California Flashcards
Who is Charles Valentine Riley and what major contribution did he provide for not only the California wine world, but the rest of the world’s wine regions as well?
Missouri enologist who is credited as the first to understand the innate resistance of American grape species/rootstock to Phylloxera
Describe how the average temperature changes the further one moves north in the Napa Valley and why this is the case.
Cool mists and winds blow in from the San Pablo Bay and Pacific ocean through the Petaluma Gap, but the land gets increasingly warmer the further one moves north into the valley where the mists have an increasingly lesser effect.
Where is Tablas Creek winery? Who owns it? What kind of wines are produced here?
Paso Robles AVA
Owned by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel
Wines from a wide range of Rhône varietals
In what county is Livermore Valley located? What is the most famous grape here and what famous winery did the cuttings come from that would become the progenitor of this grape? When was this?
Alameda County Sauvignon Blanc is the most famous for being the most individual style of the grape in the state.
Cuttings for the vines here came from Château d’Yquem in 1869
What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma?
Alexander Valley
Which grows more grapes, Napa or Sonoma?
Sonoma grows far more.
Arroyo Seco AVA is known for wines from what grapes? Styles?
White wines that are dry and off-dry made from Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
Name the years in which the following wineries were founded.
Buena Vista Charles Krug Schramberg Beringer Inglenook Beaulieu Vineyards Robert Mondavi
Buena Vista (1857) Charles Krug (1861) Schramsberg (1862) Beringer (1876) Inglenook (1879) Beaulieu Vineyards (1900) Robert Mondavi (1966)
If a wine is labeled by single vineyard, what percentage of grapes used for its production must come from the stated vineyard?
95%
Who makes Les Pavots, where is it located, and what is the style?
Peter Michael in Knights Valley AVA
Style is massive and extracted, super ripe with volcanic minerality.
Who owns Alexander Mountain Estate and what wine is it known for?
Stonestreet
Known for one of California’s finest examples of Chardonnay
Who is the name of the “rhone ranger” whose original estate in Santa Cruz was overtaken by Pierce’s Disease? What is the name of his winery?
Randal Graham Bonny Doon
Describe the style of Cabernet produced in Alexander Valley compared to its Napa counterparts.
More herbaceous character and less body than its Napa counterparts.
What is the coolest AVA and most distinctive wine region in Mendocino County?
Anderson Valley
What is the major soil type of Dry Creek Valley? Describe it.
Dry Creek Valley conglomerate
Mixture of gravel and red clays
What is Gloria Ferrer famous for? What two other major international producers of this style established wineries here?
Pioneering sparkling wine in Carneros. Taittinger and Codorníu both have also set up wine sparkling wine operations here.
What is the Petaluma Gap and why is it significant?
Opening in the Coastal Ranges around the town of Petaluma that allows for the influx of cool air and mists from the Pacific Ocean when combination with cool air from the San Pablo Bay create the coolest vineyard sites in southern Sonoma.
What is the Rutherford Bench?
Famous deposit of alluvial gravels at the foot of the Mayacamas
Which valley in Monterey County is known for having one of the longest growing seasons in the world? how does the growing season here compare to that in Napa Valley?
Salinas Valley
Budbreak occurs two weeks earlier than in Napa Valley and the harvest is two weeks later
Who is the name of the “rhone ranger” whose original estate in Santa Cruz was overtaken by Pierce’s Disease? What is the name of his winery?
Randal Graham
Bonny Doon Winery
What is peculiar about Mendocino Ridge AVA in regards to geographical boundaries?
California’s first non-contiguous AVA
What is the soil type of Knights Valley?
Volcanic
Below what altitude on coastal mountain ranges does cold Pacific air spill over and cool the land below?
Below 1500ft.
What is the name of the smallest AVA in American and who owns it?
Cole Ranch
Owned by Esterlina
Where is the Sanford and Benedict vineyard?
Santa Rita Hills
What is the name of the oldest winery in Mendocino and when was it founded?
Parducci, founded in 1932
Where is Chalk Hill, what’s the climate like there, who is the main producer, and what is the greatest wine from there?
In Sonoma, east, northeast and adjacent to Russian River Valley near the town of Windsor.
Climate is much warmer than Russian River Valley however.
Main Producer is Chalk Hill Winery
Particular and direct Chardonnay is the greatest wine here.
Sauvignon Blanc also does well here.
The vineyards of Monterey roughly follow what valley and what bay, and are also planted in the hills of what two mountain ranges?
Salinas Valley and the Monterey Bay
Santa Lucia Mountains and Gabilan Mountains
What is the name of the river that runs through Anderson Valley?
Navarro River
Which AVA has been called California’s treasure chest of old-vine Zinfandel? Why are there so many old-vine Zin plantings here?
Sierra Foothills AVA
During prohibition much of the vineyard was abandoned, but because the land was so low-value the vines weren’t ripped out. After Prohibition, the vines were reclaimed and thus the area has some of the oldest zin plantings in the state.
What famous Champagne house established a sparkling wine winery in the Anderson Valley?
Louis Roederer (Roederer Estate)
Who owns the Two Rock Vineyard and what impact did it have on Russian River Valley as recently as 5 years ago?
Gallo
It is responsible for the expansion of the Russian River Valley in 2011
What are the main grapes found in Napa Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are definitely the main grapes, but Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and even Sangiovese are also found in Napa
What is the dominant grape variety of Bennett Valley AVA? Why is this?
Merlot is the dominant grape because the AVA is too cool to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon properly.
If a wine carries a vintage date, what is the requirement in regards to size of the appellation? If AVA is listed what percentage of the grapes must come from that vintage? If state or county are listed in lieu of AVA?
If a wine is vintage dated it must carry a smaller appellation than a country.
If AVA is listed 95% of fruit must come from stated vintage.
If labeled with state or county, 85% of fruit from stated vintage
Which AVA in Central Coast is known for its thin, free-draining soils of granite and pockets of limestone that has been closely compared to the soils of Burgundy? What vineyard gave name to this AVA which placed third at the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting and who was the original owner?
Chalone AVA
“Chalone Vineyard”
Richard Graff
How did the grape vines spread between the years of 1770-1820 in California?
The Franciscan mission grape vine was spread from established missions throughout the state and were passed from here to small growers as the mission lands were secularized under the Mexican government.
Name the hillside AVAs from North to south on the Mayacamas side. Name them on the Vaca side.
Mayacamas side
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District
Mount Veeder
Vaca Side Howell Mountain Chiles Valley Atlas Peak Stags Leap District
What winery is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon besting the greatest wines of Bordeaux in the Judgement of Paris Tasting in 1976? What was the vintage?
Stag’s Leap 1973
What other white wine is found in Monterey County in and around the northern part of the country?
Riesling is found in the cooler northern part
Where is the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA and what grapes is it known for? Producer? Where is the Arroyo Secco AVA and what are the most significant grapes there?
South of Edna Valley in the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo County
Known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of high quality, good fruit, and pleasant freshness. Talley is a good producer here.
Arroyo Secco AVA is in Monterey County. Known for Riesling and Gewürztraminer
Describe why the climate in some parts of Santa Barbara is so cool.
Certain valleys in Santa Barbara lie end-up on the ocean and act as funnels that allow sea air to invade as far as 75 miles inland effectively cooling much of this area.
In what county is Mt. Harlan AVA located? What mountains are located here? Who is responsible for its founding and what is the name of the winery?
San Benito County
Gabilan Mountains
Founded by Josh Jensen who owns Calera winery there.
Despite Santa Cruz’s location within this larger AVA’s boundaries it is excluded from the AVA. What is the name of the larger AVA?
Central Coast AVA
What is the major soil type found in the Russian River Valley? Describe it.
“Goldridge” sandy loam.
Who is Count Agoston Haraszthy and what important contributions did he provide to California wine? What was his nickname?
Dubbed the father of American wine. Responsible for introducing over 300 grape varieties to the state of California including to have rumored to be the first to introduce Zinfandel to the U.S.
The San Francisco Bay AVA encompasses which counties in California? (7) Who is responsible for its creation and when was this?
Alameda Santa Clara Contra Costa San Mateo San Francisco
and parts of San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Created in 1999 after petitioning by Wente
In regards to alcohol content, within what margin must the alcohol content listed be in relation to the actual content in the bottle?
+/- 1.5%
Santa Cruz Mountains are home to what famous vineyard that was known to take top honors at the 30th anniversary Judgement of Paris Tasting? Who is the producer of this?
Monte Bello
Ridge
Where are a majority of Napa Valley’s Pinot Noir vineyards located and what styles can be found there?
Planted heavily in Carneros and used there for premium sparkling wine and still production.
What two types of natural features greatly influence the climate in any given area of California?
Proximity to the cool Pacific Ocean and various mountain ranges in the state determine the climate for any one region.
In what year were two bottlings of Eisele produced with one being the first Araujo and the other being the last for the previous producer? Who was this previous producer?
1991
Joseph Phelps
What are the three major towns found in the Anderson Valley?
Philo, Navarro, and Boonville
Which AVA’s vineyards are planted on the east-facing slopes of the Salinas Valley? What’s the soil like here?
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Low-vigor, well-draining granitic soils
What is the name of Ridge’s famous bottling produced in Alexander Valley and what grapes go into its production?
Geyserville
Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Sirah, and Mataro
What grape accounts for more than 50% of plantings in Monterey County? What is the style of this grape?
Chardonnay
Wines of high acidity and fresh notes of green apples and citrus.
From what famous Château did suitcase clippings come from that would become the Cabernet Sauvignon vines at Diamond Creek?
Château Haut-Brion
Rockpile AVA is known for what grape and in what style?
Zinfandel made in a ripe and powerful style and aged in either American or French Oak.
What are the major red grapes of Dry Creek Valley? White Grape?
Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main red grapes with Zin being the most important. (Rafanelli is one of the finest examples)
Sauvignon Blanc does well here as the best white grape when it’s planted on the valley floor. (Quivira is the best)
What allows growers in California to leave their grapes on the vine much longer than most wine growers from around the world?
The dry climate here results in very low rainfall during the autumn allowing for longer “hang time” here.
What was the first AVA, what state, and when was it founded? When was Napa Valley AVA founded?
Augusta in Missouri became first in 1980 followed by Napa Valley in 1981
What AVA is home to the famous Eisele vineyard site? What was the first vintage of it produced, by whom and what winery? Name two other producers than Araujo that have produced Eisele Vineyard bottlings.
Calistoga AVA
1971
Ridge was the first commercially produced vintage of Eisele. Produced by Paul Draper
Over the years a few others have produced wine from the vineyard including Conn Creek (1974) and Joseph Phelps (1975-1991) before Araujo took over in 1991
Who founded the AVA system, when was this, and who is responsible for overseeing it now?
Founded in the 1970s by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)
Today the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) oversees it and started to in 2002
What is the name of the producer located in Mendocino known for creating the finest brandy in the United States?
Germain-Robin
Who is the pioneer of Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon?
Beringer
If a wine is labeled as “table wine” within what range of percentage ABV must the actual alcohol content of the wine be? What else could this wine be labeled as in lieu of abv?
7-14%
“Light Wine”
What is the name of the Edna Valley producer that is responsible for proficient exponents of red and white Rhone varietals?
Alban
What two mountain ranges form the eastern and western boundaries of Napa Valley?
Mayacamas to the west forming the border with Sonoma and the Vaca mountains to the east.
Where is Pisoni based?
Santa Lucia Highlands
How big is Sonoma Coast AVA?
Half a million acres from Mendocino down to the San Pablo Bay.
When was Prohibition in the U.S.?
1920-1933
Most vineyards in Mendocino are in the south of the county around the confluence of what two rivers?
Russian and Navarro
What is generally true about the climate of Sonoma compared to that of Napa Valley? Why is this so?
Generally cooler than Napa due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean
If a wine is labeled “estate-bottled” what does this mean?
100% of the wine comes from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery and the winery itself including all the vineyards used in the production must be located within the same AVA
If a grape name is listed on the label, what percentage of the stated variety must be used in the production of the wine? What is the exception to this rule?
75% unless the grape is Vitis Labrusca in which the figure is 51%
What is the climate like in Edna Valley and what causes this?
Sea air from Morro Bay, makes the Edna Valley as cool as any California wine region.
What is the main grape of Mendocino Ridge AVA and one of the finest examples of it in the entire state?
Zinfandel
What are the main white grapes of Alexander Valley and where are these vineyards located?
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the main whites of Alexander
Planted on the lower grounds near the rivers
What percent of all American wine is grown in California?
90%
Why was the Sonoma Coast AVA originally created?
Originally created to enable producers to sell wines blended from their very varied vineyard holdings in this region as estate-bottled
Irrigation from what river in Monterey County is vital to viticulture there due to how dry the climate is?
Salinas River
What style of wines are produced in Redwood Valley? Why is this?
Full-bodied, often soft reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel.
The fogs do not reach inland to here and thus the climate is very warm.
What direction do the most prized vineyards of the Sonoma Coast face? Why is this? What about the coolest vineyards?
South-facing vineyards are the best, maximizing ripening in the coolest local conditions.
Amador County is known for significant platings of what Italian grape?
Sangiovese
What is the climate like in the Santa Rita Hills compared to Santa Ynez, what red grape dominates here and in what stye? What white grapes dominate here?
Much cooler than Santa Ynez
Pinot Noir dominates here and is made in a Burgundian style.
What is the climate like in Potter Valley and what style of wine is peculiar here?
Distinctively cool climate that is conducive to botrytis and so fine botrytized wines are produced here.
What is the name of the area in California responsible for 3/4 of the state’s grapes, but is generally known for mediocre wine? What is the other name of this place?
Central Valley (San Joaquin Valley)
Monterey County is home to which two productive valleys one of which is known as the “lettuce capitol of the world”?
Carmel Valley
Salinas Valley
Which counties border Sonoma to the north? South? East? West?
Mendocino and Lake counties in the North
Marin, Solano, and Contra Costa in the South
Napa on the East
Pacific Ocean on the West
What AVA is shared by both Napa and Sonoma?
Los Carneros AVA
What is Fetzer famous for? When was it founded? Who owns it now
Famous for representing a strong voice in the Organic movement in California. Founded by John Fetzer. Now owned by Concha y Toro
Who is responsible for planting the first vinifera grapes in California and when was this?
Franciscan missionaries planted the first vinifera vines in California in 1770
Which Calistoga winery is famous for their Chardonnay having beaten out the best white Burgundy in the infamous 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting? What vintage was it?
Chateau Montelena 1973
What are the northern and southern boundaries of Napa Valley?
Calistoga represents the northern limit and the San Pablo Bay represents the southern limit.
What are the different soils found in Napa Valley?
There’s a remarkable diversity of soil types in Napa with volcanic, alluvial, and maritime soils as well as well-drained gravel loam and dense clays to thin, rocky soils on the hillsides.
What is the climate like in Santa Maria Valley and what grapes are mostly planted here? What other new world country are the wines of the Santa Maria Valley closely compared to?
Very cool climate due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the climate is perfect for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
Wines with natural high acidity that are offset by a fruity intensity, which has something in common with the best of New Zealand.
How does the climate of the Santa Ynez Valley compare to Santa Maria Valley and what kind of grapes are grown here?
Warmer than Santa Maria Valley
Bordeaux varietals, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rhone whites
What does “meritage” indicate on a wine bottle?
Indicates a premium blend wherein no grape accounts for more than 90%.
May be red or white, but must be produced from Bordeaux varietals.
What AVAs fall within the boundaries of Mendocino AVA? (9)
Anderson Valley Potter Valley Redwood Valley McDowell Valley Yorkville Highlands Mendocino Ridge Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak Dos Rios Cole Ranch
Who is the Livermore Valley producer famous for being the first in California to produce varietally-labeled Chardonnay and also the name of the famous clone of Chardonnay that is found all over the state today?
Wente
What are the northern and southern boundaries of the Central Coast?
San Fransisco Bay in the North and Santa Barbara to the South.
Where is Double L Vineyard located and who owns it?
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
owned by Morgan
If an AVA is listed on a bottle, what percentage of the grapes used for the production of the wine must come from stated AVA?
85% in California
What is the name of the other monopole AVA in Mendocino and who owns it?
McDowell Valley
McDowell Valley Winery owns it.
What grape dominated the lower altitude vineyards of the Russian River Valley?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What are the main grapes of Russian River Valley and what is the style of these wines?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main grapes here producing fruity, forward styles. Rhone Grapes and Zinfandel also perform well here in the appellations warmer yet moderate climate mesoclimates.
What is the major grape of Lodi?
Old-vine Zinfandel
Name the valley AVAs from north to south in the Napa Valley.
Calistoga St. Helena Rutherford Oakville Yountville Oak Knoll Coombsville Wild Horse Carneros
Which AVA in the Sierra Foothills is known for having some of the highest vineyards in California?
El Dorado AVA
Along with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, what other grapes have significant presence in the Anderson Valley at the lower sites? What grapes are produced here more above the fog line?
Riesling and Gewürztraminer and other Alsatian varietals in the lower sites. Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Syrah are produced higher up on lands above the fog line.
What wines are the AVAs of Amador county most celebrated for?
Pre-prohibition Zinfandel
What are the fundamental differences between AOP and AVA?
AVA is only an indication of geographic origin and does not, like the AOP, require producers to adhere to any additional guidelines in the vineyard or winery.
Describe the style of Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the following AVAs. St. Helena Rutherford Oakville Yountville Howell Mountain Atlas Peak
St. Helena
Meaty, luscious style often with minty notes
Rutherford
rich, structured, and elegant
Oakville
just as structured and lengthy as Rutherford, but slightly less rich with hints of herbs and spices
Yountville
More delicate fruit profile due to the cooler climate with firmer, more structured tannins
Howell Mountain
Reputed for muscular, yet complex and refined style
Atlas Peak
Climat creates a Cabernet that is much more European in style with lighter body and higher acidity.
Describe the climate of Sonoma as one moves north from Carneros.
Cooler in the southern part of Sonoma around Carneros due to proximity to the San Pablo Bay and the gap in the Coastal Ranges around Petaluma known as the Petaluma Gap. Vineyards in the south of Sonoma are shrouded in mist until 11am starting again at 4pm in the afternoon. Warmer the further you move north particularly around Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley.
Which Central Valley AVA is known for its particularly good, honeyed Chenin Blanc?
Clarksburg AVA
If County, State, or Country is used in lieu of AVA, what percentage of fruit must come from the labeled location? What are the exceptions to this in other states?
75%
Exceptions include in California and Oregon where 100% is the rule.
95% in Washington
After Chardonnay, what is the most widely planted white grape variety in California?
Colombard
The 2011 Vintage in Napa Valley is most comparable to which vintage of the late 1990’s?
1998
What is the only non-contiguous AVA in the United States?
Mendocino Ridge
The VINEA winegrowers’ Sustainable Trust is an organization in which AVA?
Walla Walla Valley
What is maximum concentration of sulfites allowed in a bottle of wine?
350 mg/l
The Gavilan Mountains influence what AVA?
Chalone AVA
In what AVA is the Fay Vineyard Located in?
Stag’s Leap District
In what AVA is the Eisele Vineyard Located in?
Calistoga
In what AVA is the Kronos Vineyard located in?
St. Helena
Chris Carpenter is a winemaker associated with what estates?
Lokoya, Cardinale, Mt. Brave, La Jota
What percentage of grapes from a single vineyard bottling must come from the state vineyard?
95%
In order to label a wine by county, state, or country (USA) what is the minimum amount that must be from the stated region?
75%
In order to label a wine by the state of California or Oregon what is the minimum amount that must be from the stated region?
100%
In order to label a wine by the state of Washington, what is the minimum amount that must be from the stated region?
95%
In order to label a wine by varietal in the United States, what is the minimum amount of that varietal that must be present in the wine?
75%
In order to label a wine “Estate Bottled” how much of the grapes must originate from land owned/controlled by the winery? Does it have to be in the same AVA?
100%
Yes, it has to be in the same AVA
What AVA lies directly to the west of Spring Mountain District AVA and sits between the Mayacamas Mountains and the city of Santa Rosa?
Fountaingrove District AVA
What was the first vintage of Monte Bello?
1962
What was the first vintage of Opus One?
1978
What was the first vintage of Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
1983
The Livermore Valley has been traditionally most closely associated with what grape variety?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is unique about the growing season in Salinas Valley?
It is very long, one of the longest growing seasons in the world of wine
Who is the founder of Calera? In what AVA is the estate located?
Josh Jensen.
Mount Harlan AVA
Name 5 wineries that are on Pritchard Hill ?
Ovid, Continuum, David Arthur, Chappellet, Bryant
What river runs through the Anderson Valley AVA?
The Navarro River
What was the first vintage or Kronos?
1996
Who was the winemaker for the first vintage of Staglin?
Cathy Corison
What was the inaugural vintage of Insignia?
1974
What was the inaugural vintage of Harlan Estate?
1990
What are the 11 nested AVA’s of Paso Robles?
Geneso District El Pomar Templeton Gap District San Miguel District Creston District Adelaida District San Juan Creek Highlands District Estrella District Willow Creek District Santa Margarita Ranch
What AVA lies between the Santa Rosa Hills and teh Purisma Hills
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
