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80 WINES&VINES January 2016 lenges include increased cost of labor and temperature regulations on labor. Growers faced very low prices, no spot market to speak of, low de- mand and high yields. Rubired re- mained in demand, but it was hard to sell Merlot and Thompson. Whites especially were at super low prices. MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES Glenn McGourty Winegrowing and plant science advisor University of California Cooperative Extension Harvest was the earliest on record. Quality was extremely good, and overall crop size was down about 20% to 30%. Red fruit was espe- cially yummy! Good vintage in pro- cess. Lake County had some scary moments due to all of the forest fires but somehow managed to dodge the smoke bullet as winds blew mostly to the east. Only a small amount of fruit was smoke affected. Some heroics were in- volved to harvest and deliver fruit with emergency road closures, but growers and farm workers pulled it off with cooperation from firemen. The season was early, warm, but not excessively hot until near har- vest time. It got hot around harvest and accelerated ripening, espe- cially since yields were lighter than normal. Not a bad disease year due to dry- ness. Mildew showed up in a few places, but it always does. Still working to control Virginia creeper leafhopper with biocontrol agent (Anagrus daanei). Have success- fully released parasitoids in Hop- land, Calif. (work being done by Houston Wilson and his staff). Pinot Noir had low yields, high de- mand due to frost early in the sea- son and a poor set. Chardonnay was also lower than usual in many places due to light set. Mechanical harvesting keeps in- creasing due to labor shortages and expense. Light crop but nice fruit. Winemak- ers had a fast harvest, were pleased with most things except for yields. We had adequate water in most vineyards as rainfall this winter was less than normal (27 inches in Ukiah, Calif., vs. 35 inches average) but still OK. MONTEREY, SAN BENITO AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES Larry Bettiga Viticulture farm advisor University of California Cooperative Extension The 2015 growing season will be remembered as one of the earliest harvests recorded. A warm winter resulted in an early bud break. Al- though quality was good, yields for If yields were reduced, which of the following had the most effect? VINTAGE 2015 YIELD REDUCTION REASON Unsettled or abnormal weather in the spring or during fruit set Rain during the ripening season or at harvest Frost Disease Winter damage Pest CALIFORNIA