California Flashcards
Describe the climate of California.
Climate influenced by the California Ocean current rather than latitude; gaps in the mountains allow cold air and fog to moderate. Inland is hot. Low rainfall during growing season, which leads to risk of drought, however, the extra hang time in the fall can lead to grapes with concentrated, ripe flavors.
What are the most widely planted grapes in California?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
What appellation system is used in the US?
American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs, do not restrict the types of grapes grown (but do provide minimum percentages for the varietal, area and vintage that appears on the label. State and County appellations are also used. AVAs often overlap or are nested.
What are the 3 key wine regions of California?
North Coast - north of San Francisco Bay
Central Coast -
Central Valley - encompasses Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
Describe the climate of Napa Valley AVA?
Napa is a small AVA situated between the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vacas to the east, producing some of the most prestigious wine in the world. Vineyards exist on the valley floor as well as the sides. Morning fog and breeze from the San Pablo Bay moderates the temperature.
What sub appellations are known for what wines in Napa Valley floor?
Los Carneros - high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, due to cooling influence of San Pablo Bay.
Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford - valley floor, least influence from the bay, many varietals but best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, which successfully ripens here.
Saint Helena and Calistoga - highest daytime temperatures, focus on Cabernet, but also Zinfandel and Syrah
What are the important sub appellations on the Valley sides?
Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak - warmer, west-facing
Diamond Mountain District, Spring Mountain District, Mount Veeder - facing east
What are the important AVAs of Sonoma County?
Russian River Valley is cooled by the Petaluma Valley and makes elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays
Dry Creek Valley is a warmer–old vine Zin on the hillside, Sauvignon Blanc on the valley floor.
Alexander Valley warmer still, full bodied Cabs and international varieties
Sonoma Coast, heavily influenced by the Pacific Ocean
Anderson Valley is cool, Riesling and Gewurztraminer; located within Mendocino County, which is warmer and drier, and known for Cabernet, Zin and Syrah.
What is the Central Valley known for?
Encompassing the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley, the Central Valley relies heavily on drip irrigation and produces the bulk of California’s high-volume, inexpensive wine.
The exception is Lodi, moderated by the Sacramento Delta, is home to some of the oldest and best Zinfandel in the world.
What are Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey AVA known for?
Santa Cruz - infertile soil which produces concentrated Cab, Chard and Pinot
Monterey - strongly influenced by Pacific Ocean, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive in the cooler areas; also Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Santa Lucia Highlands is particularly known for Chardonnay
What are the conditions in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties like?
The ocean breezes blow through gaps in the mountains that lie east-west as opposed to north-south, cooling the south most part of Central Coast.
What are some key AVAs in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara?
Paso Robles - east high volume, west cooled by marine air known for Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
Santa Maria Valley - cooler, known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Santa Ynez Valley - warmer, Syrah and Bordeaux
Sta. Rita Hills - much cooler so Chard, Pinot and aromatic varieties do well here.
