California Flashcards
What factors effect the climate in California
Pacific Ocean - foggy pm, wind reduce fungal diseases
Diurnal range - slows ripening, acidity
Gaps in mountains range fog inland
California current - upwelling m low autumn rain - harvest later
Hazards growing grapes
Drought - irrigation Wild fires Spring frosts - sprinklers Wind Pierces disease
Main black grapes varieties
Cab sav
Zinfandel
Merlot
P noir
Main white grapes
Chardonnay
Sav blanc
P noir winemaking trend
Harvest early
Whole bunch fermentation
Or some stems - tannins, aromas, complexity
Viticulture cab sav
Green harvest
Where is Chardonnay grown
Napa
Russian river valley
Low Carneros
Central Valley m
Where is cab sav grown
Napa
Central Valley
Style of cab sav from California
F body
Concentrated cassis
Spice new oak
Characteristics Zinfandel
Ripens unevenly
Ripens early
Style Zinfandel
Premium M+ acidity H abv M to f body Ripe m+ tannins Raspberry blueberry blackberry Fresh and dried American oak - vanilla
Inexpensive soft ripe jammy staves for oak flavours
Style of Zinfandel
Red and black fruits
Dried berries
F body h abv
Style merlot napa & sonoma
Soft velvet tannins
H abv
F body m
Plum blackberry
Where is merlot grown
Premium- Napa, sonoma, Santa Maria
Inexpensive- central valley
Which regions are know on for p noir
Russian river valley
Santa Maria
Low Carneros
Style of p noir California
Ripe red fruits
Sweet spuce
Most planted grape
Chardonnay
Style Chardonnay Central Valley
Inexpensive Residual sugar Fruity M acidity Poss toast - staves
Style napa Chardonnay
M to f body H abv M acidity Oak hazelnut butter Tropical stone
Recently less oak fresher & leaner
Coombville abs napa is where
Valley floor n napa just above los Carneros
Higher acidity area
Oakville same as above too
Which areas produce more restrained premium Chardonnay
Russian river valley
Los Carneros
Which areas produce best sav Blanc
Coastal
What are the 3 regions in California that contain the most well known Ava’s
North coast
Central coast
Central valley
Which Ava’s in napa are on the valley floor
Los Carneros - Pinot chard Stags leap - prem cab sav Oakville - prem cab sav Rutherford- prem cab sav Saint Helena - diurnal range cab sav Calistoga - diurnal range cool air
Ava’s in napa on valley sides
Howell mountain Mount veeder Altitude not fog cooling influence W facing warmer than e Cab sav h abv but less rich
Which counties sit under north coast
Napa
Sonoma
Mendocino
Geographical features napa
San Pablo bay fog
Mayacamas mountains on west
Los Carneros Ava in napa is the most southerly vineyard which grapes are grown and why
Pinot noir
Chardonnay
Cooler
Premium cab sav is renowned in which napa Ava’s
Stags leap district
Oakville
Rutherford
Which Ava considered to have most powerful and structured cab sav in napa
Rutherford
Warmest during day least ocean influence
Which Ava’s in napa receive the warmest day time temps and which grapes grown
Saint Helena
Calistoga - pacific breeze cooling factor from mountain gap
Cab sav main grape
Some Zinfandel & Syrah
Which 2 Ava’s in napa on valley sides cooled by altitude
Howell mountain
Mount veeder
Style of wines valley sides napa
F body
H abv
Higher tannins
Less rich
Climate & grapes Russian river valley in sonoma county
Cool
Foggy
Breaks in coastal range
Elegant h quality Pinot & Chardonnay
Which variety is Alexander valley ava known for in sonoma
Cab sav
Altitude & w/sw aspect give lots of sunshine - colour tannins & acidity altitude
Which black & white variety is dry valley creek known for in sonoma county
Old vine Zinfandel- black fruits
Sauvignon Blanc
Rhône varies & cab sav
In sonoma coast Ava how are vineyards often planted to mitigate cold Pacific Ocean influence
S facing slopes
Dry valley creek topography
W facing slopes Riper Jammier Dried fruits Warmer
E facibg slooes
Fresher
Dry valley creek climate mitigating factors
San Pablo bay breeze & fog
Most well known abs in Mendocino county
Anderson valley
N California
Ocean influence - cool
Riesling & gewurtz
What grape is Mendocino Ava known for
Cab sav
Central Valley climate
Hot Mediterranean
Dry - irrigation
No ocean influence
Fertile soil
Most famous Ava in Central Valley & grape variety
Lodi
Zinfandel
Style Lodi Zinfandel
M to f bodm to m+ acidity
Ripe tannins
Cherry blueberry blackberry
Climate features Lodi
Hot Mediterranean Cool breezes San Francisco Bay - low disease pressure Low rainfall- irrigation Sandy soil Vsp trellised & cordon or old bush vines
Most famous ava in Santa Barbera county and which grapes known for
Santa Maria valley
Prem Pinot & Chardonnay (abc)
Santa Maria valley Ava climate
Cooler
Low lying fog covers vineyards- slows ripening
Diurnal range
Santa ynez valley Ava in Santa Barbara county us known for which grape varieties
Syrah
Bordeaux blends
Warmer in inland areas
Sta Rita hills ava a sub ava of Santa ynez valley is known for which variety
Premium Pinot First area to get fog & breeze M+ to h acidity M+ tannins Tea leaves black fruits savoury
Which is the most well known ava in San Luis Obispo region
Paso Robles ava
Climate abs wine style paso Robles
E hot, fertile- fruity , high volume, f body ripe wines
W marine air - high quality Zinfandel & Rhône varieties, higher acidity
Santa Cruz mountains in central coast climate
Moderate
Hills
Infertile soil
What grapes are grown in Santa Cruz ava in central coast
Cab sav - elegant
Pinot
Chardonnay
What grapes is Monterey ava in central coast known for
By coast - Chardonnay & Pinot
Inland - Syrah, merlot cab sav where less windy
Climate Monterey
Ocean influence
Strong winds
Largest producing region in USA
California > 80%
Key influence in California
Judgement of paris
Min % of grape variety on label or county
75 but 85% if ava named
Min % if vintage or vineyard mentioned
95
V few estate wineries in California true or false
True
Wine business
Merchants buy grapes or grower merchants
What is typical of the number of growers in California
Lots of them- price S&d based
How do wineries react to consumer demand changes
Head graft
Wines sold
Cellar door
Clubs
