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122 WINES&VINES Collector's Edition VINTAGE 2018 Your lender of choice for agricultural capital • Agricultural real estate since 1917 • Long-term fixed or adjustable rate mortgage financing • Real estate secured revolving line of credit • Competitive interest rates • Flexible terms and structuring Rates are attractive —contact us today. www.metlife.com/ag 559.435.0206 Agricultural Finance © 2016 METLIFE, INC. Vineyard Tools Battery Powered Pruning Shears • 1.25-inch and 1.5-inch cutting capacity models • 15,000 pruning cuts per battery charge • Includes lithium battery, harness, holster and carrying case www.zenportindustries.com | 503-524-7289 Gra ing Tools w zenportindustri Tying Tools & Supplies Harvest Shears ineyard T ols Pruning | Gra ing | Tying | Harvest SONOMA COUNTY Rhonda J. Smith Viticulture farm advisor University of California Cooperative Extension For many Sonoma County grow- ers, the 2018 crop was big but not huge, with those vineyards producing higher yields than early-season estimates. Some growers bumped up against the contracted maximum they could deliver to buyers; thus fruit was either left on the vine or picked for the bulk market. Small over- ages were often able to be sold to other buyers, yet sometimes at a reduced price. Smoke-taint concerns returned with this vin- tage due to the wildfires in neigh- boring Lake and Mendocino counties, although grapes were not impacted in Sonoma County. Maximum daily temperatures in July and August were at or slightly lower than in recent years, result- ing in a longer ripening period. In August, warmer regions rarely saw temperatures in the 90s, and due to a deep marine layer, highs in the 70s were common during the last three weeks of the month. The ab- sence of heat spikes for several days of maximum temperatures near 100° F allowed for consistent fruit maturation. As a result, fruit hit sugar- and acid-maturity targets later in the season than in the re- cent past. Harvest dates for some sites were delayed until the acid levels dropped. Grape powdery mildew was held in check with very few excep- tions. Following a bad mildew year in 2017, in 2018 more sulfur applications were made up until the grape contract required grow- ers to switch to a different fungi- cide. Botrytis bunch rot presented some challenges due to light to moderate rainfall over a six-day period that ended in the first week of October. One to 2 inches of rain fell on unripe fruit. Most growers were able to pre- vent fruit loss by immediately opening up the canopies to take advantage of dry, breezy condi- tions that followed. Labor continues to be a concern in the area. An increasing number of growers utilized the federal H-2A visa program to ensure that labor was available over the growing season. Winemaker Steven Urberg oversees pressing during the first day of harvest at Gloria Ferrer Wines in Sonoma County.