At Frei Ranch in Dry Creek, Trini Amador, E&J Gallo Northern Unit Ranch Manager,   discusses vine balance and winegrape quality with 2015 MVA students (from left)   Osbaldo   Puhida, Ismael Sonato, Gerardo Cortez, Maria Azucena Garcia, and   Ruben Perez.

LCWC's Master Vigneron Academy in Full Swing for 2015

The 2015 Master Vigneron Academy (MVA) is well underway with a class of nine vineyard supervisors participating in the eight-month Spanish-language professional development course put on annually by the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

The June session included Sonoma area vineyard visits in Dry Creek, Rockpile, and Alexander Valley; a stop at Jackson Family Wine's Skylane facility to view bottling, the impressive wine cellar, and lab; a visit to E&J Gallo's Frei Ranch to examine budded vine training and soil management techniques; and a final stop at the Healdsburg Wine Library to check out viticulture books. In July, the class will visit UC Davis, Foundation Plant Services, and Novavine in Woodland.

At Jackson Family Wine's Skylane bottling facility, MVA   class members (from left) Roman Calderon, Osbaldo   Puhida, Maria Azucena Garcia, and Jose Calvillo    observe automated bulk glass placement to line.

Facilitated by Paul Zellman, LCWC's Education Director, the MVA curriculum is designed to strengthen each student's knowledge of viticulture and the wine industry, while fostering an in-depth understanding about the supervisor's role in implementing quality winegrowing practices and improving farmworker productivity.

Class participants for 2015: Roman Calderon and Osbaldo Puhida of Beckstoffer - Red Hills; Ruben Perez Lepiz of Bella Vista Farming Co.; Marie Azucena Garcia Garcia and Ismael Sonato, both of JAC Ag Services; Juan Calvillo and Jose Calvillo, both of Rogers Vineyards; Fernando Martinez of Six Sigma Vineyards; and Gerardo Cortez of Trinchero Family Estates.

Read more about the Master Vigneron Academy.

Affiliate Sponsor:

Roy Gillham

PG&E Introduces Customer Account Manager for Lake County

Pacific Gas & Electric, an LCWC Affiliate Sponsor, recently introduced Roy Gillham as the new customer account manager for agricultural commercial customers in Lake County.  

In his role for PG&E, Gillham will provide customers with resources for their service needs, serve as liaison for community outreach and relations, and assist with PG&E's products and services including rebates,incentives, and renewables.

Gillham has been with PG&E since 2011 and moved to Mendocino County in 2014. He brings utility account management experience in the agricultural segment to the job, having worked in the Salinas Valley and Yolo County areas for PG&E earlier in his career. 

He is enjoying his new assignment serving Lake County customers, saying, "Each day is different. One day I may be assisting a vineyard manager with saving costs with one of our rebate programs; another day I may be helping a winery analyze its electric rate to save money."

"Customers are often surprised to learn PG&E provides an account manager to assist them with their energy needs and ways to save energy," Gillham said. "We want to help our businesses and local communities thrive and grow by helping them manage their energy use and costs."

Gillham may be reached at (707) 380-3052 and roy(dot)gillham(at)pge.com.