The community-driven food and wine celebration unites 10 chefs, 10 winemakers, 10 growers, and 10 artisans in a dynamic, market-style setting
April 9, 2026 (Lodi, CA) — Tickets are now available for the inaugural American Fare, a first-of-its-kind culinary event debuting Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa. Set across the resort’s lush gardens and grounds, American Fare invites guests to sip, taste, smell, see, and feel the essence of Made in Lodi, where everything encountered is locally grown, crafted, and inspired by the region. Long renowned as California’s Zinfandel capital, Lodi quietly boasts more vineyard acreage than Napa and Sonoma combined and remains one of the state’s most authentic and collaborative wine communities.
Created to celebrate Lodi’s distinctive food and wine culture, American Fare brings together the region’s most celebrated chefs, winemakers, growers, and artisans in a communal, market-style setting. At the heart of the event are ten thoughtfully curated tasting booths, each pairing one chef, one grower, and one winemaker to showcase seasonal ingredients and wines that reflect the richness and diversity of Lodi’s agricultural landscape. American Fare builds on the longstanding role of Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa as a gathering place for the Lodi community, shaped over decades by operating owners Russ and Kathryn Munson and their investment partners. Their stewardship has made the resort a natural setting for an event centered on local connection, craftsmanship and collaboration.
“American Fare was born from a desire to highlight the incredible flavors, local ingredients, and talented artisans that make Lodi so special,” says Charlie Palmer, co-founder and CEO of Appellation. “Working alongside longtime Lodi stewards Russ and Kathryn Munson, whose vision has helped shape Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa into such an essential expression of the region, it became clear that the chefs, growers, and winemakers here deserve a true platform. From my first visit to the Lodi farmers market with Kathryn, that sense of community and craft was undeniable. American Fare is about creating a garden-to-table experience that fosters collaboration, mentorship, and connection.”
Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed at a garden bar with seasonal cocktails and zero-proof creations crafted with local ingredients by the resort’s in-house mixologist, along with a custom tote bag designed for use throughout the event’s shoppable marketplace. Interactive tastings and culinary moments will unfold throughout the day, allowing guests to savor expertly composed pairings created by a lineup of acclaimed culinary talent, including:
- Chef Robert Ito of Americana House with PT Ranch and Peltier Winery & Vineyards
- Nassim Bounoua of Folia Bar & Kitchen with Pocket Honey and Harney Lane Vineyards
- Jacob des Voignes of Heleje Wine Co. with Ecofriendly Farms and Heleje Wine Co.
- Sunny and Tim Chong of Komachi Sushi with Tsar Nicolai Caviar and Michael David Winery
- Lance Ramhurst of Mohi Farm with Spenker Family Farm and Acquiesce Winery
- Lacey Franklin of Oak Farm Vineyards with Golden Bear Ranches and Oak Farm Vineyards
- Matt Masera of Miller & Lux with Honest Acres Farm and Markus Wine Co.
- Srijith Gopinathan of The Oxford Hotel & Kitchen with Toscano Family Farm and St. Jorge Winery
- Arriel Oneal of The Exchange 1874 with CalRiver Farms and Perlegos Family Wines
- The VIP Lunch attendees will experience a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings, including freshly shucked Hog Island Oysters with Tsar Nicoulai caviar and a special pasta dish from Pietro’s.
Building on the market-style programming, A&W—the iconic root beer brand founded in Lodi—will be on-site with its Root Beer Float Truck, alongside a lively artisan marketplace showcasing locally made goods ranging from photography and fine art to ceramics, woodworking, olive oil, and honey. Guests can also enjoy a build-your-own Bloom Bar by Embellish Floral Design, a bakery experience from Maison Lodi, and picnic blankets set throughout the property for relaxed lounging between activations. Sure to be one of the day’s most talked-about moments, a petting zoo with Spenker Family Farms’ baby goats adds a playful element to the experience.
“With Appellation, we have the opportunity to expand what an event like this can be, by bringing together not just wineries, but chefs, growers, and artisans in a way that feels representative of Lodi’s community,” says Russ Munson, operating owner of Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa. “It goes beyond a traditional food and wine event and is something more integrated and representative of who we are, and I believe it’s going to become a cornerstone of events in Lodi for years to come.”
Beyond the culinary celebration, American Fare reflects Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa’s continued commitment to the local community and the future of hospitality in the region through education and mentorship. Proceeds from the event benefit the Palmer Family Education Foundation and support scholarships and culinary and wine education programs in partnership with San Joaquin Delta College. This initiative helps cultivate the next generation of hospitality professionals while strengthening Lodi’s creative and agricultural future.
American Fare and its Made in Lodi mission, highlight the strength of the Lodi community, with support from local leaders including the resort’s longtime owners, Russ and Kathryn Munson, and the Murdaca family—longstanding pillars of the region—as well as a network of local businesses contributing to the experience.
The event is made possible with the support of key partners, including Visit Lodi! and the Lodi Winegrape Commission, both instrumental in championing and promoting the region’s wine and agricultural community. Additional partners and sponsors include A&W All American Food, American Express, Diede Construction, Jackson Family Wines, and many more. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities and see all sponsors here.
American Fare offers a limited number of event tickets, creating an intimate way to experience the region’s chefs, growers, and winemakers firsthand. Pricing ranges from $100–$250, with curated weekend packages available for those who wish to extend the experience. General Admission ($100) includes market access with tastings from ten chef–grower–winery pairings, along with a tote and bouquet from the Bloom Bar. VIP Admission ($250) enjoys all General Admission benefits, plus an exclusive four-course al fresco lunch hosted by Chef Charlie Palmer at Americana House. Guests can enhance their American Fare experience with hotel packages, including the General Admission Package, which includes an overnight stay in a luxury guest room and two tickets to the event. For a more elevated experience, the VIP Package includes an overnight stay, two General Admission tickets, and an exclusive VIP lunch for two at Americana House with Chef Charlie Palmer.
Tickets for the first annual American Fare are now on sale at www.american-fare.com.
About Appellation
Born from the elegant merger of the culinary and hospitality worlds, Appellation is much more than a typical hotel company. Inspired by its name, this new culinary-first hotel brand brings together the best of local elements in a new way: a hotel collection powered by people, connected by food, and defined by place—all designed to celebrate its destinations’ culture, community, and craftsmanship. Developed by visionary co-founders Charlie Palmer, one of America’s award-winning chefs and pioneer in the American hotel-restaurant model, and Christopher Hunsberger, a 30-year veteran of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and its former president of North Americas. Experience Appellation as its first hotels and resorts take root in 2025 with the openings of Appellation Healdsburg and Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa. Future Appellation properties include The MOHI by Appellation, AMEYALLI Park City by Appellation, Appellation Sun Grove and Appellation Petaluma.
