About Us
Oak Farm Vineyards is a family owned estate winery in the heart of the Lodi appellation. We grow our wines on our own land, farm every acre sustainably, and share them with wine buyers, restaurants and retailers across the United States and in 12 countries abroad. Our home is a 70-acre property of lush vines and century-old oaks, with 60 acres planted to vineyard.
Our story begins in 1860, when William DeVries acquired this land in what was then called Elkhorn Township. A wheat farmer, cattle rancher and eventually Justice of the Peace, William built the colonial style home that still stands here in 1876, and he shared it with his wife, Cornelia Crowe. The ranch became known throughout the San Joaquin Valley as one of the most beautiful properties in the state. DeVries loved trees, especially oaks, and never allowed one to be cut unless it was a menace. Today many of those enormous oaks still shade the property, alongside the DeVries family burial plot, and the home has been carefully renovated with great attention to its heritage.
The Panella family arrived in the region in 1936 and spent nearly seven decades farming here before purchasing Oak Farm in 2004. From 2012 to 2014, Dan Panella, a third generation California farmer, replanted the property’s 60 acres of vineyards to bring out the full potential of Lodi. Today Dan and Head Winemaker Marilia Nimis-Schrader lead a talented team crafting wines that are shared across the country and around the world.
Where We Grow
The Lodi Appellation
Lodi is an ideal place to grow grapes. Well drained alluvial soils washed down from the Sierra Nevada meet a Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool nights. Grapes have been grown here since the 1850s, and today Lodi is home to more than 120 varieties across seven sub-regions, each with its own microclimate and soils. Our estate sits in the Mokelumne River sub-region, rooted in deep sandy loam.
Our Vineyards
We grow 14 grape varieties on our Lodi estate. Our Cabernet Sauvignon block surrounds the tasting room and winery, planted in 2014 on a VSP trellis. Our Sauvignon Blanc block is the only one on the estate set at an angle, for balanced sunlight. About a mile down the road, our Davis Vineyard grows the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre behind The Corset. We also work with select growers, including Bruce Fry’s Mohr-Fry Ranches, to round out our lineup.
Certified Green
Every Oak Farm wine is certified sustainable under the Lodi Rules. The program is third party certified and was built for the Lodi appellation by scientists, growers, a wildlife biologist and farm advisors. Its more than 100 standards cover soil, water, pest management, ecosystems, our people and our neighbors, so the land stays healthy for the next 100 years.
How We Make Wine
We want every wine to taste true to its grape and to Lodi. That starts in the vineyard: shoot thinning, crop reduction and deficit irrigation keep the vines in balance and concentrate flavor. In the cellar we handle the fruit and wine as little as possible, from harvest through aging and bottling. We spend a lot of time in the vineyard, always working to get the best from what these vines can do.
The Story of Tievoli
Tievoli began at the Lake Tahoe Wooden Boat Show, where we spotted a beautiful vintage Riva speedboat by that name. The owners told us “Tievoli” was old Italian slang for something like “you want this.” Then we noticed it is simply “I love it” spelled backwards. That felt exactly right for wines made for the moment you take a sip and think, I love this. Every Tievoli wine has earned 90 points or more from Wine Enthusiast.
Our Wines
Oak Farm is a winery first. We grow 14 different grape varieties on our Lodi estate, and our wines are made from that estate fruit along with selectively sourced grapes.
Head Winemaker Marilia Nimis-Schrader, who trained in Italy’s Friuli region, works side by side with Dan, our Director of Winemaking, to let the grapes speak for themselves. Today our wines are poured and sold across the United States and in countries around the world.
Our History
Recent Accolades
99 Pts, Double Gold
2024 Corset
Best of Class, 2026 International Women’s Wine Competition
97 Pts, Double Gold
2025 Albariño
2026 International Women’s Wine Competition
93 Pts
2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Enthusiast, Editor’s Choice
Double Gold
2022 Il Padrone
2026 San Francisco Chronicle
Best of Mokelumne River
2023 Grenache Noir
2025 Harvest Challenge
92 Pts
2024 Tievoli Zinfandel
Wine Enthusiast, Best Buy
Meet the Team
Dorothy, Dan & Heather Panella
Dan is a third generation California farmer and our Director of Winemaking. After growing up working in his family’s orchards, Dan trained under winemaker Chad Joseph and studied through UC Davis’ winemaking extension. Heather grew up on an almond ranch and leads general management, hospitality and events. She earned degrees in landscape architecture and ornamental horticulture from Modesto Junior College, ran her own design studio for more than a decade, and designed the landscaping across the estate. Together with Dan’s mother Dorothy, they live on the property and bring family and farming into everything they do.
Marilia Nimis-Schrader
Marilia grew up in Friuli, Italy, where her father’s family grows Glera and Pinot Grigio. She earned her degree in Viticulture and Winemaking in 2018, then worked harvests across Collio, Friuli and Trentino, including at Cantine Ferrari, before a harvest in New Zealand. She came to Oak Farm for one harvest and stayed on, and is now our Head Winemaker, with a focus on quality and sustainability.
Levi Johnson
Levi joined Oak Farm in 2016 as a Cellar Worker and rose to Cellar Master and now Production Manager. He runs daily production, harvest and crush logistics, and shipping and receiving.
Rob Newhouse
With over 20 years in sales, Rob has grown our wholesale business from 5,000 cases a year to over 30,000, distributed throughout the country and the world.
Lacey Franklin
A Northern California native with a background in resort cuisine, Chef Lacey moved to Lodi from Napa. Since May 2024 she has led our Food Experience, cooking everything from scratch daily with local, seasonal ingredients.
Kristina Martinez
Kristina brings over 15 years of hospitality experience in event planning, staffing and vendor management, and works with every guest to make their event a success.
Julian Rodriguez
Julian oversees our club members’ and guests’ experience, leading the food and beverage and membership teams and working closely with members on their needs.
Ashley Hayes
Ashley oversees the Tasting Room and Food Service teams and works closely with our Hospitality Manager to make sure every guest is well taken care of.
Visit Us
Visit us in the heart of the Lodi appellation, where our tasting room sits amid a 70-acre oasis of lush vines and century old oaks. We’re open 7 days a week for tastings, food from our kitchen and seasonal events, and our spaces also host memorable corporate gatherings. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations are recommended for weekends.
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