Skip to main content
Instagram icon

Search form

  • Shop Wines
    • By Style
    • Best Deals
  • Visit L&L
    • Visit Toccata
    • Maps & Hours
  • Join Us
    • Wine Clubs
    • Events
  • Our Story
    • Estate Vineyards
    • People

Our Wine

  • L&L Reds
  • L&L Whites
  • Toccata Reds
  • Toccata Whites
  • Queen of Hearts

Wine by Style

  • Big Reds
  • Medium-Lighter Reds
  • Red Blends
  • Dry Whites
  • Off-Dry/Semi-Sweet Whites
  • Fun Wines
  • Rosé
  • Vintage Reds
  • Wine Specials
  • Wine Packages

April, 2022

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

April showers bring May flowers. In the vineyard, April means bud break and a chance of frost.

read more…

April, 2020

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Spring is almost here. We finished pruning the vines by the middle of last month just in time for the March miracle of seven inches of rain.

read more…
Louis Lucas standing at Valley View Vineyard

August, 2019

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

When it comes to growing a crop, the most influential factor for the grower is putting up with the weather. This has been a good year weather wise.

read more…
Louis on the cover of American Vineyard Magazine

October, 2018

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Harvest is in full swing. We have picked about 1/3 of the crop and we are running late calendar-wise. 

read more…

April, 2016

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Spring started with a mini cold wave so the past two nights have been spent in the vineyard driving around in circles watching temperature gauges and being prepared to turn on fans, sprinkler systems, or our new frost guard machines which are tractor driven and weave their way through the vineyards. We had an early bud break, at least as early as last year.

read more…
The Dirtman has a nickname: Louis Lucas!  - Photo by D. Johannsen

April, 2015

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Our vineyard is moving rapidly due to the warm winter. We are doing things in the vineyard that would normally be done 30-40 days from now like shoot removal, mildew spraying, weed control, and, the most scary, preparing for frost. Normally we protect by running our sprinklers. With water being short, we are trying some alternative methods like heat, wind, and cold air removal machines. After having good rain in December, rain seems to be bypassing us. The next worry will be water for irrigation.

read more…
A tree in the vineyard

August, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

It can’t be August!  Harvest is just a few weeks away.  We farmers always have to talk about the weather.  The summer has been very positive for growing conditions

read more…
The Dirtman dances with his daughter at the Wine Club Summer BBQ
Subscribe to RSS - Dolcetto

 

Fun & Learning

  • Blogs
  • News
  • Wine Clubs
  • Wine Scores

Keep in Touch

  • Receive Deals & Updates
  • Find Our Wines
  • States We Can Ship To
  • Contact Us

Help

  • For the Trade
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Policy

Tasting Rooms

Reservations not required for wine tasting

Lucas & Lewellen: ph 805-686-9336

Toccata: ph 805-686-5506

Hours: 10am - 4:30pm Seven days a week