And this has created problems.
We regret that in upgrading our web server many things went wrong. As we fixed one thing something else popped up that needed fixing. The most serious, for us anyway, is the malfunction of the shopping cart. Our server, Impulse.net, has tried to minimize the disruptions but we are still finding little things to fix.
This new server, hopefully a giant step up, has many of the things needed to make the site function better including backup server redundancy. If one crashes others are in line.
Thank you for your patience
View from my office in Santa Barbara. The peak in the center is Montecito Peak just above the Montecito enclave. The fire has been page one for several weeks and until today the smoke over Santa Barbara created an orange haze and the ashes respiratory problems. Many working outside wore protective masks.
It is drifting east towards the Ventura County line and has now consumed over 200,000 acres. Winds are tricky and a change could push the fire towards the ocean and population.
The Syrah is beginning to show veraison but unlike the Pinot Noir, at this stage, which must be completely netted or it will be ravaged by starlings, Syrah is rarely netted and, if so, only in selected areas. The Syrah clusters are larger than those for Pinot Noir, the berries , as well, are larger and their skin is tougher which may offer them more protection.
The first photo is of Syrah and shows the stage of veraison, or coloring. The second is of the entrance to the Lafond Winery and Vineyard showing the beginning of our Syrah block located next to Santa Rosa Road.
Saturday, August 11, 2007 — a beautiful Day, moderate temperature and a strong but comfortable breeze. The event has become very popular and we have had to, regretably, limit attendance. This is a BBQ for both the Santa Barbara Winery and Lafond Winery members and those numbers have become pretty large.
As at all events we take many photos, if you are interested in viewing a small selection click slideshow album
We are enthusiastic photographers — all of us at the winery — and we like to load our photos on the web site. Thanks to the addition of a new program we think we have made viewing a lot easier. No more clicking from page to page — the selection can be seen on one page and by clicking your selection you can view it without being transferred to another.
Interested?
Videos
Slideshows
The Pinot Noir is all netted now — and the days are warm. The Zaca Mesa fire is still raging, every day we hear that it is mainly contained but it rages on, nearing 100,000 acres consuned. Our vineyard is many miles upwind from the fire and little is visible from where we are – even the smoke.
Sunflowers are part of our extensive flower plantings to encourage predators and control the insect and pest populations. They are also very decorative.
Now that the nets have been installed it is a little more difficult to access the vines. Fortunately everything has been done that can be done. Harvest will probably begin in mid-September, a little later than normal which can be attributed to a cool spring and low rainfall.
This means more ‘hang time’ a favorite phrase of winemakers — more hang time equals slower maturation, more intensity.
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