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Americas Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the most widely planted black grape in California?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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2
Q

What is the term for oaked and unoaked, dry sauvignon Blanc in California?

A

Fumé Blanc

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3
Q

Which AVA, famed for its sparkling wines, straddles the Napa and Sonoma valleys?

A

Los Carneros AVA

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4
Q

What is the most widely planted white grape in California?

A

Chardonnay

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5
Q

More so than latitude, what is key in determining a Californian vineyard’s climate?

A

The Californian ocean current

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6
Q

Most Californian vineyards are located north of which city?

A

Los Angeles

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7
Q

What is considered locally to be California’s ‘own’ grape variety?

A

Zinfandel

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8
Q

Where in California’s Central Valley is known for producing large quantities of simple inexpensive merlot?

A

San Joaquin

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9
Q

Describe the Characteristics of a classic Napa or Sonoma Merlot.

A

Soft velvet tannins, luscious body, high alcohol, and classic varietal flavours of plum and blackberry.

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10
Q

Which black grape is associated with premium wines from Russian river, Los Carneros and Santa Maria?

A

Pinot Noir

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11
Q

West of Napa, What topographical feature forms a border with Sonoma County?

A

The Mayacamas Mountains

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12
Q

How does cold air impact vineyards in California?

A

Cold air, often accompanied by fogs, is drawn in from the ocean in the evening, lowering night-time temperatures. In addition, the time it takes for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning means that the cooling influence extends well into the day. The cooling effect can be so dramatic in vineyards near the coast that, in some years, grapes can struggle to fully ripen.

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13
Q

How does a lack of rain in autumn impact Californian grapes?

A

The scarcity of autumn rain has always allowed growers to leave the grapes on the vine long into the season. This extra ‘hang time’ results in very ripe grapes with very concentrated flavors and very high sugar levels.

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14
Q

What characteristics do richer styles of California Cabernet Sauvignon have?

A

Many of the wines are full-bodied, with very concentrated ripe cassis flavors and prominent spice aromas from new oak barrels

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15
Q

What can be a consequence of Zinfandel’s tendency to ripen unevenly?

A

The harvested fruit can sometimes include both raisined and underripe grapes. The raisining can result in concentrated, full-bodied red wines with high alcohol levels, sometimes with small amounts of residual sugar. Some herbaceous notes can be displayed as a result of the underripe grapes.

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16
Q

Large volumes of rosé Zinfandel are made from early-picked grapes. What are these wines commonly referred to as?

A

White Zinfandel

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17
Q

In the past, what were common characteristics associated with high-quality Californian Chardonnay?

A

Californian Chardonnay had a reputation for being very full-bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity, with obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning peach and banana fruit flavours.

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18
Q

Where does California’s best Sauvignon Blanc come from?

A

The best Sauvignon Blanc comes from California’s coastal regions, giving wines with high acidity and ripe citrus flavors.

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19
Q

The principle vineyards of California are grouped into five regions, three of which contain the majority of the well-known Country Appellations and AVAs. These three regions are:

A

North Coast, Central Coast and Central Valley

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20
Q

What Napa County AVAs are renowned for making premium wines from Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford

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21
Q

Which grape is the most important in New York State’s Finger Lakes AVA?

A

Riesling

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22
Q

What is the most widely planted white grape in Washington State?

A

Chardonnay

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23
Q

What is the abbreviation of the USA appellation system?

A

AVA (American Viticultural Area)

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24
Q

Which AVA lies directly to the south of Willamette Valley?

A

Southern Oregon

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25
Q

What is the climate of the Willamette Valley?

A

Moderate with cooling breezes from the Pacific

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26
Q

Pinot Noir and which other grape are widely planted in the Willamette Valley?

A

Pinot Gris

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27
Q

What AVA has the majority of vineyards planted in Washington State?

A

Columbia Valley AVA

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28
Q

What smaller but important AVAs fall within Washington State’s Columbia Valley AVA?

A

Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA

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29
Q

What are the 2 most important grapes for red wine production in Washington State?

A

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

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30
Q

What are typical characteristics of Riesling from Washington State?

A

Dry in style with ripe stone fruit flavors

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31
Q

Why is irrigation with river water a necessity in Columbia Valley AVA?

A

The AVA lies in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains

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32
Q

What AVA has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon?

A

Willamette Valley AVA

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33
Q

What is by far the most planted grape in WIllamette Valley AVA?

A

Pinot Noir

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34
Q

What are two AVAs encompassed within the southern Oregon AVA?

A

Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley

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35
Q

What notable grapes can be found in the Southern Oregon AVA?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Syrah

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36
Q

What are the most widely planted v. vinifera varieties in New York State?

A

Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc

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37
Q

What is the most important AVA in New York for wine production?

A

Finger Lakes AVA

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38
Q

What Notable feature in the Finger Lakes AVA helps to extend the growing season?

A

The deep glacial lakes in this region store heat well into November, raising the air temp of the surrounding vineyards and extending the growing season.

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39
Q

What is the abbreviation of the Canadian appellation system?

A

VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance)

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40
Q

What is the name of the Hybrid grape often used fro Icewine in Ontario?

A

Vidal

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41
Q

What is the name of the large appellation in British Columbia that lies between 2 mountain ranges, and experiences very low rainfall?

A

Okanagan Valley

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42
Q

Which 2 provinces have currently adopted the VQA scheme?

A

Ontario and British Columbia

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43
Q

Ontario’s most important appellation is?

A

Niagara Peninsula

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44
Q

British Columbia has how many primary appellations?

A

5

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45
Q

What percentage of grapes must be grown in that province for a wine to be labelled VQA?

A

100%

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46
Q

What is the most planted black grape in Canada?

A

Cabernet Franc

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47
Q

What style/s of wine is commonly found from Riesling in Ontario?

A

Riesling does well here, making fresh, fruity dry and off-dry whites, and the finest Icewines.

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48
Q

What is the general climate of the vineyards in Chile?

A

Warm Mediterranean

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49
Q

What is El Nino?

A

A sporadic weather system that can cause rainfall to dramatically increase

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50
Q

What is the most planted grape in Chile?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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51
Q

What risk does La Nina pose?

A

drought

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52
Q

What is Chile’s GI scheme known as?

A

Denominaciones de Origen (DOs)

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53
Q

What wine labelling term introduced in 2012 tells you the areas between the mountain ranges?

A

Entre Cordilleras

54
Q

Elqui Valley has a reputation for quality wines from what grape?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

55
Q

Which Valley sub region is the classic heartland of the Chilean wine industry?

A

Maipo Valley

56
Q

Which black grape is the most planted in the Leyda Valley?

A

Pinot Noir

57
Q

How many regional DOs are found in Chile?

A

6

58
Q

What are the four DOs where the majority of vineyard plantings can be found in Chile?

A

Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Central Valley and Southern Region

59
Q

What are 2 weather patterns that affect Chile’s wine region in some years?

A

El Nino and La Nina

60
Q

What current flows up from Antarctica along the Chilean coast?

A

The Humboldt Current

61
Q

What does ‘Costa’ mean if it appears on a Chilean wine label?

A

This is used to designate wines from the coastal areas

62
Q

What does ‘Andes’ mean if it appears on a Chilean wine label?

A

This is used to designate wines from Mountain areas

63
Q

In Chile, what grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon often blended with?

A

Merlot, Carmenère or Syrah

64
Q

In what sites is Carmenère most successful?

A

Late ripening and most successful in the warmest and sunniest sites

65
Q

What type of aromas can occur in Carmenère when not fully ripe?

A

Overtly herbaceous aromas when not fully ripe

66
Q

What grape, though native to Bordeaux, is now seen as a Chilean specialty?

A

Carmenère

67
Q

What are characteristics of Syrah from Elqui Valley?

A

They are lighter in body with peppery notes

68
Q

What are characteristics of Syrah from Colchagua Valley?

A

greater intensity of black fruit and fuller body

69
Q

In Chile, what locations is Pinot Noir showing considerable promise?

A

San Antonio and Casablanca Valleys

70
Q

What 2 white varieties dominate plantings in Chile?

A

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

71
Q

What are characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc from vineyards in Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys?

A

The vineyard sites yield excellent wines with high acidity and intense fruity flavours. The wines show ripe apple, citrus and tropical flavours, and sometimes herbaceous notes. Some examples have added richness and texture from lees stirring and oak.

72
Q

What sub-region is becoming known for producing some of Chile’s best Chardonnay?

A

Limarí Valley

73
Q

What 2 grape varieties has Elqui Valley developed a reputation for?

A

Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah

74
Q

What is the 2nd smallest wine region in Chile?

A

Aconcagua Region

75
Q

What are the 3 sub-regions of Aconcagua Region?

A

Aconcagua Valley, Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley

76
Q

Why do plantings of white varieties dominate the Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley?

A

Both lie between the coastal mountains and the Pacific. They offer growers noticeably cooler site thanks to morning fogs and afternoon winds that blow in off the ocean.

77
Q

Where in the Aconcagua region has Sauvignon Blanc gained greatest reputation?

A

San Antonio Valley and its particularly cool Leyda Valley zone.

78
Q

What is the most planted black variety in Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley?

A

Pinot Noir

79
Q

What are the four sub-regions of Central Valley region?

A

Maipo Valley, Rapel Valley, Curicó Valley, Maule Valley

80
Q

Where are many of the premium vineyard sites located in the Maipo Valley?

A

In the Andean foothills, which are cooled by the descending air, lending elegance and structure to the red wines.

81
Q

What two sub-regions form the southern end of the Central Valley?

A

The Curicó Valley and Maule Valley

82
Q

What are the most planted grapes in the Curicó Valley and Maule Valley?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Chardonnay

83
Q

What grape variety has become the ‘star’ variety in Maule Valley, producing full-bodied, intensely concentrated wines from ancient low-yielding bush vines?

A

Carignan

84
Q

What are the three sub-regions of the Southern Region?

A

Itata Valley, Bío Bío Valley and Malleco Valley

85
Q

What are the two larger sub-regions of the Southern Region?

A

Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley

86
Q

What grape varieties dominate Itata Valley and Bío Bío Valley?

A

País and Muscat of Alexandria

87
Q

What varieties has Bío Bío Valley started to show great promise in producing?

A

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and aromatic varieties.

88
Q

What is the smallest and most southernly sub-region of the Southern Region?

A

Malleco Valley

89
Q

What are the notable grape varieties in Malleco Valley?

A

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

90
Q

What are notable characteristics of Chardonnay from Limarí Valley?

A

The wines tend to show medium to high acidity with citrus and stone fruit flavors. Lees stirring and oak fermentation and maturation are often used for texture and flavor.

91
Q

What is the third most planted white grape variety in Chile?

A

Muscat of Alexandria

92
Q

In what particular sub-region of the Southern Region in Chile is highlighted for some producers beginning to see the potential of the fruit produced by old bush vines of País and Muscat of Alexandria in making good quality, distinctive wines?

A

Itata Valley

93
Q

What are the characteristics of Torrontés?

A

A white grape producing intensely fruity, floral-perfumed wines, with medium body and acidity and flavours of stone fruit and melon.

94
Q

What is Bonarda?

A

A black grape with high acid and high tannin levels. It produces easy-drinking red wines with fruity raspberry and blackberry aromas.

95
Q

What is ‘parral’?

A

A pergola system of vine training

96
Q

Today parral is commonly used for which which grape variety?

A

Torrontés

97
Q

Which traditional low-quality variety is still widely used for domestic wines?

A

Pedro Gimenez

98
Q

Lujan de Cuyo has a reputation for producing fine wine from which grape?

A

Malbec

99
Q

Neuquén province is situated in which region?

A

Patagonia

100
Q

Vineyards in the Uco Valley are situated within what altitude range?

A

900-1500m

101
Q

What is Argentina’s most northerly province?

A

Salta

102
Q

With the exception of those in Río Negro and Neuquén, what is the minimum altitude that most of the vineyards lie?

A

600m above sea level

103
Q

In Salta, what altitude to vineyards regularly extend to?

A

2000m or more above sea level

104
Q

What form of irrigation is more common in newer vineyards in Argentina?

A

Drip irrigation

105
Q

What is a particular weather hazard that occurs regularly in the summer, particularly in Mendoza?

A

Hail

106
Q

What do many producers use to protect their vines against hail, despite their expense?

A

Netting

107
Q

What is the traditional method of risk management against hail?

A

Owning vineyards in several different areas

108
Q

What is Argentina’s flagship grape variety?

A

Malbec

109
Q

What are typical characteristics of an Argentinian Malbec?

A

Deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with notes of black fruit and often high levels of smooth tannins.

110
Q

What winemaking practice is generally associated with most high-quality Malbec?

A

Most high-quality Malbec is matured in new oak, lending subtle spicy flavours.

111
Q

What grape varieties are generally blended with Malbec in Argentina?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and/or Petit Verdot

112
Q

What is the second most planted variety in Argentina?

A

Bonarda

113
Q

What international black varieties are widely planted in Argentina?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot

114
Q

What grape variety is often seen as Argentina’s white signature variety?

A

Torrontés

115
Q

Where do many of the best examples of Torrontés come from?

A

High-altitude vineyards in the Cafayate department of Salta Province

116
Q

How is Torrontés usually fermented?

A

Wines are usually fermented in inert, temperature-controlled vessels.

117
Q

How do premium wines made from Chardonnay tend to be matured?

A

Premium wines tend to be matured in oak barrels, a proportion of which is often new.

118
Q

What white variety has the greatest plantings in Argentina?

A

Pedro Gimenez

119
Q

What are the dominant black varieties planted in Cafayate?

A

Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon

120
Q

What is the third largest area of production in Argentina?

A

La Rioja Province

121
Q

What is the main vineyard area of La Rioja Province?

A

Famatina Valley

122
Q

What grape variety is the specialty of La Rioja Province?

A

Torrontés

123
Q

What are the most planted black varieties of La Rioja Province?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Bonarda

124
Q

How are exported wines generally labelled from La Rioja Province to avoid confusion with the Rioja region in Spain?

A

La Rioja Argentina

125
Q

What is considered Argentina’s second most important wine area?

A

San Juan

126
Q

What is the approximate altitude range of vineyards in the San Juan Province?

A

Approximately 450m to 1400m above sea level.

127
Q

San Juan Province is particularly noted for the quality of what variety?

A

Syrah

128
Q

What are the most planted white varieties in the San Juan Province?

A

Torrontés and Chardonnay

129
Q

What province dominates winemaking in Argentina and accounts for the vast majority of wine produced?

A

Mendoza Province

130
Q

Mendoza can be split broadly into five divisions. What are they?

A
  1. Northern
  2. Eastern
  3. Central
  4. Uco Valley
  5. Southern
131
Q

As part of Argentina’s GI system, the vineyard area is split into how many broad regions?

A

3

WINE FLASHCARDS (WWJ) (9 decks)

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