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Associate Member of   
Storr's
Rusticana
Thomas
Fogarty --------------------------------------------- Muns ---------------------------------------------
Cooper-Garrod
Silver Mountain
Spring 2014
With virtually no rain for 13 months (January 2013 through January 2014),
everyone has been focused on a drought year. And with great yields in 2012
and 2013, the expectation is for lower yields in 2014. On 20 February
2014, UC Davis held a special seminar on Vineyard Water Management. Then,
in February the Santa Cruz Mountains received 10-15" of rain in several moderate
doses. If March and April can provide some more precipitation, the
vineyard soils should be well-charged for another great season.
Bud break is occurring 1-2 weeks earlier at most sites. This has been
due largely to the unseasonably mild, sunny days. Daytime temperatures
have been in the 60s with some excursions in the 70s and the solar radiation is
warming the soils to signal springtime to the plants. Flowering plants
around the region have been blossoming weeks earlier than normal.
Meetings & Events
- Vineyard
Water Management – Strategy, Monitoring and Implementation
with speaker Dr. Marcus Buchanan,
Buchanan Associates.
Saturday, March 8, 10:00am-12:00noon
at the Loma Prieta Community Center,
23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos,
95033
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Vineyard Water Management with Dr. Marcus Buchanan
We are
reprising the presentation that Dr. Buchanan gave at the
Resource Conservation workshop we held last year in July, giving
him more time to go into more detail, and expanding the
presentation to make it more specific to our current weather
conditions. Even though we are finally! now getting some
rainfall, it is anticipated that this will not change our
drought status, although it is going a long ways to recharging
our soil for this growing season. Nevertheless, smart water
management is an ongoing issue, and this program will help you
to understand the effects of water (or lack of) on vine health.
Whether or not
you irrigate you will learn more about the effects of water (or
lack of) on winegrape quality. Dr.
Buchanan will provide an overview of concepts and techniques for
precision irrigation of winegrapes. Topics include vineyard and
vine management strategies
(do you need irrigation or
not?), evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling and
controlled deficit irrigation, use and interpretation of
pressure bombs and readings, irrigation system maintenance and
testing, flow monitoring, and if and how
irrigation has positive
impacts on winegrape 'quality'. It will also address related
issues of canopy management in reduced water conditions, and
practices to conserve soil moisture.
About Marcus Buchanan: A former resident of the
Santa Cruz Mountains
and now residing in Oregon, Marcus Buchanan holds a doctorate in
Soil Science and Systems Modeling and a Masters in Agroecology.
He is an applied soil scientist and agronomist and works with
vineyard clients (as well as vegetable, tree and bush fruit) in
California and Oregon. A focus of his consulting business is
irrigation management, and he has experience with many winegrape
varieties in diverse climates. Between 2008 and 2011 he was the
first Oregon State Extension Viticulturist in the
Southwest Oregon region, comprising three
appellations with over 50 grape varieties planted. In this
position he developed an ET Irrigation Network with ten growers
across the mesoclimates of the three county region. He works
with his clients to solve production problems, develop and
implement new technologies and practices, and optimize
production efficiency while protecting soil and water resources. |
Recent Meetings
Latest News
- Santa
Cruz Sentinel, Feb. 14, 2014, "Santa Cruz Mountains winegrowers expect
smaller 2014 harvest after 2013 bumper crop." by Donna Jones. (also
printed in the San Jose Mercury News).
- San
Jose Mercury News, Nov. 6, 2013, "Santa Cruz Mountains winemakers can
thank Mother Nature for this year's bountiful grape crop", by Shannon Burkey.
- Wines
& Vines Magazine, 10.09.2013: Coastal Wine Harvest is Early and
Booming: Santa Cruz Mountains growers enjoy spectacular 2013 season, by Jane
Firstenfeld. Following what they are calling a
"phenomenal growing season,"
most wine grape growers in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA just south of San
Francisco are
"totally jazzed about this year's vintage,"...
see more
here.
- The Santa Cruz Sentinel's Ag Almanac, May 19, 2013:
story on our
sustainable vineyard practices in the Santa Cruz Mountains, by Justine
DaCosta.
- The Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 2013: ad on SCM vineyards,
sponsored by VASCM. (Click on the thumbnail below to view full size.)
- Annual EQIP Funding through the NRCS: Applications will come
due toward the end of 2013. Prior to the deadline you need to:
- Fill out and sign a standard
Request for
Assistance form, and submit it to the county-appropriate NRCS
representative listed below. This will initiate the scheduling of a site visit
and resource assessment.
- Then you will need to contact and meet with the USDA Farm Services Agency
in Salinas to start the eligibility determination process. Contact Vivian
Soffa, 831-424-1036, ext. 108
There is EQIP funding in every CA county:
- In Santa Cruz County:
Rich Casale, (831) 475-1967
- In Santa Clara County contact Bob Rohde
or Athena Pratt at (831) 637-4360.
- In San Mateo County contact Jim Howard at
(650) 726-4660.
For more information about EQIP, read this
program description provided by Rich Casale.
- The Santa Cruz Mountains is "the finest place within California to grow
Pinot. It is interesting to see such a small area have such an impact on this
varietal."' - Scott Clemings, Epicurean Traveler, in a video interview
at Pinot Paradise. See the
interview on the VASCM YouTube Channel.
- New Sub-regions for the Santa Cruz Mountains: VASCM has worked with
AppellationAmerica.com on a series of tastings evaluating Santa Cruz Mountains
wines produced from our vineyards, and in the process we have defined five
subregions characterized by distinct flavor profiles. They are: Skyline; Los
Gatos/Saratoga; Summit; Los Ranchos (Hwy. 17 corridor to Santa Cruz);
Corralitos/Pleasant Valley. Read more about the subregions and their flavor
profiles here. Read more about the subregions
and flavor profiles of the three varietals we evaluated -- Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux -- on the
AppellationAmerica.com website.
Members of the Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains (VASCM)
are premium winegrape growers in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.
Meetings are held bi-monthly with topics that promote quality winegrape
production.
Our Mission
To serve the common interests of all Santa Cruz Mountains appellation
winegrape producers, and to enhance the quality, profitability and
reputation of winegrape production in the appellation through promotion
and education.
Association Profile
President: Mary
Lindsay
Vice President:
Rachel Ormes
Secretary: June Salsbury
Treasurer:
Bruce Manildi
Past Presidents: Prudy Foxx,
Bruce Manildi
Contact Information
- Media Contact
- Mary Lindsay
- Telephone
- 408-984-7242
- FAX
- 408-317-9305
- Postal address
- P.O. Box 8092, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8092
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
info@vascm.org
Webmaster:
webmaster@vascm.org
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Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains
