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  Grapevine Pruning Champions of Sonoma County Here are a dozen names you may never have seen in print before: Rojalio Flores, Durell Vineyards; Hermilo Martinez, Gloria Ferrer Caves; Celso Baltazar, Florence Vineyard Management; Sirio Alemen, Farrow Ranch; Arsenio Rojas, Madrone Vineyard Management; Juan Arreguin Rosas, Bevill Vineyard Management; Jorge Gudino, Grace Vineyard Management; Efrain Robles, Stonestreet Winery; Camilo Aguado, Murphy-Goode Winery; Jose Ortiz and Francisco Torres, Matthew's Station Vineyard, and Miguel Angel Alcantar. You might want to put the list away where you can find it next January, because some of those names are going to be printed again. These 12 men are the grapevine pruning champions of Sonoma County. In a few years, says Graham Tomkins, territory manager for Bahco Tools, Inc., which co-sponsors the event with the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, "the competition could draw contestants from all over the state. Then I'd like to see the East Coast involved. Then I envision this becoming an international event. These pruning contests have been going on for years and years in France, and New Zealand and the Argentine. In France it is such a big draw that the teams wear their winery colors, and thousands of spectators come to watch." The local competition has already grown. Three years ago, the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance initiated the event. This year four regions held their own pruning contests in mid-January and sent their top three men to vie for the county title. In each regional meet, in Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley, as many as 26 pruners signed up. Local prizes were a combination of cash and Bahco (formerly Sandvik) pruning tools for the four leading contenders. Prizes in the County prune-off were $500.00 first prize, $300.00 for second place and $100 each for third and fourth, presented by the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association (SCGGA) plus $100 worth of new tools for each winner. The top scorer in the Alexander Valley group also received $100.00 in prize money, donated by Chalk's Bend Vineyard to honor his excellent performance, and in recognition of the importance of the man and his job in protecting the health of the vines which make the outstanding Alexander Valley wines. The final heats of the competition were held at Madrone Vineyard Management in Glen Ellen. Umbrellas, slickers and boots were the costume of the day, which started out with light rain that grew heavier, with gusty winds by the end of the trials. Promptly at 10:00 a m, Nick Frey, executive director, SCGGA, with Daniel Robledo, Sonoma Grapevines viticulturist, serving as translator, assigned timers, called the roll and handed out identifying numbers to the pruners, then led the way to the pruning area. Ten vines in 12 rows of Zinfandel in the 150-acre Madrone Vineyard owned by Becky and Clarence Jenkins, had been marked off for two semi-final heats of six men each. The top two winners from the two preliminary heats met for the finals, pruning an additional eight vines. each. Considering the inclement weather, a surprisingly large audience was there to offer encouragement. Many of the men who were runners-up in the earlier trials had come to watch, cheer and, perhaps, pick up some pointers from the champions. Owners of the vineyards and the management companies for which the participants work were also on hand, along with members of the press. A couple visiting from Illinois, Bob and Elaine Adams, had read about the event in the newspaper and braved the squalls to learn about vine pruning and the proper way to do it. "Besides," says Elaine, "it sounded as if it would be a lot of fun - and it is, even in the rain." Four judges officiated: Joe Miami, Sonoma Valley; Mike Abba, Alexander Valley; Daniel Robledo, Russian River Valley, and Javier Ramirez, Dry Creek Valley. The judges, who were incredibly thorough, slogged through the muddy vineyard, protecting their clipboards and score sheets as best they could, checking every vine. Points were given for technique, cleanliness and quality of the pruning, with only a token percentage for speed. When the scores were tallied, Rojalio Flores, representing Durell vineyards in Sonoma Valley, was named County Champion. Celso Baltazar, representing Florence Vineyard Management in Dry Creek Valley, placed second. Sirio Alemen from Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley was third, and fourth placer was Hermilo Martinez representing Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves in Sonoma Valley. Each of the 12 finalists also received a cap and sweat shirt from Friedman Bros. in Santa Rosa. Other participating sponsors were Automatic Rain and North Coast Irrigation. "Response to this year's expanded competition has been great," commented Pete Opatz, SCGGA president. "We appreciate all the support we have received from the regional winegrower groups and our co-sponsors." As for the men who demonstrated their skills, everyone was in agreement that one important benefit was the recognition these generally invisible vineyard workers were now being given. As the damp and dripping audience trudged back to their trucks and cars, Graham Tompkins summed up the day to perfection: "These guys are all winners," he observed. "It's just a matter of degree that decides who gets the prizes."
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