LUCERNE, Calif. – The Friends of Marymount California University Lakeside present the fall Distinguished Speaker Series, “Grape to Glass: The Past, Present and Future of Agriculture in Lake County” at Marymount California University (MCU) Lakeside campus in Lucerne.
The second of these programs is on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature a distinguished panel of local experts who will discuss sustainable practices in viticulture.
A $5 donation will benefit a scholarship fund for students attending the Lakeside campus.
The presentation will include an overview of sustainable management practices, creating a financially sustainable agricultural business that maintains integrity in relationships with the community and the environment, organic and biodynamic practices, and the best ways to use and conserve water.
Taken together, these best management practices can prevent environmental damage while producing wine grapes of superlative quality.
Tracey Hawkins is a founding partner and executive winemaker at Hawk and Horse Vineyards, where she and husband Mitch farm in harmony with nature using only organic and biodynamic farming protocols to bring the best expression of Lake County Red Hills terroir to market.
Hawkins will discuss what makes Lake County special for growing wine of world class distinction and how biodynamic farming complements the natural elements which exist here.
Christian Ahlmann has 15 years of professional experience in agricultural production and business management, joining Six Sigma Ranch and Winery in 2008 as vice president of operations. The 4,300-acre ranch includes a winery, vineyards and grazing for pastured beef, lamb and pork.
Six Sigma methods include monitoring metrics at each stage of production from the planting of the vineyard to the consumption of the final product, and responding to the “voice of the customer” throughout the process.
Paul Zellman, director of education for the Lake County Winegrape Commission and a viticulture instructor at Mendocino College, will present a brief history of Lake County wine grapes and describe the probable future direction of local winegrowing.
An independent, bilingual agricultural consultant with more than 35 years of experience, Zellman works closely with North Coast winegrowers, public agencies and nonprofit organizations with the objective of bringing communities together to promote positive outcomes.
This program is sponsored by Community Development Services.
The final program on Dec. 1, sponsored by the Lake County Winegrape Commission, will be a presentation by Robert Bath, MS, CHE, professor of wine and beverage studies at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, and member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, who will feature local sources of food products paired with Lake County wines.
Additional sponsors for the series include Friends of the Lake County Museum, Hawk and Horse Vineyards, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County News, Lake County Publishing, Lake County Resource Conservation District, Lake County Winery Association, Middletown Mercury, R Vineyards, Sierra Club Lake Group, Shannon Ridge, and Six Sigma Ranch and Winery.
Each program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m.
The MCU Lakeside campus is located at 3700 Country Club Drive, Lucerne.
For more information and directions to the campus, call 888-991-5253 and leave a message.
Marymount features panel discussion on sustainable practices in viticulture
- Lake County News reports
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