Happy Holidays, fellow grape and wine aficionados!

Following are summaries of recent viticulture research that are finding that larger leaf canopies, and canopies/trellis designs that drape down around the grapes to better shade grapes from the sun may in fact yield higher quality grapes, and support higher production as well. Seems like the best of both worlds, and its a bit contrary to older research that suggested that 12 to 15 leaves per cane were ideal.

So, to apply these findings you may want to leave more leaves, and to not hedge the vines as much. And, perhaps a more ideal trellis is a single high wire, instead of the VSP (vertical shoot position) trellis that is currently most common in our area. Changing your canopy to single high wire or something else that supports more draping of shoots instead of vertical positioning, is not that difficult to implement, evidently.

https://www.ceresimaging.net/blog/vineyard-trellis-research-climate-change?

The December issue of Wine Business Monthly has two article that make similar findings. I will try to attach them to this email:

Managing vineyards organically, without chemicals is better for the health of vines, the environment, and important pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and humming birds. I am also convinced that grape flavors are materially improved by eliminating the use of any weed killers and only using natural organic products to control powdery mildew, instead of chemical fungicides.

So my question for you all is does anyone use or know of a vineyard manager who uses organic or chemical free approaches? If so, please email at gerardvs1@gmail.com or call me at 707-758-7441.

Once we identify organic management options, we will share this information with all members, so everyone has the option at least to consider this.

Hi Lamorinda Grape Growers and Winemakers!

Last call for those of you that haven’t yet signed up for the LWGA Holiday Party being held at Lafayette Playhouse on School Street this coming Sunday at 5:30.   There is still room for you sign up so please sign up here: https://forms.gle/vMKQ2FkmnjQ9yTPH9 Join your winegrower neighbors, member or not in celebrating.  

The event is fully catered, so all you have to bring is yourselves and your wine.  For those already signed up, we have a few spaces left if you would care to bring an out of town guest or an additional couple, please sign those folks up as well.

Prizes on offer for the ugliest sweaters and more!

RSVP today via https://forms.gle/vMKQ2FkmnjQ9yTPH9

We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday the 4th.

David Hicks

Did you know that there will be a Local winemaker’s wine tasting opportunity for you to attend on Thursday evening from 5:30 – 7:30. This will be at Hollies Homegrown in downtown Lafayette. 998 Moraga Road

So if you or your friends don’t any other plans, come by and taste some our local wines.

You can get more information at the link below:

https://www.hollieshomegrown.com/events/2022/11/10/an-evening-with-local-lamorinda-winemakers

The Howsepian family has graciously provided our club the Lafayette Town Theater facility on Moraga Blvd for our Holiday and Christmas party which will be held on Sunday December 4th from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. [the Dec 6 event at the Library is canceled] The facility will hold up to 70 people has a bar for pouring wine, and a delightful ambiance which is perfect for our event. THANK YOU Howsepian’s! In November you will receive a formal invitation to which you will need reply on line. First come first served. This is a club membership only event with each member able to bring their spouse, a significant other or one friend. We have planned a lovely selection of food for diner and ask all our members, pro and home winemakers, to bring wine for all to enjoy. Pay attention to this site for additional info and watch for the formal invite and respond?

Regards, David Hicks, President

Dave Rey has asked me to remind members attending Sunday’s meeting to kindly park on Mt. Diablo Blvd and not in the Wine Thieves Parking lot.

Thanks, See you all Sunday.

DH

Be sure to attend our Fall meeting at Wine Thieves Sunday at 3:00 PM. As is our custom several of our kind members usually bring an hors-d’oeuvre tray or three to accompany the fine wine provided by our other kind members. We hope it stays nice and warm as it has been but bring a jacket just in case?

David Hicks, President

Hi winemakers, Next Sunday is our Fall meeting at Wine Thieves lower courtyard. We will be discussing this years harvest with a Q and A as well as any other wine and grape topics and questions you may have. Bring a bottle of your finest wine to share along with friends and guests who love wines and reconnect with other members whom you have not seen due to the covid pause. We will be having snacks for all. I look forward to seeing all or you there. David Hicks, President

Hello everyone:

By now, you should be mostly done with harvesting this year. And what a year! The drought, the heat and everything else.

I hope that you had a successful harvest and by all accounts, wine in the tank/barrels fermenting away for another future release of enjoyment!

As you know, every year we like to accumulate the data on our LWGA harvests.

Can you please email me the gross weight of your harvest by varietal. We will not distribute your personal information to anyone.

Thanks again and happy winemaking!

Daniel Howsepian

5powderhounds@gmail.com

Good evening Lamroinda Wine Makers. We will be having our Fall meeting as guests of Dave Rey and Wine Thieves from 3 to 6 PM Sunday Oct 23. Dave is again kindly providing us with the patio area just outside of his wine storage facility. He has requested that you please park on the street as parking behind the store is limited. Please bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share with others? There will be nibbles. Since many of us have recently completed picking and are in the process of wine making we will have some discussions about picking and winemaking as will have several of our more experienced growers and winemakers to answer questions and lead discussions. We will additionally focus on the social after our long hiatus.

We’ve set the date of December 6 for our resumed Holiday Season Fiesta to be held at the Lafayette library great room from 6 to 9 PM. Stay tuned for more info to come.

See you all at Wine Thieves on the 23d?

David Hicks, President.