California

Question 1

What are California’s major & minor red grapes?

Answer 1

Major: Cab, Merlot, Zin, Pinot, Cab Franc, Syrah
Minor: Barbera, Petit Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Tempranillo

Question 2

What are California’s major & minor white grapes?

Answer 2

Major: Chardonnay & Sauv Blanc
Minor: Viognier, Gewurz, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc

Question 3

Where is California located?

Answer 3

The West Coast of America
840 miles from Oregon to Mexico

Question 4

What are California’s major mountain ranges & where are they located?

Answer 4

North & South Coastal Ranges on coast
Sierra Nevadas are eastern central across from great valley
Klamath mountains are north of north coastal, west of cascades

Question 5

What are California’s major rivers & bays?

Answer 5

Sacramento River
Salinas River
Russian River
San Joaquin River

Monteray Bay
San Francisco Bay

Question 6

What are the climates of California’s wine growing regions?

Answer 6

Maritime on the coasts (Sonoma, Santa Barbera)
Mediterranean inland (Napa, Paso Robles)
Continental further inland (Sierra Foothills, Central Valley)

Question 7

What red winemaking trends unite California?

Answer 7

Use of modern tech
Clean, high alcohol,
Extended hanging and/or masceration
partial to full new french oak

Even producers seeking to make european style wines tend to generate examples that are clean & fruit-driven

Question 8

What white winemaking trends unite California?

Answer 8

Whites like Chardonnay & Sauv Blanc tend to be more extracted than in other markets.

Oak aging and some lees contact is common.

Question 9

What are the major grapes of the Mendocino AVA?

Answer 9

Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

Question 10

What are the major AVAs in Mendocino county?

Answer 10

Mendocino AVA
Anderson Valley AVA
Mendocino Ridge AVA
Yorkville Highlands

Question 11

What are Lake County’s major grapes?

Answer 11

Cab, Petit Syrah, Tempranillo, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 12

What are the major AVAs of Lake County?

Answer 12

Clear Lake & High Valley

Question 13

What is the major grape of the Sierra Foothills?

Answer 13

Zin

Question 14

What are the major AVAs of the Sierra Foothills?

Answer 14

Fairplay & Shenendoah Valley

Question 15

What are the major varieties of Napa Valley?

Answer 15

Red: Cab, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot, Cab Franc
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 16

How do temperatures differ in Napa valley from the valley floor appellations to the mountain appellations?

Answer 16

In the morning the valley floor is cooler due to fog, but during the day, the mountains are cooler due to higher elevation. Mountains have larger diurnal shifts overall due to elevation

Question 17

How do the Western & Eastern mountain appellations of Napa differ from each other?

Answer 17

In mesoclimate: the Western mountains are cooler and wetter due to increased oceanic influence

In aspect: Eastern slopes have western exposures, so they get intense afternoon sun & heat, while Western slopes enjoy the gentler morning sun of an eastern aspect.

Question 18

How does mesoclimate differ in Napa Valley as you move North from San Pablo Bay?

Answer 18

The region gets progressively warmer as you drive North, away from the cooling influence of the Bay.

Question 19

How many appellations are in Napa County?

Answer 19

17 AVAs

Question 20

Name the Napa Valley Floor AVAs from N to S (7)

Answer 20

Calistoga
St. Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap District
+ Chiles Valley to the East

Question 21

Name the Southern Napa Valley AVAs from N to S? (4)

Answer 21

Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Coombsville & Wild Horse Valley
Los Carneros

Question 22

What 2 Napa AVAs overlap other counties?

Answer 22

Los Carneros is shared with Sonoma to the west
Wild Horse Valley is shared with Solano to the east

Question 23

What are the Mayacamas Mountain AVAs from N to S?
What about the Vacas AVAs from N to S? (5 total)

Answer 23

Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District
Mount Veeder

Howel Mountain
Atlas Peak