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Viticulture Association of the Santa Cruz Mountains

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Upcoming

  •  Next Meeting: August 17, Wine Flavors Relating to Fruit Ripeness (or unripeness), with a focus on green flavors. And, our summer BBQ. 
    Speaker: Susan Ebeler, Professor & Chemist, Dept. of Enology & Viticulture, UC Davis.  Location: Redwood Ridge Estate, 2:00pm.
    Susan Ebeler will talk about wine flavors relating to fruit ripeness (or unripeness) at harvest. And we will be tasting some samples of 'green' wine made from under ripe fruit picked at different Brix levels at last year's harvest.  You can see more about Susan Ebeler at http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty.php?id=7 .

    The meeting will be followed by our annual do-it-ourself bbq. As usual, please bring a bottle of wine to share.
     
  •  Planned (date tbd): the Sustainability Alliance will present its new Sustainability Certification program; and update your self-assessments

Recent

2010

  •  Meeting: July 1, Pest Management and Biopesticides.  Speakers: Jesse Rosales of Marrone BioInnovations, and Larry Bettiga, Farm Advisor for UC Davis Cooperative Extension.  Location: Muns Vineyard @ 2:00pm
    • Jesse Rosales will speak about the relatively new and growing use of biopesticides, which are naturally occurring substances. They are in demand for their value in IPM programs to enhance yields and quality along with their low impact on the environment. He will talk about what they are, the benefits and barriers, application, and use for disease and weed control. Marrone BioInnovations produces Regalia and GreenMatch.  You can see more information on their website at http://marronebioinnovations.com/.  (PCA, CCA and Applicator credits are available through an online course on the Marrone website. Come to the meeting and get an introduction to the course, then take the test on the website at http://marronebioinnovations.com/biopesticides/ .)
    • Larry Bettiga will bring us up to date on vineyard pests, specifically the spread and status of the LBAM and European Grapevine Moth.
     
  •  Meeting: May 4 on Soil Fertility, with Amigo Bob Cantisano, at Silver Mountain, 2:00
    This meeting will address soil fertility, including soil nutrients and microbes, composting, etc. Amigo Bob is head of Organic Ag Advisers, and a co-founder of the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).  He consults to vineyards and a wide range of farms, and has advised the World Bank and the government of Costa Rica. We contacted Amigo Bob in response to several requests for a program to include composting, and upon seeing an article by Laurie Daniel about him in the 2009 issue of Wines & Vines (which you can read here).  He will talk about composting as part of the larger issue of soil fertility. Whether or not you are growing or are interested in growing organically, his talk on fertility issues should be very valuable.

    Wines & Vines: What is the most important aspect of organic farming?
    Amigo Bob Cantisano: Soil management is primary in my mind.  The healthier a soil becomes, with regard to ecological stability and biological diversity, the less problems with growing the crop--including less problems with fertility, pests, diseases, weeds, water availability and weather hardiness.  You can read this article on Amigo Bob in the July 2009 issue of Wines & Vines.

2009

  •  Holiday Party, December 11, at Sesnon House.  See newsletter for more information.
     
  •  Meeting: 16 July at Hicks Vineyard, Corralitos.
    •  3:00 - hedging workshop in the vineyard.
    •  3:30 - Speaker Judit Monis, Ph.D., from STA Labs in Gilroy will talk about disease in the vineyard: viruses, fungus, symptoms, what to look for, testing.  STA Laboratories is a diagnostic laboratory for the seed and plant industry, and its Plant Health Services division provides disease detection and eradication services specifically for grapevines.  You can view articles written by Dr. Monis on the STA Labs website here.
       
  •  "Vine to Wine: A History of the Vineyards and Wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains", Forbes Mill History Museum, Los Gatos. Preview exhibit on The Novitiate winery and vineyards starts June 13; Grand Opening for the full exhibit on July 19. Exhibit runs through the end of the year. The Forbes Mill History Museum, 75 Church St., Los Gatos.  Hours: 12-4, Wed-Sun.  More information on the exhibit.
     
  • July 2009 Vine Talk: Canopy Management
     
  • Meeting: 12 May, starting at 2:00pm: "WATER"  at Bruzzone Family Vineyards, Rancho Don Bosco, 1690 Glen Canyon Road, Scotts Valley.  Two speakers will discuss the practical and theoretical issues concerning what is becoming a precious commodity: water. Whether or not you irrigate, come to hear Michael Loik, from UCSC's agroecology program, share his research and talk about whether or not we are being affected by climate change, and what it means for our vineyards.  UCSC is a terrific resource, and this is the first of what we hope will be more programs working with the university.
    • 2:00: Mark Bettany, UC Davis Extension expert from San Luis Obispo will address irrigation scheduling, deficit irrigation, and use of a pressure bomb.
    • 3:00: Michael Loik, UCSC, on climate change affecting our local vineyards.
       
  • Pinot Paradise weekend:  March 28-29, 2009. Celebrating the Pinot Noir of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Saturday, 28 March: Pinot Pathways - tour local wineries pouring Santa Cruz Mts.Pinot.  Sunday, 29 March: Technical Session, 9:00am; VIP Tasting 1:00pm; and Grand Cruz Tasting 2:00-5:00pm, with 35 wineries pouring SC Mts. Pinot paired with gourmet food from local restaurants, at the beautiful Villa Ragusa conference center in historic downtown Campbell.  The Technical Session will explore the climate and geography of the new subregions and their distinct flavor profiles. The session will be keynoted by Joe Miller, wine educator with U.C. Santa Cruz, who will compare the terroir of Burgundy with that of the Santa Cruz Mountains; and by Clark Smith, Director of the Best of Appellation evaluation program at AppellationAmerica.com, wine judge, and winemaker. Smith will provide his unique perspective on the new subregions of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which he helped define through AppellationAmerica.com’s tasting evaluations. The session includes a wine tasting with a panel of winemakers and growers representing each of the six subregions, along with a discussion of each subregion, its climate, geography and the unique terroir that is reflected in the wine, as well as the similarities for the region as a whole.  The panelists include: Sal Godinez, Wines of Vine Hill; Steve Storrs, Storrs Winery; Jeffrey Patterson, Mount Eden Vineyards; Ed Muns, Muns Vineyard; Ryan Beauregard, Beauregard Vineyards; and Michael Martella, Thomas Fogarty. For more information, contact the SCMWA.
     
  • Meeting:  March 18, 2009, 3:00pm at Vine Hill. Our speaker:  Stan Grant, viticulture consultant and principal of Progressive Viticulture, will give a presentation on ripening and canopy management for optimum wine grape quality, both directly through canopy specific practices and indirectly through vineyard design and other vineyard practices.  Stan addressed the VASCM several years ago when he gave a presentation on research he was doing for CAWG on hangtime, and we have asked him to return to address the broader issues affecting ripening. Stan established and was the Director of Gallo's Viticulture Department, he was the Director of Farming for Duarte Nursery, and he currently consults with vineyards throughout the state. As well, we are returning to Vine Hill as a follow-up to our cover crop meeting last year.  We can see how Vine Hill's cover crop has blossomed, and Rachel Ormes will share her program and results.
     
  • Meeting:  January 20, 2009 at Alfaro Vineyard in Corralitos
    2:00pm: Pruning workshop. Learn best pruning practices from our local vineyard consultants and practice in the vineyard. Bring your pruners (please sterilize).  See the video produced by Kevin Monahan of Video4Wine.
    3:00pm: Meeting. Update on the spread of the Light Brown Apple Moth in our region from the CDFA, trapping and latest control plans. Presentation on the new subregions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

2008

  • Meeting, 24 September 2008, 3-5pm at Vine Hill featuring Cover Crops.  Rich Casale from the NCRS will conduct a ‘walk and talk’ session on cover crops in the vineyard at Vine Hill. Rich has consulted with Vine Hill and will talk about the use of cover crops here to solve erosion issues, as well as their general benefits and seed selection so you can make your choices for planting this winter. As well, Vine Hill vineyard manager Rachel Ormes will talk about her cover crop plans for this season, and we plan to return in the Spring to see the results.  List of seed suppliers provided by Rich Casale at the meeting.
     
  • Santa Cruz County Fair!  9-14 September 2008 at the Fairgrounds in Watsonville: VASCM has a booth at the Fair every year providing education about viticulture in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Sign up for booth duty here.
     
  • September is California Wine Month!  Santa Cruz Mountains wineries and vineyards celebrate California Wine Month at the Santa Cruz County Fair:
    • The Viticulture Assn. of the Santa Cruz Mountains (VASCM) features the vineyards of the regions with its exhibit in the Harvest Bldg.
    • The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Assn. (SCMWA) holds tastings of local wines
    • And the Amateur Wine Competition announces its winners with a public tasting at the Fairgrounds on Sept. 6
  • Workshop and Meeting, Thursday, 31 July at Ridge. Water Conservation/IPM.  This is an all-day focus on water quality/conservation, with a component including pest management. The day will start with a workshop organized by the Sustainability Alliance and end with a regular VASCM meeting. We hope you can come for the full day. Water use and monitoring vine health is a critical issue in the vineyard. This is the driest spring on record and the State is in an official drought.
    Please contact mary@munsvineyard.com if you plan on coming to the workshop, 9:30-2:00.  It's okay to come at the last minute, too.

    9:30-2:00  Water Conservation/IPM Workshop brought to us by the Sustainability Alliance (click here for agenda)
    2.5 Pest Management credits given for the workshop, 9:30-2:00
    NO CHARGE, lunch provided
    2:00pm  Tour of Ridge with David Gates
    3:00 - 5:00pm  VASCM Meeting: Pressure Bomb demo and deficit irrigation
  • General Meeting, Wednesday, 4 June 2008, 3pm at Camel Hill Vineyards: "Fertilizers & Vine Nutrition".  Our speaker is Dennis Culver, an ESA Board-certified entomologist, certified crop advisor, and fertilizer expert. He will talk about vine nutrition and fertilizers, including organic solutions, to promote the health and growth of your vines. Save the date, and look for more details in the upcoming newsletter. And yes, there are real camels at Camel Hill.
    Our host: Jon Anderson
    Camel Hill Vineyards
    18951 Bear Creek Rd., Los Gatos
    Directions: take Hwy. 17 through Los Gatos, exit Bear Creek Rd. at Lexington Reservoir. Go 1/2 mile up Bear Creek; Camel Hill is on the right.
  • Grafting Workshop, Friday, 16 May 2008, 10am - noon at Burrell School.  John Rogers has been working with David Gates since the beginning of the year to put together a grafting workshop for us. The timing has to be just right for the vines, and they are ready. Burrell School is grafting and has been terrific to allow us to do the workshop there. David Gates will take us through the process, and you will have a chance for some hands on practice. You will find out how to prepare your vines for grafting, how to determine the best time to graft, and how to do it. Leather gloves might be helpful to bring. Note: This is a workshop, not a regular meeting.
    Thank you to Dave Moulton, Mark Seifert, David Gates and John Rogers.
    Burrell School, 24060 Summit Road, Los Gatos
    Directions: take Highway 17 to Summit Road and go 3.5 miles east/south from the intersection of Hwy 17 and Summit Rd.
  • Pinot Paradise weekend:  March 29-30, 2009. Celebrating the Pinot Noir of the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Saturday, 29 March: Pinot Pathways - tour local wineries pouring Santa Cruz Mts. Pinot.  Sunday, 30 March: Technical Session and Grand Cruz Tasting at the beautiful Villa Ragusa conference center in historic downtown Campbell.  For more information, contact the SCMWA.
  • General Meeting and New Year Mini-Party, 12 February 2008, 3pm at Thomas Fogarty Winery (link to http://www.fogartywinery.com/): "Vineyard Practices to Produce 90+ Points Wines".  At least seven Thomas Fogarty estate wines rated 90 points and above in Wine Enthusiast in 2006.  Good wine starts with good grapes and the vineyard practices to grow them.  Michael Martella will give us a tour of the vineyards and share with us his vineyard practices to get us on the right track for the year.
  • Sustainability Self-Assessment Workshop:  13 March 2008, 8:30am - 12noon at Bargetto Winery.  No charge.  Lunch provided.  Please RSVP to Mary Lindsay.  For all those who have not already gone through the self-assessment, and a chance for those who have to update your assessment.  New topics have been added.  More information.

2007

  • Sustainability Case Study: 6 September 2007, 3:00pm at Bargetto's Regan Vineyards in Corralitos (directions here).   John Bargetto will host this meeting, give us a tour of the 40 acre Regan Vineyard, and share their vineyard practices, including sustainable solutions such as solar power and biodiesel.
  • 11 July 2007 Meeting, at Hunter Hill Vineyards & Winery, 3:00pm.  Our speaker: Thomas Wittman, gopher expert extraordinaire - on the secret life of gophers, and how to effectively rid your vineyard of them Plus, the latest on the light brown apple moth.  And a business meeting.
  • 27 June 2007, 1:00pm:  Sustainability Self-Assessment Workshop, held by the Wine Institute.  Seacliff Inn, Aptos.  No charge.  RSVP required at least 7 days in advance online or call 415-512-0151.   This workshop is for:
    • all those who have already done the self-assessment – there are new topics & it may be time to update your assessment, and
    • those who have not done the self-assessment.

    Click here for more information on the value of the Self-Assessment to your vineyard operations, and the format of the program.
    Note:  The morning program addresses issues of interest to winery operations: Maximizing Tasting Room Opportunities; New Regulations and Laws; New Direct Shipping Laws.

  • 2 May 2007 Meeting, 3:30 - 5:30pm, Zayante Vineyards.  Spring Program in the Vineyard with a focus on the Spring regimen and looking forward to the coming few months, including nutrient sprays and disease management.  Local vineyardists will share their programs and advice: Mark Edgemon, Rick Anzalone, Ron Mosley and Prudy Foxx.   Zayante Vineyards, 420 Old Mountain Road, Felton.  Take Highway 17 to Bear Creek Road.  Turn left on Summit Road, then right on Upper Zayante Road and travel about 4.5 miles.  Turn right on Old Mountain Road and follow the VASCM signs.  NOTE: Membership renewals are due for 2007.
  • Pinot Paradise, 17-18 March 2007:  featuring this divine wine made from the grapes we grow in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
    • Saturday, 17 March:  Pinot Pathways.  Area wineries are open and pouring their Pinots, including barrel tastings, etc.
    • Sunday, 18 March:  The Pinot Paradise Grand Cruz Tasting and optional Technical Sessions at Villa Ragusa in Campbell.
    • More information.
    • Tickets are available from the SCMWA at 831-685-8463.

2006

  • 14 September 2006 Meeting: 3-6pm:  "Hillside Farming", including erosion control and cover cropping.  With speakers Jim Howard and Rich Casale from the NRCS.  At Clos de la Tech, Woodside.  Rex Geitner, vineyard manager will tell us the story of this amazing vineyard.  Bring a bottle of wine to share.  Meeting details and directions.

     
                    Vineyard Tour at Clos de la Tech                                 Rex, vineyard manager, addressing group

     

  • Santa Cruz County Fair (12-17 September 2006): Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville.  VASCM will have a display booth in the agricultural Harvest Building.  This is the 3rd year the VASCM is exhibiting at the Fair.  We need volunteers to help at the booth.  For more information and to sign up, click here.
  • September is California Wine Month!  Celebrate harvest in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the Santa Cruz County Fair.  Week-long educational exhibits and displays by the SCMWA and VASCM, judging results of the amateur and commercial wine competitions, and wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday, 9/16-17.   Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville.  Tues.- Fri. noon - 11pm; Sat. 10am-11pm, Sun. 10am - 10pm.  Note:  Various wineries and vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains are planning special harvest events for California Wine Month.  For a list click here.
  • 28 June Meeting: "Growing Organically", Silver Mountain Vineyards.  2:00pm - tour Silver Mountains' organic vineyard with Jerold O'Brien.  3:00pm - meeting with guest speaker Derek Dahlen, vineyard manager for Frey Vineyards in Mendocino.  Frey is the first certified organic vineyard and winery in the U.S. (since 1980), and the largest as well.  Derek will speak about organic viticulture, its benefits and how to make it work in your vineyard.  Meeting flyer with directions to Silver Mountain Vineyards.
  • Pinot Days (23-25 June): Fort Mason, San Francisco, Pinot Noir tasting, winemaker dinners, appellation tours, etc.  A dozen Santa Cruz Mountains wineries will represent our appellation at this major Pinot tasting in San Francisco, pouring appellation wines in a regional VIP tasting preceding the general afternoon event:   Alfaro Family Vineyards, Beauregard Vineyards, Burrell School, Thomas Fogarty, Hunter Hill, Pelican Ranch, Rhys, Savannah-Chanelle, Silver Mountain, Sonnet, Testarossa, Windy Oaks.

             
                 Pouring Santa Cruz Mts. Pinot at Pinot Days' regional tasting, June 2006.
                 VASCM display showcases our appellation wines.

  • Energy Efficiency Workshop for Vineyards & Wineries, 1 June, sponsored by the Sustainability Alliance and PG&E; at Cooper-Garrod Winery, 8:30-2:00pm.  Space limited, so RSVP is required.
  • 27 April Meeting: 3:00pm “Mildew Control”, with a presentation by Larry Bettiga, UC Extension Farm Advisor. At Alfaro Family Vineyards, Corralitos  1:30: Walking tour of the vineyard with Richard Alfaro.
  • Pinot Paradise (26 March): was a huge success.  SJMN article by Laurie Daniels.
    • The morning technical sessions organized by Jim Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate featuring
      • Randall Grahm's latest thoughts on Pinot Noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains plus a tasting of his "Transfusion" (Pinot Gris juice fermented on Pinot Noir skins!),
      • a panel discussion on Pinot Noir with Michael Martella of Thomas Fogarty Winery, Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountains Winery, Prudy Foxx of Foxx Viticulture and Jim Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate, and
      • an overview of Burgundy winegrowing with a horizontal and vertical tasting of three red Burgundies along with two Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noirs: a 2002 Mount Eden and a 2003 Windy Oaks.
    • In the afternoon two vineyard vignettes organized by Prudy Foxx:
      • John Schumacher of Hallcrest discussed and tasted four of his award-winning Pinot Noirs from VASCM member vineyards: Veranda (Frank & Nancy Remde), Terra Serena (Pete & Barb Woodruff), Belle Farms (Steve &Marguerite Remde) and Vista del Mare.
      • Tony Craig of Sonnet Wine Cellars and Ed Muns of Muns Vineyard presented a Pinot Noir clonal review, vineyard description and barrel tasting of four Dijon clones from the 2005 harvest.
    • In the tasting tent, Mary Lindsay and Prudy Foxx set up the new VASCM display booth describing winegrowing in our AVA.
  • Sustainability workshop on Ecosystem Management (23 March):  Habitat (cover cropping, vegetation); Beneficial insects; Water quality/watershed management.  At Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, Saratoga.  8am-12noon, with lunch following.  FREE.
    1:00-3:00pm - optional Sustainability Self-Assessment Workshop (if you have not already done it).
  • 24 February Meeting: "History of Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyards" at Mountain Winery, Saratoga.  3:00pm vineyard tour with Jeffrey Patterson; 4:00pm presentation by Charles Sullivan, historian and author, "Like Modern Edens".

2005

  • VASCM Holiday Party, Sunday, 18 December, 4-6pm
  • "Farm Water Quality Short Course", November, Santa Cruz - Meet the Compliance Requirements.  Registration form, other class sessions, and general information.
  • 19 October 2005 (3:00pm) Meeting at Lester Family Vineyards at Deer Park Ranch:  Post Harvest Crop Management, including cover crop, weed control, etc. Presentation by Richard Smith, UCCE/Salinas.
  • 9 August 2005 (3:00pm) Meeting at Byington Winery.  Hangtime presentation by Stan Grant.
  • 1 June 2005 (3:00pm): meeting at La Rusticana d'Orsa Vineyards in Los Gatos.  Pruning, thinning, hedging, terracing, trellising.  BRING YOUR MEALY BUG TRAPS!!
  • "Pinot Paradise - First Pinot Noir Tasting of the Santa Cruz Mountains!" April 10, 2005:    24+ local wineries pouring heaven in a glass, 1:00-5:00pm at Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos.  Advance tickets only.
  • April 5, 2005 (3:00pm):  meeting at Vine Hill Vineyard, "Grapes Into Wine - Wine Distribution & Sales". The ultimate goal for our grapes is to produce wine that sells. Hear about wine distribution and sales from the professionals.  Also: Free Vine Mealy Bug traps distributed the County Ag Commissioner.
  • January 19, 2005 (3:00pm): Meeting, New State Water Control Requirements - Do They Apply to You? and How to Meet Them; Mary-Ellen Dick, Region 3 Farm Bureau, Clos la Chance Winery, San Martin; also includes Vine Talk on winter pruning and weed control.
  • January 25-27, 2005: United Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento (informal VASCM dinner TBA)

2004

  • December 5, 2004: Holiday Party, Lorenzini's, Watsonville
  • November 18, 2004: Special Meeting, Workshop on Integrated Pest Management, The Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, 9am-12pm, lunch included, Cooper-Garrod Winery, Saratoga
  • November 10, 2004: CAWG meeting, Los Gatos.  Local growers invited to dinner with the Board of the California Assn. of Winegrape Growers.  Invitations mailed out in early October.
  • October 14, 2004: "Post-Harvest Nutrition", Pete Christensen - Professor Emeritus, Fresno State University, Cinnabar Winery, Saratoga   
  • September 14-19, 2004: Santa Cruz County Fair, Watsonville
  • August 3, 2004: "If I Grow It, Will They Come?", local winemaker panel, Branciforte Ridge Vineyard
  • July, 29 2004: BBQ with SCMWA
  • June 16, 2004: "Canopy Management Workshop", Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards
  • April 20, 2004: "Enhancing and Promoting the Reputation of Santa Cruz Mountains winegrapes and Appellation", Mark Chandler - Executive Director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, Burrell School Vineyards
  • February 24, 2004: "Sustainability Workshop", Wine Institute, Bargetto Winery
 

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Last modified: November 24, 2009