CA: Central & Southern

Question 1

List the AVAs in the northern end of the Central Coast

Answer 1

San Francisco Bay AVA
Livermore Valley AVA
Ben Lomond Mountain AVA
Santa Clara Valley AVA
San Ysidro District
Santa Cruz Mountains ACA

Question 2

AVAs within Monterey County

Answer 2

Arroyo Seco AVA
Chalone AVA
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Monterey AVA
Gabilan Mountains AVA
Carmel Valley AVA

Question 3

Important AVAs in San Benito County

Answer 3

Mount Harlan - Calera is here
Gabilan Mountains overlaps

Question 4

AVAs within San Luis Obispo County

Answer 4

Paso Robles AVA, including sub AVAs:
Paso Robles Estrella District
Paso Robles Geneseo District
Paso Robles Highlands District
Paso Robles Willow Creek District
Adelaida District
Creston District
El Pomar District
San Juan Creek
San Miguel District
Santa Margarita Ranch
Templeton Gap Distict

York Mountain
Arroyo Grande
San Luis Obispo Coast (2022)
Edna Valley

Question 5

Describe the climate of San Luis Obispo

Answer 5

Western side: cooler, maritime air is funneled through the Templeton Gap. Limestone and calcareous soils

Inland / east of Salinas River: warmer, drier, soil is sandier

Question 6

List 5 producers Paso Robles

Answer 6

Tablas Creek - Beaucastel part owner
Eberle - first commercial Syrah
Turley
Adelaida
Daou
Saxum
L’Aventure

Question 7

AVAs within Santa Barbara County

Answer 7

Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Sta. Rita Hills
Happy Canyon
Ballard Canyon
Los Olivos District
Alisos Canyon

Question 8

Which region in California has the longest growing season?

Answer 8

Santa Barbara County. Region I maritime climate

Question 9

Santa Barbara important grapes

Answer 9

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
Rhone varieties

Question 10

Santa Barbara important vineyards

Answer 10

Bien Nacido, in Santa Maria Valley

Sanford & Benedict - Sta Rita / Santa Ynez

La Rinconada - Sta Rita

Question 11

Santa Lucia Highlands important vineyards

Answer 11

Garys’
Pisoni Estate
Soberanes
Rosella’s

Question 12

Santa Lucia Highlands - name 5 producers

Answer 12

Pisoni / Lucia
Kosta Browne
Paul Lato
Roar
Morgan

Question 13

Central Valley important AVAs

Answer 13

Lodi- over 20% of CA’s production

Also: Dunnigan Hills, Clarksburg, Capay Valley, Merritt Island

Question 14

Lodi sub-AVAs

Answer 14

Alta Mesa
Borden Ranch
Mokelumne River
Consumnes River
Jahant
Sloughhouse
Clements Hills

Question 15

Sierra Foothills sub-AVAs

Answer 15

Fair Play
El Dorado
Fiddletown
North Yuba
CA Shenandoah Valley

Question 16

Important vineyards Santa Rita Hills

Answer 16

Bentrock
Zotovich
Melville
Eleven Confessions

Question 17

Sine Qua Non vineyards?

Answer 17

Eleven Confessions
Cumulus
The Third Twin
Molly Aida

Question 18

Santa Rita Hills producers?

Answer 18

Sine Qua Non
Sea Smoke
Melville
Domaine de la Côte
Kosta Browne
Au Bon Climat
Racines
Brewer Clifton
Tyler

Question 19

Santa Maria Valley important vineyards

Answer 19

Clark & Telephone
Bien Nacido
Katherine’s Vineyard

Question 20

San Luis Rey AVA

Answer 20

added 2024 in San Diego County, in the South Coast AVA

Question 21

Yucaipa Valley AVA

Answer 21

added 2024 in southern CA, south of San Bernadino. high elevation- 2,000 to 4,600 ft