Summer 2018

Crop loads for the 2018 vintage are by and large looking excellent.  Veraison has started, and vineyards that do so are netting.

• 
  Black Ridge Vineyards, Los Gatos.
• 
  McCarthy Ranch, Los Gatos, view of San Jose and Silicon Valley
• 
  Windy Oaks Vineyard, Corralitos, view of Watsonville and Monterey Bay
• 
  Veraison in Pinot Noir at Muns Vineyard, on the Loma Prieta ridge top
• 
  Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyard, Woodside, view of Palo Alto and Silicon Valley
• 
  Veraison in Merlot at Silver Mountain, Los Gatos, view of Monterey Bay.
• 
  Ridge Vineyards, the Montebello Ridge, Cupertino
• 
  Beauregard Vineyards, Bonny Doon.

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Next Meetings

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

August 15, 2018

Vine MealyBug: Prevention and Control; Beneficials
with Dr. Sheena Sidhu, entomologist; Sam Earnshaw, Hedgerows Unlimited; and David Goldfarb, Clos de la Tech

Vine Mealybug (and other mealybugs) are making inroads in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They have been found in some of our vineyards and are spreading. VMB effects long-term vine health, yield and wine quality. Even if you haven’t seen signs yet you should know what to look for, how to prevent and what to do to control this pest if and when it arrives in your vineyard. This program will provide valuable information so that you can be proactive in combating this pernicious pest:

Please bring your own chair. And, as usual, please bring a bottle of wine to share.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and catching up on this year’s vintage as we prepare for the upcoming harvest.

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

See  recent meetings on the Meetings page here.

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Harvest 2017 Review

Vineyards started picking the end of August, precipitated by the heat wave that sat on Northern California for several days, bringing temps throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast to over 100 degrees. Crop loads this year are very good, but dehydration in varying degrees from these several days of heat affected some vineyards, especially in the early ripening varieties. Cooler temps and chilly nights following the heat spell prolonged ripening for remaining fruit, although with some acid loss due to the heat spell. Despite the challenging weather, growers and winemakers anticipate excellent results.   

Budbreak started early/mid March (later at higher elevations); bloom late May/early June. The Santa Cruz Mountains experienced a very wet winter with an incredible amount of rainfall – as much as 100″ and more in many locations. This meant attention to floor management and weed control; and canopy management with healthy vine vigor

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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, Coastal Range Vineyards

Secretary: June Salsbury, Spring Hollow Vineyard

Treasurer:  Rick Clarke, Empty Nest Vineyard

Contact Information

Postal address

P.O. Box 8092, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8092

Electronic mail

General Information: info@vascm.org
Webmaster: webmaster@vascm.org