by Les Mahler
It will be a perfect blend of art and wine tasting on March 21 and March 22 at the Woodbridge Winery by Robert Mondavi.
The art show, sponsored by the Lodi Community Art Center, is now in its 49th year and the 30th year at the Woodbridge Winery. The art and wine festival brings in talents from throughout Northern California, according to Larry Pilmaier, visitors center manger at Woodbridge Winery.  Admission is free.
Woodbridge Winery will be hosting the event, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Pilmaier.  And although it's the 49th year at the winery for the art show, it's been only 30 years that the winery has been at Woodbridge Winery, Pilmaier said.
"There was an art show before this was Woodbridge Winery," Pilmaier said. "The winery has been here since 1933."
If history is any indication, the art and wine show will be a huge success. "It seems to get better every year." Pilmaier said. Last year, there were more than 300 pieces of art from 100 Northern California artisans, ranging from sculptures to water color to acrylic to oil to photographs.
Besides the art, which will be pre-juried and offered for sale at the winery, there will be wine tasting at Woodbridge Winery, Pilmaier said. In fact, the barrel room will be festooned for the art show, with all the art entries hung on barrels, he said.
At the same time, the Woodbridge Winery tasting room will be open for selling unique gift items and tasting and selling and pouring a selected limited wine, Section 29, Pilmaier said.
"It's a special Lodi red blend," he said. "We make special wines for our wine club members and we'll be pouring and selling this wine at the Spring Art Show."
The evening before the art and wine show, sponsors of the art show, and those who have bought pieces of art beforehand, will be treated to entertainment and food at the winery.
And while the Woodbridge Winery will be hosting the event the weekend of March 21 and 22, the art show is part of the Lodi Community Art Center's Spring Art Show.
The Woodbridge Visitors' Center is open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed on major holidays.) For more information, visit www.woodbridgewines.com or call the Visitors' Center at (209) 365-8139. The winery is located at 5950 East Woodbridge Road in Acampo.
The Lodi Community Art Center was established in the 1930s and is a non-profit organization dedicated "to encourage an interest in, and study of, the art," according to its website. For more information on the Lodi Community Art Center, call (209) 333-3855.