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D3 > California > Flashcards

California Flashcards

1
Q

Within the USA, California accounts for __% of the wine produced.

A

85%

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2
Q

What are the two key climate influencers in California?

A

The Pacific Ocean;
The Coast Ranges (mountains that run the length of the state from the north to Santa Barbara County).

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3
Q

Why is the sunlight in California so intense?

A

California is at a lower latitude, 32–42°N.

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4
Q

Discuss two ways altitude affects grapes in California.

A

Can be a cooling influence (lower temperatures at night);

Many are above the fog line so grapes will have longer daylight hours, increasing color and tannin levels in red grapes.

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5
Q

What is the overall climate of California?
How does this climate help the coolest of growing regions?

A

Mediterranean (no rain during the growing season);
Dry autumns extend the viable growing season.

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6
Q

What bacterial disease threatens California’s viticulture?
How is this bacterial disease spread?

A

Pierce’s Disease;

Sharpshooters (insects).

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7
Q

Name three factors that can influence the style of a California Cabernet Sauvignon.

A

Site;
Harvest date;
Oak use.

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8
Q

What are some weather hazards that afflict California viticulture?

A

Spring frosts;
Forest wildfires (which can cause smoke taint and damage vines and wineries).

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9
Q

In California, if a wine is labeled by grape then ___% of that stated grape must be in the bottle.

A

75%

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10
Q

In California, if a wine is named by its county, e.g Sonoma County or Santa Barbara County, how much of the wine must come from the stated county?

A

75%

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11
Q

In California, if a wine has an AVA on the label, e.g Sonoma Coast or Paso Robles, how much of the wine must come from the stated AVA?

A

85%

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12
Q

In California, if a wine has a vineyard name on the label, e.g Charles Heintz or Garys’ Vineyard, how much of the wine must come from the stated vineyard?

A

95%

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13
Q

If a California wine is labeled with an AVA AND it is vintage dated, how much of the wine must come from the stated vintage?

A

95%

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14
Q

If a California wine is vintage dated AND if just the state or a county is mentioned on the label, how much of the wine must come from the stated vintage?

A

85%

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15
Q

Under what circumstances can California wineries use the term “estate bottled”?

A

If the vineyards and winery are in the same AVA.

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16
Q

Which mountain range runs through the North Coast AVA?

A

Mayacamas Mountains.

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17
Q

In Mendocino, more coastal and higher altitude AVAs tend to grow these grapes, and more inland AVAs tend to grow these grapes.

A

Coastal – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, aromatic varieties (Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc)

Inland - Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon

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18
Q

What conditions make Anderson Valley AVA such a good, varied place to grow grapes?

A

Valley runs NW to SE;
Warm daytime temps;
Navarro River funnels in fog (cool mornings and evenings);
SE/more inland area stays warm as the valley narrows;
Suitable rainfall in winter and spring;
Most vineyards planted on slopes of valley.

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19
Q

What river runs through Northern Sonoma AVA, filling underground aquifers before flowing into the Pacific Ocean?

A

Russian River

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20
Q

Alexander Valley AVA is warm, but it is cooled by _____.

A

Pacific air funneled in from the Petaluma Gap and Russian River Valley that flow into the AVA in the evening

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21
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted grape in Alexander Valley AVA.

What helps the grapes grown here achieve such high levels of color and tannin?

A

100-750m elevation;
W/SW facing slopes;
This aspect and altitude lead to high solar interception.

22
Q

Knights Valley AVA -
Where and describe

A

One of the warmest areas in Sonoma County
Produces high quality wines
It’s warm because it’s surrounded by hills – it has zero Pacific influence;
Cooler sites planted at higher altitudes (450m);
Warm, free-draining volcanic soils help produce ripe, full-bodied wines.

23
Q

Dry Creek Valley AVA has both warm areas and cooler areas within this narrow valley.

Describe both areas.

A

Warmer: vineyards planted on west-facing slopes, areas more north that don’t get any San Pablo Bay influence;
Cooler: vineyards planted on east-facing slopes, areas more south that are closer to San Pablo Bay (fog and cooler nighttime air funnels up through the valley due to mountains on either side of the AVA).

24
Q

What are the two distinct growing areas of Russian River Valley AVA?

A

Cool south and western areas (close to Pacific, receive cool Pacific breezes due to Petaluma Gap, overnight fog);

Warmer inland and northeast corner vineyards are protected by hills from fog and breezes.

25
Q

What are the two sub-AVAs of Russian River Valley AVA?

A

Chalk Hill AVA;
Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA.

26
Q

q
Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA

Why is it so cool?
What are its soils and how does that affect the grapes?
What are wines like here compared to RRV?

A

Next to Petaluma Gap, so it’s the first area to get the daily fog and the last to burn it off;
Low-nutrient sandstone soils, limiting vigor and creating small concentrated grapes;
Has higher acidity and fresher fruit flavors than RRV wines.

27
Q

q
Chalk Hill AVA

What is the climate like here compared to the rest of the RRV?
What is the soil?
What helps bring freshness to the wines?

A

Warmer here because it is hilly – fewer breezes;
White volcanic ash;
Elevation brings freshness – vineyards planted from valley floor up to 500m.

28
Q

Sonoma Valley AVA is cooler in the ____ern part of the valley due to ____.

A

Southern part;
Due to it opening right up to San Pablo Bay.

29
Q

At what elevation are vineyards planted in Sonoma Mountain AVA?

A

730m – above the fog line → intense sun, warm daytime temperatures → ripe flavors and tannins and deep color.

30
Q

Because of its proximity to San Pablo Bay, Carneros gets lots of what?

A

Morning and evening fog;
Cold winds.

31
Q

The _____ mountains to the west shelter Napa Valley from the cold Pacific Ocean while the _____ mountains protect the area from the hot Central Valley to the east.

A

Mayacamas mountains;
Vaca mountains.

32
Q

Which Napa sub-AVAs are most affected by the San Pablo Bay fog?

A

Carneros AVA;
Coombsville AVA;
Oak Knoll AVA.

33
Q

What are the four sub-AVAs on Napa Valley’s valley floor that see just some nighttime influence from San Pablo Bay?

A

Yountville AVA;
Stags Leap District AVA;
Oakville AVA;
Rutherford AVA.

34
Q

Two up-valley Napa sub-AVAs that have consistent warm to hot conditions are:

A

St. Helena AVA;
Calistoga AVA.

35
Q

Calistoga AVA cools a little bit in the afternoon and evenings from Pacific breezes come through the _______.

A

Chalk Hill Gap in the Mayacamas

36
Q

One of Napa Valley’s warmest AVAs is this mountain AVA which produces ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with intense concentration and firm tannins.

A

Howell Mountain AVA.

37
Q

Why are wines from the middle and east of the Napa Valley floor less structured than those from the mountains or alluvial fans?

A

Soils are silt and clay, formed by the Napa river as it has flooded and contracted over time;
Soils have very high fertility and water retaining capacity.

38
Q

Alluvial Fans

What is an alluvial fan?
Where are they located in Napa Valley?
What are they also known as?

A

Sedimentary deposits from mountain streams that fan out when they reach the valley floor;
Generally found on the west side of the valley;
Also called ‘benches’ – deep, rocky soils that have moderate fertility.

39
Q

The Central Coast AVA runs from San Francisco to _____.

A

Santa Barbara.

40
Q

What are the important features to know about Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?

A

Several vineyards planted at high altitudes along the ridge line (up to 800m);
This provides a moderating influence for daytime temperatures;
At night, cool air slips down the slopes, forcing warm air upward – thus nights remain relatively warm and frosts are rare.

41
Q

Monterey AVA

What moderates it?
What are the soils?
Wines from this AVA are generally inexpensive/high-volume or premium/low-volume?

A

Cool marine air funneled from Monterey Bay;
Free-draining sandy loam and gravel (irrigation necessary);
Inexpensive/high-volume.

42
Q

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

Vineyards are planted up to ___m in altitude.
Vineyards are exposed to ____ and ____ which can slow what?
Varietals?

A

350m;
Wind and fog, which can slow ripening bc of proximity to Monterey Bay
Can be so windy that stomatas close
Varietals: chard, pn, syrah all with freshness and high acidity

43
Q

Briefly describe the 2 general different areas of the Paso Robles AVA and the typical profile of the wines they produce.

A

Eastern areas: warmer climate – produces wines with full-body and concentrated, ripe fruit flavors;
Western areas: cooler climate – produces wines with higher acidity and fresher flavors. - Templeton Gap

Main varietals: Cab, Rhone varietals
**calcareous soil - unique to Paso in CA

44
Q

q
What are the two general soils of Paso Robles AVA?

A

Calcareous;
Clay (good water retention).

45
Q

What is unique to the layout of the Santa Barbara AVAs collectively?

A

They’re located in the Transverse Ranges

east-west orientation of the Southern Coast Ranges;
Western side faces the Pacific Ocean – cool breezes + fog are funneled in eastward into the vineyards, significantly lowering temperatures (western sides of the AVAs are usually cooler and windier than the eastern sides);
Air circulation reduces risk of frost and fungal diseases, so grapes can be kept on the vine longer, which can be needed in the coolest sites.

46
Q

Sta. Rita Hills AVA

What distinguishes the area?
What is its orientation?

A

Cool temperatures and calcium-rich soils;
East-west orientation.

47
Q

Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Where is it within the Santa Ynez AVA?
What grape variety is it best known for?

A

Western edge of Santa Ynez AVA;
Pinot Noir.

48
Q

What two valleys make up the Central Valley in California?

A

Sacramento Valley (northern);
San Joaquin Valley (southern).

49
Q

Give a brief characterization of California’s Central Valley.

A

High yielding vineyards on flat fertile areas;
Daytime temperatures usually 35–40°C (95–104°F) resulting in very ripe grapes.

50
Q

Lodi AVA

What is its climate?
What moderates the climate here?

A

Hot Mediterranean;
Cooling afternoon winds from the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

51
Q

q
Lodi AVA

What are the soils and terrain like?
Is irrigation rare or common?
What grape is it best known for?

A

Free-draining sandy + clay loam soils on flatlands;
Irrigation common;
Best known for Zinfandel

D3 (21 decks)

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