23.1 - California: North Coast Flashcards

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1
Q

Very briefly outline the size and situation of AVAs covering Mendocino.

Describe the growing environment and styles of wine made.

A

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

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2
Q

Very briefly outline the size and situation of AVAs covering Lake County.

Describe the growing environment and styles of wine made.

A

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

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3
Q

How can growers in Anderson Valley take advantage of the AVA’s reputation for quality Pinot Noir? (3)

A
  1. Produce their own premium bottlings
  2. Cellar door sales from strong tourist trade
  3. 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)
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4
Q

Briefly describe the size, situation, growing environments and plantings within the three largest AVAs in Sonoma county.

A

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

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5
Q

Name the key AVAs within Northern Sonoma.

For each, state any notable geographic features and styles of wine they are known for.

A

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

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6
Q

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.

A
  1. Soil - valley floor has more fertile soil, slopes have thin, free-draining soil –> lower yields, greater ripeness from slopes
  2. 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
  3. Temperature - fog promotes diurnal range although temps may be overall cooler at the upper side of valleys –> slope vines have more acid and tannin
  4. Water availability - deeper soils on valley floor likely to better retain water –> greater chance of hydric stress on slopes
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7
Q

Explain why Russian River Valley is able to produce both premium Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.

Name some significant producers.

A

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

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8
Q

Describe the new created Petaluma Gap AVA.

A

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

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9
Q

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?

A

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

  1. To produce premium “Carneros” wine
  2. To blend into warmer climate wine for acid, fresh fruit
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10
Q

Describe the general growing environment of Napa Valley.

A

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

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11
Q

To what extent is Napa’s reputation reflected in price?

What AVA naming rule has helped promote the reputation of Napa.

A

4% of Cali sales by volume, 27% of sales by value

Conjunctive naming - all AVAs within Napa must also be labelled “Napa Valley”

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12
Q

Describe how proximity to San Pablo Bay and valley floor/mountainside influences the style of wine produced.

A

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

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13
Q

Select three AVAs in Napa Valley which illustrate how proximity to SP Bay influences the growing environment and plantings. Highlight any other moderating factors.

A

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

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14
Q

Explain why Napa mountain AVAs have a lower diurnal range that valley floor AVAs.

A

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

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15
Q

In general, how would differing growing environments between the valley floor and mountainsides express themselves in a red grown in Napa?

A

Mountain AVAs have more acidity (overall cooler) and tannin (longer sunshine hours)

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16
Q

Using two AVAs, describe the difference in growing environments and wine produced from east-facing and west-facing mountainside AVAs in Napa Valley.

A

West-facing AVAs (on the eastern side) are exposed to intense afternoon sun –> warmer –> higher ABV, riper fruit e.g. Howell Mountain (one of warmest AVAs, also far from SP Bay)

East-facing AVAs (on the western side) are less exposed to this afternoon sun e.g. Mount Veeder (one of the coolest AVAs, also close to SP Bay) struggles to ripen Cab S in some years

17
Q

Describe what kind of viticulture can take advantage of Napa Valley’s diverse soil types.

A

Precision viticulture - monitoring changing soil through a vineyard can determine how to apply irrigation in different patches when using RDI

18
Q

Describe how soil types throughout Napa Valley (3)

A

Mountainside Poor, thin

Valley Floor greater fertility

Alluvial fans on west-side of valley –> benches of deep, rocky soil with moderate fertility

19
Q

Why is the price of Napa Valley grapes/wine so high?

A

Supply

  1. Almost all viable land has been planted
  2. Environmental legislation prevents further planting e.g. cannot plant on slopes more than 30% –> although 90% is under protection from development which ensures more land
  3. Hilly/rocky terrain throughout much of AVA limits yield

Demand

  1. Prestige of Napa wines
20
Q
A
21
Q

How might vineyard management differ between the mountainside and valley floor in Napa Valley.

A

Vines cordon trained or head-trained, spur pruned with VSP trellising

Valley floor will see mechanisation of canopy mngt and harvesting

22
Q

What risk are valley floor vineyards in Napa exposed to?

A

Cool night temps –> frost

23
Q

What are the most widely planted grape varieties in Napa Valley?

A

Cab is King - 40% of plantings

Black Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah + more

White Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris

24
Q

Describe how the style of reds has changed in Napa since the 1980/90s.

A

80/90s - full-bodied, intense wines with over-ripe flavours and high alcohol from late-harvesting + overt new oak character

Today - earlier harvesting, with extra ripe styles rare; high % of new oak remains but length of maturation shorter

25
Q

To what extent is blending important in the production of red wines in Napa Valley?

A

1. Varieties - Merlot, Cab Fran, Petite Sirah blended in with Cab even if varietally labelled (>75% one variety)

2. AVAs (for balance) - blend across different growing environments e.g. Calistoga with Commbsville to balance ripeness and freshness

2. AVAs (for price) - blend in up to 15% grapes from a cheaper AVA with a more prestigious AVA to keep costs down

26
Q

Describe the price-quality ratio for Napa Cab.

A

Good - outstanding / premium-super-premium

27
Q

Outline the styles of white wine produced in Napa Valley.

A

Style dependent on site

Chardonnay often fermented / aged in oak

Sauvignon Blanc is usually protective but can also be made in oaked Fume Blanc style e.g. Mondavi