Pajaro Valley Magazine | September 4, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

A supplement to The Pajaronian

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020

RIGHT OFF THE VINE El Vaquero Winery kicks off early grape harvest P4

GARDENING P6 | MIXING BOWL P8 | HOME OF THE WEEK P10

SEPTEMBER 4 -10, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

SANTA CRUZ NATURALS

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El Vaquero Winery navigates pandemic, heatwave

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CRUSH METHOD

Winemaker Alex Prikazsky and owner Bob Prikazsky work at crushing a fermentation vat of Petite Sirah.

TASTE TEST El Vaquero Winery owner Bob Prikazsky explains how his business has adapted its tasting procedures during Covid-19.

By JOHANNA MILLER

W

inemaker Alex Prikazsky says it had always been a dream of her father, Bob Prikazsky, to open a winery someday.

“My folks would go tasting on the weekends,” she said. “We’d go to wine auctions together. There was always this idea in the back of his mind.”

After making his own wine at home for a year, Bob Prikazsky and his wife Dean acquired two acres of vineyard off Hazel Dell Road in Corralitos in 2010. They opened El Vaquero Winery in 2013 in a small building next door to Aladdin Nursery on Freedom Boulevard, where they remain to this day.

When county shelter-in-place restrictions went into effect in March, the Prikazskys saw “tremendous” support from the community.

But it eventually waned as the pandemic persisted—and they had to look for other ways to stay afloat.

They began to offer virtual tastings, with people from all over the country ordering their wines and joining an online lesson. This gave the Prikazskys an opportunity to chat with people at length about the wines.

“We’ve had a couple of people, who’ve been drinking wine for years, who say they learned more in an hour with Alex than ever before,” Bob Prikazsky said.

When El Vaquero was being established, Alex Prikazsky was still in college. But she grew interested in the business, eventually becoming

assistant winemaker under Mikael Wargin, now of Wargin Wines.

“At that point we were a collective,” she said, noting this also included winemakers from Roudon-Smith (now in Saratoga) and Aptos’ Armitage Wines. “I got to learn from them and just soak everything in.”

She became head winemaker of El Vaquero in 2015.

“My main focus is sourcing the best grapes possible,” she said. “I love working with the vines, the agricultural aspect of it.”

Thankfully, El Vaquero’s vineyard came out of the recent heatwave and fires mostly unscathed, with no smoke damage and only minimal bruising to the fruit.

“We are so thankful,” Bob Prikazsky said. “We saw some vineyards where fires had come up right to the edge, and others that were completely lost.”

However, the heatwave did have an effect on the overall season, with grape harvest kicking off about two weeks early and higher quantities of grapes per vine.

“We rarely get fruit before Labor Day,” he said. “We might be finished picking early. But you never know… last year we were still picking into November.”

This Saturday, El Vaquero will undertake a huge bottling of 12 different wines—a total of 1,800 cases.

“It’s going to be a long day,” Bob Prikazsky said. “But this is one of the best parts of the year… when you get the grapes inside here, everything just smells so good.”

With harvest now in full swing, El Vaquero has temporarily halted virtual tastings. However, in-person, outdoor wine tasting on the weekends is now available. Covid-19 restrictions are implemented, with tables spaced apart and masks required whenever guests are not drinking. Tastes are given in small bottles to minimize touch.

Bob Prikazsky said that his favorite thing about his job was watching the process every season.

“Starting with the pruning, then going through the cycle to fermentation… then the crushing—that’s the most fun,” he said. “Over a year, you really do see the fruits of all your labor.”

El Vaquero is open Fridays 4-8pm, Saturdays 2-8pm and Sundays 2-7pm. Live music is occasionally held on Fridays. For information and to order products, visit elvaquerowinery.com.

GRAPE SCIENCE El

Vaquero Winery owner Bob Prikazsky measures out a sample of Petite Sirah.

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 4 -10, 2020

All photos byTarmo Hannula

CLOSE UP El Vaquero Winery is a family owned and operated winery located in Corralitos. It was established in 2013.

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GARDENING

Tom Brezsny’s

REAL ESTATE OF MIND

Provoking thought since 1990 Continuing the conversation…about our evolving experience of the coronavirus and the shockingly busy real estate market that months ago? Buyers donning face masks to escape the virus (now also the smoke) then

between real estate and the real world.

Who would want to buy a home during a unrest? When so many people have lost their And yet, people are scrambling to buy homes activity happening despite COVID or because of it? My own conclusion is that this crazy market is a symptom of the ways the coronavirus is already changing the world.

Let’s retrace our steps…in mid-March, things

SEPTEMBER 4 -10 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

people began sheltering in place. All but a few businesses closed. And it wasn’t clear how long it might last. All our daily patterns were disrupted: jobs, schools, families, shopping, exercise, commute, travel, health, connection

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While supplies of toilet paper and COVID tests were running dangerously low, there was one thing we suddenly had an abundance free time Whether we wanted it or not.

As COVID cases grew and the pace of life slowed, more existential moments found their way into the gaps: moments to consider

Protecting fruit and nut trees

Homemade cages can deter birds, squirrels

By KATE RUSSELL

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ays, mockingbirds, rats, squirrels and even chickens can wreak havoc on your fruit and nut tree crops.

There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for that moment of perfect ripeness, only to lose pears, nectarines, almonds and many other tree crops to local wildlife.

Scaring birds and other pests away is the most common method of control, with mixed results. Some people hang old CDs in their trees.

As the CDs move in the breeze, flashing sunlight may discourage birds for a time. Noisy plastic bags may be tied to trees with similar results.

You can buy giant floating eye balloons that are “guaranteed” to

TOPS In Their Field

Many people emerged from shelter-in-place with a newfound appreciation for home and

protect your fruit and nut crop from marauding birds. Supposedly, the eye shape and the balloon movement work together to discourage bird feeding. The problem with trying to frighten birds and other thieves away from your fruit and nut trees is that these methods do not work for long. Birds and animals quickly learn that there is no real danger and the method is ignored.

Professional orchardists use noise cannons, but your neighbors might not appreciate that method.

Motion-sensing sprinklers are another option, which may have the added benefit of discouraging rats and squirrels at dusk and at night.

The problem with this method is that trees and leaves move, as well.

If the sprinkler is triggered by every breeze, birds and animals will learn to ignore it and your tree may develop fungal disease.

The only way to protect your fruit or nut crop from birds, rats and squirrels is by caging your trees.

Store-bought tree cages can be astronomically expensive and most of the really nice ones are from the UK. The added shipping costs make it unrealistic for most of us. Luckily,

it is surprisingly easy to make an affordable tree cage yourself.

You can create a box with PVC pipes and cover the whole thing with netting, or you can insert tall tree supports or other sturdy poles into the ground just outside of a tree’s dripline. Top that with an X-shape made with two lightweight pieces of wood which are attached to the vertical poles, and cover the whole thing again with netting.

Whichever method you use, be sure to make the netting taut, so that birds will bounce off rather than becoming entangled. If you have chickens, a chicken wire barrier around the base should do the trick.

The netting used over your tree cage will still allow pollinators easy access. It also allows codling moths and other flying insect pests to reach your fruit and nut trees, so be on the lookout.

Birds, rats and squirrels can take a big bite out of fruit and nut crops.

Tree cages stop that damage before it starts. Plus, these cages can stay up, year-round, so there's no wrestling with netting every spring and fall.

Kate Russell is a UCCE Master Gardener.

What are we waiting for? There are no guarantees. Let’s live in the moment. What makes us happy? It has been a personal call

has begun, as virtually everyone in the country has started taking inventory of their own internal landscape and making a commitment to some kind of meaningful sooner rather than later.

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HOMEOWNER’S SERVICE GUIDE Keep your home in top shape with the help of these local professionals.

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THE MIXING BOWL

Almost as good as See’s Candies looks like they aren’t opening their Watsonville store until next year, not in September as I had previously mentioned. Their main store is getting a little light on stock these days. I hope they can hold on through the pandemic.

WALNUT, COCONUT AND OAT BARS Crust: 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup flour 1/3 cup rolled oats

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Tarmo Hannula

SEPTEMBER 4 -10 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Topping:

SIMPLE RECIPE These walnut, coconut and oat bars will be quickly eaten.

By SARAH RINGLER

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made these walnut, coconut and oat bars the same day that a box of See’s Candies appeared in our house. After comparing the two during a roaring sweet fest, the bars came pretty close to See’s in sweetness and flavor, but I think came out ahead with their buttery, crunchy crust. Both have the brown sugar-caramel flavor of

a See’s Bordeaux and the sweet walnut topping like the Walnut Squares. However, the bars have no chocolate and use only one-half cup of butter, which is surprising compared to most cookies. Also, the crust has some oats which add texture. Notice, I did not pretend to say these are now healthy. One and a half cups of sugar negate that.

The core recipe here is from “The Settlement Cookbook, Treasured Recipes of Six Decades,”

compiled by Lizzie Black Kander and first published in 1901 in Milwaukee, Wis. I have a later version from 1965 that is showing its age and has been used so much it’s falling apart. I guess it happens to us all.

For a simple recipe with readily available ingredients, I don’t think you can go wrong. Also, I often recommend Staff of Life as a great place to buy fresh, organic and bulk food. Unfortunately, it

2 tablespoons white flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lightly butter an 8-inch square pan.

To make the crust, cream the butter and the sugar with an electric beater until smooth. Add the flour and the rolled oats, and thoroughly mix. Lightly press crust into the pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until light brown. Let cool slightly before adding the filling.

Leave the oven on.

While the crust is cooling, in a small bowl, whisk the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the coconut and nuts and mix well.

In another larger bowl, beat the eggs until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla and continue beating until smooth. Stir in flour mixture and mix well. Pour onto the crust and bake for about 20 minutes until the edges start pulling away from the pan. Remove and cool thoroughly before cutting into squares. Keeps well in a tin for a few days.

PHOTO GALLERY Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to echalhoub@weeklys.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 18, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.

OCEAN SCENE

A motorboat works its way into the Santa Cruz Harbor as an angler tests his luck from the breakwater.

Tarmo Hannula

its colorful surroundings.

STANDING WATCH A State Park Ranger keeps an eye on the massive staging area in

Scotts Valley during the CZU August Lightning Complex fires.

PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 4 -10, 2020

Tarmo Hannula

Debora Norz

HANGING OUT A golden-eyed moth blends into

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Just when you thought it was safe to go outside. What have we done to deserve this? It’s of such biblical proportions I am expecting locusts and frogs next.

HOME OF THE WEEK

This current fire event is going to have a huge impact on our already challenging housing market. Supply and demand will be at a critical level. The demand will greatly outreach the supply. People will be forced to leave and move to other areas, other states. Let’s hope landlords will be sympathetic and keep normal rent levels.

Based on numbers from the last two major fires in California – the Camp Fire that destroyed Paradise and the Wine Country Fires that devastated Santa Rosa – home values in the outlying areas of the fires will realize a 15- 20% increase in value depending on how many people are displaced.

Houses currently and soon to be on the market will see multiple offers and bidding wars.

I lived in Paradise for 10 years before moving to Watsonville. After the town burned, I was called to duty by my brother, a Realtor in Chico, to help our friends and family find new homes in the surrounding areas. The insurers acted very quickly and generously so the suddenly homeless people could find shelter and comfort. I hope the same for our neighbors who find themselves in this life-changing experience now. Interesting note: While helping a dear friend look for a replacement home in Chico that fall, he was wearing a hat I had not seen before, so I asked him, “Is that a new hat?” “Yes Ed,” he replied. “Everything I have is new.” This is the reality; people are literally starting over.

Ed Gagné

Local Real Estate Specialist

SEPTEMBER 4 -10 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

CA BRE #01450406

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Honesty • Loyalty • Integrity Extensive local market knowledge!

Community Involvement for over 20 years

Submitted photo

Having seen first-hand how fire can destroy everything, having listened to harrowing stories of escaping and surviving such destruction, my heart goes out to all of those going through this. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” is easier said then done; but it is true. The community will embrace and care for our neighbors in need. I have seen it and experienced it.

MOCKINGBIRD RIDGE This custom home is surrounded

by decades-old trees.

Ocean view acreage Larkin Valley home sits on 15 acres with historic orchard

Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office

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estled in a gated Larkin Valley Hills community, this custom-designed home sits on 15 acres with ocean views.

Located at 484 Mockingbird Ridge Road in Watsonville, the 4,522-square-foot home includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms.

It features high ceilings, multiple levels of windows, oversized doors and skylights that offer views of the ocean as well as the

surrounding orchard. The floor plan has a private separate master suite, and additional office space.

The orchard includes more than 40 Sevillano olive and Ginkgo Biloba trees that are a hundred years old, as well as a variety of fruit trees.

Built in 2004, the home is listed at $4.5 million by Century 21 MM. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ y2hael79.

Santa Cruz

STRONG Thank you to all the firefighters and local heroes who have stepped up to help neighbors in need during these devastating wildfires. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted.

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