Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains

The Start of a New Vintage:  2023

  • Griffin Hill

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Upcoming Meetings

Monday, Jan. 23, 2:00pm PST – NO CHARGE, ON ZOOM  
with Fritz Westover, Virtual Vineyard Advising
–  Preparing for the 2023 Vintage; Pruning Refresher, Impacts of Heavy Winter Rains, Adapting Vineyard Practices for Heat Waves
 
 
This program will focus on preparing for the upcoming vintage. Fritz will address the impact of heavy rains such as we have had recently. And he will also talk about adapting your practices anticipating heat waves, such as we experienced last year, and in prior years, at harvest time. This program will be packed with valuable practical advice that you can apply in your vineyards. 

The program will include:
– A pruning refresher.
– The effect of saturated soils on nutrients and uptake; vine nutrition
– Canopy management – impact of high rainfall, etc., pruning
– Preparing for heat waves
If you have not already received the Zoom link, please email mary@munsvineyard.com.
 
About Fritz Westover:
Fritz Westover is Viticulturist and owner of Westover Vineyard Advising, based in Houston, Texas. Fritz obtained his BS in horticulture and MS in Plant Pathology from Penn State University. He specializes in vineyard consulting for over 1,500 acres of vineyard and is active in research and education in the south and southeastern US, drawing from more than 20 years of experience in the vineyard industry including extension and outreach positions in Virginia, Texas, and California, including the Vineyard Team on the Central Coast. Fritz contributes to wine industry educational programs in several states and is founder of Virtual Viticulture Academy, a leading resource for practical grape growing information for all levels of winegrape production. He can be reached by email at Fritz@VirtualViticultureAcademy.com, at his website www.VirtualViticultureAcademy.com

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For more information on meetings, contact info@vascm.org

See  recent meetings on the Meetings page here

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See the Buy/Sell Exchange here for Santa Cruz Mountains winegrapes available for the 2023 harvest, equipment for sale/wanted, and more, as posted. Watch the Exchange page as more classifieds are posted.

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VASCM Membership

Membership dues are only $50 annually and are due at the beginning of the year.  Membership is open to those sharing an interest in viticulture in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Please download the Membership Application from the Membership page here (and please include the form with renewals in order to convey any changes).

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, Muns Vineyard

Vice President:  Ken Swegles,  Rhizos Viticulture

Secretary: June Salsbury, Spring Hollow Vineyard

Treasurer:  Rick Clarke, Empty Nest Vineyard

Contact Information

Postal address
P.O. Box 933,  Soquel, CA 95073-0933
Electronic mail
General Information: info@vascm.org
Webmaster: webmaster@vascm.org
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Harvest, 2019

Spring was long and cold and brought a lot of rain throughout the region and with it pressure from mildew and other fungal diseases in many vineyards.  Rain during bloom in some vineyards will affect croploads.  For those vineyards that started bloom after the rains the crop is looking very strong.  In many vineyards bloom was late, and then budbreak, and then veraison. Veraison started in many vineyards in August, and harvest is later than usual.  Although an unusual growing season for many it has resulted in plentiful croploads with excellent fruit. Many growers are enthusiastic about the 2019 vintage.

Harvest 2018

The 2018 vintage by and large is seeing excellent crop loads and stellar quality. Cool temps from early Sept. on allowed for long hang time and for many a delayed harvest that developed fruit flavors. However, the myriad microclimates of the mountains makes it difficult to generalize, and a warm August precipitated ripening and harvest for some.  Growers and winemakers are excited by the 2018 vintage and what it promises in the bottle!

  • Burrell School Vineyards

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.