California Flashcards
The major winegrowing regions of California are divided into what 4 large AVAs?
- North Coast
- Central Coast
- South Coast
- Sierra Foothills
Where are most of the fine wine districts located in CA?
near the coast, where fog and cool sea breezes mitigate temperatures and create a large diurnal swing from warm days to cool nights
The inland __, source of 75% of the state’s wine, is not considered an AVA
Central Valley
“Meritage,” a term trademarked by the Meritage Alliance, is used by producers to indicate-
a premium blend in which no grape accounts for more than 90% of the wine (may be red/white, but must be from Bordeaux varieties)
Zinfandel, thought to be California’s native son before Carole Meredith’s research definitively linked it to Croatia’s __
Crljenak Kastelanski
The North Coast AVA includes the counties of-
Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano and Marin
Approximately _% of California’s vineyard acreage
4
What are Napa’s 16 AVAs?
- Calistoga
- Diamond Mountain District
- Chiles Valley District
- Spring Mountain District
- Howell Mountain District
- St. Helena
- Rutherford
- Oakville
- Yountville
- Mount Veeder
- Stag’s Leap District
- Atlas Peak
- Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
- Los Carneros
- Coombsville
- Wild Horse Valley
Where does Napa stretch from?
northward from the San Pablo Bay past the principal towns of Napa and St. Helena to Calistoga
Napa’s width narrows from what?
from 5 miles wide at the town of Napa to 1 at Calistoga
Napa temperatures warm perceptibly as one travels __
north
Cool ocean air funnels through the __ into the San Pablo Bay and upward through the valley
Petaluma Gap
__, the southernmost AVA within Napa, is suitable for the production of sparkling wines
Carneros
__, the northernmost AVA, routinely sees daytime summer temperatures above 90° F, and producers focus on sturdier grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel
Calistoga
Altitude also has a major effect on temperature—Napa Valley’s vineyards stretch from-
0-over 2,000 ft . above sea level!
The valley is formed by the __Mountains to the west, which mark the border with Sonoma County, and the __Mountains on the east.
Mayacamas, Vaca
The valley has a remarkable diversity of volcanic, alluvial and maritime soil types, ranging from-
well-drained gravel loam to dense clays to the thin, rocky soils of the hillside vineyards
The high-altitude, west-facing vineyards of __ AVA, the 1st sub-appellation wholly within Napa Valley to receive its own AVA, produce benchmark mountain wines
Howell Mountain
What is a serious concern amongst Napa’s hillside growers?
erosion, as heavy winter rains can literally wash away a vineyard’s entire topsoil, leaving nothing but hard bedrock behind
The topsoil on the valley floor is deeper, and valley fruit tends to produce-
a more elegant and supple style of Cabernet, with less intensity of color
__ AVA exemplifies the valley floor style
Rutherford
Sonoma County lies between Napa County and the Pacific coast, and is bordered on the north by __ and the south by __
Mendocino and Lake, Marin, Solano, and Contra Costa
What are the AVA’s of Sonoma?
- Alexander Valley
- Dry Creek Valley
- Rockpile
- Bennett Valley
- Knights Valley
- Chalk Hill
- Russian River Valley
- Sonoma Valley
- Moon Mountain District Sonoma County
- Green Valley of Russian River Valley
- Sonoma Mountain
- Sonoma Coast
- Northern Sonoma
- Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
- Fort Ross-Seaview
- Fountaingrove District
- (a majority of the) Carneros AVA
Sonoma AVAs cover a much larger area than the AVAs of Napa, and there is a wide variation in-
climate and soil throughout the county
The windy, foggy Carneros AVA is a cool Region _ area, whereas the warm northern AVAs of Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley are considered Region _
I , III
Where can the coolest temperatures be found in Sonoma County?
in the northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA, where altitude, cold ocean air and persistent coastal fog combine to keep temperatures down
What thrives in northern Sonoma Coast AVA?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with cool-climate renditions of Rhône varieties
Sonoma Coast AVA contains nearly 500,000 acres, the more inland and southern areas within it can experience-
a warmer Region II climate
Even the true coastal vineyards, in Sonoma Coast AVA, if above the marine fog layer, may produce-
bold wines of concentration and power rather than elegance and focus
The Russian River Valley AVA, follows the river-
southwest from the town of Healdsburg
Russian River Valley AVA is highly regarded for-
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in fruity, forward styles, yet the more moderate climate may prove most hospitable to Rhône grapes/Zinfandel
What soils characterize the Russian River Valley?
Fertile alluvial soils, such as “Goldridge” sandy loam
What are essentially sub-AVAs of the Russian River Valley?
Chalk Hill and Green Valley
Coastal producers of note include-
Hirsch, Marcassin, and Peay
What are prominent names in Russian River Valley?
Dehlinger, Joseph Swan, Rochioli, and Williams-Selyem
The northern AVAs of __, __, __ and __ are located to the north and east of Healdsburg
Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, and Knights Valley
What AVAs experience warmer Region III climates?
Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, and Knights Valley (warmest AVA in the county)
What are most prominent in the gravelly soils of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley?
Bordeaux grape varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley CS tends to show what in comparison to its Napa counterparts?
more herbaceous character and less body
Wines from what warm AVA can be similar in style to Napa?
Knights Valley wines, such as Peter Michael’s “Les Pavot,”
__ and the small __ AVA are known for ripe, powerful styles of Zinfandel, aged in either American or French oak
Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile
In the southern sector of the county, __ AVA, the county’s most est region, is situated between the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains, and runs nearly parallel to Napa Valley
Sonoma Valley
Like Napa, Sonoma Valley’s temperature gets progressively-
warmer as one travels north
Bennett Valley, a sub-AVA in the northwestern sector of Sonoma valley, favors-
Merlot, as it is too cool to routinely ripen Cabernet Sauvignon