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 -
- → huge range of growing environments + styles
2. Mendocino AVA
3. Anderson Valley AVA
- coastal AVA in Mendocino
- cool air + fog channel → keep morning + evening cool
- high rainfall
Pinot Noir
- excellent reputation
Aromatic styles from Gewurtz, Riesling, P.G, P.B
N.B. coastal influence diminishes as you move inland
Very briefly outline the size and situation of AVAs covering Lake County.
Describe the growing environment and styles of wine made.
Lake County located E Mendocino → in rainshadow → warm, dry climate
Clear Lake AVA
- lake provides cooling afternoon breeze
- planted with some altitude
- mainly C.S, some S.B
How can growers in Anderson Valley take advantage of the AVA’s reputation for quality Pinot Noir? (3)
- Produce own prem bottlings
- Cellar door sales from strong tourist trade
- Sell grapes to other wineries in California (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
- coastal mountains cut off from oceanic influence
- key mod factors → Petaluma gap + altitude
- → late-rip varieties like Cab + Zinfandel
Sonoma Coast AVA
- influences by coast
- cooler with cold
- wet conditions in spring (fruit set)
- fog → P.N, Chard in light, high acid styles
Sonoma Valley AVA
- SE of county
- mountain range to W cuts area off from coastal influence
- San Pablo bay cools S
- P.N + Chard in cooler spots like Carneros
- 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.
warm, some cooling via Petaluma
grapes planted across variety of elevations and aspects
Rockpile
- above fog line
- windy + stoney soil →evapotranspiration
- Known for: late-rip reds at low Y
Dry Creek
- Known for: Zinfandel from old vines
Alexander Valley
- Known for: C.S (how would planting location impact style?)
Knights Valley
Russian River Valley
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 more fertile soil
- slopes have thin, free-draining soil → lower Y + greater ripeness
- Sunlight
- valley floor protected from morning sun by fog
- slopes may be above fog line, receives sun throughout day → more phenolic ripeness on slopes
- Temperature
- fog promotes diurnal range although temps may be overall cooler at upper side of valleys
- → slope vines have more acid, tannin
- Water availability
- deeper soils on valley floor → retain water
- greater chance of hydric stress on slopes
Explain why Russian River Valley is able to produce both premium Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
- Covers a large area
- variety of topographies
- degrees of exposure to COC
S/W receives cool air + fog via Petaluma gap + low nutrient, free-draining soil → HQ P.N (Chard)
Inland NE protected by hills → warmer → Cab, Merlot, Zin
Describe the new created Petaluma Gap AVA.
- Open to coast at both ends
- → high-speed wind cools vines
- PN, Chard, Syrah → fresh acid + lower abv
Why does Carneros enjoy such a reputation for P.N + Chard?
Describe the style of wine produced.
How do large companies use fruit purchased from Carneros?
- Cool-mod climate → San Pablo Bay
- → cold winds in morning + evenings + fog
P.N + Chard; med(+) acid, med alcohol, med-body → riper, high ABV styles
- To produce prem “Carneros” wine
- To blend into warmer climate wine for acid, fresh fruit
Describe the general growing environment of Napa Valley.
- Long, narrow valley
- Mountains to W (protection from COC)
- mountains to E (protection from Central Valley heat)
- Promixity to San Pablo bay a key mod 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”
Select 3 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
- mitigated by Gap
- Syrah, Zin, Petite Sirah, Bdx
Stags Leap District
- further N
- warmer
- cool evenings → some wind, fog
- Cab + S.B
Coombsville
- closest 2 Bay
- more fog + afternoon breezes
- Cab, Merlot, Chard → lighter-bodied
Describe how proximity to San Pablo Bay and valley floor/mountainside influences the style of wine produced.
Valley Floor
- cold air, fog → larger diurnals → lighter bodied
- alluvial soils → less structure
Mountain side
- above fog → more sunlight → smaller diurnals
- = fuller bodied + greater phenolic/tannin ripeness + acid
- thin + poor → limits vigour → ripening → concentration, structure
Closer to SP Bay
- larger diurnals → lighter bodied
Further from SP Bay
- warm - hot → higher abv, more tannin
Explain why Napa mountain AVAs have a lower diurnal range than valley floor AVAs.
Vines at a higher altitudes may lie above the fog line
Below fog line
- → cool air drawn in and trapped overnight → cooler evenings
- baking afternoon sun → warm days
Above fog line
- → no cool air drawn in → warmer nights
- altitude provides cooling influence during day despite intense sunshine → cooler day
Using two AVAs, describe the difference in growing environments and wine produced from E-facing and W-facing mountainside AVAs in Napa Valley.
West-facing AVAs (on the eastern side)
- exposed to intense afternoon sun
- → warmer
- → higher ABV, riper fruit
East-facing AVAs (on the western side)
- less exposed to afternoon sun
- struggles to ripen C.S in some years
