Winegrape Grower News, July 2015

July 27, 2015

Aerial View of Red Hills Lake County AVA

Photo by Kurt-Inge Eklund

In This Issue

Andy Beckstoffer Recognized as CAWG 2015 Grower of the Year

UCCE Tailgate Meeting: Update on Virginia Creeper Leaf Hopper, July 29 in Hopland

Affiliate Sponsor: Knights Grapevine Nursery

Thank You to LCWC's Affiliate Sponsors

Congratulations Andy Beckstoffer -- CAWG's 2015 Grower of the Year

Andy Beckstoffer, CAWG's 2015 Grower of the

Year,

shown at the LCWC's Momentum seminar

in

2014.

Photo by Nathan DeHart

North Coast Winegrape Grower Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards was honored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) as the 2015 Grower of the Year at its Fourth Annual Meeting and Awards of Excellence Program in Napa on July 22.

The award honors a grower "who represents an outstanding example of excellence in viticulture and management, and is recognized by others for innovation and leadership within the industry." Beckstoffer Vineyards farms more than 1,300 acres of vineyards in the Red Hills of Lake County, 1,300 acres in Mendocino County, and 1,000 acres in Napa Valley.

Among those present to recognize Andy were members of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, including CAWG Board Member and LCWC Board Member David Weiss, LCWC Vice Chair Broc Zoller, Community/Industry Relations Committee Chair Bill Brunetti, and Board Member Bill Oldham, as well as LCWC President Debra Sommerfield and LCWC Education Director Paul Zellman.

Also recognized that evening was the late Volker Eisele of Volker Eisele Family Estates with CAWG's 2015 Leader of the Year Award, which recognizes a grower whose "record of exceptional leadership has benefited California's wine industry."

UCCE and Fetzer Vineyards Present Tailgate Meeting

on Virginia Creeper Leaf Hopper

Winegrape growers, vineyard managers, and other interested individuals are invited to attend a tailgate meeting featuring updates on the Virginia Creeper Leaf Hopper population and control of the pest.

The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) of Mendocino County, along with Fetzer Vineyards, is sponsoring the tailgate meeting on Wednesday, July 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at Fetzer Sundial Vineyard, located at 12901 Old River Road in Hopland.

Speakers will include LCWC Vice Chair Dr. Broc Zoller, PCA, who will discuss the pest's population development in Lake County and soft insecticide program for organic and conventional vineyards; Dr. Lucia Varela, UCCE Area Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisor, who will discuss the pest's population development this season in Mendocino County and the results of an organic insecticide trial; and Dr. Houston Wilson, UC Berkeley Entomologist, who will discuss biological control of the Virginia Creeper Leaf Hopper and development of an area-wide IPM program for controlling the pest.

RSVP: To attend the tailgate meeting or for additional information, contact Glenn McGourty or JT Williams at UCCE at (707) 463-4495.

Affiliate Sponsor: Knights Grapevine Nursery

Knights Grapevine Nursery is family- owned and operated by Eckhard Kaesekamp and Benjamin Kaeskamp, who have more than 28 years of experience in vineyard development.

Located in Sutter County, the nursery prides itself in providing strong, healthy plants for their customers. They offer several grape varieties, clones, and rootstock as dormant bench grafts and potted green vines, combining "time-tested traditional vine-growing techniques" with modern approaches to ensure high-quality, clean plants.

Keeping their product free of viruses and diseases is a top priority. As an independent nursery, they test each individual plant, a process that differs from their competitors, many of whom only test a sample of vines, according to Eckhard.

"We care about the product we send out," Eckhard said. "No matter where your rootstock or bud wood originates from (certified blocks or the new 2010 protocol), nothing beats the peace of mind that is brought about by individual plant testing before grafting season."

In the more than 20 million vines sold by Knights Grapevine Nursery in the last 15 years, "we have yet to find one of the serious viruses," said Eckhard, adding that he is very proud of their track record and crediting it to his "due diligence" before the vines leave the nursery.

The Knights Grapevine Nursery office is located at 23308 Gifford Road in Knights Landing. For more information about its services and products, call (530) 776-9296, visit the web site at www.knightsgrapevinenursery.com, or send an e-mail to eckhard(at)knightsgrapevinenursery(dot)com.

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