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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > CA: Napa, Sonoma, Northern > Flashcards

CA: Napa, Sonoma, Northern Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

List 5 producers Sonoma Coast

A

Hirsch
Littorai
Peay
Aubert
Ceritas
Marcassin (Fort Ross Seaview)

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2
Q

List 3 RRV producers

A

Joseph Swan
Rocchioli
Williams Selyem
Kosta Browne
Cirq
Kistler

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3
Q

List 2 producers Knights Valley

A

Peter Michael

Anakota
Melka “Mekerra”
Galerie “Latro”
Morlet Family Vyds “Mon Chevalier”

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4
Q

In which larger AVA is Fort Ross Seaview located?

A

Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County

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5
Q

Which AVAs are included within Sonoma Valley?

A

Carneros
Bennet Valley
Moon Mountain
Sonoma Mountain

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6
Q

What AVA is inside Russian River Valley, and what is it’s soil type?

A

Green Valley, goldridge soil - sandy loam

Coolest area of the RRV - proximity to the Pacific + holds fog longer than the rest of the valley

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7
Q

What kind of soil is in both Alexander and Knights Valleys?

A

Gravel

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8
Q

What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma County?

A

Knights Valley

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9
Q

Body of water south of Carneros?

A

San Pablo Bay

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10
Q

Between which mountains is the Sonoma Valley

A

Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains

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11
Q

List 3 grape species native to the US

A

Vitis labrusca
Vitis rotundifolia
Vitis aestivalis

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12
Q

What was the first vintage of Harlan?

A

1990, released in 1996 for $65 a bottle - a lot for the time

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13
Q

Where in Napa Valley can fog roll in from Sonoma?

A

San Pablo Bay to the south and the Chalk Hill Gap to the north.

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14
Q

Describe the diurnal swings in Napa

A

The biggest drop, up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, is seen in the north around the Calistoga area, whereas down south the difference averages 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

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15
Q

At what elevation (approximately) is the fog line in Napa?

A

1400 feet

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16
Q

Difference in climate between Mayacamas and Vaca mountains?

A

the eastern-facing slopes of the Mayacamas enjoy the gentle morning sun while the western-facing Vacas bake in the afternoon heat

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17
Q

What are Napa’s 3 bedrock soils:

A

Great Valley sequence (marine sediment)

Franciscan Assemblage (or Franciscan Complex: greywacke sandstone, shales, etc)

Napa Volcanics (also known as Sonoma Volcanics).

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18
Q

Los Carneros AVA
vineyards
producers
soil

A

Hudson, Hyde, Poseidon, Sangiacomo (Sonoma), Stanly Ranch, Truchard

Saintsbury,
Etude
Carneros Creek
Bouchaine

clay, sandy

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19
Q

Important producers and vineyards Howell Mountain AVA

A

Dunn, La Jota

Cade, Dunn, La Jota

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20
Q

Important producers and vineyards Stag’s Leap AVA

A

Pine Ridge, Shafer, Stag’s Leap Cellars, Cliff Lede, Chimney Rock

Fay, Futo 5500, Hartwell, Pine Ridge, Poetry, Regusci, S.L.V., Shafer, Silverado, Sinskey, Steltzner, Wappo Hill

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21
Q

Mt Veeder AVA
vineyards
producers
soil

A

Mayacamas, Mt Brave, Lokoya, O’Shaughnessy

Abel 1833, Hess, Lagier Meredith, Mayacamas, Progeny, Scaggs, Sky

Sandstone, shale, clay, sandy loam

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22
Q

Important producers and vineyards Atlas Peak

A

Antinori’s project is here, Kongsgaard, Au Sommet (Heidi Barrett), also grow here: Scribe, Ashes & Diamonds, Turley

Antica, Au Sommet, Kongsgaard, Stagecoach, Water Ranch

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23
Q

Important producers and vineyards Rutherford

A

Freemark Abbey, Heitz, Inglenook, Quintessa

Beckstoffer Georges III, Beckstoffer Melrose, Booth Bella Oaks, Inglenook, Frog’s Leap, Long Meadow Ranch, Quintessa, Raymond, Round Pond, St. Supéry, Staglin, Sycamore, Trailside

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24
Q

Important producers and vineyards Oakville

A

Dalla Valle, Groth, Peter Michael (Au Paradis), Rudd, Paradigm, Bond, Heitz (Martha’s), Opus One, Harlan, Robert Mondavi

Backus, Beckstoffer To-Kalon, Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, Dalla Valle,Far Niente, Groth, Harlan, MacDonald, Martha’s Vineyard, Oakville Ranch, Opus One, Rudd, Silver Oak, St. Eden, Tench, To-Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch, Weitz

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25
Q

Important producers and vineyards Spring Mountain

A

Philip Togni, Stony Hill, Barnett, Cain

Barnett, Behrens, Cain, Marston, Newton, Pride, Ritchie Creek, School House, Smith-Madrone, Spring Mountain, Stony Hill, Togni

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26
Q

Important producers and vineyards St Helena

A

Chappellet (P Hill), Colgin (P Hill), Corison (Kronos), Spottswoode

Aida, Beckstoffer Bourn, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, Beringer, Cappella, Charles Krug, Crocker, Edge Hill, Forman, Grace, Hayne, Heitz, Hourglass, Kayli Morgan, Kronos, Lewelling, Library, Madrone, Phelps, Quella, Spottswoode, Turley, Tychson Hill, Vineyard 29

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27
Q

Important producers and vineyards Yountville

A

Dominus, Gemstone

Gemstone, Ghost Block, Grgich, Kapcsándy, Napanook, Paradise Hills, Sleeping Lady

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28
Q

Important producers and vineyards Diamond Mountain District

A

Diamond Creek, Schramsberg

Constant, Dyer, Gravelly Meadow, Jasud, Lake, Red Rock Terrace, Schramsberg, Volcanic Hill

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29
Q

Important producers and vineyards Oak Knoll

A

Lewis, Ashes & Diamonds, Heitz,

Aldo’s, Blackbird, Hendry Ranch, Trefethen

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30
Q

Important producers and vineyards Calistoga

A

Larkmead, Araujo, Ch Montelena

Chateau Montelena, Eisele, Frediani, Jericho Canyon, Lamb, Larkmead, Luvisi, Three Palms, Tofanelli

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31
Q

Important producers and vineyards Coombsville

A

Paul Hobbs, Favia, Palmaz

Arcadia, Caldwell, Dead Fred, Haynes, Judge, Meteor, Moore, Palmaz

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32
Q

List 3 producers on Pritchard Hill

A

Colgin, David Arthur, Ovid, Continuum, Chappellet, Bryant

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33
Q

AVAs within Mendocino AVA:

A

Anderson Valley
Potter Valley
Redwood Valley
McDowell Valley
Yorkville HIghlands
Cole Ranch
Mendocino Ridge (part of)

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34
Q

Other AVAs in Mendocino County:

A

Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak
Dos Rios
Covelo
Comptche
Eagle Peak Mendocino County

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35
Q

What is the smallest AVA in America?

A

Cole Ranch, less than .25 square miles

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36
Q

Mendocino’s wine regions are at the confluence of which two rivers?

A

Russian River, Navarro River in the southern portion of Mendocino County

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37
Q

Describe the climate of Anderson Valley?

A

one of CA’s coolest- ocean air and fog come inland along the Navarro river, steep hills

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38
Q

Mendocino Ridge AVA - at what elevation does the appellation start?

A

vineyards must be at least 1,200 feet above sea level. zinfandel thrives here

*only non-contiguous AVA

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39
Q

What is the most important AVA in Lake County?

A

Clear Lake. Inland, but the lake buffers the hot temperatures

sub AVAs: High Valley, Big Valley District

Also oldest freshwater lake in North America

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40
Q

Napa Cabernet vintages 2000-2022: worst vintages? Why?

A

2000- cold october rain, small harvest

2003- uneven ripeness, austere and tannic

2011- rainy harvest, variable quality

2020- fires in Napa, very small red wine harvest. warm dry season, so whites were good. also covid

41
Q

Napa Cabernet vintages 2000-2022: best vintages? Why?

A

Aside from 2000, 2003, and 2011, all great vintages

2019 was excellent, long growing season

42
Q

2021 Napa Vintage?

A

Moderate summer temperatures, minimal fires, but drought in the growing season reduced yields. no extreme heat so wines may be lighter. the fruit quality was great though

43
Q

CA Pinot Noir vintages 2010 - 2021- worst vintages?

A

2020* - central and southern california had good years, fires up north

2017: SLH fine, Spring rains, warm summer, September heat wave yielded wines that are showy up front, but mostly lack structure

2015: large crop, tannic wines

2012: large crop, tannic wines

2011*: rain at harvest, lighter body, uneven quality. SLH ok

  • worst
44
Q

CA Pinot Noir vintages 2010-2021 - best?

A

2021: 91-94: Windy weather at bloom led to a small crop set, then another warm, drought-influenced season produced small berries with thick skins; the early buzz on the vintage is one of concentration and structure

2019: 95 A benchmark vintage for California Pinot, with wines showing power, finesse and the structure for cellaring; moderate temperatures and an even-keeled season led to a leisurely harvest, while crop size was on the lower side

45
Q

What are Bond’s 5 ‘Grand Crus’?

A

all labelled Napa Valley AVA:

Quella - in eastern side of Valley, near Spring Valley

Melbury - in eastern side of Valley, close to Pritchard Hill

St Eden - in Vaca mountains, just north of Oakville crossroad

Vecina - western foothills of Oakville

Pluribus - Spring Mountain

46
Q

Who planted Napa’s first vineyard? When?

A

George Yount, in 1838/9.

In 1836, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, for whom the town of Vallejo is named, awarded the Rancho Caymus—a nearly 12,000-acre stretch of land that included much of what is now southern Napa Valley—to his former employee George Calvert Yount. Yount would go on to make vinous history when he planted Napa’s first vineyard, a small patch of Mission vines, in 1838 or 1839.

47
Q

When did phylloxera hit Napa?

A

1880s-1890s. It reduced planted area from 15,000 acres to 3,000 acres

Again in the late 80s: Massive flooding during the winter of 1986 spread phylloxera throughout the valley.

48
Q

Which white wine won the 1976 Judgement of Paris?

A

Ch. Montalena Chardonnay, 1973 vintage

Chalone Vineyard 1974 was 4th place

49
Q

Which red wine won the 1976 Judgment of Paris?

A

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars SLV 1973

Ridge Montebello 1971 was 5th place

50
Q

Dalla Valle - where is it located? Top wines produced?

A

Oakville

Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa $300 retail
Maya, Napa - bdx blend, $600 retail

51
Q

Harlan - where is it located? Top wines produced?

A

Oakville

Harlan Estate, bdx blend, $1500 retail
The Maiden, bdx blend, $400 retail

52
Q

Screaming Eagle- where is it located? Wines produced?

A

Oakville

Screaming Eagle Cabernet $3-$4k retail
The Flight - Second Flight $1000 retail
Sauvignon Blanc - $4000 retail

53
Q

Colgin - where is it located? Wines produced?

A

St Helena - Pritchard Hill area

Colgin IX Estate Red - bdx blend, around $700 retail
Colgin Jubilation - bdx blend, $280 retail

54
Q

Opus One- where is it located? Wines produced?

A

Oakville

Opus One - bdx blend, $460 retail
Overture - bdx blend, $160 retail

55
Q

Diamond Creek - where is it located? Single vineards? Wines produced?

A

Diamond Mountain District

Gravelly Meadow - ancient river bed, pebbles/ gravel, porous soil. $300 retail

Red Rock Terrace- iron rich, rocky soils $300 retail

Volcanic Hill- volcanic ash, light “fluffy” soil $300 retail

Lake Vineyard- smallest. gravelly, well drained. $700 retail

also make a 3 vineyard blend - $500 retail

56
Q

What is the highest mountain in the Mayacamas?

A

Mount Saint Helena, shared by Napa and Lake counties

57
Q

Describe the distribution of different soil types in Sonoma. 5 main types?

A

generally more granitic to the west of the San Andreas Fault, and more varied to the east

Sonoma Volcanics: ash deposits from old volcanoes further north

Franciscan Complex: ocean floor deposits + rocks

Wilson Grove Formation: marine sandstone

Goldridge: sandy loam, along the Wilson Grove Formation

Altamont: also part of Wilson Grove, reddish, more clay content

58
Q

What was the first AVA in Sonoma? The most recent?

A

Sonoma Valley in 1981

West Sonoma Coast in 2022

59
Q

What is the most well known producer of Bennet Valley AVA?

A

(in Sonoma Valley)

Matanzas Creek

60
Q

Describe the climate of Bennet Valley AVA?

A

in Sonoma Valley, plantings between 400 and 1,100 feet. The elevation, along with exposure to the Petaluma Gap through Crane Canyon, results in a climate that is cooler than that of many other areas of the Sonoma Valley. Soils are volcanic—eroded lava and tuff—though greater alluvial content is encountered at lower sites

known for sauvignon blanc!

61
Q

Which Sonoma AVA lies almost directly west of Mount Veeder AVA? What is the elevation there?

A

Moon Mounain, in Sonoma Valley. The AVA extends from 400 up to about 2,700 feet in elevation. The fog sits in between, at around 800 feet, creating dramatically different growing conditions depending on elevation.

62
Q

What are Verité’s 3 bottlings?

A

La Joie is based on Cabernet Sauvignon,
La Muse on Merlot, and
Le Désir on Cabernet Franc.

all around $400 retail

63
Q

AVAs within Solano County?

A

Solano County Green Valley
Suisun Valley

64
Q

Newest AVA in Napa?

A

Crystal Springs AVA, 2024, becomes the 18th appellation in Napa. In NW Napa, near Howell Mountain, Calistoga, St Helena

65
Q

Charles Krug

A

credited with establishing Napa Valley’s first commercial winery in 1861. His success and leadership sparked a wave of new growth, and by 1889 there were more than 140 wineries in operation, including Schramsberg (founded in 1862), Beringer (1876) and Inglenook (1879).

66
Q

George Calvert Yount

A

First to plant grapes in Napa, in 1839. He received a 12,000 acre land grant from General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo in 1836

67
Q

When was US Prohibition?

A

1920 - 18th Amendment, passed in 1919
1933 - repeal with the 21st Amendment

68
Q

Napa Valley Vintners

A

early vintners realized they would be more successful working together than on their own. In 1944, seven vintners signed the agreement of association that formed the Napa Valley Vintners trade association, now 539 wineries strong.

69
Q

how many AVAs in Sonoma? Napa?

most recent in each?

A

Sonoma 19 - most recent West Sonoma Coast in 2022

Napa 18- most recent Crystal Springs in 2024

70
Q

Mexican American War - when? result?

A

from 1846 to 1848; at its conclusion, a swath of land including California was ceded to the United States.

71
Q

What was Mayacamas winery originally?

A

Fisher- it was one of the foundational wineries in Napa

72
Q

AVAs granted in 2024?

A

Contra Costa CA
Comptche CA
Yucaipa Valley CA
San Luis Rey CA
Crystal Springs of Napa Valley

Upper Cumberland TN

73
Q

CA’s 5 regional AVAs

A

North Coast
Sierra Foothills
San Francisco Bay
Central Coast
South Coast

74
Q

AVAs of Lake County

A

Benmore
Big Valley Distict-Lake
Clear Lake
Guenoc Valley
High Balley
Kelsey Bench-Lake County
Long Valley Lake County
Red Hills-Lake County
Upper Lake Valley

75
Q

monopole AVAs Mendocino

A

McDowell - McDowell Valley winery;

Cole Ranch - Esterlina

76
Q

Napa vs Bordeaux size

A

1/8th the size (45,000 acres vs. 290,000)

77
Q

Average cost of Cabernet grapes by ton - Napa vs Sonoma

A

in 2023

Napa CS: $9,080
Sonoma: $2882

78
Q

Napa average yield

A

3.5 to 6.5 tons per acre

79
Q

Howell Mountain AVA - elevation

A

vines must be at least 1400 ft- above fog line

most between 1400 and 2200

80
Q

Napa varietal Merlot bottlings

A

Keenan
Duckhorn 3 Palms,
Switchback Ridge,
Arietta,

81
Q

Napa varietal Cabernet Franc bottlings

A

Keenan
La Jota CF,
Gallica CF,
Larkin,
Palazzo,
Ovid Hexameter (CF dominant)

82
Q

Green Valley producers

A

Freeman,
Kosta Browne,
Iron horse,
Small Vines

83
Q

“estate bottled”

A

100% vineyard land owned or controlled by winery and all in the same AVA

84
Q

US wine law is regulated by ___?

A

Tax and Trade Bureau

85
Q

largest continuous vineyard in US?

A

San Bernabe vineyard 5,000 acres - Central Valley, Mckinley Springs in HHH, Columbia Valley - 2800acres (1130ha)

Largest vineyard in Europe is in Romania on Transylvanian Plateau

86
Q

Fort Ross Seaview AVA
elevation
soil
producers

A

Elevation: 920–1,800 feet

Soil: Sandstone (thin, rocky, and free-draining)

Failla, Flowers, Fort Ross Vineyard, Red Car

87
Q

Alexander Valley AVA
elevation
soil
producers

A

Elevation: 400–2,500 feet

Soil: Alluvial gravel

Alexander Valley Vineyards, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stonestreet, Rodney Strong

88
Q

West Sonoma Coast AVA
elevation
soil
producers

A

Average Elevation: 500–1,000 feet

Soil: Franciscan Complex, Wilson Grove Formation, and Alluvial soils

Littorai, Hirsch Vineyards, Peay Vineyards

89
Q

Moon Mountain District AVA
elevation
soil
producers

A

Elevation: 400–2,700 feet

Soil: Mostly volcanic alongside sedimentary and alluvial

Monte Rosso Vineyard, Montecillo Vineyard

90
Q

first $100 CA wine

A

1978 Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard Cabernet

91
Q

AVAs in Mayacamas Mtns

A

Mt. Veeder
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District

92
Q

AVAs in Vaca Mtns

A

Howell Mountain
Atlas Peak

93
Q

what is a bench in Napa?

A

Alluvial fan - the transition between rocky hillsides and valley floor. Gently sloping well-drained earth.

mostly in the western foothills

94
Q

Max degree slope for new plantings in Napa?

A

30 degrees

95
Q

Wild Horse Valley AVA

A

Napa Valley - shared with Solano County
Heron Lake Vineyard

96
Q

AVAs within Sonoma Coast

A

West Sonoma Coast AVA
Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Petaluma Gap AVA

97
Q

Napa coolest AVAs

A

Mt Veeder
Oak Knoll

98
Q

Napa warmer AVAs

A

Calistoga St Helena

99
Q

Coolest AVAs Sonoma

A

Carneros
Green Valley
Bennet Valley
Petaluma Gap

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