Groundwater management fees are no longer just a future issue for California winegrowers. Basins in Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, and the Santa Ynez/CMA area already have fee structures tied to groundwater management. In the Napa Valley Subbasin, Recovered Water Solutions, a Winesecrets company, can help wineries and growers identify opportunities to annually save over $60 per acre on local groundwater sustainability fees.  Planted acreage Potential annual savings 250 acres $15,040 500 acres $30,080 1,000 acres $60,160 On this and related water-cost issues, Recovered Water Solutions works with wineries and processors to better understand water use, identify loss points, and develop practical recovery and reuse strategies that improve cost control, efficiency, and long-term resilience. Call or email Eric@winesecrets.com for more information about our water recovery and resuse services. Or visit recwatersolutions.com. Toll Free: (888)

Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Takes Top Prize  November 18, 2025 — Winners have been announced in the 2025 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Domaine Della 2023 Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best of Show Red Wine and Best of Monterey County AVA. Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “warm and spicy” with “fig and nutmeg.” Other descriptors included “meaty,” “prosciutto,” and “dried rose petal.”  With entries from across the globe, the Harvest Challenge bases judging on a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions and grapes that combine to give personality to the wine.  In other competitions, this terroir is ignored. At the Harvest Challen

Afternoon Brief, January 4th

Spraying Goodbye to Vineyard Chemicals: Spraying vineyards used to mean heavy doses of toxic chemicals - not any more...

Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir Takes Top Honors November 17, 2023 — Winners have been announced in the 2023 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best Red Wine and Best of Anderson Valley AVA (Mendocino County, Calif.). Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “rich, ripe” and for its “Bing cherry,” and “hint of orange peel.”  Lula Cellars is a boutique winery located in California’s Anderson Valley. Its focus is on world-class Pinot Noirs both from its estate and across Anderson Valley, as well as other single-vineyard offerings from the greater Mendocino County. When preparing to plant their own vines, Lula owners discovered some-1,000 old vines “literally lying down, as if waiting to be rescued.” Lots of TLC later, these mystery Pinot Noir grapes have thrived. There’s no in

Visit the Santa Ynez Valley sweetens the pot on a Sun-Thur visit with up to $60 in dining credits, six complimentary wine tastings, or a combination of the two March 15th – (SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — As if there weren’t already enough reasons to plan a getaway to the Santa Ynez Valley, Visit the […] The post Midweek Vibes in the Santa Ynez Valley Just Got Even Better, Thanks to New Passport Incentive Program to Welcome Back Travelers appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/03/15/vibes-santa-ynez-valley-got-better?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vibes-santa-ynez-valley-got-better Published Date:Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:40:10 +0000 

Though some restrictions still exist, area wineries, restaurants, and lodging properties are eager to help travelers make up for lost time February 16th – (SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — The reopening of the Santa Ynez Valley to visitors, most notably lodging for leisure travel and the resumption of outdoor service for restaurants and wineries, could […] The post As Leisure Travel Resumes Once Again, the Santa Ynez Valley Welcomes Visitors Back with a Mix of Hospitality, Charm, and Wide Open Spaces appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/02/16/santa-ynez-valley-welcomes-visitors-back?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=santa-ynez-valley-welcomes-visitors-back Published Date:Tue, 16 Feb 2021 19:17:55 +0000