Earlier this Spring I was honored to visit Acquiesce Winery in the Lodi Wine region of California. Tucked away on a small farm road 13 minutes north of the town of Lodi, you will come upon a charming barn and tasting room, surrounded by verdant green vineyards. After parking in the small gravel parking lot, you will most likely notice a large imposing round sign on the red garage door of the barn. It depicts a woman standing on a grape vine with the words: Awaken, Transcend, Acquiesce.
Immediately I was fascinated by the fact that someone would post such an imposing piece of art on a winery barn. And a few minutes later I met the amazing woman who designed and named the winery. Her name is Susan Tipton, and she is also known as the “Queen of White Rhone Wines,” because the only types of wine she produces are white Rhone varietals. These include Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, and a few others.
“I fell in love with a white Chateauneuf du Pape a while back,” explained Susan, after inviting us to sit at a table in the tasting room. “So when we purchased this property, I decided to plant white Rhone varieties.”
About Acquiesce Winery
Susan then introduced us to her husband, Rodney Tipton, and they told us their story of having a dream to one day buy a property that would be surrounded by land, where they could watch the sun rise and set. So upon retirement, they purchased the 18 acre estate in the Lodi wine region, planted vines in 2008, and launched the winery in 2012. With a background in chemistry, Susan had no trouble teaching herself winemaking skills. Today they have 10.5 acres of wine grapes and produce around 3000 cases annually. The wines are so acclaimed, that Susan consistently sells out every year.
They named the winery “Acquiesce,” which means “to surrender, to become quiet. ” Susan explained that for them it meant to submit to nature and to surrender to what the grapes want to present. For this reason, she makes the wine using non-interventionist methods. All grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, and whole cluster pressed. The vineyard is also certified sustainable under the Lodi Rules Certification.
A Tasting of Fresh Vibrant Wines
We were treated to a tasting of six white Rhones, as well as a sparkling Grenache Blanc made in the Methode Champenoise. I was struck with how fresh and vibrant all of the wines were. The aromas and the flavors of the grapes sang through in the wine, and were complemented by interesting texture and complex minerality. All of the wines were excellent, but two stand-outs for me were:
2018 Acquiesce Winery Belle Blanc – a blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 45% Roussanne, and 10% Viognier, this wine hums with energy, enticing with a floral and honey nose, spreading across the palate with a blend of pear, nectar, and a piercing acidity. Vibrant and delicious – 95.
2019 Clairette Blanche – Inviting floral nose followed by grapefruit, lemon blossom, and complex mineral and herb notes. Fresh and exciting, with vibrant acidity, and a very long finish – 94
Visiting Acquiesce Winery
The winery is open by appointment, and visitors can enjoy both a tasting and a vineyard experience. Acquiesce Winery is also focused on inclusivity, and equality for all. Because of this they support a variety of organizations with this mission in mind, including the Roots Fund. Rodney is also organizing a new wine competition that will include wine judges with a diversity of ethnic backgrounds.
