California Flashcards
How many wineries did you find in Napa Valley in 1960?
25
How many acres of vines had to be replanted in California after the phylloxera hit in the mid 1980’? Which rootstock was responsible of this? Which main rootstock remained unaffected by the attack?
35,000 acres (three out every four vines had to be replaced)
AxR#1 was the culprit – Vines on St George (rupestris) rootstocks survived.
What are the red grapes authorized for a red “Meritage”?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and the rarer St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère (Meritage Alliance website)
Which ones of these historical wineries were not founded during the 19th century ? • Buena Vista • Beringer • Beaulieu Estate • Schramsberg • Inglenook • Diamond Creek
- Buena Vista (1851)
- Beringer (1876 first vineyard planted, 1884 winery built)
- Beaulieu Estate (1900/1909)
- Schramsberg (1862)
- Inglenook (1879)
- Diamond Creek (1967)
Who is said to have “invented” White Zinfandel?
Bob Trinchero at Sutter Home Winery in 1975, when a batch of Amador Zinfandel refused to ferment to dryness.
In 2012, Sonoma County compared to Napa County has:
• The same amount of acres of chardonnay planted
• Twice more
• Four times more
• Ten times more
Twice more (15,225 vs 7,165)
10 Californian wines were declared “Wine of the Year” by the Wine Spectator since the creation of the “Top 100” in 1988– could you name 3 of them, including their AVA and the grapes used? Two Californian wineries won twice the title, which ones?
- 2012 = Shafer Vineyards, 2008 Relentless Syrah-Petite Sirah, Napa Valley
- 2011 = Kosta-Brown, 2009 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
- 2010 = Saxum, 2007 James Berry Vineyard Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre, Paso Robles
- 2005 = Joseph Phelps, 2002 Insignia – Bordeaux Blend (dominant Cabernet Sauvignon), Napa Valley
- 2003 = Paloma, 2001 Merlot, Spring Mountain District
- 1999 = Chateau St. Jean, 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages, Sonoma County
- 1996 = Beringer, 1994 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley
- 1994 = Caymus, 1990 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
- 1990 = Beringer, 1986 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
- 1989 = Caymus, 1984 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
For these AVA / area, give the dominant soil component: • Sta. Rita Hills • Calistoga • Edna Valley • Rutherford • Monte Bello • Monterrey • Chalone • Mount Harlan • Arroyo Seco • Russian River Valley
- Sta. Rita Hills = diatomaceous soils, which are fossilized seashells with a mix of sandy loams and alluvial deposits
- Calistoga = almost all volcanic – rocks, stones and cobble-littered loam soils on the hillside / heavier clay and loam on the valley floor
- Edna Valley = shallow, well-drained soils heavy in both volcanic and sedimentary sediment (sand, seashells, whale fossils) – a chain of volcanic cones called the Nine Sisters stretches from Edna into the sea
- Rutherford = western soils are gravelly-sandy and alluvial, with moderate fertility ; eastern soils are more volcanic
- Monte Bello = clay loam soil with fractured limestone
- Monterrey = predominantly sandy
- Chalone = limestone and quartz
- Mount Harlan = limestone (calcium carbonate)
- Arroyo Seco = “Greenfield potatoe” (for the gravelly soil and the name of the town within the AVA), alluvial deposit (gravel, rock and sand)
- Russian River Valley = Fertile alluvial soils, such as “Goldridge” sandy loam, characterize the valley
Which of these 2 AVAs has the longest growing season – Santa Maria Valley or Russian River Valley?
Santa Maria. Bud break can occur as early as February, and during harvest the average temperature reaches only the high 70F (Russian River would be at the same day around 90F). It makes it a great area for Burgundy grape varieties.
In Paso Robles, what is the equivalent to the Petaluma Gap for Sonoma/Napa?
The Templeton Gap
In 2012, how many acres are planted in California?
546.000 acres
Who produces these single vineyards? • Mills • Ambassador’s 1953 vineyard • Clos du Ciel • Lake Vineyard
- Mills = Calera
- Ambassador’s 1953 vineyard = Hanzell
- Clos du Ciel = Peter Michael
- Lake Vineyard = Diamond Creek
The French Connection in California – fill the blank with the appropriate name
In 1833, the first commercial winery in California was established by a Bordelais, ______________, who also imported the first direct cuttings from Europe and exported for the first time _ _______________who founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900. He was the one also who hired the Russian oenologue trained in France _ _______________, who became “dean of American winemakers”. Another pioneer who emigrated from Burgundy was _ _______________, who created the “Mountain Winery” in the Santa Cruz area (later to be bought by Martin Ray) and who popularized sparkling wines at the beginning of the XXth century. Today, some French owners, winemakers and consultant are still involved in Californian wineries: _ _______________at Peter Michael, _ _______________at Dominus, _ _______________, chief-winemaker at Mondavi, _ _______________, partner in HdV in Carneros, _ _______________, new owner of Araujo Estate, _ _______________daughter of Baron Philippe from Mouton and still involved in Opus One, _ _______________, owner and winemaker of Vérité, _ _______________of l’Aventure, etc.
In 1833, the first commercial winery in California was established by a Bordelais, Jean-Louis Vignes, who also imported the first direct cuttings from Europe and exported for the first time Californian wines. Another early pioneers of California’s wine industry was George de Latour who founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900. He was the one also who hired the Russian oenologue trained in France Andre Tchelistcheff, who became “dean of American winemakers”. Another pioneer who emigrated from Burgundy was Paul Masson, who created the “Mountain Winery” in the Santa Cruz area (later to be bought by Martin Ray) and who popularized sparkling wines at the beginning of the XXth century. Today, some French owners, winemakers and consultant are still involved in Californian wineries: Nicolas Morlet at Peter Michael, Christian Moueix at Dominus, Genevieve Janssens, chief-winemaker at Mondavi, Aubert de Villaine, partner in HdV in Carneros, Francois Pinault, new owner of Araujo Estate, Philippine de Rothschild daughter of Baron Philippe from
Mouton and still involved in Opus One, Pierre Seillan, owner and winemaker of Vérité, Stephane Asseo of l’Aventure, etc.
Fairplay AVA is encompassed by a larger sub-AVA of the Sierra Foothills – which one?
El Dorado AVA
Rank these AVAs from the youngest to the oldest – which one is the closest to the ocean? • Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara • Santa Ynez Valley • Sta Rita Hills • Santa Maria Valley
- Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara – 2009
- Sta Rita Hills – 2001, with a name change in 2006
- Santa Ynez Valley – 1983
- Santa Maria Valley – 1981
Sta Rita Hills is the closest (which can be 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Santa Ynez, which can be 10 degrees cooler than Happy Canyon)
