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October, 2021

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

The yield and quality of what we have picked thus far has been good and what we need is some good weather for the next six weeks with warm days, cool nights, and a delay in moisture until December.

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Cheers! Glasses of wine enjoyed at the Lucas & Lewellen Tasting Room.

June, 2021

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

This is a critical time for sunshine, moderate to warm temperatures, not too much heat, and not too much fog. So far, everything is on track.

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The Dirtman Louis Lucas in his farmer hat in the vineyard

April, 2021

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

In the past couple of weeks, the buds on the vines have swelled and some are beginning to open.

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Louis Lucas at the Goodchild Vineyard in Los Alamos

December, 2020

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

This is the season of giving. How about giving yourself a break? 

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Photo of Louis Lucas smiling by Lance Batchelder

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.

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Louis on the cover of American Vineyard Magazine

April, 2019

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

We are just completing our yearly task of pruning the vines. One of the grapes that we prune nearly last is Nebbiolo. It loves to come out early so by pruning late, we delay budbreak by a couple of weeks to hopefully carry it past the frost season.

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June, 2018

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

The grapes are in full bloom. The flowers have opened, and from the flowers will emerge the berries. This is a critical time in the vineyard.

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A photo of Royce and Louis

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.

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

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.  

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A photo of a windsock in the vineyard
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Lucas & Lewellen: ph 805-686-9336

Toccata: ph 805-686-5506

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