Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains

 

 

                                  Associate Member of 
                                                                                     
Wine Enthusiast Rates SC Mts. Wines 90+ Points

Summer 2011

Following 2010's unusually cool season, here we are in early August 2011 with many vineyards still waiting for veraison.  Some vineyards are seeing first signs of color and most vineyards report about a two-week lag from last year's slow ripening.  Fruit thinning is aggressive where fruit load is high in hopes that ripening of the remaining fruit will be accelerated.  While the milder temperatures are ideal, the late season start means an anxious race between final ripening and fall rains.

      
                  Deer Park - Lester Family Vineyard                                                    Muns Vineyard                                                                          Windy Oaks Estate

     
                            Ridge Vineyard                                                                        Hunter Hill                                                                          La Rusticana


                            Silver Mountain

Meetings & Events

  •  Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 9, 3:00pm, at Manildi Vineyards: Meeting & Summer BBQ Potluck
    • The Program: Michael Schmidt, Spec Trellising; Plus: Rich Casale of NRCS and Bruce Manildi
      Michael Schmidt of Spec Trellising (www.spectrellising.com/) will talk about different types of netting and how best to apply them in your vineyard. He is also available to address issues
      about trellising and supplies. As well, Rich Casale of NRCS and Bruce Manildi will showcase the wide-ranging projects undertaken at Manildi Vineyards under the NRCS’ EQIP program. These include: mulching; annual and permanent ground cover; erosion control; hedgerows; irrigation (lines, reservoirs); water management; water catchment; solar pumps; flow meters; and transition to organic. Get an idea of how you might benefit from participation in the EQIP program.  
    • The BBQ: This is a potluck event this year. Please bring food to share according to your last name (see the meeting notice for details).
      Bruce will roast a pig from Fogline Farms, a CSA at Manildi Vineyards & Orchards.

    For directions and more information, see the meeting notice.
     

  •  Santa Cruz County Industry Meeting on the EGVM Quarantine (agenda):  Tuesday, June 28, 10:00am-12:00noon, at UC Cooperative Extension Auditorium, Watsonville:  This is a meeting called by the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner to apprise growers and wineries of the quarantine. The approximate EGVM quarantine boundary area consists of Park Avenue/Victory Lane on the west, the Summit on the north, Mt. Madonna/Green Valley Road on the east, and Buena Vista/San Andreas Road on the south.  Anyone who grows, harvests, transports, or receives regulated host material within the quarantine boundary is affected by the quarantine regulations and should attend this meeting.  UC Cooperative Extension Auditorium, 1432 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville, CA 95076 
     
  •  June, 2011 Newsletter and Late Spring Vine Talk on seasonal practices: Late bloom, rain, tissue sampling, and more.  See more advice for seasonal practices on the Vine Talk page.
     
  •  April 23, Organic Wine Trail:  In recognition of Earth Day, four Santa Cruz Mountains wineries will showcase their CCOF-certified organic vineyards and practices with a wine trail and vineyard tours on April 23: Alfaro Family Vineyards; Vine Hill Winery; Silver Mountain Vineyards; Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards.  Learn more about growing organic winegrapes. See the website.  Additional CCOF-certified vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains include: Kathryn Kennedy; Portola Vineyards in Portola Valley; Four Gates Vineyard in Santa Cruz.
     
  •  Membership Application: Membership dues for 2011 are due at the beginning of the year.  Membership is open to those sharing an interest in viticulture in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Annual dues are $50 paid each calendar year.  Renewals should also include the membership application to convey any changes of information.
     

Latest News

  •  2010 EQIP Funding through the NRCS:  The deadline for funding applications is Nov. 13, but before then 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.
     

  •  "Discovery of European Grapevine Moth"
     
  •  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.
     
  •  Recent Press on Santa Cruz Mountains wines made from our winegrapes: "The Varied pinots of the Santa Cruz Mountains", by Laurie Daniel, San Jose Mercury News, April 15, 2009
     
  •  Rusty Gaffney MD, The PinotFile, in his March issue has completed an extensive and enthusiastic review of Santa Cruz Mts. Pinot producers and Pinot Noirs. Included are:  Thomas Fogarty; Clos de la Tech; Black Ridge; Mount Eden; David Bruce; Mountain Winery; Burrell School; Loma Prieta; Muns Vineyard; Silver Mountain; Clos Tita; Hallcrest; Heart O'the Mountain; Wines of Vine Hill; Martin Alfaro; Pleasant Valley Vineyards; Windy Oaks; Plus: Clos la Chance; Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard (Bailey's Branciforte Ridge); Salamandre (Meadowridge). 
     
  •  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.
     
  •  World of Pinot Noir (WOPN) Panel Presentation on the Santa Cruz Mountains:   A group of local winemakers and growers showcased Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noirs in a special regional wine tasting and provided an introduction to the new subregions on March 6 at WOPN in Shell Beach. Speakers were: Jeffrey Patterson, Mount Eden (representing the Saratoga/Los Gatos subregion); Ed Muns, Muns Vineyard and Jerold O'Brien, Silver Mountain (representing the Summit subregion); Nathan Kandler, Thomas Fogarty (representing the Skyline subregion); Sal Godinez, Wines of Vine Hill (representing the Los Ranchos/Santa Cruz Coastal Foothills subregion); and Joe Martin, Martin Alfaro Wines (representing the Corralitos/Pleasant Valley subregion).  Plus, David Bruce was there and contributed his observations on the 'spicey and mineral' character of Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir.  Patrick Comiskey of Wine & Spirits Magazine moderated the session. Read his posting about the session on WineReviewOnline.
     
  •  Light Brown Apple Moth: local vineyardists have reported inspections at their vineyards sites near Soquel and Santa Cruz.

               

  •  "One Nation Under Vines" - A PR campaign initiated by the California Assn. of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) "highlights how California's growing conditions, experience and sustainable growing practices make a difference in creating world-class wines."  The VASCM has been working with CAWG to make sure that the Santa Cruz Mountains is included as part of this campaign.
     
  •  Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Fact Sheet

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
408-353-6107
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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Copyright © 2004-2011 Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Last modified: 11-Apr-11 23:31 -0500