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About Us

Fran Benavidez is a freelance wine lifestyle writer based in Lodi, California. She is a regular contributor to d’Vine Wine & Visitor’s Guide and The Arbor, and her wine soaked articles have appeared on TheJuice.com, SFGate.com, and various other wine related websites. To keep her glass half full, she writes wine tasting notes, label copy and website content for various wineries, and happily pours wine at cellardoor in beautiful Downtown Lodi. Married to her favorite wine tasting partner, Isaac, she enjoys a life filled with love, laughter, and experiences to write about.

With a spark of electricity and a splashy meritage of sweet jazz and tasty vino, Isaac Benavidez has evolved into a man passionate about wine, family, cooking & music. Isaac currently makes a living as a winery electrician with a moonlight serenade spinning songs as a wine disc jockey. Wine integrates into all aspects of his life including playing music, making “can-cakes” for the Grandchildren and keeping the winery humming at work. With a fun and easy point of view, Isaac hopes to bring writing, culinary and editorial skills to the wine table.

Relentlessly searching for creative ways to spice up a dish, Lisa Sandison has always had a passion for food and cooking. Her formal training in baking and pastry started at Delta College in 2006 and more recently at Johnson & Wales University in Denver. While attending JWU she discovered an excitement for food writing and has developed her personal authoritative voice in the areas of memoirs, restaurant reviews, and current trends in culinary. Sandison joins VineLanguage.com as a contributing food writer who enjoys studying the pairing of food and wine from the regions of California.

Duane Oxford is a Stockton native with a passion for Lodi wines. Ask him what his favorite wines are and he’ll probably give you the name of a great red, like Cab or Zin, but it’s no surprise to find Oxford enjoying a glass or two of delicious white! “I think my favorite things about the Wonderful World of Wine are the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made. Let’s raise our glasses to good times, good friends and long life! Enjoy!”

Raised in the South on Muscadine wine, Patrick J. Baker pours wine at cellardoor in Lodi while conjuring up great wine descriptors, much to the delight of his Vine Language crew as well as feature writing for the Masonic Trestleboard. Ask him what his favorite pairing is, it will most likely include his partner Duane and their collective love of fine wine and good friends.

A Stockton native, Carol Ruth loves her residence of choice: Lodi. As a single mom to a teenage son, Carol loves a glass of Lodi wine whenever possible. Besides her son, art is her passion; throw a smooth jazz tune in the mix and her world is right! An accomplished artist before she ever graduated high school, Ruth credits Stockton artist Raoul Mora as a major inspiration and mentor. She's happy to join the Vine Language crew, renewing her passion for drawing, enjoying good music, and sharing a glass of the good life with great friends.

All photos on this page courtesy of Benz Photography