2014 was a most unusual year-- it was the driest winter on record in Mendocino and Lake Counties, with only 2 inches of rain in December and January, instead of the normal 20. Fortunately, several well-timed storms in February and March helped to get enough rainfall to fill the vineyards' soil profile and have sufficient surface runoff to partially fill our many small ponds and reservoirs. Bud break was almost 3 weeks early. Spring fortunately was warm, with no frost events. The summer was one of the warmest on record, mainly because there was less coastal fog to cool off the region with evening winds. High overcast weather resulting from residual clouds from tropical storms in Mexico kept evenings warm, which also helped to accelerate...