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

February, 2022

Toccata - A Little Bit of Dust from the Dirtman

Right now we are in the middle of the pruning season when each vine must be pruned with special attention. This is not time for hackers! To me, pruning is an art.

read more…
Three bottles of Toccata wine on a wine barrel

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. 

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

March, 2019

From the Ground Up

This year’s high amount of rain has been great for the vineyard. It helps cleanse the soils and gives us reserve water for irrigation.

read more…

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.

read more…

March, 2018

From the Ground Up
After a warm winter, March has come in with more than three weeks of freezing night time temperatures. We can be thankful that none of our buds have pushed. Otherwise, we would have some serious problems.
read more…
Louis Lucas walking in the vineyard

Prune a Row with the Dirtman - CANCELLED

Saturday, January 20, 2018
11 am through lunch

The Valley View Vineyard

A wine grape pruning seminar with master pruner, Dirtman Louis Lucas!

1/16/2018 - Andy will be calling around to cancel the event due to the highway closure and the fact that 80% of our guests are coming from the south. Our apologies.

read more…

January, 2016

From the Ground Up
We started pruning in early December. It takes 35 workers about 90 days to prune our vineyards. It is one of the most tedious jobs that we do. Selection of the proper canes and spurs will determine what kind and what size of crop we have.
read more…
Lucas & Lewellen Winemaker Megan McGrath Gates and Assistant Ian Fainer

Prune a Row with the Dirtman - RAINED OUT

Saturday, January 23, 2016
11 am through lunch

The Valley View Vineyard

A wine grape pruning seminar with master pruner, Dirtman Louis Lucas!

read more…

November, 2014

From the Ground Up

Harvest is over.  Even the Harvest Party is over.  It seems that everything we’ve done this year has been early.  That’s not a problem.  When we harvest early, we eliminate a lot of issues like rain or frost or a stretched out picking season.  Fast and furious was what took place. This vintage has the potential for greatness.

read more…
A picture of Royce Lewellen at Louis and Jill's wedding

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.
read more…
Pruning a Row with the Dirtman 2014

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »
Subscribe to RSS - pruning

 

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