Sierra Foothills/Butte County Veraison Report: LaRocca Vineyards (Forest Ranch)

Philip LaRocca of LaRocca Vineyards, Forest Ranch, Butte County, sends these notes:  

 

"We plant Chardonnay at the West Side of the Sutter Buttes (which is the smallest mountain range in the world).   Right now our Chardonnay is at full veraison. 

Sutter Buttes at Sunset

WATER AND OTHER NOTES, Sutter Buttes:  "We are doing our last irrigation and we are planning to start picking the first week in September.  We are very concerned regarding labor.  We're being told there's a shortage.  As for water at this vineyard, we are on a deep well and we flood irrigate. Haven't had any water issues. 

Beautiful Mt Lassen

We plant Pinot Noir in the Forest Ranch Vineyard at 2600 feet at the base of Mt. Lassen on Doe Mill Ridge.  Our Pinot Noir is at 70% veraison.  Both Chard and Pinot look very good both in terms of quality and crop load. 

We are seeing early some color in our Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. We have 56 acres of Cabernet so that's our biggest crush and also comes in last.   

WATER NOTE:  We have several wells in Forest Ranch and do drip irrigation, it's slow and steady for the water.   OTHER NOTE: Again, labor is a huge concern this season."