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Lodi News-Sentinel published this article August 12, 2000 'Vino Piazza' lends touch of Tuscany By Brian Ross
Don and Karyn Litchfield stand atop one The sprawling hulk of the once-proud lockeford Winery had languished for almost 20 years before Don and Karyn Litchfield purchsed the property. It was more than two years ago when they and partner Bruce Viel placed the winning bid of $215,000 for the property at a San Joaquin County tax auction. At the time, the trio had no idea what use they would have for the sprawling complex, but the deal was too good bo pass up, said Don Litchfield. "We only paid about 10 cents on the dollar for the place," he remembers. "We thought we'd eventually figure out what its best use would be." Viel sold his interest in the project - about 25 acres of surrounding land - but the Litchfields have remined focused on making use of the property's full potential. Lockeford winery was operaional from 1946 to 1978. The property was used briefly by U.S. Gasahol, which abandoned the site in the early '80s. Now that potential is about to be realized, as the massive complex is in the process of a three-phase resurrection which the Litchfields hope will restore the old landmark to its former grandeur - and then some.Dubbed "Vino Piazza at the Olde Lockeford Winery," the ambitious undertaking will take advantage of the region's exploding boutique wine industry, hosting as many as a dozen small wineries within the massive reinforced concrete structures of the 25-acre complex on Locke Road. "There was a great deal of work to be done on the property when we got it - still is for that matter," litchfield said, who, as it turns out, is the ideal candidate for the job. Litchfield's firm, Copper Enterprises, Inc., specializes in environmental remediation - cleanup of sites contaminated with toxic substances. The firm has global experience in such operations, having been awarded contracts to clean up after the Soviets, who left badly contaminated sites when they abandoned former military outposts in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Those skills came in handy when it came time to work on the "Piazza"The current permit allows for as much as 2.3 million gallons of wine storage. Although the plant certainly has the capacity, Litchfield said that day is still in the distant future. Ultimately, he said, the facility will provide arouind one million gallons of storage and about another 1.3 million gallons of barrel storage. Litchfield said he is currently in the process of setting up for Cosentino Winery's 2000 crush, which will entail approximately 150 cases. The rapidly expanding Cosentino Winery needs the added crush capacity and Litchfield needs the exposure, explained winery owner Mitch Cosentino, who is currently pursuing plans for two new wineries in the ares. In the meantime, restoration work continues on the Lockeford project. "We are very excited," Don Litchfield said. "The possibilities with a place like this are almost endless." This article is reprinted with the permission from the Lodi News-Sentinel.
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