Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/619725
January 2016 WINES&VINES 83 VINTAGE 2015 yields, but nothing like what the area experienced. "There are a number of factors, not just the weather, that caused this prob- lem," he said. "We were heading this way already, we just weren't expecting to drop off a cliff." SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY Paul Verdegaal Viticulture farm advisor University of California Cooperative Extension Yields were on the light side of av- erage. Fruit quality was very good; total acids seemed on lower side, but pH levels good for the warm season. Harvest began 21 days early, then moderated, with mid- season and late varieties catching up and overlapping early varieties for delivery. Rain held off until Oct. 3 and was light with a total of about 0.4 inches and did not stall picking but one day. Harvest fin- ished ahead of long-term average, with all in by mid-October. There was very little to no rot, even in tight-cluster varieties such as Zin- fandel, Petit Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc. A wet December 2014 helped miti- gate dry soils. Bud break was the earliest in the past 35 years by one day, Feb. 28. Spring was warm, very dry and windy. Days were warm but nights average; no morn- ing dew was present until very late in the year. A hail event April 3 hurt a 3-square-mile area west of Lodi and scattered east side locations, also bringing 1 inch of rain. Only 11 days above 100° F (the average is 17 days). Light rain on Oct. 3. Growing-degree days only slightly above average. Powdery mildew pressure started late but caused scattered problems. Mites and leafhoppers came very late, but scattered. Vine mealybug populations increased early with more severe honeydew on vine trunks than in the past, control held amid concern; light brown apple moth spread. Sour rot or summer bunch rot was nonexistent. Prices softened slightly as in 2014. Minimums were offered or very low offers for unsigned fruit. Muscat types, Cabernet and quality reds for blends were in demand. Inter- est in Chenin Blanc returns, along with "rare" varieties of Spanish, Italian and German origin for small lots or artisan wineries. Interest in high-wire cordon for machine-pruned vines, new spray technologies to reduce amount and drift of applied controls. Other new equipment included evapo- transpiration/soil-moisture moni- tors, surface-renewal ET monitoring and GPS mapping. Safety equipment and materials new and old were used to meet new laws. Water-pumping costs still in- creased. A few wells deepened in the eastern half of the county. Labor supply decreased, but big problems were avoided with early and light harvest of cherries and asparagus. Regulatory costs went up with implementation of more water and heat stress rules. Lodi AVA grapes were competitive for quality and value. More small wineries were buying. Growers looked for higher yields and/or lower costs at same or better fruit ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° During the two-week bloom, the vines need a number of days around 80° F. We had only one day around that tempera- ture....Consequently, the blossoms didn't "set," and the clusters would drop off of the vine, leav- ing some vines with zero clusters. Our drought certainly contributed to the problem. Jim Bond Owner J. Bond Cellars & Vineyard Paso Robles, Calif.