there was not very personable but the guy working there is fantastic. He was with another group but yelled over to us to share more info about the wine… Lastly, he took us to try a sample from the future barrel. Yum!

Some of the best Zinfandels in Lodi. Big, bold fruit that knocks you right in the face. Personal faves are Jupiter, Contention, & Equity. Their dry rose is also a must-​try. The tasting room is fun and unpretentious — pallet furniture, graffiti art, parachute ceiling. Definitely not to be missed.

This place is at the top of my Lodi must-​visit list. Great wines (the Tres Blanc a big surprise in the white wine category), an awesome funky offbeat tasting room (you gotta love a place with a party-​sized sofa and coffee table !), and an amazing host — Terry.
I almost hate to rave about this place for fear of the mass herd discovering it and ruining all that is special. Do yourself a favor and drop on in. Open your mind and don’t let the industrial façade and parking lot scare you off !