March, 2025

From the Ground Up

Soon we will have bud break and our short frost season will begin!

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Lucas & Lewellen Selling Sections of Its Estate Vineyards

Owners say the state’s ongoing oversupply of grapes is forcing them to ‘right size’ the business

Laurie Jervis
August 11, 2025
Noozhawk.com

Co-owners Louis Lucas and Mike Lewellen of Buellton-based Lucas & Lewellen, like many viticulturists and growers across California, face a predicament: They grow more grapes than there are buyers.

For several years, California’s industry specialists such as Allied Grape Growers, a grower-owned wine grape marketing association with offices in Fresno and Paso Robles, have warned vineyard owners to lighten their loads and pull out entire vineyards to ease the statewide grape glut.

May, 2024

From the Ground Up

Our first look at the new vine growth suggests a medium-sized crop. The added rain is giving us plenty of growth. I expect some flowering in May.

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May, 2022

From the Ground Up

Now that we are all free, we are free to do as we please, and of course, drink more wine!

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July, 2020

From the Ground Up

The vines are not affected by what is going on in the world so we keep busy every day caring for them.

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Louis Lucas and winemaker Megan McGrath Gates at a harvest years ago when they did not have to wear masks!

March, 2018

From the Ground Up
After a warm winter, March has come in with more than three weeks of freezing night time temperatures. We can be thankful that none of our buds have pushed. Otherwise, we would have some serious problems.
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Louis Lucas walking in the vineyard

March, 2016

From the Ground Up
We expect to be finished pruning by the end of this week and will be tying by mid next week, just in time to avoid knocking the buds off when we tie to the trellis system. Budding out this early will cause us to have a prolonged frost season. More rain would help protect the crop. At high moisture levels, frost damage is less severe. It still makes for a long time to be on call for frost protection.
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Katcho Achadjian, Louis Lucas, and Royce Lewellen accepting Louis Lucas lifetime achievement award

July 2014

From the Ground Up

Our grapevines are on the fast track.  We’re about four weeks ahead of schedule so we’re starting shoot removal, hedging, leaf removal, and spraying for mildew control.  Irrigation is on our minds this year.  We will make it but we do have a water crisis and we really need rains this coming winter.  Supplies are low and wells are producing less.  

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A photo of grapes at harvest

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

July, 2012

From the Ground Up

We are right in the middle of growing the 2012 grapes.  The crop is taking shape and looks promising.  We are starting to prepare for harvest mode.  It’s that time again.

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Royce Lewellen in the vineyard
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