23.1 - California: North Coast Flashcards
Very briefly outline the size and situation of AVAs covering Mendocino.
Describe the growing environment and styles of wine made.
1. North Coast AVA - largest in California encompassing parts of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake County –> huge range of growing environments and styles produced
2. Mendocino AVA - larger AVA covering the county’s six smaller AVAs including Anderson Valley; includes cooler coastal and warmer inland AVAs plus some high altitude sites in Mayacamas mountains; multi-regional blends often produced
3. Anderson Valley AVA - coastal AVA in Mendocino, cool air and fog channel inland to keep morning and evening cool; lots of rainfall (900-2000mm)
Pinot Noir Med(+) acid, med body, fresh fruit excellent reputation
Sparkling wine from Chard and Pinot
Aromatic styles from Gewurtz, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc
N.B. coastal influence diminishes as you move inland down the valley
Very briefly outline the size and situation of AVAs covering Lake County.
Describe the growing environment and styles of wine made.
Lake County located to the east of Mendocino –> in rainshadows of Mayacamas and Vaca –> warm, dry climate
Clear Lake AVA - larger of the county’s AVAs; the lake provides cooling afternoon breeze, many sites planted with some altitude ~400m –> mainly Cab Sav, with some Sauvignon Blanc
How can growers in Anderson Valley take advantage of the AVA’s reputation for quality Pinot Noir? (3)
- Produce their own premium bottlings
- Cellar door sales from strong tourist trade
- Sell grapes to other wineries in California who make Anderson Valley AVA wines (can still use AVA as long as wine vinified within the same state)
Briefly describe the size, situation, growing environments and plantings within the three largest AVAs in Sonoma county.
Northern Sonoma AVA follows the Russian River from Mendocino down to Napa County, coastal mountains cut off from oceanic influence, key moderating factors are Petaluma gap and altitude –> late-ripening varieties like Cab and Zinfandel
Sonoma Coast AVA encompasses part of many of the same AVAs as Sonoma Coast, conditions heavily influences by coast; generally cooler with cold, wet conditions in spring (fruit set), lots of fog –> Pinot Noir, Chardonnay in light, high acid styles
N.B. significant cross-over in Russian River Valley AVA
Sonoma Valley AVA south-east part of the county; Sonoma mountain range to west cuts area off from coastal influence; San Pablo bay cool the south –> Pinot Noir and Chard in cooler spots like Carneros, with warmer spots growing Cab and others
Name the key AVAs within Northern Sonoma.
For each, state any notable geographic features and styles of wine they are known for.
Rockpile steep rocky slopes above ~250m, cooled by Lake Sonoma –> inversion layer, above fog line, windy conditions + stoney soil –> evapotranspiration. Known for: late-ripening reds at low yields
Dry Creek warm days due to coastal mountains but cool nights –> breeze from San Pablo Bay; valley means different expositions (which side is hotter?); mix of soils including gravel. Known for: Zinfandel from old vines as well as many other black grapes
Alexander Valley warm with some cooling via Petaluma, grapes planted across variety of elevations and aspects. Known for: Cabernet Sauvignon (how would planting location impact style?) Also plantings of other black and Chardonnay.
Knights Valley warmest area in Sonoma. Known for: full-bodied red
Russian River Valley see extended notes
Valleys are a common feature of Californian growing regions. Generalise the differences between grapes grown on the sides of the valleys and those grown on the valley floors. (4)
Explain how these differences impact the style of red wine grown.
- Soil - valley floor has more fertile soil, slopes have thin, free-draining soil –> lower yields, greater ripeness from slopes
- Sunlight - valley floor protected from morning sun by fog, slopes may be above fog line receives sun throughout the day –> more phenolic ripeness on slopes
- Temperature - fog promotes diurnal range although temps may be overall cooler at the upper side of valleys –> slope vines have more acid and tannin
- Water availability - deeper soils on valley floor likely to better retain water –> greater chance of hydric stress on slopes
Explain why Russian River Valley is able to produce both premium Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Name some significant producers.
RRV covers a large area with a variety of topographies and degrees of exposure to COC.
South/west receives cool air and fog via Petaluma gap + low nutrient, free-draining soil –> HQ Pinot Noir (+ Chardonnay)
E.g. Green Valley of RRV AVA - next to Petaluma, receives most fog and has low-nutrient sandstone soils –> wine especially fresh and HQ
Inland NE is more protected by hills –> warmer –> Cab, Merlot, Zin
Describe the new created Petaluma Gap AVA.
Located within the Sonoma Coast AVA
Open to the coast at both ends –> high-speed wind cools vineyards, but can also slow photosynthesis (stomata close)
PN is 75% of plantings plus Chardonnay and Syrah which have fresh acidity and lower alcohol
Why does Carneros enjoy such a reputation for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?
Describe the style of wine produced.
How do large companies use fruit purchased from Carneros?
Cool-moderate climate due to proximity to San Pablo Bay –> cold winds in morning and evenings + fog
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay med(+) acid, med alcohol, med-body –> riper, high ABV styles
- To produce premium “Carneros” wine
- To blend into warmer climate wine for acid, fresh fruit
Describe the general growing environment of Napa Valley.
Long, narrow valley
Mayacamas mountains to west (protection from COC), Vaca mountains to the east (protection from Central Valley heat)
Promixity to San Pablo bay a key moderating factor –> fog pulled in during afternoon
To what extent is Napa’s reputation reflected in price?
What AVA naming rule has helped promote the reputation of Napa.
4% of Cali sales by volume, 27% of sales by value
Conjunctive naming - all AVAs within Napa must also be labelled “Napa Valley”
Describe how proximity to San Pablo Bay and valley floor/mountainside influences the style of wine produced.
Valley Floor –> cold air and fog –> larger diurnals –> lighter bodied wines e.g. Coombsville AVA
Valley Floor –> alluvial soils –> less structure
Mountain side –> above fog –> more sunlight –> smaller diurnals –> fuller bodied wines, greater phenolic ripeness e.g. Diamond Mountain District AVA
Mountain side –> thin and poor –> limits vigour –> ripening –> concentration, structure e.g. Atlas Peak AVA
Closer to SP Bay –> larger diurnals –> lighter bodied wines e.g. Coombsville AVA
Further from SP Bay –> warm to hot conditions –> higher alcohol, more tannin e.g. St Helena AVA and Calistoga AVA
Select three AVAs in Napa Valley which illustrate how proximity to SP Bay influences the growing environment and plantings. Highlight any other moderating factors.
Calistoga warm-hot conditions, although mitigated by Chalk Hill Gap –> Syrah, Zin, Petite Sirah in addition to Bdx
Stags Leap District further north –> warmer but retain cool evenings due to some wind and fog –> Cab and Sauvignon Blanc are main plantings
Coombsville closest to SP Bay –> more fog + afternoon breezes –> Cab, Merlot and Chardonnay planted but all lighter-bodied than further north
Explain why Napa mountain AVAs have a lower diurnal range that valley floor AVAs.
Vineyards at a higher altitudes may lie above the fog line
Below fog line –> cool air drawn in and trapped as fog overnight –> cooler evenings
Above fog line –> no cool air drawn in –> warmer nights
Below fog line –> baking afternoon sun –> warm days
Above fog line –> altitude provides cooling influence during day despite intense sunshine –> cooler day
Overall impact –> lower diurnals in mountainside AVAs
In general, how would differing growing environments between the valley floor and mountainsides express themselves in a red grown in Napa?
Mountain AVAs have more acidity (overall cooler) and tannin (longer sunshine hours)
