Blogs

August, 2014

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Seems like we always talk about the weather. It is definitely a major factor in farming. This may become the earliest harvest in my 44 years in Santa Barbara County. The drought is only partly responsible. We are already finishing spraying and will irrigate more but bird netting is already taking place. We have a good chance of picking grapes mid-August instead of the usual mid-September. So things like our late August bottling schedule will now become part of harvest. Megan and the winery have their hands full between trying to get one harvest in the bottle and the next harvest back into the tanks.

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.

June, 2014

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

As always, I blame Mother Nature! A very short winter followed by a warm spring puts us about three weeks ahead of schedule. Most of the varieties look very good. Unusual heat hurt the fruit set in some of our Sangiovese and Syrah, but overall I am very pleased at this point. Harvest in 80 days.

May, 2014

From the Ground Up

We have had a different kind of a winter with not much of anything in the way of frost, rain, or cold. Our vines look great. Our water supply so far is holding steady, and it looks like we’re going to have an early harvest.

April, 2014

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Last year’s 2013 vintage looks to be one of the better vintages. The wines are showing much promise. It always helps to have perfect growing and weather conditions during harvest. Varieties like Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Sangiovese, which cannot tolerate wet weather, were picked at optimal levels thanks to the beautiful fall. Next year we will get our first chance to visit this vintage.

March, 2014

From the Ground Up

We finished pruning last week, about three weeks ahead of schedule. This was necessary because of the warm winter that we have been experiencing, so warm that bud break has already begun.

February, 2014

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

This is the 10 Year Anniversary of the Toccata Tasting Room. We have special plans on March 8th. With 10 being the magic number, we will have some 10 dollar wine specials on various wines, like the 2010 Classico we’re adding to your shipment this month. Interest in our Italian wines has grown. No longer unknown, they’re making their mark both in our Tasting Room and in the marketplace.

January, 2014

From the Ground Up

I’m only starting my 44th year of growing grapes in Santa Barbara County. I am more excited today than I was back then!

December, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

In my 40 some years growing grapes in Santa Barbara County, I haven’t seen two back-to-back years that reached this level in volume and quality. I credit the weather and also the condition of our vineyards. When Mother Nature leaves you alone during harvest, and you’re able to pick almost everything at optimum, it’s something special.

November, 2013

From the Ground Up

Harvest 2013 is over! For the first time in 42 years, we had large crops back to back and outstanding weather that enabled us to pick our grapes at optimum levels of maturity. 2012 and 2013 will be superior vintage years.

Blogs

August, 2014

July 2014

June, 2014

May, 2014

April, 2014

March, 2014

February, 2014

January, 2014

December, 2013

November, 2013

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