A Field Trip to the Vineyard
Field trip with vintner Tim Gorham
Saturday, August 28, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Participation limited to 20. Advance registration opened for members at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 21. Registration will open to non-members at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683.
Members $10 / Nonmembers $25
Covid precautions: Field trip participants may be mask free if fully vaccinated (because the event is outdoors), but an individual must wear a mask if not fully vaccinated. All participant must be 21 or over. Directions will be sent after registration.
Tim Gorham of Gorham Vineyards
Vintner Tim Gorham will focus on geology and viticulture of the Santa Ynez Valley, with a focus on the Happy Canyon of SB, AVA (American Viticulture Area). The visit to the vineyard will include an outdoor presentation in a shaded courtyard and a walk through Tim’s vineyard in Santa Ynez as well as a short visit to a nearby geologic outcrop, followed by a small wine tasting. Tim will also provide a handout that includes an outline of the talk; geologic cross-sections and maps; soil chemistry charts; and a table of climate data from other Cabernet growing regions of the world.
The field trip discussions will include the following in order:
- Regional geology of the Santa Ynez Basin
– Regional tectonics and sedimentation using USGS Quadrangle Maps from T. Dibblee - Vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley (in handout)
– Emphasizing the Happy Canyon of SB AVA - Gorham Vineyards
– A walk through our Cabernet vineyard with discussions about the local “terroir” including soil composition and chemistry, climate, and growing environment
– A short walk (1/2 mi) down Baseline Road to look at an excellent road cut exposure of local vineyard soils - Discussion of worldwide Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions with specific climate comparisons
Tim Gorham and his wife Susan Cobb live in the Happy Canyon area of the Santa Ynez Valley and have been farming a one-acre vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon for 15 years. Tim has a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in geology from the University of New Mexico. His graduate studies specialized in sedimentary geology. Tim worked in the energy business with Exxon-Mobil for 15 years and as a geologic consultant until moving to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2004.
