Blogs

December, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman
In my 40 some years growing grapes in Santa Barbara County, I haven’t seen two back-to-back years that reached this level in volume and quality.  I credit the weather and also the condition of our vineyards.  When Mother Nature leaves you alone during harvest, and you’re able to pick almost everything at optimum, it’s something special.  
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Toccata at Christmas. Photo by Lucinda Williams

November, 2013

From the Ground Up
Harvest 2013 is over!  For the first time in 42 years, we had large crops back to back and outstanding weather that enabled us to pick our grapes at optimum levels of maturity.  2012 and 2013 will be superior vintage years.
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October, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman
With today’s picking, we are starting on the second half of harvest 2013.  We farmers always talk about the weather.  It is THE controlling factor in many cases and this year is no different.  With little rain since December, a nice spring, good summer, and a few heat spikes, the crop is almost is large as last year’s bumper crop of 2012. 
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September, 2013

From the Ground Up
Harvest 2013 started a few days ago with the picking of a little Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for Sparkling Wine.  The past few days, we’ve been picking Valley View Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio in Los Alamos.  There are many variables in each year’s harvest and the most difficult thing is having the patience to wait until a grape is at the point of perfection.  
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Louis Lucas

August, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

It can’t be August!  Harvest is just a few weeks away.  We farmers always have to talk about the weather.  The summer has been very positive for growing conditions

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The Dirtman dances with his daughter at the Wine Club Summer BBQ

July, 2013

From the Ground Up

I had a little reservation about the weather when preparing for our annual wine cruise but was pleasantly surprised that the storms either stayed ahead or lagged behind us.  

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Louis Lucas and Jill Lucas on the 2013 Wine Cruise to Canada

June, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman
In the meantime, the grapes are pushing towards another harvest.  Believe it or not, it happens every year.  At this point in time, it looks like a normal sized crop.  
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May, 2013

From the Ground Up

This picture tells a story of a very cold night but we survived it.

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A heavy spring frost at Goodchild Vineyard

March, 2013

From the Ground Up

We are still enjoying the remnants of winter and will finish pruning in ten or twelve days. That’s 450,000 reasons to be happy! With the lack of rain, we are starting to irrigate. A chance of rain is forecast for the next three days, which would be a great help.

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January, 2013

From the Ground Up
We started pruning on about the 10th of December in our Los Alamos Vineyard. 
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Royce helps out with grape vine pruning at Goodchild Vineyard

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