Merlot | Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

May, 2021

From the Ground Up

April showers bring May flowers, but where are the showers? Last year we had seven inches of rain in April. This year we had none in March or April and it doesn’t look like we have any more coming. Grapes are not big users of water but they do need it.

March, 2021

From the Ground Up

The most important task that we do in the vineyard is pruning. This morning I was driving my 2004 Ford F-150, “The Dustmobile”, through two rows of grapevines, admiring the pruning job. What we do in January and February determines what kind of grapes we get in September and October

January, 2021

From the Ground Up

Happy New Year! Welcome to year #2 of captivity. Don’t be afraid to be careful and don’t forget to smile!

2018 Merlot

Notes of aromatic black cherry, leather, earth, and spicy vanilla oak dominate this vintage.

$34.00

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Fact Sheet Reviews

Sideways Wine Fest

Sunday, October 20, 2019

12:00-4:00 pm

River View Park in Buellton

Sideways Wine Festival will take place from 12-4 pm and will have over and Santa Barbara County wineries on site for you to sample from!

In the mood for Merlot?

One Santa Barbara winery is banking on it

Gabe Saglie

1/19/2017

Santa Barbara News Press

The long-lasting effects of "Sideways" on the Santa Barbara wine industry are well-documented. The Oscar-winning comedy from 2004 romanced Pinot Noir while delivering a blow to Merlot. Pioneer vintner Louis Lucas, who’s been growing wine grapes for close to five decades, saw it happen firsthand.

2014 Merlot, Judge's Reserve - end of vintage

This Merlot is inky and opaque, aged in new oak for almost two years adding smoke and vanilla to a boysenberry syrup fruitiness in the aroma.

$82.00

$65.60

Wine Club Price

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Fact Sheet Reviews

March, 2016

From the Ground Up

We expect to be finished pruning by the end of this week and will be tying by mid next week, just in time to avoid knocking the buds off when we tie to the trellis system. Budding out this early will cause us to have a prolonged frost season. More rain would help protect the crop. At high moisture levels, frost damage is less severe. It still makes for a long time to be on call for frost protection.