May 2019 Newsletter
In this Issue…
Check Out ‘The Vine Line’ Podcast
Lake County Wines in the News
In-the-Vineyard Workshop: Water & Pest Management, June 13
AgVenture Lite: What We Know About Clear Lake, June 13
More Upcoming Events
Second Smoke Impact Sensory Analysis Tasting
Noble Vineyard Management Offers Full Service from Vineyard to Winery
Wine & Grape Marketplace
Weather & Climate Report
Check Out ‘The Vine Line’ Podcast
The Vine Line podcast is a new audio resource for grape growers and winemakers. It includes lectures and other technical presentations from across the California wine industry. The first series is produced by the Lake County Winegrape Commission in association with the UC Davis department of Viticulture and Enology.
This first podcast series includes several episodes focused on the latest research in these areas:
“GRN Rootstocks”
“Trunk Diseases”
“Canopy Management”
“Drought Management”
“Smoke Taint”
Subscribe on your smart phone or listen on the LCWC website.
Lake County Wines in the News
Congratulations to these Lake County wines, which Wine Enthusiast recently scored 90 points or better:
- Boatique 2016 Malbec (Red Hills): 91 Points
- Prima Materia 2017 Estate Bottled Chardonnay (Kelsey Bench) 91 Points
- Prima Materia 2017 Bianco Sangiovese (Kelsey Bench): 90 points
- Six Sigma 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Else’s Reserve: 90 points
- Sol Rouge 2015 Petite Sirah: 94 points
- Steele 2016 Cabernet Franc: 92 points
- Steele 2016 Writer’s Block Cabernet Franc: 90 points
- Steele 2016 Shooting Star Merlot: 90 points
June 13: Implementing Sustainable Farming Practices: Water and Pest Management
Location: Beckstoffer Vineyards-Red Hills, Kelseyville
Date/Time: June 13, 8:45 AM to 12:30 PM
Registration: http://bit.ly/lcwc-sustainable-farming
Register today to attend a special in-the-vineyard workshop event for growers, sponsored by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and the Lake County Winegrape Commission. Topics include irrigation practices and pest management. There is no fee but registration is required.
Note: This event includes 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
| Presented by Lake County Winegrape Commission and California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Advanced registration is required. Details coming soon. |  |  |
June 13: AgVenture Lite: What We Know About Clear Lake
Location: Soper Reese Theatre, Lakeport
Date/Time: June 13, 5:30 PM – 8:-00 PM
Presented by: California Women for Agriculture, Lake County Chapter, and Lake County Winegrape Growers
Tickets: http://bit.ly/agventure-lite
Join us for an informative presentation by Greg Giusti, Emeritus Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension. Learn about Clear Lake, one of Lake County’s biggest tourism assets. The evening includes Lake County wine and appetizers. Advanced purchase is strongly recommended.
For all the event details and to purchase tickets, visit the website.
More Upcoming Events
June 3: Wine, Wildfire, and Climate Change
Location: UC Davis
Scientists have linked catastrophic California wildfires with climate change, raising the specter that massive wildfires may be the new normal. What are the implications for agriculture and winemaking in California? Presented by the Robert Mondavi Institute and UC Davis Library. This conversation features former Governor Jerry Brown, who emphasizes the need for California agriculture to adapt to climate change, and Dr. Anita Oberholster, from the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, who studies the effect of smoke exposure on winegrapes.
June 3: Prescribed Fire on Private Lands
Location: Hopland Research and Extension Center
This training is designed for private landowners and land managers, and anyone else interested in learning more about how to plan and implement prescribed fire on private lands. The workshop will highlight successes from neighboring counties, including the prescribed burn association model that is currently gaining momentum in Humboldt County and across the North State. Led by UC Cooperative Extension and Mendocino County Fire Safe Council.
Register by May 30. Learn More
June 6 – 7: Sustainable Winegrowing Summit
Location: Sonoma County
Learn some of the driving forces behind the increasing interest in sustainable winegrowing. Purchase your tickets for the U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit West, hosted by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
July 6: Red, White, and Blues: Sponsored by LCWA
Location: Langtry Estate, Middletown
Taste award-winning wines from Lake County wineries, then cast your vote. Live music by Blues Farm and BBQ lunch catered by The Greenview Restaurant. Presented by the Lake County Winery Association.
Visit the LCWC calendar for more events, Winegrape Commission meetings, and other important activities.
Second Smoke Impact Sensory Analysis Tasting
In mid-April, as part of the Lake County Winegrape Commission’s Wildland Fire Smoke Impact on Winegrapes Research Project, a select group of winemakers assembled for a second time to taste 27 micro-fermented samples taken from 14 locations across Lake County. The first round of tasting was conducted in November 2018.
The tasting was led by UC Cooperative Extension’s Glenn McGourty, who also led the sampling, processing, and fermentation work, and Dr. Anita Oberholster of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Department. The tasting was conducted blind with individual’s results submitted anonymously.
Noble Vineyard Management Offers Full Service from Vineyard to Winery
Noble Vineyard Management offers a collection of independent businesses to meet the varying needs of today’s North Coast premium grape growers. Whether you run a winery, are a hands-on farmer or work as an investor, Noble possesses the expertise, skilled labor, and modern fleet of equipment to add value to your operation.
Noble is a full-service, winegrape development and management company providing applied viticulture expertise for certified sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farms located in Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. In addition to development and management services, Noble assists clients with grape marketability, regulatory compliance, and general farm maintenance… Read more
Grape & Wine Marketplace
For the full listing of Lake County grapes and bulk wine for sale, visit the Marketplace page of the LCWC web site.
Grapes For Sale
45 tons of Sauvignon Blanc, Big Valley AVA. Contact Pilar Luchsinger: 707-489-2632 or pilar@luchsingervineyards.com
30+ tons of Cabernet Franc, Red Hills AVA. Contact Craig Shannon: 707-349-7892 or deerhntr1963@hotmail.com
Weather & Climate
“The temperature forecast for May through July continues to indicate the likelihood of a warmer-than-average western US, while precipitation is forecast to be near average…”
Download the May weather report (PDF) from Dr. Gregory Jones.