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18 WINES&VINES August 2018 I n the midst of a growing season marked by cool spring and summer temperatures, off- average bud break and fruit set, as well as concerns surrounding water availability, three Central Coast growers reported on how the 2018 vintage is shaping up so far. Dana Merrill and his team at Mesa Vineyard Management (MVM) said in late June that yields are looking potentially lower, especially in Chardonnay, while Pinot Noir looks to be average. "Bud break was a little early," he said, citing the end of February and first week of March for Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay coming out a little later. Near Los Alamos, MVM started pruning the first week of January. "Labor sup- ply was okay as the strawberries and other crops in the area had not started up yet," he said. With regard to water, Merrill said that most wells are holding standing water levels despite receiving 50% of the normal rainfall for the year. Pressure from vine mealybug is high in MVM's Santa Maria vineyards, he said, with less pressure near Los Alamos and Santa Ynez. Mildew pressure is also high due to cooler- than-normal spring temperatures. Summer temperatures also prove to be cooler than nor- mal. To help keep free of mildew, particularly near Los Alamos, Merrill said MVM has short- ened spray intervals and applied sulfur dust. At Ranchos de Ontiveros, James Ontiveros oversees two properties in the Santa Maria Valley: Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard (12.5 acres of Pinot Noir) and Rancho Viñedo Vineyard (12.5 acres of Chardonnay). With fruit at "the BB stage" now, Ontiveros noted that in Santa Maria, the first signs of veraison historically appear around the Fourth of July holiday. "That won't be the case this year," he said, estimating that veraison will be two to three weeks behind due to unusually cool, foggy conditions marked by a high marine layer, lack of sunshine and wind. "It's been pretty miserable through May and June." Many days of cool temperatures, along with relative humidity, Ontiveros noted that mildew pressure is high. Also, as usual in Santa Maria, wind was an issue, specifically at bloom, which means below average yields for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Ontiveros estimated that growers across the region will experience a 20% dip in yield, but he's heard other farmers estimate larger losses. Like Merrill, Ontiveros said a lack of water remains critical. On Paso Robles' west side, Halter Ranch Vineyard has grown to include 280 acres under vines, with a composition of 60% Bordeaux varieties and 40% Rhône varieties, plus Tempranillo. Vineyard manager Lucas Pope said Halter Ranch Vineyard's bud break was about two weeks behind average due to a warm February (hitting highs of 90° F) and a burst of rainfall in March. "Weed pressure has been really high from spring moisture, but mildew pressure hasn't been high because it suddenly turned so cool," Pope said. All told, Halter Ranch has only seen 16 inches of rain this season, just a fraction of 26 to 28 inches, which Pope calls average. Pope said insects have been less of a concern than animals, as frost knocked back the popula- tion of mites and leaf hoppers in the spring. Like Ontiveros, Pope is seeing BB-sized ber- ries; unlike Ontiveros, however, Pope estimates that yields will be heavy, though not as heavy as last year. "We'll probably pull in 700 tons from 280 acres," he estimated. —Jaime Lewis Cool Start to Central Coast Season WINE INDUSTRY NEWS