Lost in in the Livermore Valley Wine Country

Recently, a new map has appeared in the Livermore Valley Wine Country.  The Livermore Valley Wine Map And Visitor Guide.

 

They show 44 wineries on their map and Website. Then there is the Wine Grower's Association with 43 wineries on their maps and Website.

 

The there is the Livermore Wine App with 55 wineries listed. 

 

Plus a few more other Apps and Websites.

The problem is there are more than 60 wineries in the Livermore Valley Wine County. 

The  Livermore Valley Wine Map and Website and the Wine Grower's Association Website and Maps will only show those that have a membership or buy into the map. The Livermore Valley Wine App has a lot of incorrect information on the varies wineries as well not listing all of the wineries. 

For a better map source you can use Wine Country This Week. However they show only 54 wineries. The local paper The Independent News in their hard copy IN magazine shows 50 wineries. For a local newspaper they could do better.

As for the other Websites and Apps, there are too many to list. They could do a better job at being accurate on listing the wineries and each winery's specific information.

My suggestion is to find a Livermore Winery  you want to visit then ask them what other wineries you should visit in the Livermore Valley Wine Country.

The Drought And Your Wine Cellar.

Time to address the historical drought in California and how it will effect the wine industry and the
2014 vintage.  

While the 2013 vintage will be a great year for wine, 2104 will be a different story.  

Vineyards don't need a lot of water to survive, although the lack of rain and continued sunny weather could eventually affect the crop. Winemakers said they would prune heavily and thin to keep the crop at a minimum, focusing on ripening whatever crop they have at the expense of volume. All they can do for now is manage what little water they have and pray for rain.   While dry farming is great for some varietals such as Pinot Noir, other varietals need a bit more water. 

Per the California Plant and Soil Conference attendees, "salinity and scarcity of water make the soil toxic and current crops can not survive." 

Some vineyards are so concerned they have fallen back on old not so scientific method of finding water. Dowsing or Water Witches who use "diving rods" to find water. Rods are made of copper or wood and can detect water deep in the ground.  Folklore has it that this happens by natural energy. This could be a reach and/or desperation.  

While grapes are usually the topic here. I need to mention that this drought will effect all produce.  Prices will rise not only on wine but produce on a whole will be more expensive.  There’s going to be several million tons of production that will be lost,” said Winters farmer Bruce Rominger, chairman of the California Tomato Growers Association. “It will be devastating to the industry.”  This means less tomato products on the grocery store shelf.

Lack of rain and with warmer weather Bud Break is earlier this year. This is just as alarming as lack of water for irrigation. The chance of frost is still a possibility.

 

Look for my next article on tech and water.