March 2025 Newsletter

In This Issue…

LCWC Offers ‘Future of Agriculture’ Scholarship for College-Bound High School Students
News from Lake County RCD: Supporting Sustainable Practices & Upcoming Soil Health & Irrigation Workshop
Lake County Wines in the News
Grape & Wine Marketplace
Weather & Climate Report
Affiliate Sponsor: Vineyard Industry Products

LCWC ‘Future of Agriculture’ Scholarship Applications Due April 4

The Lake County Winegrape Commission’s annual “Future of Agriculture” scholarship program is now open.

This year, the Commission plans to award two $2,500 scholarships – one to a student who will attend a four-year university and one to a student who will attend a technical college, community college, or trade school.

Each scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student enrolled full-time in an area of study that will enable the student to contribute to the winegrape segment of the agriculture industry. Awards are designed to help offset tuition and school supplies.

All applicants must be a high school senior graduating from a high school located in Lake County, California, with permanent residency in a Lake County school district for at least two years. Immediate relatives of LCWC Board Members or employees are not eligible.

Further details about eligibility and how to apply may be found in the Scholarship Application on the LCWC website.

DEADLINE: Application packets must be postmarked no later than Friday, April 4, 2025.

Please encourage Lake County high school seniors who are interested in a career supporting agriculture to apply.

News from Lake County RCD

Supporting Sustainable Practices for Winegrape Growers in Lake County

The Lake County Resource Conservation Agriculture Program is proud to support local winegrape growers in their efforts to implement climate-smart farming practices that enhance productivity on working lands while conserving vital natural resources. Our program provides valuable technical assistance, educational workshops, and funding opportunities aimed at improving soil health, irrigation efficiency, and the overall resilience of our agricultural lands.

Working closely with farmers, ranchers, landowners, and community partners, we promote a variety of conservation practices, including cover cropping, compost application, hedgerow planting, and prescribed grazing. These methods help to improve soil fertility and water retention, reduce erosion, and support biodiversity—ultimately contributing to healthier vineyards and a more sustainable agricultural environment.

As part of our Agricultural Program, we are offering free Distribution Uniformity (DU) testing for drip irrigation systems, funded through a California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Water Efficiency Technical Assistance (WETA) grant for the 2025 irrigation season. This service allows vineyard owners, irrigators, and managers to evaluate how evenly water is distributed throughout their vineyards, pinpoint inefficiencies, and make adjustments that improve irrigation performance. A well-tuned system can reduce water waste, lower energy costs, and help optimize grape production—benefiting both growers and our watersheds.

Soil Health and Irrigation Efficiency Workshop April 8 & 9

The Lake County Resource Conservation District invites irrigators, vineyard managers, and agricultural professionals to a two-day, Spanish-language workshop. This hands-on workshop will provide practical knowledge for improving vineyard productivity while conserving resources and supporting long-term resilience.

On the first day, the focus will be on soil health. Participants will learn best practices for enhancing soil fertility, improving structure, and building resilience—essential components for ensuring long-term success in the vineyard.

The second day will dive into irrigation efficiency. Participants will explore strategies for optimizing water usage, improving distribution uniformity, and reducing waste. This session is especially timely, as understanding how to manage water effectively is crucial for the upcoming growing season.

This workshop will provide the tools and resources needed to make meaningful improvements in vineyard management, with an emphasis on conserving natural resources. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions directly with experts.

The workshop will take place on April 8-9, 2025, at Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake, CA. Lunch will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring questions about their specific vineyard challenges.

For more information or to register for DU testing or our April Spanish-language workshop, please contact Noah Cornell, Soil and Water Specialist, at 707-413-0115 or via email at noah.cornell@lakercd.org.

In the News

Six Sigma Winery and its World of “Huttopian” Wonder-ful

Editor’s note: This article appeared on WineCountryThisWeek.com.

“Now celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Six Sigma produces 3,000-4,000 cases of wine annually with plans to scale up to 10,000. Growing on about 50 acres, Kaj and his wife, Else, worked with UC Davis, planting sensors throughout the vineyards to plant the best varietals for each vineyard plot. Currently, Six Sigma grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Tempranillo, the latter reflecting the couple’s passion for Spanish wines. Although most of the winery’s grapes are sold to other vintners, enough is held back for a thriving wine program that supports Six Sigma’s 900 winery members, visitors from the Bay Area and around the world, and locals who take advantage of the ranch events, hikes and ranch-to-table dinners.”

Read full article.

10 Outstanding American Wines for Under $25

Editor’s note: This article appeared on WineEnthusiast.com.

Buck Shack 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake County)

This wine is opulent, inky with aromas of black and blue fruits, wild florals, cinnamon, toasty vanilla spice, and star anise on the nose. The flavors on the palate are confiture black currant, blueberry, black peppercorn, blood orange zest mingled with crushed mineral, creamy milk chocolate, a dry finish, and silky tannins. Decant for an hour and enjoy with your Peppered Steak. 93 points.

Brassfield 2023 High Serenity Ranch Sauvignon Blanc (High Valley)

This wine is fresh, with aromas of pineapple, citrus, green apple, and mineral. The palate offers pink grapefruit, red apple and lemon zest, interwoven with cucumber, sedimentary rock and a long, mouthwatering finish. Pair with a seafood tower. 93 points.

Read full article.

Tectonic Terroir

Editor’s note: This article appeared in The Somm Journal.

“In his book Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power, John Szabo, MS, suggests that volcano-influenced terroirs around the world produce a shared set of sensory characteristics. Chief among them are elevated acidity and moderate ripeness due on the one hand to the smallerberried clusters born of relatively infertile soils and on the other to the type of flavor concentration associated with the longer hang time that can result from decreased access to water on hillsides. Additionally, he says, “volcanic wines” have savory and sometimes salty or earthy qualities often likened to minerality.

These qualities are reflected in the wines of Brassfield Estate Winery, which is practically a monopole in the High Valley AVA of Lake County, California. But as you would expect, they are not exactly the same as those you find in the wines of Mount Etna in Sicily, Somlóhegy in Hungary, Santorini in Greece, or even the neighboring Red Hills AVA.”

Read full issue. This article starts on page 42.

Congratulations to Brassfield Estate for receiving these high scores from The Tasting Panel.

Brassfield Estate Winery 2023 Pinot Gris, High Valley AVA, Lake County, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate Winery 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, High Valley AVA, Lake County, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate Winery 2022 Pinot Noir, High Valley AVA, Lake County, 93 Points
Brassfield Estate Winery 2021 Eruption, Volcano Ridge Vineyard, Clear Lake, High Valley AVA, Lake County, 94 Points
Brassfield Estate Winery 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, High Valley AVA, Lake County, 94 Points

Congratulations to these Lake County wines, which received high scores at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Shed Horn Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County, Best of Class
Old 44 Cellars 2022 Black Rock Blend, Red Hills Lake County, Double Gold
R Vineyards 2022 ROX Red Wine, Lake County, Double Gold
Chester Wines 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Big Valley District-Lake County, Gold
Cache Creek Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Lake County, Gold
Cache Creek Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay, Lake County, Gold
Cache Creek Vineyards 2023 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County, Gold
Cache Creek Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Gold
Langtry Farms 2022 Chardonnay, Lake County, Gold
Montse 2023 Tempranillo, Lake County, Gold
Myka Cellars 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Gold
R Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Franc, Lake County, Gold
Six Sigma Ranch 2021 Tempranillo, Lake County, Gold
Sunce Winery & Vineyard 2017 Sweet Zora Barbera, Lake County, Gold
Yonah Mountain Vineyards 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County, Gold

Marketplace

In the market for bulk wine? Visit the Marketplace page of the LCWC website for an up-to-date list of Lake County bulk wine, grapes, and vines available for sale.

LCWC recently distributed this buyer guide and printed lists of available grapes and bulk wine for sale. Please feel free to download and share the file.

Weather & Climate

View March Report from Dr. Gregory Jones.