CALIFORNIA

Question 1

What are the 5 main black grapes planted in California? Which one is the most widely planted?

Answer 1

1. Cabernet Sauvignon, most widely planted.
2. Zinfandel
3. Merlot
4. Syrah
5. Pinot Noir

Question 2

What are the 2 main white grapes planted in California?

Answer 2

1. Chardonnay
2. Sauvignon Blanc

Question 3

What are the climatic influenced that affect Sonoma Coast AVA? What grapes grow best here?

Answer 3

Sonoma Coast AVA receives moderating, cooling effects from the Pacific Ocean. The ocean influence allows for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to be grown best here.

Question 4

What is the climate like in Russian River AVA? What is grown here and where is it located?

Answer 4

Russian River AVA receives a cooling and moderating effect from fog and cool ocean breezes. This AVA is known for premium Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and wines made in T.M from the 2 varieties.

Question 5

What is the climate like in Alexander Valley? What is grown here?

Answer 5

Alexander Valley is located inland in northern California. The climate here is warm and produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 6

What is the climate like in Dry Creek Valley? What is grown here?

Answer 6

Warm, inland climate known for old-vine zinfandel and sauvignon blanc.

Question 7

What are the AVA’s located in Sonoma county? (5)

Answer 7

Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Los Carneros (shared with Napa)

Question 8

What are the main AVA’s located in Mendocino county? (2)

Answer 8

Mendocino AVA, Anderson Valley AVA

Question 9

What grapes are grown in Mendocino County? What is the principal grape?

Answer 9

Cabernet Sauvignon is the main planting, Zinfandel, Syrah

Question 10

What grapes are grown in Anderson Valley? What is the climate like?

Answer 10

Very cool climate, Riesling and Gewurtztraminer

Question 11

What is the climate like in Central Valley? What is planted here, what quality, and what farming practices are used? What is the AVA located in Central Valley?

Answer 11

The climate is warm to hot, located in the desert. Irrigation is widely used to battle drought in this climate. Central Valley is known for high-volume wines labelled as California, made from Cab Sauv or Zinfandel. The AVA is located between Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Vally is Lodi AVA

Question 12

What is Lodi AVA known for?

Answer 12

Premium zinfandel made from old vines.

Question 13

What do Old Vines produce?

Answer 13

Old vines produce smaller yields, concentrating the flavours in the grapes they produce and creating more premium quality wines.

Question 14

What are the main climatic influences in the Napa Valley?

Answer 14

Fog from the San Pablo bay roll in through the south of Napa Valley. Altitude plays a role in influencing the quality of the wine.

Question 15

What does fog provide for grapes?

Answer 15

Fog protects the grapes from the sun, retaining acidity and lengthening the ripening process. Fog can lower the temperature of the vineyard and assist with the diurnal shift.

Question 16

In Napa, where is most affected from fog?

Answer 16

Los Carneros region gets affected the most from fog from the San Pablo Bay.

Question 17

What is grown in Los Carneros?

Answer 17

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown in Los Carneros. Fog moderates the daytime temperatures allowing these grapes to be grown here.

Question 18

What AVA’s of Napa are located along the Napa river, from S-N. What is grown here?

Answer 18

Stags Leap, Oakville, Yountville and Rutherford. These AVA’s are known for premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is the premiere white grape.

Question 19

What style of wine does Rutherford produce compared to Stag’s Leap, Oakville and Yountville?

Answer 19

Warmer more northern region produces wines with more structure and body.

Question 20

What are the most Northern AVA’s located in Napa? What does this mean?

Answer 20

Calistoga and St Helena, most northern AVA’s receive the hottest temperatures with little moderating effects of fog from the San Pablo Bay.

Question 21

What is a moderating effect on the climate of Saint Helena and Calistoga?

Answer 21

The Chalk Hill Gap, brings in cool breezes from Sonoma that assist with cooling the vineyards and a larger diurnal shift.

Question 22

What is grown in St Helena and Calistoga?

Answer 22

Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape.

Question 23

What are 2 westerly facing AVA’s in Napa? What does this do to the wine and what moderates the climate? What is the premiere grape?

Answer 23

Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain face west in Napa, and receive the most sunshine but get moderating effects from the altitude. The wines are high in tannin and alcohol. Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 24

What are the 3 easterly facing AVA’s in Napa? What moderates the climate? What is the premiere grape?

Answer 24

Spring Mountain Districts, Diamond mountain district and Mount Veeder are all easterly facing. They receive cooling effects from the altitude. Cabernet Sauvignon.