Steve and Lori Felten, fifth generation grape growers in the Lodi region, continue the tradition of cultivating "Old Vine" Zinfandel vineyards that their ancestors planted in the early 1900's.
Part of the extended Felten Family includes their winemaker, Barry Gnekow, who is responsible for crafting the wines from the inaugural vintage. Barry, a Davis graduate with over 25 years of experience of winemaking, has a unique ability to bring the best of the vineyard into the cellar, year after year, producing wines of distinction for Klinker Brick.
We are often asked why we named our winery, Klinker Brick. Klinker Bricks are highly prized bricks that grace many of the historical buildings in Lodi, including our home. Chosen by Craftsmen architects in the 1920’s for their distinctive qualities, including unique shapes and dark, rich color, these bricks are "heavier" than regular bricks.
"Klinker" refers to the sound that they would make when banged together, because of their increased weight. Rich, deep color, enormous density, unique and distinctive are the same qualities found in our old vine Zinfandel. And, we hope it is a name that you are not likely to forget!
