23. North America Flashcards
1
Q
Briefly outline USA Wine Labelling Law
Indicates “what is inside the bottle” (and where it comes from)
A
USA Wine labelling Laws (Oregon differences mentioned)
Federal laws specify the min % grapes for various labelling terms
- Many states also have own laws, that may differ from federal limits.
- Single var ~ 75% of that var (Oregon 90%)
- Named county ~ 75% grapes > that county
- Named AVA ~ 85% grapes > that AVA (Oregon 95%)
- Named VY ~ 95% grapes > that VY
- ‘California’ ~ 100% grapes > California (Same Oregon)
Oregon - Shared AVA - 100% grapes from the 2, either state on label.
Vintage style: If label includes
- AVA label 95% grapes > that year
- County or State 85% > that year
Estate Bottled:
- VY & Winery mb in same AVA
- ~ the reason why XL AVA’s and also overlapping AVA’s created – many huge prod want to legit label prem wines as “Estate”
2
Q
Briefly describe the US Wine Markets / Industry Profile
A
Market
- CA largest prod stat in USA
- Prod vol 26mhl (2018)
- Export 3.3 mhl ~12%
- 5900 Growers, 4800 bonded wineries
- The system is flexible:
- Prod (winery) may own VY, and buy or sell fruit outside his AVA/county to make the style he wants to attract customers ~cellar door or wine club.
- Growers – very nb in system.
- High quality – prem price (Napa 10x price of Lodi)
- Prized var e.g. CS – dem premium prices
- Estate wineries exist, but are small / few
- Prod size varies
- few hundred cases
- huge prod e.g. E&J Gallo (Barefoot) – largest in the world with 70m cases sold (2018)
- very exclusive small prod (Screaming Eagle, Harlan Est) ~ wines hard to obtain / among most exp in the world
Wine Institute of California represents the industry
25% prod are members (?)
Many counties/AVA’s have own trade assoc.
Napa 90’% of prod and dom wine industry
Washington
New York
Oregon
Other states also grow but minor volumes
3
Q
Describe California’s Growing Environment and Grape Growing
A
Growing Environment
- Mediterranean – (no marked diff in seasonal temps)
- Growing season dry
- Dry autumn extends growing – helpful in coolest areas.
- Low rainfall ~ drip irrigation very NB
- Most nb factors infl vineyards climate = Ocean & Topography. (not latititude!)
Ocean –
- California current fm north + upwelling ~ coastal water is very cold ~ significant cooling influence on exposed VY
Topography
- More influential than latitude, some coolest areas found in south.
- Coast Ranges prov shelter fm ocean but gaps from river valleys act as funnels for cool air drawn inland as warm inland air rises ~ results in diurnal range
- Air movement cools vy, red risk of fung dis / frost.
- Fog can form pm, last till morning, reducing exp to sunlight – when fog burns off sunlight is intense (32 – 42 N)
- high wind can cause vine stomata to close slowing ripening (not good for methoxypyrazines in CS
- At Altitude -cooling influences
- Most vy above the fog layer
- Means long & intense sunlight hours,~ good dev tann & col
Rainfall - low
- Drought is a prob, groundwater decreasing
- Water sustain agencies created to enforce water mgt schemes – monitoring & regulation water use
Pests Hazards
- Pierce’s disease (leafhopper vector) esp Central Valley, Sonoma, Napa
- Spring frost – mgd with sprinklers & wind machines
- Warm+dry ~ wildfires = risk of physical dam and smoke taint
4
Q
Describe California Vineyard Management
A
Grape Growing - Vineyard Management
- Post phylloxera planting focussed on matching rootstock to growing environment and growers needs:
- Attention to site (match to environment)and vine esp precision viticulture
- Different densities, training, trellising
- Variety of planting materials
- Benefit of skilled labour (Mexico) work permits and illegal immig probs have led to reduction
- Where topography allows, mech used.
- irrigation widely installed
Sustainability– 85% of wine is from certified sust wineries:
- Progs supported by Cali Sust Winegrowing Alliance
- Napa Green Winery
- Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Lodi Rules
Organic / Biodynamic Certification
- Organic wine cert less common (demands 0 SO2)
- Wine from cert organic grapes… more common
- Some growers adopt org practice, but find the cost to certify prohibitive/not of value
- Smaller prop of growers are cert biodyn.
5
Q
What are the most common varieties grown in California and what styles are produced?
A
Varieties
CS & CH are 20% ea of total plantings (i.e. 40%)
Chardonnay
- Made in range of styles, depending on site, climate, wm, price
- Increasingly grown at alt, or on the coast
- Prem: m+/f body, pron peach, pineapple, 2nd frm oak/malo
- Also, fresher, leaner, less ripe, less oak. Some lees contact for aroma of struck match (from volatile sulfur compounds)
- Inexp – soft, easy drinking m acid, slight RS, unoaked or chip/stave
Cabernet Sauv – most prestigious and expensive
- Site variations ~herbal, less body, lower alc.
- VY mgt/harvest – green harvest & hang times nb for ripe, conc, f body, h alc wines
- All but inexp mat in oak – hi % new FR oak, sometimes shorter time for bal of fruit-oak
- Often blended with Bordeaux var
Pinot Noir
- Prem & S Prem from relatively cool sites (coast/alt). Range of style
- M bdy, m alc, fresh red cherry, raspberry
- F body, h alc, m/m+ acid, riper black fruit or jam
- Trend to pick earlier & all/part whole bunch press (or include stems) for complexity & tann structure
- Mat in oak, some new & FR common
Zinfandel – signature of CA
- Considerable plantings of old (some 100 yrs+)
- Prone to uneven ripening ~ m+ acid, fresh combined with jam flav
- Prem: m+ acid, m/f body, ripe m+ tann, rasp-/blue-/black- berry; vanilla from US oak
- Inexp : soft, ripe, jammy, oak alts, for spice
- From Central Valley – rose style called “White Zinfandel”
- Short maceration ~ med pink col, SS cool temps, ferm stopped for med dry RS, lo alc, m acidity, m body, strawberry fruit candy
- Usually hi-vol brands, inexp /mid price A/G
Columbard / French Columbard
- Neutral white – Central Valley, Inexp
- Rarely single var, blended and sold as “Fruity White” / “Dry White”
Syrah
- Best wines (mod infl) m/m+ body, m+ acid, m+ tann, fresh plum, blackberry, spice
- Some prod make a “Rhone” blend incl Grenache, and Cinsaut & whites with Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Merlot
- Much inexp/mid price, m acid, m tann, fruity plummy char
- Prem (mod climates) m+/h acid, m tann, fresh, complex aromas, may be “Bordeaux Blended”
Pinot Gris, Sauv Blanc;
- Dry, Fruity , SB sometimes in oak for Fume style
Petit Sirah
- Notable, from FR now more in US: prov col, tann, body, acid to blend
6
Q
Describe Mendocino County, / Anderson Valley
Grow Env specifics, Key Varieties grown here?
A
North Coast – Mendocino County
- Mendocino County – 7000ha under vine; 13 AVA’s
- Cooler AVAs near coast, inland planted at alt
- Coastal (Anderson Valley) – specialise in PN CH and aromatic whites
- Inland (Redwood Valley) Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, CS.
- Inland + alt (Potter Valley) aromatic whies -SB, Riesling
- Grapes less exp than Sonoma and Napa, used for multi -eg blends
_Anderson Valley AVA (_PN)
- Climate: Hi rain 900 – 2000mm pa, most winter, spring, NW wettest
- VY planted on sloped sides of valley
- Warm day temps, cold air + fog funnelled in along Navarra valley – night + am cool. Diurnal range / Frost risk for low lying
- PN, CH (early/early) most grown – spw, still wine
- Also aromatics – Gewurz, Riesling, PG, PB
-
PN highly reputed
- Style (varies with climate, clone, harvesting times
- Fresh raspberry, cherry, plum m body, m+ acid
- G/OS, prem price, some s-prem
Notable producers Littorai, Williams Selyem
- 85 wineries, cellar doors > tourist trade
- Hi reput fruit bought by wineries to prod AVA specific or VY specific wines
7
Q
What are the mountain ranges to the West and East of Lake County
A
Mayacamas to the West.
Vaca mountains to the East
8
Q
Rules relating to North Coast Sonoma county and the overlapping AVAs?
What about Norther Sonoma - basic location facts and sub AVA’s?
A
North Coast – Sonoma County
- Borders Pacific Ocean, includes 18 AVA’s
-
3 overarching AVAs: Northern Sonoma; Sonoma Coast; Sonoma Valley ~
- overlap/encomp smaller AVA’s ~ specific climates and geog features
-
Law…Overarching AVA’s enable
- Label term “estate bottled” even if VY and Win are far apart
- If wine from AVA tot within Sonoma County, “Sonoma County” must appear on label, with AVA name
Northern Sonoma AVA
- Mayacamas Mnts east, Sonoma AVA to west
- Russian River flows through, filling underground aquifers, prov water
- Incorp several smaller AVAs – SIX are detailed below
- Alexander Valley; Knights Valley; Dry Creek Valley; Rockpile; Russian River Valley (+Green Valley); Chalk Hill
9
Q
Describe the North Coast AVA for CS clim / top conditions
A
Alexander Valley AVA - CS
- Climate: Warm, cooled by Pacific air through Petaluma Gap & Russion River Valley.
- VY on valley floor, W/SW slopes, benchlands of Mayac mntns 100 – 750m
- ~long sunshine hours, > grapes hi tann and col
- Alt ~ cool ~ acidity
- Valley floor fertile; slopes free draining, gravel, ~less vigour, lower yields
- Rain 800mm pa most in winter
-
CS most planted
- Style: f body, ripe blackberry, black currant, herb, choc. Valley – less tann, slopes more struct & conc
- G/OS mid – prem price, some s-prem
- Also planted CH, MER, ZINF; PV; MAL;
- Notable Producers : Kendall-Jackson (Stonestreet Estate) Seghesi
Sonoma Mountain AVA (CS)
- West side of valley, most face east, steep slopes on Sonoma mnts
- VY up to 730m above fog – int sun, warm temps, > ripe flav, tann, deep col
- Cold air off mntn – cool night – diurnal – acid
- Soils – volc, free-drain, lo nut – cont vig & yield >> conc fruit
- most planted CS; also MER, ZINF, Syrah
10
Q
NC Sonoma AVA’s for ZINF (why is it good….)
A
Dry Creek Valley AVA ~ known for Zinfandell
- 2x16mile valley, vy on valley floor, slopes, benchlands either side of the Dry Creek river (trib of Russ Riv)
- Climate: Warm days, ocean air + fog funneled long valley from San Pablo Bay afternoon, nights – diurnal rance – acidity
- Coastal infl – south part of valley cooler
- West face vy (east side of river) exp to afternoon sun, warmer
-
Soils : Valley floor sandy loam; slopes, benches gravel red clay – gravel helps cont vig and yield
- Style – ZINF (some vines 100yr+)
- M+/f body, m+ acid, ripe blackberry, black plum cherry (w-f slopes – riper and jammier & opp is fresher); spice from prop new US oak
- G/OS mid – prem price.
- Also: CS, MER, CF; PV; Rhone var-GSM, Cinsault, Carignan)
Rockpile AVA (north, overlaps with Dry Creek) ZINF
- VY on steep rocky slopes, must be at 800f (244m) to be in AVA
- Aspect + Alt ~range of grow conditions
- Sonoma lake sign influence
- creates inversion layer – vy stay warm at night
- vy above the fog layer – long sunshine hours
- Shallow hillside soil – retain little water, wind – hi evapotranspiration ~ low yields, conc ripe fruit.
- Grown: ZINF, P Sirah; Syrah; CS; CF; MAL, PV; Douro varieties
11
Q
Name and describe Sonoma AVA sfor PN / CH?
A
Russian River Valley AVA (PN & CH)
- Shared by Northern Sonoma AVA; Sonoma County AVA, and part is in Sonoma Coast AVA
- Incl flat and hilly topography
Climate ranges: S & W are coolest – fog, wind through Petaluma Gap
- Fog red temps night and early morn, diurnal range – sugar, acid, ripen
Soils range…
- Yellow sandstone – rocky sandy clay loam~ all are free draining, low nut, cont vig & yield
Varieties: CH and PN are most planted (early/early)
- Fruit quality result in ext of AVA boundaries 2x
- PN Style: m/m+ body, m tann, m+ acid, ripe strawberry, red cherry flavours, vanilla (oak)
- CH Style: m/m+ body, m+ acid, ripe peach, pineapple; cream/spice fm malo, oak
- Both above – VG / OS; mid – s-prem price
Notable Producers: Rochioli, La Crema
- Also in warmer conditions in north-east, CS, MER, ZINF, & riper CH, PN
Sonoma Coast AVA (PN,CH)
- From Mendocino (N) to San Pablo Bay (S), includes
- Sonoma side of Carneros
- Part of Sonoma Valley,
- West part of Chalk Hill
- Most of RRValley
- ~wide var climates, wide range grape var
- Sub AVAs: Pet Gap, Ross Seaview
- VY to west close to coast
- exp to cold wind/fog – risk to fruitset ~ lo yield
- fog red sunlight hours – early rip PN,CH l body, and h acid with m alc.
Notable Producers: Aubert ; Occidental
Carneros AVA (PN CH)
- Between San Pablo Bay (S) and Sonoma/Napa counties (N)
- Prox of SP Bay ~ fog+cold wind am & pm /daytime warm, sunny
- Lo elev rising from sea level to inland hills 200m
- Best known for PN/CH – portion for spw
- Styles (both var) m body,, m alc, m+acid, fresh fruit
- OR… f body, ripe, hi alc
- G/OS mid – s-prem price
- Also: MER, Syrah, CS
Notable Producer Kistler; Tor
- Either labelled “Carneros” or “Los Carneros”
- AVA overlaps Napa & Sonoma
- Sonoma side can label “Sonoma County” /Napa side “Napa Valley”
- Fruit from both“Carneros” only.
12
Q
Chalk Hill AVA is located within which larger AVA?
A
Russian River Valley AVA (Sonoma County)
13
Q
Describe
Napa Valley AVA
Grow Env, Grape Growing
A
Napa Valley AVA
- Globally recog hi Q wine esp CS;
- 4% of CA Prod vol; 27% of Val
- Covers whole valley, incl 16 smaller AVAs
- Conjunctive labelling laws ~ wines that qualify to be labelled with single specific AVA must have Napa Valley on label
Growing Env & Grape Growing
- 30mile x 5mile, 18200ha under vine
- Topography:
- Napa River runs through, Mayacamas mnts (W, N) shelter from cold Pac Ocean
- Vaca mnts (E) protect from hot Central Valley
- Open to San Pablo (S)
- Warming air (day) rises, pulls in cold air from ocean afternoon
14
Q
Describe the Vineyard mgt in Napa and winemaking incl significant vineyards
A
Vineyard Management
- “Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve” means 90% of Napa County is highly protected from commercial/resid dev – no threat.
- However, most viable, permi VY land has been planted
- Legisl prevents land >30deg slope from being conv to VY
- These areas forested – helps red erosion
- Pop and prestige of Napa Valley wine, + inability to exp prod > incred high grape and land prices (thus wine price)
- Vines trained, pruned to cordon/replacement spur + VSP
- Mech can be used on valley floor
- Mntn sides often only option – by hand
- Grow season is dry ~ drip irrigation widely installed
- Cool night temps – frost risk on valley floor / air movement + warmer nights reduce risk in mountain AVA’s
- Napa has own sustainability cert programme – both VY and Winery 60% land = “Napa Green” cert
Winemaking
- CS 40% prod, 55% crop val
- Smaller plantings MER, PN, ZINF, PV, MAL, CF; Syrah; Petite Sirah
- CH most planted white, also SB, PG
- WM changed
- Past full body, intense, hi alc, lo acid from long hang time
- Today general – pick earlier, high prop new oak for reds, but shorter time
-
Wineries well-resourced,
- Optical sorters, concrete eggs for diff blend components
- (most reds have blend even if single var lable)
- CS + (MER, CF, Petite Sirah)
- Also blend fm diff VY (cross AVA, riper from warmer, fresher from cooler
Single VY notable: To Kalon (Rutherford Bench); Martha’s VY
Styles vary per site/var choice/VY tech/wm.
- Tend to range G/OS – Prem to S-prem price
- Notable producers Screaming Eagle, Harland Estate; Stag’s Leap Cellars
- CH& SB dom whites in Napa
- Mountain AVA’s less pron fruit
- CH usually ferm & mat in oak - less new oak than in the past
15
Q
Describe climate and style of CS at
Yountville, Stags Leap; Rutherford
Special soils at Rutherford bench? Where?
Why is this where the BEST CS in the world is produced???
A
Yountville AVA, Stags Leap District AVA; Rutherford AVA (CS)
- Further north on valley floor
- Warm climate, nights cool from wind/fog from the bay most in Yountville, least in Rutherford
- Most planted CS
- Style: conc ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, m+/f body, h ripe tann, spice, liqourice, cloves (oak) or herbs. Rounder+fruitier in youth than those from higher sites
- SB most planted white
- Style ripe, juicy peach, trop aromas, m+ acid
- Small qty MER, CF and ZINF fm Rutherford
Notable VY area Rutherford Bench ~3mile sloping alluvial fan, bottom of Mayacamas mnts.
Bench Soil = deep, rocky, mod fertility
Carneros AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll AVA
- AVA’s valley floor ~sit under fog ~ hi diurnal range esp in South
- In AVAs Carneros, Coombsville, Oak Knoll fog does not burn off till well into morning – limits sunlight hrs, warmth
- Coombsville, Oak Knoll better known for CS
- Also MER, CH (lighter body, fresher fruit ~ cool cond)
