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WSET D3 > California > Flashcards

California Flashcards

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1
Q

Production

A

80% of all US wine
*California state = 4th largest producer after Italy, France and Spain!

total volume sales 2018 = 26 million hectares (3.3 million exported)

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2
Q

Land under vine

A

250,000 ha
*located throughout state: Pacific coastline, interior of Central Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills

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3
Q

AVA’s (Large)

A

North Coast
Central Coast
Inland Valleys (Central Valley)
Sierra Foothills
Southern California

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4
Q

History

A

Spanish missionaries
Gold Rush population increase 1849+
late 19th century: established regions; UC Davis
1890’s overplanting = drop in grape and wine prices
1920-1933 = Prohibition (stopped manufacture, transportation, sale, possession of alcohol)
1930’s-1960’s rebuilding
mid-late 20th century: Chardonnay and Cab Sauv
*Robert Mondavi
*Andre Tchelistcheff

1976 Paris Tasting: 1973 Stag’s Leap Cab and 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

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5
Q

AXR1 Rootstock

A

higher yield
*not sufficiently resistant to phylloxera
*1980s = large scale replanting required

reevaluate site selection, choice of pruning material and canopy management: focus on quality over quantity

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6
Q

Climate

A

Mediterranean overall (does not have marked contrasts in seasonal climate like continental)
two main influences:
1. Pacific Ocean
*California current brings water from cold water from north; upwelling along the west coast
2. Mountain ranges that run length of state
*vineyards with mountain protection are warm to hot; topography more influential than degrees latitude (some of the coolest areas also the most southerly)

**growing season relatively dry with dry autumns (extended growing season)

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7
Q

Coast Ranges Gaps

A

far north to Santa Barbara County = some shelter from ocean
*gaps (usually when a river breaks through) = ocean influence felt further inland
*as temps rise during day, warm air rises and sucks cooler air from the coast in the afternoon an evenings (high diurnal range)
*reduces risk of disease/frost
*winds = causes closing of stomata (slows ripening)

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8
Q

Coast Ranges Fog

A

*fog forms in afternoons in can last until morning = cooling, reduces exposure to sunshine
*when fog burns off, intense sunlight (32-42 degrees N)
*vineyards at altitude usually above the fog line (lower temps, but higher sunlight intensity) = greater color and tannins in black grapes
*areas without coastal influence = much warmer (Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys = Central Valleys)

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9
Q

Warm Regions

A

*areas without coastal influence = much warmer Central Valleys: Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley

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10
Q

Water

A

irrigation is common;
lack of rainfall; drought diminishes groundwater supplies

*local water sustainability agencies: water management schemes (greater monitoring and regulation of water use)

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11
Q

Pierce’s disease

A

bacterial, spread by leafhopper insects = sharpshooters

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12
Q

Frost

A

issue on valley floors
*sprinklers
*wind machines

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13
Q

Wildfires

A

damage vines and wineries
*smoke taint in the grapes over broader area

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14
Q

Sustainability

A

85% of wineries certified by one of the following:

California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (Certified Sustainable);
Napa Green Winery, Sonoma County Winegrowers, Lodi Rules

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15
Q

Organic

A

growing

to be labelled ‘Organic Wine’ = no additional SO2 in the winemaking process

more wines labelled as ‘certified organic grapes’
*some growers do not see the value in certification but grow organically

**small proportion biodynamic

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16
Q

Grapes

A

2/3 wine (the rest table grapes/raisons)
*63% black

predominantly Cab and Chard (each at just under 20% of state’s wine plantings)

17
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon

A

sites with coastal influence: fresher, black fruit, some herbal, less body, lower alcohol
*vineyard management and harvesting dates important to style
*green-harvesting and long ‘hang times’ = very concentrated, very ripe styles, full body, high alcohol
*almost all aged in oak (high percentages common, but times in barrel shorter)

18
Q

Rules for labelling

A

single grape variety = 75%
California = 100%
County (ex. Sonoma County) = 75%
AVA = 85%
Named vineyard = 95%

AVA + vintage = 95% from stated vintage
County or state + vintage = 85% from stated vintage

“estate bottled” = winery and vineyards in same AVA (approval of very large AVA = large wineries with vineyards spread apart can still label as estate bottled)

19
Q

Merchants; Grower/merchants

A

5,900 growers; 4,800 bonded wineries

*common to purchase fruit to supplement estate fruit; also to sell estate fruit to other wineries
**can be different AVA or different county; blended with estate: labelled within larger AVA (ex. Central Coast) or kept separate (ex. Rutherford producer makes Chardonnay from Carneros fruit)

possible to produce wide variety of wine

20
Q

Independent growers

A

key to California model of business
*farm 1000s of hectares
*grapes from quality-conscious growers in high demand especially from top vineyards
*grape prices vary depending on supply/demand
*head-graft vines based on consumer preference
*prices fluctuate based on region and grape variety (ex. Cab Sauv; Napa Valley fruit 10X price of Lodi fruit)

21
Q

E & J Gallo

A

largest wine company in world
*70 million cases sold 2018
*owns largest selling brand: Barefoot Cellars

22
Q

Cult wines

A

Screaming Eagle; Harlan

23
Q

North Coast AVA

A

100 miles down Pacific coastline; 50 miles inland
*includes parts of Napa County, Sonoma County, Mendocino County and Lake County
*Mayacamas Mountains divide Mendocino County and Lake County; extend 50 miles into Napa and Sonoma to San Pablo Bay

24
Q

Mendocino County

A

1 million hectares; 7,000 ha under vine
*Pacific to west, Lake County to east, Sonoma County to south
*cooler toward ocean, warmer inland
*coastal AVAs (Anderson Valley) = PN, Chardonnay, aromatic whites
*inland AVAs (Redwood Valley) = Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon
*high altitude inland (Potter Valley) = SB, Riesling

*grapes generally priced lower than Sonoma, Napa
*grapes often used for multi-regional blends

25
Q

Mendocino County AVAs

A

13 AVAs
Mendocino AVA (covers 6)
*Anderson Valley
*Yorkville Highlands
*McDowell Valley
*Potter Valley
*Redwood Valley
*Cole Ranch

26
Q

Lake County

A

Lake County (covers 7)
*Clear Lake (largest with 4 sub AVAs)

*in rain shadow of Mayacamas Mountains to west and Vaca Range to east = warm climate
*most vineyards in S around Clear Lake (California’s largest natural lake)
*actual lake takes up half of AVA = afternoon breezes
*vineyards planted on slopes and ridges around lake (400-450 m) = cooling

200 ha
*Cab Sauv and SB

27
Q

Anderson Valley AVA

A

valley runs NW to SE; just a couple of miles from the Pacific to the north and farther inland in the south

85 wineries
*cellar door sales

wineries outside of area buy Anderson Valley fruit t make appellation or vineyard specific wine (esp. PN)

Littorai, Willians Selyem

28
Q

Anderson Valley AVA Climate

A

warm daytime temps
cold air and fog funneled inland along Navarro River = cold evenings and mornings
*inland = valley narrows and flow of ocean breezes and fog is restricted (warmer)

plentiful precipitation: 900-2,000 mm per year (mostly in winter and spring)
*NW = wettest
*risk of frost in low-lying vineyard areas

29
Q

Anderson Valley AVA grapes

A

1,000 ha
early ripening Pinot Noir and Chardonnay most planted
*style varies (site climate, clones, harvest time)
*generally fresh raspberry, cherry, plum fruit, medium body, medium (+) acidity

**Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc

30
Q

Sonoma County

A

North Coast: Sonoma County

18 AVAs; 3 overarching AVAs (Northern Sonoma AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA, Sonoma Valley AVA)

31
Q

Northern Sonoma AVA

A

WSET D3 (7 decks)

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