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Blogs

June, 2023

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Back in our Italian vineyard in Los Alamos, the vines are growing larger than normal due to the massive rains of the winter. In most cases that’s good news, but some adjustments are required for excessive growth. Harvest might be a couple of weeks late this year. We are having cool weather during bloom. With these strong vines, we could have some complications like irregular fruit set. Farming has a hard time being normal.

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May, 2023

From the Ground Up

I returned to a wide-awake vineyard that is not hurting for water. This could be one of the most interesting growing seasons ever. Good or bad, I’ll blame it on the weather.

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April, 2023

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

In our last newsletter, we talked about the big rains. This time we can tell you it continued. All the reservoirs and lakes are full and God did what the state of California could not do.

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March, 2023

From the Ground Up

In our last newsletter, we expressed our hopes for a nice wet winter. Well, we had one day with six inches of rain, and a couple of weeks later, one day with five inches, which made conditions challenging.

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February, 2023

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

There is a guy at mass who prays for rain all year round. After we received six inches of rain in one day, I am thinking I should ask him to stop for a while!

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January, 2023

From the Ground Up

What is it like to have a business where every year in January, you start over? It’s called growing grapes.

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December, 2022

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

The days go slow but the years go fast. I just completed my fiftieth harvest in Santa Barbara County.

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November, 2022

From the Ground Up

From a quality standpoint, harvest was very good but a few varieties were low in yield. Megan has her hands full with the new vintage and the new wines are progressing well.

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October, 2022

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Difficulties can definitely arise from something that you have no control of, a constant issue with my life in farming

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September, 2022

From the Ground Up

I thought I left the heat behind 50 years ago when I moved from Delano in the San Joaquin Valley to Santa Maria. We are right in the middle of a major heat wave, which can be detrimental to grapes.

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Lucas & Lewellen: ph 805-686-9336

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Hours: 10am - 4:30pm Seven days a week