April 2024 - 17

GROWER PROFILE
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LITTLE
SUCCESSES AND CELEBRATE THEM.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M LIVING AND DYING
VINEYARD STUFF. I HAVE A REAL LIFE
AND THIS IS PART OF IT.
- Frank Melicia
enter the nets and eat entire clusters. Parsonage uses
store-bought topping traps.
Bird netting is draped over the entirety of the vine at
veraison, when grapes mature color to help alleviate
damage. The nets only go over the vines then because
the birds wait until grapes produce enough sugar,
Melicia said.
Other wildlife, including coyotes, foxes, gophers and
turkeys, can cause damage. Macabee snap traps work
but are painstakingly slow, he said. Parsonage used to
employ aluminum phosphate. California's strict rules,
however, made it not worth the effort, Melicia said.
Gophers can be troublesome, Melicia said. Last
year, he thought he had a good handle on them, but
suddenly, an explosion of new gopher holes appeared.
Temperatures consistently ranging from 75º F to 82º F
degrees reduce potential for losing fruit to sunburn.
" We're able to open up the canopy for airflow, which
alleviates a lot of that mildew pressure, but other
places get crushed with sunburn, " Melicia said.
The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah, then
considered a " peasant grape, " in Carmel Valley. The
company also plants Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Petit Verdot.
After marrying, Bill and Mary Parsons moved to New
York where Bill graduated Columbia University. Arriving
in Salinas, a promised TV news job disappeared. For a
year, Bill wrote for a weekly newspaper before entering
the garbage business, later becoming general manager
of a waste management district and a partner in a group
of waste disposal companies.
Wanting to pursue other dreams, the couple in 1997
sold their Carmel home and bought a 9-acre parcel in
Carmel Valley to start a vineyard and boutique winery.
Melicia, Ali's husband, has been the family-run
Parsonage's longtime winemaker and vineyard manager.
Ali is partner, and Rachael is general manager, with
Brooke and her husband, Marshall, helping.
Sometimes, Melicia can experience disappointments,
like in 2016 and 2020 when man-made fires damaged
vineyards and eliminated red wine production or when
disease destroyed vineyards.
" You have to take the little successes and celebrate
them, " he said. " I'm not driven by work. I've got a
family and I'm more self-driven.
" Whatever I do, I do the best of my ability, " Melicia
said. " It's not like I'm living and dying vineyard stuff. I
have a real life and this is part of it. "
FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 17

https://www.willowdrive.com/ http://www.FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM

April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024

Editor's Letter
Irrigation & Water Management: On-farm AI
Plant & Soil Health: Making the grade
Grower Profile: Carmel Valley winegrapes
IFTA Conference: Orchard insights
IFTA Conference: Tree fruit honorees
Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention: Industry professionals receive honors
Business: The surprising challenge
40 Under Forty Fresh Views: Lessons learned
Farm Market & Agritourism: Complementary markets promote local agriculture
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 1
April 2024 - 2
April 2024 - 3
April 2024 - Editor's Letter
April 2024 - 5
April 2024 - Irrigation & Water Management: On-farm AI
April 2024 - 7
April 2024 - 8
April 2024 - 9
April 2024 - Plant & Soil Health: Making the grade
April 2024 - 11
April 2024 - 12
April 2024 - 13
April 2024 - Grower Profile: Carmel Valley winegrapes
April 2024 - 15
April 2024 - 16
April 2024 - 17
April 2024 - IFTA Conference: Orchard insights
April 2024 - 19
April 2024 - 20
April 2024 - 21
April 2024 - 22
April 2024 - 23
April 2024 - IFTA Conference: Tree fruit honorees
April 2024 - 25
April 2024 - Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention: Industry professionals receive honors
April 2024 - 27
April 2024 - Business: The surprising challenge
April 2024 - 29
April 2024 - 40 Under Forty Fresh Views: Lessons learned
April 2024 - 31
April 2024 - Farm Market & Agritourism: Complementary markets promote local agriculture
April 2024 - 33
April 2024 - Classifieds
April 2024 - Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 36
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