California

Question 1

What are the percentage of grapes required for labeling by appellation in California?

Answer 1

Country, State, or County: 75%
AVA: 85%
Single Vineyard: 95%

Question 2

True or False,

Wines labeled as ‘California Wine’ can only be made from grapes grown in the state

Answer 2

True

Question 3

If a California wine is vintage dated, how much of the wine must be from that vintage?

Answer 3

If the wine has an AVA listed, 95% must come from the stated vintage.

If it just has a state or county, the minimum is relaxed to 85%

Question 4

If there is a varietal designation on the label of California, how much of the blend must said varietal make up?

Answer 4

75%

• Vitis labrusca grapes are an exception and only need to make up 51% of the blend

Question 5

True or False,

Alcohol levels stated on labels have a little bit of wiggle room

Answer 5

True, they must just be within a margin of +/- 1.5%

Question 6

What is the legal requirement for using the term ‘Estate Bottled’?

Answer 6

100% of a wine must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery

Question 7

What are the 4 large AVAs that make up California?

Answer 7

North Coast
Central Coast
South Coast
Sierra Foothills

Question 8

Where does 75% of the states wine come from?

Answer 8

the Central Valley (which is not an AVA)

Question 9

What does the term Meritage mean?

Answer 9

It is used by producers to indicate a premium blend in which no grape accounts for more that 90% of the wine

Question 10

True or False,

Meritage wines can be red or white, but can only be produced from Bordeaux Varietals

Answer 10

True!

Question 11

How much wine does California produce in relation to the rest of the United States?

Answer 11

80%

Question 12

What are the main moderating influences in California?

Answer 12

The Pacific Ocean and the string of coastal mountain ranges

Question 13

What four Counties make up the majority North Coast?

Answer 13

Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma and Napa

Question 14

How many of the 16 Napa Valley AVAs can you name?

Answer 14

Atlas Peak
Calistoga
Chiles Valley District 
Coombsville
Diamond Mountain District
Howell Mountain
Los Carneros
Mount Veeder
Oak Knoll
Oakville
Rutherford
St. Helena
Stags Leap District
Spring Mountain District
Wild Horse Valley
Yountville

Question 15

Name the two Mountain Ranges that surround Napa Valley

Answer 15

Mayacamas (to the west)

Vaca (to the east)

Question 16

How does the cool ocean air reach Napa?

Answer 16

It is funneled through Petaluma Gap, into the San Pablo Bay, and then upward through the Valley

Question 17

Which AVA is most suitable for sparkling wine production?

Answer 17

Carneros, due to the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean

Question 18

How high up do vineyards get in Napa Valley?

Answer 18

2,000 ft above sea level

Question 19

What was the first sub-appellation in Napa?

Answer 19

Howell Mountain

Question 20

What are the dimensions for the Napa Valley?

Answer 20

30 miles long by 5 miles wide

Question 21

What river runs through Napa Valley?

Answer 21

The Napa River