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Weekend seminars cover vineyards from A to Z

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Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) and Devine Consultants of Los Gatos will present a weekend event titled San Diego County Vineyard Seminars in Ramona on Feb. 7 and 8. Sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days.

Establishing the Home Vineyard is the topic on Feb. 7 and Maintaining a Healthy Vineyard will be the topic on Feb. 8. Both sessions will be in Ramona Mainstage Nightclub & Sports Bar at 626 Main St.

Buying grapevines at a nursery and planting them is just one step in the integrated process of establishing a vineyard, DeVine Consultants states in an outline of what will be covered on Feb. 7. Regional differences, vine growing theories, historical development and variety selection will be presented, and there will be a discussion of how grapevines grow.

The establishment process begins with site evaluation, soil preparation and physical layout, according to DeVine Consultants. Trellis systems, drip irrigation, cover crops and deer fences will be illustrated; various types of controls for potential pests and diseases will be revealed, and the vines will be described from planting, through training, and into harvest. In short, go from bare soil to first grape harvest in a single day.

Vineyard maintenance, a process that lasts the lifetime of the venture, will be the focus on Feb. 8. Fertilization needs, irrigation practices, frost protection systems, ground cover requirements and grape harvest will be detailed. Pests, diseases and other disorders will be illustrated to help troubleshoot problem vineyards. Integrated pest management, organic and biodynamic practices are forms of control that will be presented.

Cultural operations designed to reduce potential problems and the use of pesticides also will be discussed on Fev. 8.

For nearly two decades, DeVine Consultants has taught all aspects of wines from the most basic to the most technical at educational institutions such as the University of California and the World Trade Center, commercial associations such as San Diego County Vintners Association and Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association, and personalized presentations for clubs and individuals..

The event is similar to the weekend seminar at University of California Davis, but closer to home, says Teri Kerns of RVVA.

For cost and more information or to register for the seminars, contact RVVA at 619-865-8255 or 445-2365 or e-mail seminar@ramonavalleyvineyards.org.

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