California Flashcards
5 larger California regions?
North Coast
Central Coast
Inland Valleys
Sierra Foothills
Southern California
What did Andre Tchelistcheff bring to the California wine industry?
Acted as consultant and pioneer winemaker
Temp-control fermentation
Winery hygiene
Techniques to prevent disease/frost
Impact of phylloxera in Cali?
Struck in 1980s
Led to re-evaluation of site selection
New varietals/planting material
Focus on quantity over quality
Important California climate elements?
Coast Ranges - shelter from Ocean
Fog
High diurnal range
Air flow - reduced fungal disease/frost
Wildfires
Sustainability in Cali?
85% of wine comes from a winery with sustainability certification
Organic is rare - no SO2
Winemaking and history of concentrated reds?
Started in 1990s due to demand/critical acclaim
Uses Green-harvesting and long hang time
Very ripe, concentrated, full bodied, and high alcohol
Describe Zinfandel:
Uneven ripening
Med+ Acid
Jammy raspberry, blueberry, blackberry
Medium/Full body
Med+ ripe tannins
American oak
Describe White Zinfandel:
Short maceration method
Medium pink
Fermentation stopped early - medium dry
Low alcohol
Medium acidity
Medium body
Strawberry and fruit candy
Describe Syrah in Cali:
Grown in cooler areas
Med/Med+ body
Med+ acid
Med+ tannin
Plum, blackberry, spice
Describe Pinot Gris in Cali:
Dry but fruity
Peach, pear, melon
Describe Petite Sirah:
AKA Durif
Late-ripening
Deeply colored
Full bodied
Black fruit, spice notes
Define Estate Bottled:
Made and bottled at winery
Grapes must come from the same AVA as the producer
All vineyards owned or controlled by producer
Production and export of Cali? Grape growers, wineries?
26 mil hL production
3.3 mil hL exported
5900 growers
4800 wineries
Relevance of Gallo?
Founded in Modesto in 1933
Largest wine company in the world
6.3 mil hL
Owns largest brand Barefoot
Sub-regions of North Coast, and their main feature:
Mendocino County
Lake County
Sonoma County
Napa County
Mayacamas mountains run through
Describe Mendocino:
Includes 13 AVAs - Anderson Valley, Mendocino, Redwood Valley, etc.
Coastal areas (Anderson) known for Pinot, Chard, aromatic whites
Inland (Redwood) known for Zin, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cab Sauv
Describe Anderson Valley:
High rain
Warm with cool air funneled along Navarro River
Pinot Noir and Chard, aromatic whites (Alsace)
Williams Selyem
Describe Lake County:
Between Mayacamas and Vaca
Warm climate
Clear Lake - largest natural lake in Cali
Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc
7 Sub-AVAs
Describe Sonoma County:
Includes Northern Sonoma, Sonoma Coast, and Sonoma Valley
18 Sub-AVAs
AVA’s in Northern Sonoma?
Alexander Valley
Knights Valley
Russian River Valley
Green River Valley
Chalk Hill
Dry Creek Valley