(Wines&Vines) - Growers from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara weigh in on unusual growing season thus far
San Luis Obispo, Calif.—In the midst of a growing season marked by cool spring and summer temperatures, off-average bud break and fruit set, as well as continuing concerns surrounding labor and water availability, three growers reported on how the 2018 vintage is shaping up so far.
 Dana Merrill and his team at Mesa Vineyard Management (MVM) boast a bird’s eye view of growing conditions in Santa Barbara County, as they’ve farmed both large commercial operations and highly specialized vineyard properties in the area for decades. At this point in the season, he said, yields are looking potentially lower, especially in Chardonnay, while Pinot Noir looks to be average.
 “Bud break was a little early,” he said, citing the end of February and first week of March for Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay coming out a little later. Near Los Alamos, MVM started pruning the first week of January. “Labor supply was okay as the strawberries and other crops in the area had not started up yet,” he said.
 With regard to water, Merrill said that most wells are holding standing water levels despite receiving 50% of the normal rainfall for the year.