|
|
|
|
 |
|
A Note from the Commission President ...
While the occasional passing cloud in an otherwise blue sky is beautiful this time of year, it also brings home the reality of drought and makes us long for the normal cloudy drizzle of February and spring showers of March.
If you haven't already registered, please plan to attend Lake County Farm Drought Response on Wednesday, February 26, at the Soper-Reese Theatre to hear from the experts about the status of groundwater, pump efficiency, tree and vine response to drought, water rights and enforcement, available programs and resources, and an informative panel discussion. This session is being presented in partnership with the Lake County Farm Bureau.
The Commission poured wines at the Regional Wine Tasting at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento at the end of January and hosted a special presentation and technical tasting of Lake County wines for a group of sommeliers in San Francisco in mid-February (read on to learn more).
Lake County winegrower Bryan Kane was one of several Lake County wineries receiving impressive recognition at the recent American Fine Wine Competition (see below).
Unforeseen circumstances forced us to postpone the third Momentum! seminar. We are excited to feature Andy Beckstoffer as our keynote speaker and are working to schedule a new date, so please stay tuned for details...
Cheers,
Debra
|
|
|
Check out the
Wine Spectator's comments on Lake County reds and find additional articles on the Winegrape Commission's web site.
On the radio ...
"The Elixir of Lake County: The New Wine Country of Northern California" on The Taira St. John Show, KPFZ Radio 88.1 FM, Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00 pm, and replayed Mondays, 1:00-2:00 pm
Upcoming guest:
03-12-14 - Terry Dereniuk, Director, Lake County Wine Association
|
|
|
|
|
Lake County Farm Drought Response Workshop
The Lake County Farm Bureau and Lake County Winegrape Commission are collaborating to present an informational meeting in response to the current statewide drought situation. Don't miss this free workshop.
Lake County Farm Drought Response
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Soper-Reese Theatre
275 S. Main St., Lakeport
Topics will include
- Groundwater Status and Pump Efficiency
- Water Rights and Enforcement
- Tree and Vine Plant Response to Drought
- Available Programs and Resources
- Panel Discussion with Local Experts and Growers
Register Now
No admission fee. Advance registration is strongly encouraged.
Register online at: https://lcdrought.eventbrite.com
|
|
Lake County Wines Garner Impressive Awards
at American Fine Wine Competition
KELSEYVILLE, CA - Lake County wines are among the top award winners at this year's American Fine Wine (AFW) Competition, one of the most prestigious wine contests in the nation, this month in southern Florida.
|
A Technical Taste of Lake County 
-- A Seminar for San Francisco Sommeliers
LCWC held a seminar on Lake County and its wines for San Francisco Bay Area sommeliers and writers February 11 at the EPIC Roasthouse restaurant on The Embarcadero in San Francisco.
The session was a pilot project - the Commission's first effort targeting the sommelier audience, a demographic largely influential in not only the restaurant on-premise market but consumer wine purchase decisions as well. Seminar attendees also included several Bay Area bloggers and writers.
The event was funded in part by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant with additional support from the Lake County Winery Association (LCWA).
 The program began with a presentation by LCWC Chair Peter Molnar titled "Lake County Rising," which provided attendees with an overview of Lake County and its AVAs and major grape varieties. Next, Dr. Gregory V. Jones, professor of climatological studies at Southern Oregon University, presented an in-depth look at the major climate influences in Lake County with emphasis on the microclimates of the region's smaller sub-AVAs. Finally, Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser of San Francisco led the group through a tasting of Lake County wines focusing on the region's sub-AVAs, varieties, and producers. The 19 wines poured were chosen by Gaiser from a larger group of bottlings, all of which were gold-and-above award winners.
The program and wines were enthusiastically received. Gaiser noted, "Everyone today got a wonderful glimpse of the quality and depth of the region's wines and producers. I really think the time for Lake County and its outstanding wines has come."
 From left: LCWC Chair Peter Molnar, LCWC President Debra Sommerfield, LCWA Executive Director Terry Dereniuk, Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser, LCWC Volunteer Mireya Turner, Southern Oregon University Professor Greg Jones.
|
|
Farmers Get Help During Drought as PG&E Gets CPUC Approval to Delay Rate Changes
By Matt Nauman
California farmers will get more flexibility to manage their water resources and some electricity rate relief as they work to conserve water during the drought, thanks to the California Farm Bureau who brought this issue to PG&E's attention.
|
|
We're Moving...Next Door
For the past 18 months, the Commission office has been housed in office space in the former Kelseyville Lumber building. We're excited to announce a move to a new location -- just next door. The new space will offer an opportunity to host educational sessions, technical tastings, and other events, in addition to day-to-day office space.
NOTE: Our office will be closed Thursday and Friday, February 27-28, for the move. A big thank you to our landlord, Mark Borghesani, for working with us to make the needed building improvements, and to Commission Board members for rolling up their sleeves to assist us in the move.
Stay tuned for a date to help us celebrate with a Springtime Open House.
New physical address: 3865 Main Street, Kelseyville, CA 95451
Phone number remains the same: (707) 279-2633
|
|
Resources
"Living with Drought"- A one-stop resource compiled by UC Cooperative Extension with links to several UC, state, and national resources. http://celake.ucanr.edu/Living_with_Drought_547/
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
Lake County Winegrape Commission events can be found on the Commission's web site Calendar. Check out this month's happenings!
Momentum! Session 3
New Date TBD
Soper-Reese Theatre, Main Street, Lakeport
Third in a series of seminars for winegrape growers, winery owners, winemakers and tasting room managers. Register Online
Lake County Farm Drought Response
February 26
Soper-Reese Theatre, Lakeport |
Pruning & Pastries
March 1
Six Sigma, Lower Lake
|
Tour of Sauvignon Blanc Vineyards
March 13
Big Valley and Kelsey Bench Virginia Creeper Leaf Hopper SeminarMarch 19 UCCE Mendocino County Office, UkiahHands-On Training for Pesticide Applicators March 5 Lewis Hall, Lake County Fairgrounds |
Meet Our Affiliate SponsorsNorth Coast Vineyard Services North Coast Vineyard Services LLC is delighted to become an affiliate sponsor of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. The company was founded by the Phillips family in 2008, and the current leadership of the company represents the seventh generation of Phillips family Californians. Read more  BelKorp Ag
BelKorp Ag is owned by Belkorp Industries Inc., a family owned company, located in Vancouver, BC. Its origins date back to the 1940s, and the company has grown over the past 70 years and has diversified holdings throughout the United States and Canada. Read more
|
|
|
|
