Don't walk. RUN to Pondl. Not a not because the wine is delicious but you need to need David. He's the owner and he IS what YOU need for a wine tasting experience. Not only does he serve but he SERVES. The cute wine glasses and prompt service will keep you coming back. We learned about his family and he tells the best stories. Definitely will be back soon. read more

Pondl Winery - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

My husband and I stopped in here today for a wine tasting and wow were we surprised the wine was fabulous and the owner was phenomenal! My husband got a glass of the seasonal mulled wine and I did a flight! The owner was so nice and we learned so much about their family winery, his service was impeccable and the tasting room was beautifully clean! We will definitely make it a habit to stop In when we are in town we had such an amazing tasting here! If you're debating on stopping in do it!!! You will not regret it!!!! All the wine was yummy but The old Zin is divine definitely my favorite and my second favorite was the rose!!! read more

During our first visit at Pondl, I became a member. Meeting the owners was all it took! We had such fun! The Tempranillo wine was like nothing I have ever had before; it sold me! This adorable old farm house is really cranking out some delicious Italian wines. The club releases are pretty epic as well. Every time we have stopped by, the vibe is always so welcoming, David is just the best. I have had to run in to grab my member wine in my gardening clothes before and he just made me feel right at home. I don't think a lot of wineries are like this. I appreciate them so much! Pondl is definitely a gem! read more

What a charming and engaging winery! First, the fact that if you are not specifically looking for Pondl you will most likely miss it a few times. It's not easy to find. I recommend slowing down dramatically on the approach so everyone behind you knows you are going to turn into the winery. This goes for either direction. Just a quick safety tip. Anyhow, it's been a while but what I remember was extremely personable service. Each wine was poured with a pride and dignity that made the experience that much greater. Sure, they are not all going to be winners as people have very selective palates, but that is the fun of it :) Some like the heavy, jammy and fruit forward wines. These can be a lot of fun for a BBQ or some outdoor event when the temperatures are not valley hot (aka 100+). I mean, who drinks red wine in those temperatures? Ok, I have but at that point I was already into my second bottle and I can't stop there. I lost my thought process...sorry! Oh yeah, Pondl. So make some moderate plans and do yourself a favor and visit this winery that is unpretentious, small scale, charming facility that really is a nice representation of the true Lodi Wine Tasting Experience. If you want the Napa experience, simply tip this place $100 dollars and leave without a bottle in hand then drive around Lodi for another 90 minutes and see how you feel about that. Pondl is a place I would take all my friends visiting that have not yet had the Lodi experience! read more

We walked in here on Easter Sunday around 1pm. We were the only ones there until we were done with our tasting. It was $10 for 7 wines. The owner was really nice and friendly. Really wanted to like the wines but they weren't to our taste. We don't like Italian wines and we prefer bold and smooth. Most of the wines were acidic/sour. The wines didn't smell that great either. The only one that was decent was the Old vine Zinfandel- a lil sweet , good flavor, jammy fruity. Looks like they have some outdoor seating. No seats inside. read more

Pondl Winery - 3/31/24 menu - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

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The wines here were ok. Service was good. Very personable and friendly. Small winery Only $10 to taste quite a few wines and the pours were pretty good. Would be enough to share. read more

Excellent wines, the experience was awesome as we learned so much about the history and the wines. Will definitely be back.

Unfortunately the wines we tried were quite tart, and very sour. Perhaps my least favorite winery I've tasted at. The tasting room and seatings appeared limited, felt a bit invasive since it seems it's a part of a home. You've got to like acidity and sour to enjoy these. read more

Pondl Winery - The reds we tasted. - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

Great winery and staff! Amazing place to spend an afternoon or have an event out. Wine was amazing and fairly priced! read more

Pondl Winery - a group of people sitting in lawn chairs - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

Pondl is so awesome we come every time we are in Lodi. The atmosphere is so welcoming and they are dog friendly (huge bonus). The owner is so sweet and knowledgeable about the wines. We came and tried the seasonal pumpkin spice sangria and I highly recommend!! We ended up going home with three bottles (the fella which is a zin, the winemaker, and the garciano) which were honestly a great deal since the tasting fee (8 dollars) is waived with a bottle purchase. We had so much fun and will be back!!!! THEY ARE DOING TASTINGS in case anyone was wondering! read more

Pondl Winery - a person holding a glass of wine - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

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Make Pondl your FIRST stop of the day and you will not regret it! This is a small winery, but we had the best experience here compared to visiting other larger wineries. The owner is fantastic, he showed us how he made the wine and entertained us with the history of how Pondl came to be. He was so delightful and had many stories to tell us, we were laughing so hard! This place is an absolute gem and the wine is very unique and the reds have a much more stronger kick compared to other wines I have tasted. We've visited over 15 wineries in Lodi and this by far was our favorite! read more

My friends and I came to Pondl Winery as our last stop on a much needed, socially distanced day getaway. We enjoyed our winetasting on the grounds and got to know the owner quite well. There were two other groups when we arrived at the winery but both departed soon after. There is plenty of socially distance seating around tables and some Adirondack chairs. The wines reflected the quality of the local grape and were quite tasty. We each ended up purchasing a bottle to take home. It was a nice way to end our daycation. read more

Amazing wines and such a great experience. The host, David was pleasant and warm. The grounds are charming! Not to be missed if you're in the area! read more

We took my mom to Lodi to go wine tasting. She was up from Long Beach and loves wine. This was our first stop. We had the pleasure of meeting David, the owner. He was a lot of fun. He shared a lot of stories with us and was an excellent host. The wine is good too. We walked out with a few bottles and lots of laughs. Thanks for the hospitality. My mom loved the experience! P.S. don't pay any attention to the negative reviews. There's only a couple. Whoever posted them obviously don't have a sense of humor! read more

Value-wise for tasting, this place is a great stop: there were like a dozen wines on the list, for 5 bucks, and refundable with a purchase. Quality-wise, though - I didn't think any of the wines were that amazing, and most of their reds tasted a bit too young. We bought a bottle of their "late harvest" viognier that was on sale for 10 dollars (might as well - we would've paid 5 either way)... which in retrospect, I wasn't nearly as impressed by as I remembered being at the time - at the time, I remembered it being delightfully semi-sweet and full of flavor; when we got home and opened the bottle, it tasted like an ok off-dry sherry (I like dry sherry, but I've had better wines with that flavor profile.) That said, the owner was pouring, and he was a super fun guy, and the tasting room was charming ("charming", here means "really small, but full of character".) I enjoyed the visit, but the wine, not as much as some other places we visited (though they weren't *bad*.) read more

Pondl Winery - All these wines for $5. :) - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

Pondl Winery is a small family run winery on the northern end of Lodi along Taylor road. The name comes from combining the initials of the couple. Their winery and tasting room are on Taylor Road between 5 and 99 just west of the city boundary. The tasting room is a little small, but the personality of the owners are very big. They have a wide selection of varietals and styles, although many are on the drier side. It is shame that there are not more windows inside to see the gorgeous view. Parking is a bit tight, and large groups quickly overwhelm the room. The wine is limited production so you may not see the same bottle twice. Nevertheless, everyone had a fun time sampling wine outside the normal Lodi scene. read more

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I called to see if they were open for tasting, it was a day they weren't typically open, but he said "what time"and "come on over" So glad we did! We met the wine maker David, he was so kind and fun. It was one of those wineries where you are so glad you visited. Great wines, loved their Chardonnay and reds. We will definitely be stopping on our way home too. read more

We had a great visit to this little gem! Love , love love David and his personality and stories! Wine was good too. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Wine owner was very interesting with great knowledge of the wines and logos as well as wine maker. Fun ezpwrience

Always happy to stop here. Love sitting outside after being cooped up all week. The flavors of each wine are spot on how you'd think they'd taste. So luscious. Not watered down as some I've tasted are. David is so friendly and genuinely caring. Always up for a chat and a giggle. Loved them the first time so much, I became a member. My best friend and I love the Zinfandel a lot. read more

Great wine, great service! Get to know the owner during your wine tasting. Find out how he managed through COVID-19.

Pondl winery was really nice place to visit. The owner, David, was so kind and welcoming. The wine was wonderful, we ended up going home with a bottle of Montepulciano. We will absolutely be returning when we visit Lodi again. David, the owner, is and excellent host and a great person to talk to.  Thanks for a fun afternoon. read more

Hands down the best winery in Lodi. The owners are very nice and the wines are delicious. They are a small business and the owner is always on site. We are always happy with our visits. My favorites are their award winning Chris' Dream!!! & The Pin up. You will be hooked. They offer a good number of wines for their tasting. Very good & reasonable prices. They also have a wine club. Stop by and try it for yourself. You won't be sorry!!! read more

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Pondl winery was absolutely wonderful to visit. The owner, David, was so kind and welcoming. The tastings (which are happening!) still felt very intimate and normal. We got our own little tour of how the wine is made and got to hear the sweet story of how the winery came to be. The wine was wonderful, we ended up going home with a bottle of our favorite at the end of the day. We will absolutely be returning when we visit Lodi again! read more

Last minute decision to come this winery. It is such a cute little place. Lucky to have tasted some of the last bit if wine from the late wine maker. His husband is amazing and has passion for the wine and to keep the winery going. A must stop. read more

My husband and I stopped at this winery during the wine and chocolate festival last weekend and what a treat! The little purple house that houses the tasting room makes you feel as though you are walking into someone's kitchen and we were greeted by the most adorable couple who informed us they were one of the owners parents. Vintage photos of them in their younger days were framed above them. The wines were a variety. Surely something for every palate, and David, one of the owners( and son to the cute couple) was all smiles as he poured some of our samples. We left with two bottles this time but will return to see what else they offer! read more

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This was our home 35 years ago! We brought our babies home here. The top floor was our living space and the bottom was a garage. Great sharing this with you today! We appreciated you bringing us upstairs to what's now your office. Pat and David, you are wonderful hosts! Thanks for transforming our home! read more

Pondl Winery - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE EVEN BETTER WINE! We didn't taste a single wine that was gross! The actual owner gave us our tasting and told us the history of the winery! Super cute place and peaceful. There is more seating outside but it's shady and right next to the vines. Lovely place and will be visiting again! read more

David (one of the owners) was very welcoming and fun, picnic area was adorable, and the wine was great. Very laid back vibe, we'll definitely be back. read more

Pondl Winery - View of the vineyard from the picnic area on a beautiful April day! - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

We stopped here on a whim (and because the reviews looked good) after leaving Michael David. We were looking for a smaller more intimate place to go since the other place felt like there were people everywhere. First off, when you first pull in to the driveway you'll feel like you're parking at someone's house. Yes, you're in the right place. The tasting room is to the right. Second, when you walk in you'll notice it's not that big so don't roll in with 18 of your closest friends or do one of those obnoxious wine buses where it's 36 people. On the other hand, this is definitely a place where if you go enough they will take care of you and treat you like they're own. I got so excited thinking I could come up once a month then I remembered it's in Lodi and I live in SoCal. Our server, David Lujan (I think he said his first name is David) was the most awesome person in a winery I've ever met. He was sassy, so much, but knew his stuff about wines. Well, he should because he's part owner. Yes, part owner. How often do you go to a winery and have the owner pouring you wine?! The wine was good so, of course, we bought a couple bottles to go. I haven't opened any yet but I'm excited to cook something so I can crack it open and relive our fun time at Pondl. read more

Cute place and not all overcrowded. They've got a wonderful light Zin that drinks as if a velvety Pinot noir.

LOVED my 1st (not last) visit on Sunday 8/31/14. My boyfriend and I made this our last stop on our way back to Tracy after a nice day of tasting. We had been at Jessie's Grove and asked about Pondl as we had driven past it on our way to Jessie's. The cool chick said that we should definitely stop in for a tasting. I like that they suggested we stop- it goes to show support throughout the winery world and I like the positively and comradery. So away we went and as we pulled up (after making sure they were open and that we weren't walking in at closing) we were greeted in the parking lot by David. He took us inside where he gave us the rundown of what we would be tasting and as we talked, he told us the story of how Pondl came to be and walked us around to the pictures on the wall and shared the stories of the people. What an awesome story- I'm not going to tell it to you as you need to have it told from the source. The wines were good w/ my favorite being their Merlot although everything tasted great. We had such a great time and felt like we made friends as David and Patrick were so much fun. I felt like I could hang out all day just talking and drinking wine with them. I hope to visit again soon!! read more

Really cool, small winery! Great variety of wines...I bought a port and a Barbera. David, the owner was really sweet and I really enjoyed that they were open Mondays. Extra bonus that they provided pretzels and dip. Cause who doesn't love a small snack while sipping?! read more

Pondl Winery - Cute picnic area - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California

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Pondl has been only been opened since March 16, 2012; that's what the owners shared w/us. David is very enthusiastic and welcoming. We really liked their Chardonnay, very crisp and refreshing. A nice stop in Lodi. read more

Pondl Winery is new and already making a name for itself in the world of fine wine. Personally, I'd recommend their Primitivo and "Beau" (merlot) - which stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the best wines in all California. Owners David and Pat are friendly, charming, and knowledgeable and are eager to tell their unique journey of how they got their start, giving Pondl a personal touch and creating an inviting atmosphere that stands in stark contrast to many of the "vanity" wineries. Everything from their classic labels to the deep purple tasting room makes for a truly memorable experience! 5 STARS read more

5 for the owner and service. He was reallybsweet and nice, we came in as a group of 5 for wine tasting and he took the time to explain his wines and how the business and brand came about. We really like him! 3.5 for the wine, we found it a little more bland for our palatte but from the price point it pretty worth it. read more

Didn't really care for the wines. The pours were pretty slim. The outside setting was ok but the lawn furniture was a bit old. I'd pass next time read more

I had no idea Lodi had wine like this. I don't mean that in a good way either. If you came to Lodi for the wine and you stopped here, please don't let this winery or wine detour you or deter you from visiting others. read more

Super cute small winery. Every time we stop here everyone is so friendly. Wines are delicious and are reasonably priced. Great story behind the wine labels too! read more

We had such a great time visiting this winery, I think we'll come back if nothing else just for the amazing hospitality. We enjoyed all of the wines that we tasted, I especially liked the petite syrah...I apologize but I cannot remember the name of it. Like I said, definitely a fun winery and they have lots of great events. We will be back for a visit. read more

Pondl Winery - Wineries Near Me - Lodi, California