September 2, 2015
2015 Master Vigneron Academy




In This Issue
LCWC's Master Vigneron Academy Wraps Up Year

The Lake County Winegrape Commission is ready to celebrate completion of the 2015 Master Vigneron Academy (MVA) and congratulate the nine participating vineyard supervisors on their achievement.

During the month of July, the class stepped up its curriculum speed to ensure the group would finish its planned schedule prior to this year's early grape harvest, said Paul Zellman, LCWC's Education Director. He said preparations are under way for a graduation celebration for two MVA classes, 2014 and 2015.  

Organized and sponsored by the Commission each year, the MVA is presented over eight months. The curriculum for the Spanish-language professional development course is designed to strengthen each supervisor'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.

The July session included tours of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Department, Foundation Plant Service labs and Russell Ranch, and Novavine Field Operations.

At Foundation Plant Service labs and Russell Ranch, the MVA group was given a tour of the lab facilities and of the Russell Ranch grapevine repository. At the UC Davis facilities, students were led through the winery and brewery and participated in a discussion of varietal recognition, trellis styles, and vineyard development. While at Novavine's Woodland Field Operations, the students toured propagation blocks (about 4.8 million vines growing on 120 acres) and had an opportunity to see the 2010 Protocol mother blocks.
Class participants for 2015: Roman Calderon and Osbaldo Puhida, both of Beckstoffer Vineyards - 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.

Congratulations, MVA Class of 2015!
Lake County Wines and Wine Region in the News

Check out recent media coverage...

In "Lake County Shines" in The Tasting Panel magazine, writer Liza B. Zimmerman shares her experience and some of her "favorite finds" from the Lake County Rising Fly-In Trade Event, presented by the Lake County Winegrape Commission in mid-May. Read more 

Santa Cruz Sentinel wine columnist Stacey Vreekin features Bodkin Wine's Blanc De Sauvignon Blanc Cuvee Agincourt as her California Wine of the WeekRead more 

In the Sacramento Bee, wine writer Mike Dunne explores Lake County's "feisty yet refined" Sauvignon Blanc in his article, "More Than Sauvignon Blanc Defines Lake County's Wine Trade." Read more 

And in The Press Democrat, Langtry Estate & Vineyards took top honors in the Press Democrat's Wine of the Week for its Langtry, 2014 Lillie Vineyard, Guenoc Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Check out the pick of the week and interview with winemaker Eric Stine. Read more

Blogger Joe Roberts Reviews Two Lake County Wines

Joe Roberts of 1 Wine Dude selected two of Bryan Kane's Lake County wines in his August 31, 2015, weekly wine review round-up - 2013 VIE Roussanne and 2012 Sol Rouge Gypsy Rouge, which earned an impressive A- rating from the award-winning wine blogger. Read on...

More Drought Resources Available

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) maintains a Drought Resources web page as a valuable tool for farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers seeking information about the drought in California and available assistance programs.

Links to the CDFA web page and many other drought-related resources are available on the Commission's Grower Resources page.

Mendocino College Offers Introduction to Viticulture
and Winegrowing Course 

This fall, Mendocino College is offering an introductory viticulture class titled, "Introduction to Viticulture & Winegrowing for Mendocino and Lake Counties." The course is offered through the college's Agriculture Department and held at its Ukiah campus on Wednesday evenings. 

The class is being taught by Paul Zellman, LCWC's Education Director, and will cover winegrape quality and harvest parameters, pruning, vineyard development (soils, spacing, trellis, training), cultivars and rootstocks, climate, and common pests and diseases. 

For more information, see the course description.

California Association of Pest Control Seminar on Sept. 16

The California Association of Pest Control (CAPCA) invites Lake County winegrape growers to attend its San Jose CAPCA Educational Seminar on Wednesday, September 16, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at the Jugo-Slav NAPREDAK Club, Inc., in San Jose.

Topics to be discussed include the threat of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and an update on laws and regulations.

To read more about additional topics and registration, visit www.capcaed.com.

Affiliate Sponsor: Bob Bartley Pump, Inc.
  Bob Bartley Pump logo
Bob Bartley Pump, Inc., specializing in pumps and related products for wastewater treatment systems, continues to offer support to the Lake County Winegrape Commission and its member growers. The company has been an Affiliate Sponsor of the commission since 2012.

Now into its 28th year of business, Bob Bartley Pump, Inc., provides wholesale service to wineries, contractors, and government agencies.

Bob Bartley opened his business as Bob Bartley Pump Distributing on March 1, 1988, at the Industry West industrial park in Santa Rosa. In 1994, Bob Bartley and his wife, Jeanette, purchased a home in Lake County where they began to conduct all the administrative and office-related work.  The couple incorporated the business and changed its name to Bob Bartley Pump, Inc. in 2004. Bob Bartley Pump, Inc. has worked with contractors and engineers in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties. 

"We are able to provide a wide array of pumps and related products to both residential and commercial markets," according to Jeanette Bartley. 

The Bartleys are distributors for a number of different brands specializing in pumps and related products. One of the many products offered is a Commercial Advantex Treatment System for wastewater, currently in use at Chacewater Winery in Kelseyville. "These systems are environmentally friendly and sustainable," she said.

A list of the products and brands is available on the company's web site, www.bobbartleypump.com.

Now located at 3100 Dutton Avenue, #112, Santa Rosa, Bob Bartley Pump, Inc., is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Bartleys continue to operate their Lake County home office, as well. For more information, call (707) 279-2304.

Affiliate Sponsors

Umpqua logo
Allied Grape Grower logo
North Coast Vineyard Services logo

Bob Bartley Pump logo

PG&E logo

Ag Unlimited logo

Novavine logo
Savings Bank logo
Lincoln Leavitt logo
American AgCredit logo
Guillaume logo

Ranch winery logo

Peterson logo


Ag Unlimited Lyman logo