33. California Flashcards
Describe the climate and geography of California.
- cooling influence of the California Ocean Current
- mountainous coast line provides shield from cooling effect of the ocean; where there are gaps in the mountain, the cooling effect gets through more easily (e.g. Monterery, Santa Barbara)
- fog drawn in from the ocean in the evening (low night-time temperatures)
- takes a while for sun to burn off the fog (cool throughout the day)
- where there is no exposure to the ocean (e.g. Central Valley), the climate is hot
- lack of rain during growing season
- drip irrigation widely practiced
- scarcity of autumn rain = late harvest, very ripe grapes, very concentrated, high sugar
- recently there has been more appreciation for freshness, grapes picked earlier
What are the top 5 black varietals in California
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Zinfandel
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
What is the most widely planted black grape in California?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the 2 styles of California Cabs?
Style 1: -expressive -full bodied -very concetrated -ripe cassis -prominent spice -new oak Style 2: -less rich -fresh black currant
What is regarded as California’s “own” grape variety?
Zinfandel
Describe a typical California Zinfandel.
- ripe, raisin-y grapes
- concentrated
- full body
- high alcohol
- sometime residual sugar
- red and black fruits
- dried berries
- liquorice
- subtle herbaceous (underripe grapes)
What’s difficult about growing Zinfandel?
Grapes ripen unevenly
-resulting wines can contain both flavors of raisined and underripe grapes
What is typically made with early-picked Zinfandel grapes?
White Zinfandel
- rose
- fruity
- pale color
- medium sweet
- low in alcohol
Describe California Merlot wines.
- approachable
- soft tannins
- ripe black fruit
Where are the largest plantings of Merlot in California? Describe the wines.
San Joaquin in Central Valley
-simple, inexpensive wines
Where do the best Merlots in California come from? Describe the wines.
- cooler sites: Monterey, North Coast (Napa, Sonoma)
- deeply colored
- soft, velvety tannins
- luscious body
- high alcohol
- classic varietal flavors of blackberry and plum
Where is Pinot Noir grown in California?
moderate regions: Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley
What are the 2 styles of California Pinot Noir?
Style 1: -light color -gamey, vegetal notes Style 2: -ripe red fruit (red cherry, strawberry) -sweet spice (oak)
Describe the 2 styles of California Syrah.
Style 1: -full body -rich Style 2: -leaner -peppery
What is the most planted variety (white or black) in California?
Chardonnay
Describe inexpensive California Chardonnay. Where is it typically from?
Central Valley
- high volume
- fruity
- low to medium acidity
- sometimes toasty note from oak staves or chips
Describe the traditional premium California Chardonnay.
- very full bodied
- high alcohol
- low acidity
- oak, hazelnut, butter (prominent)
- peach, banana (subtle)
Describe the newer, leaner styles of California Chardonnay. Where are they from?
- more restrained
- less oak
- from cooler regions: Los Carneros, Russian River Valley
What white grape (other than Chardonnay) is grown in California? Describe the wines.
Sauvignon Blanc
- high acidity
- ripe citrus flavors
What term is typically used for California Sauvignon Blanc? What does this term sometimes indicate?
Fume blanc
-sometimes oaked
Where do affordable Sauvignon Blancs come from?
Central Valley
-fruity, everyday wines
Where is the majority of California wine produced? What is the soil like here? What is used to increase yield?
Central Valley
- fertile soil
- irrigation
Where are California’s more premium wine regions located?
Along the coast
How many regions are in California? What are the main three regions?
5 total
-North Coast, Central Coast, Central Valley
Where are the vineyards of the North Coast located? What influence the climate here?
- north of San Francisco Bay
- wines influence heavily by the ocean
- fog, cool breezes that flow through the gaps in the coastal ranges and river valleys
What forms a barrier between Napa and Sonoma?
Mayacamas Mountains
What separates Napa from the northern part of Central Valley?
Vaca Mountains
Where are most of the vineyards in Napa located?
- Valley floor
- both valley sides
What is the most crucial climate influence in Napa?
- morning fogs, cool afternoons breezes
- San Pablo Bay (northern extension of the SF Bay)
What southerly North Coast region covers portions of both Napa and Sonoma?
Los Carneros AVA
Describe Los Carneros AVA. What types of wines are made here?
- cool enough to be a source of high quality Pinot Noir ad Chardonnay
- still wines and traditional method sparkling wines
What 4 AVAs in Napa are known for Cabernet Sauvignons? Why? Which of the 4 is known for its structured, powerful wines? Why)
- Stags Leap District
- Yountville
- Oakville
- Rutherford»_space; structure, powerful (warmest, least influenced by San Pablo Bay)
-warmer climate
What other grapes are planted in Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville, and Rutherford?
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc (ripe tropical fruit)
Black: Merlot
Which AVAs can produce the most concentrated, full bodied wines of Napa? Why? Which types?
Saint Helena AVA, Calistoga AVA
- north end of Napa
- warmest daytime temperatures
- cool air passes through the Chalk Hill gap in the Mayacamas Mountains to provide cooling influence
- cooler night temperatures help to retain acidity
- mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, some Merlot and Zinfandel
How do vineyards on the valley floors get their cooling influence? How do vineyards on the valley sides get their cooling influence?
Floors: cool breezes, fog from sea
Sides: altitude
What are 2 west facing vineyards? Describe the red wines. What varietal(s)? Describe the white wines. What varietals?
Howell Mountain AVA, Atlas Peak AVA
-full exposure to hot afternoon sun
-fuller body
-high alcohol
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, also: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel
White: Chardonnay (citrus, stone fruit, higher acidity)
How do valley floor wines differ from valley sides wines?
Floor: more richness on the palate, higher acidity
Sides: higher tannins
Which is larger: Sonoma County or Napa County?
Sonoma
What coastal range gap provides the Russian River Valley AVA with cool, foggy conditions?
Petaluma Gap
Describe the climate of the Russian River Valley. What wines is the RRV known for?
- very cool, fogy
- high-quality, elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- still and sparkling
What wines are made in Dry Creek Valley AVA? Where are the vineyards planted? What’s the climate?
- noticeably warmer
- densely planted on hillsides and floor
- hillsides above the fog: high-quality old vine Zinfandel
- valley floor: Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon
Describe the climate of Alexander Valley AVA. Describe the wines? What wine is AV AVA widely known for?
-warmest in Sonoma Wines are: -fleshy -full body -soft textured, full body Cab Sauv
Describe the climate of Sonoma Coast AVA. Where must vineyards be planted to ripen fully?
- cooled by the Pacific Ocean
- south facing slopes
Where is Sonoma Valley AVA located? What wines is it known for?
- south of Sonoma County
- runs parallel to Napa County
-cooled by breezes and fog
- high quality Chardonnay
- old-vine Zinfandel
What is the most northerly California wine region?
Mendocino County
-large, very diverse
Describe the climate of Anderson Valley AVA? Where is it located? Describe the wines.
Climate: very cool
Located in: Mendocino County
-aromatic white wines (Riesling, Gewürztraminer)
-sparkling wines
Describe the climate of Mendocino AVA. What wines do well here?
- warmer, drier
- protected behind coastal plains
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah
- full body
- soft tannins
Where is Santa Cruz Mountains AVA? Describe the soil and where the vineyards are located. What wines do well here?
- north of the Central Coast
- hillside locates with infertile soil
- elegant Cabernet Sauvignon
- high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Where is Monterey AVA? What are the climate influences?
- strongly influenced by cold Pacific Ocean
- coastal
- strong cool winds
What wines do well on the coast of Monterey AVA? What wines do well in the valley?
Coastal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Valley: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (less breezes)
What AVA with Monterrey County is noted as a source of high-quality Chardonnay with citrus and tropical fruit and balanced acidity?
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Where are San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties located? How is the geography different here?
- southern part of the Central coast
- mountains run east to west instead of north to south
- more influence from breezy ocean
What is the main AVA of San Luis Obispo County? What grapes are grown here?
Paso Robles AVA
-Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
What are the two distinct zones of Paso Robles AVA?
Zone 1: east
- hot sunny weather
- deep fertile soils
- supple fruity wines
- high volume brands
Zone 2: west
- cooled by marine air
- high quality Zinfandel, Rhone varieties
What is the main AVA of Santa Barbara County? What is the climate? What grapes do well here?
Santa Maria Valley AVA
- significantly cooler
- fog in low-lying areas slows ripening (balanced acidity, concentrated fruit)
- well suited for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
What AVA in Santa Barbara County is a little warmer? What grapes grow here?
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
-red wines: Syrah, Bordeaux varieties
Where is Sta. Rita Hills AVA located? Describe the climate. What grapes grow here?
To the far west of Santa Ynez
- much cooler
- strongly influenced by the ocean
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
- Aromatic varieties
Describe the climate and geography of the Central Valley. What wines are produced here.
Sacramento, San Joaquin Valleys
- hot, dry
- irrigation widely used
- high volume, inexpensive brands
What new grape varieties were bred in the Central Valley to make the most of the hot, dry conditions?
Rubired
Ruby Cabernet
What are the main grapes of the Central Valley?
Red; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Barbera
White: Chardonnay, Colombard, Chenin Blanc
What is the main AVA of Central Valley? Describe the location and moderating influence. What wine is it known for?
Lodi AVA
- straddles Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
- benefits from breezes of SF Bay
- best old vine Zinfandel
