California Ag Network

Tag: Lake County Winegrape Commission

  • Lake County Winegrape Commission Announces Second Year of Pruning School

    The Lake County Winegrape Commission announced the continuation of Lake County Pruning School, which launched in December 2022 and sold out, benefiting more than 100 attendees. Presented in both English and Spanish, the immersive Lake County Pruning School is the first of its kind for a regional organization and was created in collaboration with Simonit & Sirch, the renowned grapevine pruning school with more than 30 years of research and experience, and a client list that includes some of the world’s preeminent vineyards.

    In early June, the Commission presented Momentum 2023, its annual grower seminar at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport, California and highlighted the first year of Lake County Pruning School. The event offered a detailed overview of the program and its benefits for attendees. The Pruning School segment started with Simonit & Sirch Master Pruners Jacopo Miolo and Jett Johansson providing an overview of the program, which comprises a theoretical introductory online lesson and three days of practical hands-on lessons in the vineyard — two days during the winter for vine pruning and one day during the spring for shoot thinning. The program provides in-depth fundamental principles applicable to all grapevine training systems, such as controlled branching, vascular flow, cuts and crown buds, and protective spare wood.

    Benefits of the program were discussed during a grower panel moderated by Jonathan Walters, Chair of the Lake County Winegrape Commission and General Manager of Brassfield Estate. The panel provided insights from five speakers, including Bruce Merrilees, Owner of Castilleja Farms LLC; Tony Medina, Ranch Foreman at Cache Creek Vineyards; Chris King, Vineyard Manager of Catspaw Vineyard; as well as Miolo and Johansson of Simonit & Sirch. The panel was followed by a practical demonstration held by Jennifer Thomson from FELCO, who showcased the company’s brand new cordless electric pruning shears.

    “We are thrilled with the success of the first edition and look forward to enhancing next year’s classes with Simonit & Sirch” says Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “The delivery of classes in both English and Spanish allows us to meet the educational needs of all vineyard workers and we’ll continue with this approach for the next edition.”

    Lake County Pruning School is designed for vineyard owners, vineyard supervisors and crew leaders, and experienced vineyard workers. Each class enables one-on-one learning and an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with others in the cohort.

    Footage of the Momentum event can be found on the LCWC website.

    2023-2024 Lake County Pruning School registration is coming soon. Spots can be reserved by emailing Lake County Winegrape Commission at events@lakecountywinegrape.org

  • Lake County Winegrape Commission Awards New Ag Scholarship

    The Lake County Winegrape Commission recently awarded its inaugural “Future of Agriculture” scholarship to Atlantis Jones, a senior graduating from Upper Lake High School.

    The $5,000 scholarship, awarded on behalf of Lake County Winegrowers, was presented during the Upper Lake High School’s Senior Scholarship and Awards Night.

    “It is so rewarding to see the positive impact that an award like this can have on a student,” said Jonathan Walters, chair of the Lake County Winegrape Commission Board of Directors. “It was a really special evening.”

    The Commission’s scholarship is awarded to one deserving Lake County student who will attend a four-year university, and selection is based on academic achievement, financial need, and a demonstrated interest in agriculture.

    “Lake County Winegrowers are honored to be able to give back, to support youth in our community as they further their education and pursue careers that support the agricultural industry in Lake County,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

    The Future of Agriculture Scholarship is the latest extension of the organization’s efforts to support and inspire high school students. The Commission collaborated with Lake County Farm Bureau to develop “Cultivate – Careers in the Winegrape Industry,” a program that introduces high school students to careers in viticulture, winemaking, marketing, and sales. Cultivate was held as an in-person seminar at Ely Stage Stop in early 2020, as a virtual video series in 2021, and as part of the First Annual Lake County Career Ag Days at the Lake County Fairgrounds in 2022.

    “A big part of sustainability is growing the workforce of tomorrow,” Sommerfield said. “With these programs, we hope to contribute to both the long-term success of Lake County youth and long-term sustainability of Lake County agriculture.”

    About the Lake County Winegrape Commission

    Established in 1991, the Lake County Winegrape Commission (LCWC) has been instrumental in developing the Lake County region’s unwavering commitment to farming high-quality winegrapes, promoting the winegrowers’ brand, and creating greater awareness of the winegrowing region within the wine trade and among wine lovers. A state agency with efforts focused on marketing, research, and education, LCWC has launched innovative programs like Master Vigneron Academy®, the Elevation of Wine, and the International Sauvignon Blanc Symposium. For more information, visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org

  • New Lake County Winegrowers Logo Represents Region’s Volcanic Soils, Mountainous Terrain, Sunlight

    The Lake County Winegrape Commission today announced a new brand identity for the region’s winegrowers.

    In the 10 years since the previous logo was created, the region has evolved and matured in important ways. Vineyard acreage has expanded. The reputation of its winegrowers has grown along with the quality of Lake County winegrapes. And it is increasingly seen as a premium winegrowing region with its own distinct identity, independent of its North Coast neighbors.

    The new brand identity acknowledges this evolution and better reflects the region’s meaningful attributes. Specifically, the new logo affirms Lake County as a high-elevation, mountainous region dominated by young volcanic soils and luminous sunlight.

    An additional locator tagline identifies the region as within California’s North Coast AVA and distinguishes it from the numerous other “Lake” counties across the country.

    “We recognized that the winegrowing region’s brand needed to more precisely represent what sets our region apart – the high-elevation mountainous landscape, the red volcanic soils strewn with obsidian and quartz, the luminous sunlight and cool evenings and the professionalism and agricultural heritage of our growers,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

    Designed for Trade and Consumers

    The new logo was designed with several audiences in mind, including grape buyers and members of the broader wine trade, as well as wine enthusiasts and casual wine consumers.

    “Defining a new visual brand for a wine region isn’t an easy proposition in a world where it seems like every wine region is competing for consumer attention,” said Alder Yarrow of Vinography.com. “But the Commission and its team are focused on the essence of what makes Lake County unique: volcanic soils and mountain fruit. Now all they have to do is let them shine.”

    Acknowledgements

    “Growers in our region work diligently to deliver high-quality winegrapes, and it is a joy to work on their behalf,” said Bonnie Sears, Chair of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “We are honored to represent a group so dedicated to quality and sustainability.”

    The Lake County Winegrape Commission would like to recognize the following individuals for their expertise in creating the new visual identity: Jason Wister of Pair Design, Cameron Mauritson of Thomas Mauritson Vineyards, Peter Molnar of Obsidian Wine Co., Bill Oldham of Oldham Vineyards and LCWC Marketing Committee Chair, Clay Shannon of Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, Alder Yarrow of Vinography and John Hyde of 26 Brix.

    “We had a high-caliber team help us define and refine the brand identity,” Sommerfield said. “We’re grateful for their contribution.”

    Learn More

    As part of this effort to further refine LCWC’s messaging and visual identity, the Lake County Winegrape Commission is working with Wine Enthusiast to present a webinar on November 17 at 12 PM PT titled, Volcanic Wines – How Soils in Volcanic Regions Create ‘Intensity of Place’. Register to attend the webinar and learn more about the influence of volcanic soils on Lake County winemaking.

  • How Do You Define Smoke Tainted Wine Grapes?

    Growers across California are now accepting the fact that wildfires are a seasonal threat to their crops.  With wineries rejecting “smoke tainted” wine grapes even under contract, this has become a very sensitive issue, particularly in Northern California, Oregon and Washington. But just how much smoke exposure to the crop warrants rejection as being “smoke tainted?” Working with local wine grower organizations, UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Glenn McGourty set out to determine the truth. He shared results of this study recently at Malcolm Media’s Sonoma Grape Expo. Watch this brief interview as Glenn as he shares the results of his study and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and see them at their booth at Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, February 4-6 (Booth P1842).

  • 2019 Harvest Gets Underway in Lake County

    The 2019 Lake County winegrape harvest is underway and growers in the high-elevation winegrowing region are once again pleased with this year’s growing conditions and optimistic about the grape quality.

    Many of the region’s growers and vineyard managers are anticipating an earlier-than-normal harvest, which was unexpected given the region’s wet spring and relatively cool early season temperatures. However, by midseason, more normal temperatures prevailed, making for consistent, and in some cases, even early ripening.

    “It’s been a really beautiful growing season,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “After a cool start, Lake County has had moderately warm, clear days throughout the summer along with its typical elevation-induced nighttime cooling. Growers couldn’t have been more pleased.”

    While a few vineyard owners started picking late last week, harvest is steadily getting underway this week with the region’s flagship white varietal – Sauvignon Blanc – being picked in many growing areas.

    In the region’s Big Valley District AVA in Kelseyville, Dancing Crow Vineyard was one of the first to harvest its Sauvignon Blanc on Monday night.

    “The late season rains have produced excellent vine growth with fairly loose clusters that have sized nicely,” said David DeSante, winemaker for Dancing Crow Vineyards. “The whites are coming on fast due to this hot snap,” he said. “Flavors are superb.”

    After having walked vineyards throughout Big Valley and Kelsey Bench with their viticulturist David Weiss, owner of Bella Vista Farming Co., DeSante said, “We are convinced that this may be our best vintage yet.”

    DeSante said they measured sugars at 21.5 Brix and pH around 3.25, which is “perfect for the crisp, aromatic style of white wine that we love.”

    “Up until recently, it’s been a pretty cool season, which has promoted earlier fruit maturation,” said Clay Shannon, owner of Shannon Ridge Family of Wines. Shannon Ridge started picking Sauvignon Blanc grapes on Sunday in the High Valley AVA and in Long Valley, both located in the northeastern portion of Lake County.

    “Bud break was late, and we had late rains,” Shannon said. “We had a good rain season. Our wells are recharged, our springs are running strong.” He indicated the vines look good, with low pest pressure and no mildew issues.

    Harvest 2019 gets underway in Lake County with a Sauvignon Blanc pick in the early morning hours at Shannon Ridge in High Valley AVA. Photo credit: Shannon Ridge Family of Wines.

    The late start in the spring had many Lake County growers anticipating a later-than-normal harvest, but the consistent warmer midsummer temperatures have encouraged steady ripening and the fruit is now near average maturity, and in some locations, even a bit early.

    “Several growers have noted that it could be a somewhat compressed harvest with different varieties coming on at the same time,” Sommerfield said. “This could present a challenge, but at this point, they seem confident they have the necessary labor.”

    In terms of yield, some growers have reported a lower-than-average Sauvignon Blanc crop with a few estimating approximately 55 to 60 percent of normal, according to Sommerfield. Yield estimates for reds range from normal to slightly lower than normal, she said.

    Brassfield Estate Winery, also in the High Valley AVA, started picking their rosé varietals – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Pinot Noir – on Tuesday. “We will get into Sauvignon Blanc at the end of the week,” said Jonathan Walters, Brassfield’s director of farming. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we are into early hillside reds by next week.”

    This estimate for kicking off harvest for the region’s bold reds was echoed by other Cabernet Sauvignon producers across the region who are gauging harvest to be anywhere from one to two weeks early.

    “Budbreak was two weeks later than historical average, bloom was 10 days later than average, fruit-set was on average, and veraison was one week early in most blocks,” said Clint Nelson, vineyard manager at Beckstoffer Vineyards Red Hills. “This is abnormal to say the least, to have an early harvest after experiencing such a cold and wet winter, which significantly delayed budburst,” Nelson said. “Now it appears sugars are escalating quickly, potentially driven by a lighter than average crop-load.”

    Beckstoffer Vineyards Red Hills was set to begin its first pick of the year on Wednesday night with Sauvignon Blanc at approximately 22.5 Brix.

    As for reds, Nelson said the condensed growing season has caused most of their blocks to be pegged at the same rate of maturation, and for a farming operation that has 97 percent of its crop dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon, that can lead to a “hectic harvest.”

    Nelson said the turbulent weather seen in parts of the Red Hills at bloom significantly impacted yields, which are estimated to be lower than average, but the mild summer and strong diurnal shifts have created ideal conditions for ultra-premium cabernet.

    “This may be one of the greatest ‘quality’ years in recent memory,” Nelson said.