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Toccata Ramato

2018 Ramato

Named for "copper colored" in Italian, our "Ramato" exhibits a warm coppery hue with a pretty nose of wild berries and spring blossoms.

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$22.00
$17.60

Wine Club Price

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Fact Sheet Reviews

June, 2020

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

We are still confined but we have freedom in the vineyard and work goes on.

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The Dirtman talks the dirt on the grapes at the Lucas & Lewellen Vineyard Tour

Pairings - One Pot Chicken

Father John David Finley
Santa Maria Times

One-pot meals have a great appeal for those who don’t like to do dishes. Here is an Italian offering using none other than that omnipresent fowl – chicken.

Father John Finley blesses the first fruits of harvest at the Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards first crush

February, 2020

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

 It is already February and all of the Italian variety vines have been pruned except Nebbiolo. We prune the Nebbiolo last because it breaks bud and comes out early and is very susceptible to frost. Late pruning delays the bud push. 

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An image of Dirtman Louis Lucas giving a grapevine pruning lesson at Valley View Vineyard

June, 2019

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

This has been a cold, wet spring but we avoided frost on the new growth. Now we are hoping for some heat and no more rain. The grapes are trying to bloom and they are dragging behind, which could make for problems later. 

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The America Cruise Lines Wine Cruise to the Pacific Northwest - a photo of the ship

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

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.

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A tree in the vineyard

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.

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A photo of grapes at 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.
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Vine pruning with the Dirtman, 2014

October, 2013

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman
With today’s picking, we are starting on the second half of harvest 2013.  We farmers always talk about the weather.  It is THE controlling factor in many cases and this year is no different.  With little rain since December, a nice spring, good summer, and a few heat spikes, the crop is almost is large as last year’s bumper crop of 2012. 
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Grapes hanging in the vineyard

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Lucas & Lewellen: ph 805-686-9336

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