California Flashcards
Name 3 producers who bottle a vineyard designated wine from To-Kalon?
- Schrader
- Paul Hobbs
- Tor Kenwood
- Realm Cellars
- Provenance
- Alpha Omega
- Morlet
- Mondavi
- MacDonald
What are the 6 AVAs that fall under Mendocino AVA?
- Anderson Valley
- Cole Ranch
- McDowell Valley
- Potter Valley
- Redwood Valley
- Yorkville Highlands
Who established To-Kalon vineyard?
HW Crabb (1868)
What unique soil component is found in Red Hills AVA?
obsidian
Name 2 producers located in Pritchard Hill
- Chappellet
- Bryant Family
- Colgin
- Continuum
- Ovid
- David Arthur Vineyards
What iconic winery was started by Agoston Haraszthy in 1857?
Buena Vista
What was Napa’s 1st commercial winery and in what year was it established?
Charles Krug (1861)
Who founded Inglenook and in what year?
Gustav Niebaum (1880)
What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma County?
Knight’s Valley
Where is Kongsgaard’s Judge Vineyard located?
Coombsville AVA
What is the only commercial winery located in Mount Harlan AVA?
Calera
Rattlesnake Ridge and Dunn Vineyards are located in what AVA?
Howell Mountain
Cab sauv makes up what percentage of Napa Valley’s acreage?
46%
In what AVA is To-Kalon?
Oakville
What 2 large producers are headquartered in Lodi?
- Sutter Home
- Robert Mondavi Woodbridge
Where is Ridge Monte Bello located?
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, Central Coast
Lodi AVA spans what 2 counties?
- Sacramento
- San Joaquin
What are the 3 basic bedrocks of Napa?
- Great Valley Sequence (marine sedimentary)
- Franciscan Complex (metamorphic)
- Napa/Sonoma Volcanics
What 6 counties make up the North Coast of California?
- Napa
- Sonoma
- Medocino
- Lake
- Marin
- Solano
In what AVA is the Monte Rosso vineyards located?
Moon Mountain AVA
What was the first vintage of Kendall-Jackson’s Vintners Reserve Chardonnay?
1982
The slopes of the Mayacamas face what direction?
east
In what year did Stags Leap become an AVA?
1989
What Champagne house owns Domaine Carneros?
Taittinger
Where is Mayacamas Winery located?
Mt. Veeder
Vineyards in Howell Mountain AVA must be planted above what elevation?
1400 ft (above fog line)
What are the most planted red grapes in Mendocino County?
- pinot noir
- cab sauv
- zinfandel
List 3 wineries located in Oakville
- Bonal
- Dalla Valle
- Far Niente
- Groth
- Opus One
- Robert Mondavi
- Screaming Eagle
- Silver Oak
What is Napa’s smallest AVA?
Wild Horse Valley
What Napa Valley AVA is best suited for Merlot and why?
Yountville
- cooler temps
- higher percent of clay
What is unique about Green Valley of Russian River AVA?
- one of the smallest and coolest
- persistent fog
- east facing vineyards
What producer released the 1st single vineyard wine in California?
Heitz Cellars ‘Martha’s Vineyard’
1966
Where is Chalone AVA located?
Monterey County
What wine was the first in California to hit $100 per bottle?
1978 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Where is Bonny Doon located?
Santa Cruz County, Central Coast
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is a high altitude area terraced above what river valley?
Salinas River Valley
What are the 2 main entry points for fog in Napa Valley?
- San Pablo Bay
- Chalk Hill Gap
Who owns Monte Rosso Vineyard?
Louis M Martini
What it the smallest AVA in North America?
Cole Ranch AVA (25 ha)
What was the first winery to bottle with Mendocino County identified on the label?
Parducci
Atlas Peak AVA is dominated by which 2 massive vineyards?
- Stagecoach (Gallo)
- Antinori’s Antica
How was the Great Valley Sequence in Napa formed?
compression of a sand and clay seabed (80-140 mya) formed sandstone and shale bedrock
What are the major varieties of Oak Knoll?
- merlot
- chardonnay
Name two vineyards owned by Beckstoffer
- Dr Crane
- To Kalon
- Bourn
- Las Piedras
- BV #3
What style of grapes are the specialty of Mcdowell AVA?
Rhone varieites
List 3 wineries located in Calistoga
- Chateau Montelena
- Diamon Creek Vineyards
- Eisele
- Larkmead
- Schramsberg
- Storybrook Mountain
In what year was Robert Mondavi’s first harvest?
1966
What percentage of Cali wine comes from the Central valley?
75%
List 3 wineries located in Rutherford
- Beaulieu Vineyard
- cakebread
- Caymus
- Grgich Hills
- Inglenook
- Mumm Napa
- Neyers
What percentage of Cali production comes from Lodi?
20%
What AVA is known for Goldridge soil?
Russian River Valley
What type of soil is Goldridge soil?
sandy loam
In what year did California become a state?
1850
What sparkling house is based in Anderson Valley?
Roederer
Who started Beaulieu Vineyards?
Georges de Latour
Where are Covelo and Dos Rios AVAs located?
northern Mendocino County
Chardonnay accounts for what percentage of plantings in Monterey County?
40%
Why is irrigation essential in Carneros?
hard clay just under topsoil limits root depth
Describe the unique geologic feature of Stags Leap AVA?
knolls deposited by ancient landslides of Vacas provide (rare) east facing slopes and funnel wind that cools vines and prevents diseases
What AVA did Louis Roederer put on the map in the 1980’s?
Anderson Valley AVA, Mendocino
Where is Kistler located?
Trenton, Sonoma County
What are the primary soil types of Howell Mountain AVA?
- volcanic tufa
- red clay
Where is Morgan Winery located?
Monterey County, central Coast
What are the primary grapes in Potter Valley AVA?
- sauv blanc
- riesling
California accounts for what percentage of American wine production?
80%
What are the lowest points in the Napa Valley AVA?
- Oak Knoll
- Carneros (sea level)
Sta. Rita Hills and Ballard Canyon lie within what AVA?
Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County
Napa County accounts for what percentage of California’s acreage?
4%
Mendocino Ridge AVA is limited to vineyards above what elevation?
1200 ft
What wines got first place in the Judgement of Paris?
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
1973 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
In what AVA is the producer Calera found?
Mount Harlan
What is the primary grape in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?
pinot noir
what was the historical training method in California?
California sprawl - wide spaced, rustic, bush trained
Post prohibition, what were the most common fermentation vessels in CA?
- redwood
- cement
what is the most planted grape in Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVAA?
cab sauv
Which 2 mountain ranges border Napa?
- Mayacamas (west)
- Vacas (east)
Green Valley AVA is nested within what AVA?
Russian River Valley
List 3 wineries in Santa Barbara County
- Au Bon Climat
- Beckman
- Bien Nacido
- Brewer Clifton
- Domaine de la Cote
- Piedrasassi
- Palmina
- Qupe
- Peter Stolpman
- Sandhi
- Sea Smoke
What are the primary soil types in Chalone AVA?
volcanic and granitic limestone
What is the average price per ton for cab sauv in Napa Valley?
approx $7000 per ton
What county is the smallest in the North Coast?
Lake County
What 2 primary sub-AVAs make up Santa Barbara County?
- Santa Maria Valley AVA
- Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Wild Horse AVA spans which 2 counties?
- Napa
- Solano
Where is Jordan Winery located?
Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma
Mendocino Ridge is known for quality wines made from what grape?
zinfandel
How was the Franciscan Complex formed?
subduction of Farallon Plate under North American Plate offshore, smearing marine substrate and ocean floor
What is the oldest commercial winery in Monterey?
Chalone (est 1960)
What vintage was considered the turning point towards the concentrated and extracted Napa style?
1997
In what year did massive flooding spread phylloxera in Napa Valley?
1986
Where is Littorai located?
Sebastopol, Sonoma County
In what valley is Lodi AVA located?
San Joaquin Valley
What percent of grapes in Mendocino County are certified organic?
20%
What are the most successful white grapes of Chalk Hill AVA?
- sauv blanc
- chardonnay
Why is sauv blanc often planted near rivers?
- performs well in fertile, fluvial soil
- resistant to Pierce’s Disease, which can be carried by sharpshooters (often found near water)
Robert Mondavi, Ravenswood, and Clos du Bois are all owned by which California empire?
Constellation
What grapes produce the highest quality in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?
- chardonnay
- pinot noir
- syrah
Napa cultivation is not allowed on slopes of what degree?
30 degrees
What sparkling house owns Gloria Ferrer?
Freixenet
What is the most planted white grape in Mendocino County?
chardonnay
Where is Ballard Canyon AVA located?
Santa Barbara Co, Central Coast
What is the most widely planted grape in Ballard Canyon AVA?
syrah
what is the climate of Anderson Valley AVA?
cool, coastal, mediterranean
Most of the acreage in Carneros AVA is planted to what varieties?
- pinot noir
- chardonnay
What geologic formation protects Mendocino from the cold pacific influence?
Mendocino Ridge
Clear Lake AVA is located in which county?
Lake County
What are the most planted red and white grapes in Ballard Canyon AVA?
- syrah
- roussanne
What was the first AVA in California?
Napa Valley AVA (1981)
Which AVA is shared between Napa and Sonoma?
Carneros
Who took over Monte Bello at Ridge in 1969?
Paul Draper
Where is Paso Robles AVA located?
San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast
What geologic feature is responsible for funneling cool ocean air into Napa?
Petaluma Gap
How many miles of coastline make up Sonoma County?
50
Franzia, Cupcake, Glen Ellen, and Concannon are all owned by which Cali wine empire?
Wine Group
Barefoot, Louis Martini, Apothik, and Turning Leaf are all owned by which Cali empire?
Gallo
What is the most notable AVA in San Luis Obispo?
Paso Robles AVA
Which Central Coast AVA has success with sauv blanc?
Livermore AVA
What percentage of Napa wine is certified organic?
9%
Mendocino AVA applies to grapes grown where?
southern third of Mendocino County
Approx. what percent of Lake County grapes are shipped to other CA regions?
90%
In what year was the Judgement of Paris?
1976
Sonoma makes up what percentage of CA production?
6%
What is the main soil type in Howell Mountain AVA?
thin, rocky, volcanic
What style of wine is popular in Dry Creek Valley?
ripe and powerful oak aged zinfandel
Although Napa only produces 4% of California’s output, it is responsible for what percentage of its revenue?
25%
Who is credited with discovering the genetic origins of zinfandel?
Carole Meredith (UC Davis)
What does the term ‘meritage’ mean?
a blend in which no grape exceeds 90% of the blend
In what year did Rutherford become an AVA?
1993
What two roads traverse the length of Napa Valley?
- Highway 29
- Silverado Trail
What is the most recent AVA approved in Napa Valley?
Coombsville (2011)
Who owned Inglenook from 1933-1964?
John Daniel Jr
How many sub-AVAs are in Napa County?
16
What style of wine is the hallmark of the Sierra Foothills AVA?
chewy, spicy zinfandel
What is the primary soil type in Anderson Valley AVA?
diverse alluvial
In what AVA is the Eisele Vineyard located?
Calistoga
Who was hired by Georges de Latour to oversee winemaking at Beaulieu?
Andre Tchelitcheff
Gallo and Franzia are headquartered in what CA region?
Central Valley
Benzinger, Coturri Wines, and Laurel Glen are all located in what AVA?
Sonoma Mountain
What is the soil makeup of Stags Leap AVA?
sandstone and shale bedrock
- volcanic in east
- clay loam in west
- alluvial fans in south
What is the most plated grape in Monterey County AVA?
chardonnay
What Central Valley AVA is capable of producing high end wine?
Lodi AVA
Opus One is a collaboration between which 2 winemakers?
- Robert Mondavi
- Baron Philippe de Rothschild
Chalk Hill and Green Valley lie within what AVA?
Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co.
What are the two most important counties in the Sierra Foothills?
- El Dorado
- Amador
Why is the Carneros AVA unique?
- split between Napa and Sonoma
- located on San Pablo Bay so it creates a cool air vacuum
What was the first non-native grape to be planted in California?
Listan Prieto (aka pais/mission grape)
What is the only non-contiguous AVA in the US?
Mendocino Ridge
The late 1970’s saw the advent of which 2 revolutionary wine publications?
- Wine Advocate
- Wine Spectator
Who established Stags Leap Wine Cellars?
Warren Winiarski
Where is Ramey Cellars located?
Healdsburg, Sonoma Co.
What are the characteristics of the Russian River Valley AVA?
- warm daytime temperatures are moderated by fog that enters from the Petaluma Gap to the south and the Russian River to the west
- chardonnay, pinot noir and zinfandel are the major varieties - syrah, pinot gris and gewürztraminer are also important
- wines are made in fruit forward styles
The neighborhoods of Sebastopol Hills and Laguna Ridge are in what AVA?
Russian River Valley
Name 2 major Producers in Russian River Valley AVA
- Dehlinger
- Joseph Swan
- Gary Farrell
- Rochioli
- Williams-Selyem
Name 2 major Producers in Green Valley AVA
- Kosta Browne
- Marimar Estate
- Freestone
- Freeman
- Iron Horse (sparkling)
Name 2 major producers in the Sonoma Coast AVA
- Hirsch
- Littorai
- Flowers
- Marcassin
- Peay
What climate zone is Dry Creek Valley classed as?
Zone 3
Why is merlot favored in Bennett Valley (nested in Sonoma Valley)?
it is too cool to fully ripen cab sauv
What is the newest AVA in Sonoma County?
West Sonoma Coast (2022)
True or False: labels must state Sonoma County along with the AVA?
True
To achieve Sonoma County Sustainable recognition, a vineyard must be certified by one of four bodies, name one?
- Fish Friendly Farming, California
- Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (also known as Certified Sustainable),
- Lodi Rules,
- Sustainability in Practice (SIP)
Sonoma County Sustainable wines can be identified by a logo that reads “Sustainably Farmed Grapes,” and it requires that what % of grapes come from Sonoma county ? What % of grapes need to come from a vineyard certified as sustainable?
85% for both
Name the 5 overarching AVAs of California
- North Coast
- Central Coast
- Central Valley
- Sierra Foothills
- South Coast
What happened in the 1997 vintage in Napa?
It was a warm and abundant vintage where producers did not have the tank space to process all the fruit at the same time. The second wave of fruit had hung for longer on the vine and made surprisingly concentrated wine
Name 2 major producers of Stags Leap AVA
- Shafer Vineyards
- Chimney Rock
- Clos du Val
- Stag’s Leap WIne Cellars
- Taylor Family Vineyards
In what AVA in Kongsgaard Winery?
Atlas Peak AVA
Why is Pritchard Hill not an AVA of Napa?
The Chappellet family have a trademark on the name
In what county is the Suisun Valley?
Solano
What was the first vintage of Harlan Estates?
1990
Between 2019-2023 name two vintages least affected by drought in California
- 2019
- 2023
Why was sorting so important in the 2022 Napa Valley vintage?
September heat spike cause lots of dried and shriveled berries
Name two key ways Napa valley producers handle heat waves
- overhead sprinklers
- reflective white sun cloths
What are the main rivers of Mendocino County?
- Russian River
- Navarro
Name the 7 AVAs of Lake County
- Clear Lake AVA
- Benmore Valley AVA
- Big Valley District AVA
- Guenoc Valley AVA
- High Valley AVA
- Kelsey Bench AVA
- Red Hills AVA
Name 2 famous vineyards of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
- Ridge’s Monte Bello
- Horseshoe Ranch (Rhys)
- Bonny Doon Estate Vineyard
In which AVA do the Wente Family produce their wines, and from what famous estate did they obtain their cuttings?
Livermore Valley AVA
Chateau d’Yquem
What disease did Bonny Doon Estate Vineyard fall victim to?
Pierces disease
(estate vineyard died in 1994)
What are the two main valleys in Monterey County
- Salinas
- Carmel
What Paso Robles winery is owned by the Perrin family of Chateau Beaucastel?
Tablas Creek
Who planted the first Syrah vines in Paso Robles?
Gary Eberle
Name the second estate of Ridge Monte Bello? Where is it located and what is its specialty?
Lytton Spring (zinfandel)
Dry Creek Valley AVA, Sonoma Co.
Who produces Field Book Shiraz?
Spottswoode (St Helena AVA)
Who was the original owner of Screaming Eagle and who is the current winemaker?
Jean Phillips - original owner
Nick Gislason - winemaker
What is the flagship bottling of Beaulieu Vineyards?
Georges de Latour Private Reserve (1936)
In what year did Robert Mondavi rename his sauv blanc Fume Blanc?
1968
What are the 4 parcels of Ridge Estate?
- Perrone
- Torre
- Klein
- Rousten.
Who produces Kronos cab Sauv?
Corison Estate
Who produces Napanook and what is the blend?
Dominus Estate
- 70-95% cab sauv plus merlot, pv
Who owns Dominus Estate? What other properties do they own?
Christian Moueix
- La Fleur Petrus
- Trotanoy
Who is the producer of Continuum?
Tim Mondavi (son of Robert)
Who introduced and organized the Judgement of Paris?
Steven Spurrier
What was the first vintage of Joseph Phelps Insignia?
1973
What is the second wine of Harlan Estate?
The Maiden
What are the top reds of Shafer Estate?
- Hillside Select: 100% Cab Sauv (1983)
- One Point Five: Cabernet Base (2004)
- Relentless: Syrah (1999)
- TD-9: Blend of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Malbec (2015)
Who is the current winemaker of Robert Mondavi Winery?
Geneviève Janssens Since 1997
Who produces Artemis cab sauv?
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Where is Philip Togni Vineyard located?
Spring Mountain AVA
What is the second wine of Opus One?
Overture (multi-vintage cuvee)
Other than Harlan Estate, what are the 2 wineries owned by Bill Harlan?
- Bond
- Promontory
In what years was Martha’s Vineyard not produced and why?
1993 to 1995
re-planting time for the estate.
What is the primary grape in Ridge Monte Bello?
cab sauv
what happened to 2017 vintage of Screaming Eagle?
It was not produced. All the grapes were declassified to the 2nd wine due to smoke taint
What is the 2nd label of Screaming Eagle and what is the main difference?
Second Flight (2006)
- merlot dominant instead of cab sauv dominant
Who produces the Tributary Chardonnay and Mays Canyon Chardonnay?
Littorai
What is the mountain range separating Napa Valley from Sonoma?
Mayacamas Ranges
Who owns Littorai?
Ted Lemon
Who produced Herb Lamb Vineyard Cab sauv and in what years was it produced?
Colgin Cellars (1992-2007)
What was the first vintage of Opus One?
1979
What is the name of the Beckstoffer vineyard located in Lake County?
Amber Knoll
Where are the oldest cab sauv vines in California found?
Monte Rosso Vineyard
- Du Mol
- Bedrock
- Louis Martini
What California AVA is known for chenin blanc?
Clarksburg AVA
What were the years of Prohibition?
1920-1933
Who owns Williams-Selyem Winery?
Faively
List a winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountains
- Reese
- David Bruce
- Domaine Edin
What new AVA was added to Mendocino county in 2024?
Comptche AVA
As of 2024, what are the 2 new AVAs of Lake County?
- Upper Lake Valley
- Long Valley
Wineries in Chalone/Mt Harlan using grapes grown above 1500 feet can label as what AVA?
Galiban Mountains AVA
What is the oldest pinot noir in Sonoma?
Ambassador’s Block (1952)
Who owns Eisele Vineyards?
Artemis Group
What is the highest elevation AVA in the US?
Stone Summit Vineyard
- Big Bear Lake
- 6750 ft
What is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley?
Beringer (est 1876)
What is the newest AVA in Napa?
Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA
What Sonoma producer owns Ambassador’s 1953 vineyard?
Hanzell
What are the 4 AVAs that fall under Mendocino County AVA and not Mendocino AVA?
- Comptche AVA
- Covelo AVA
- Dos Rios AVA
- Eagle Peak Mendocino County AVA
What is the newest AVA of Santa Barbara County?
Alisos Canyon (2020)
List 2 wineries for which Helen Turley acted as consulting winemaker
- Pahlmeyer
- Bryant Family
- Colgin
- Martinelli
- Turley
- Marcassin
What wineries has Cathy Corison worked for?
- Freemark Abbey
- Chappellet
- Corison
List 2 wineries who employed John Kongsgaard as consulting winemaker
- Stag’s Leap
- Stony Hill
- Hudson
List 2 vineyard sources for Littorai
Sonoma Coast AVA
- Platt Vineyard
- Hirsch Vineyard
- Pivot Vineyard (owned by Littorai)
- Haven Vineyard (owned by Littorai)
Anderson Valley AVA
- Roman Vineyard
- Savoy Vineyard
- Cerise Vineyard
- One Acre Vineyard
What 2 mountain ranges create the cool air vacuum in Santa Barbara AVA?
- Santa Ynez Mountains
- San Rafael Mountains
What is the most planted grape in Santa Barbara?
chardonnay
Where is Tatomer located and what style of grapes are the focus?
Santa Barbara County, Austrian and German varieties
What is the geologic feature that helps cool Paso Robles AVA?
Templeton Gap acts as a break in the mountains to funnel in cool air
Who first planted syrah in California?
Gary Eberle, Tablas Creek 1975
Who is the most influential producer in Livermore AVA?
Wente
