California Flashcards
What are the key native grape species generally found in US
Vitis Labrusca (Concord)
Vitis Rotundifolia (Scuppernong)
Vitis Aestivalis (Norton)
Vitis Riparia
Vitis Rupestris
Vitis Californica
Who produced the first vinifera wines in California
Fransiscans at the San Juan Capistrano Mission - using Mission grapes
Who planted the first vineyard in Napa Valley
George Yount in 1839
Which winery did Agoston Haraszthy found
Buena Vista
Who founded the Inglenook winery
Gustav Niebaum in 1880
Which is the oldest winery in St. Helena
Charles Krug 1861
Who understood the resistance of American vines to phylloxera
Charles Valentine Riley
Which winery declared itself as house of Altar wine during prohibition
Beaulieu vineyards of Georges de Latour
During which years was prohibition in US
1920 - 1933
What were the first few brands of Gallo in California
Thunderbird
Night Train Express
Which famous winemaker did Georges de Latour hire for Beaulieu, post prohobition
Andre Tchelistcheff
What new technology did Andre Tchelistcheff bring to winemaking in US
Temperature controlled fermentation
Controlled malolactic fermentation
Which famous wineries survived prohibition in US
Beaulieu
Inglenook
Beringer
When did Mondavi launch his first harvest
1966
When did Mondavi launch Fume Blanc
1968
Who were the early modern pioneers of Sonoma
Hanzell
Martin Ray
Simi
When did Paul Draper began producing Monte Bello at Ridge vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountain
1969
Which is Monteray’s oldest commercial vineyard
Chalone Vineyards 1960
Which producer planted first Pinot Noir vineyard of Santa Barbera
Richard Sanford of Sanford and Benedict Vineyards
1970 in Sta Rita Hills
When was the Judgement of Paris tasting
1976 - organised by Steven Spurrier
Which wines won the judgement of Paris tasting
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Which was the first wine to top $100 from Napa
Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978
What are the key disease concerns in US wines
Phylloxera in Washington
Red blotch and fungal trunk disease in pacific northwest
Red blotch and Pierce’s disease in California
What was the first AVA in USA
Augusta - Missouri 1980
When did Napa Valley gain AVA status
1981
Which AVA created controversy over AVA system and rights of a brand
Calistoga AVA
Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estate brands were not using enough AVA fruit to continue using the name
What is the min % of grapes required to label a wine by state, country or county in USA
75%
What is the min % of grapes required to label a wine by AVA in USA
85%
Which states are exceptions to the political boundary labeling law of US as min 75% rule
Oregon and California - 100%
Washington - 95%
What is the min % required for labeling as a single vineyard in USA
95%
What is the rule for declaring the vintage date on a label in US for wines, imported or local
They must have an appellation smaller than a country
What is the min % required for labeling a wine by vintage in US
Min 95% if labeled by AVA
Min 85% if labeled by state or county
What % is required in USA for labeling a wine by grape variety
Min 75% of any stated vinifera variety
Min 51% of any stated non Vinifera variety
What is the margin of error on alcohol on US wine labels
+/- 1.5%
Wines between 7 - 14 % may label simply as table wines or light wines, alternatively
What is the min threshold for putting the phrase “Contain Sulphites” on the wine label in US
10 parts per million
What is the law on estate bottled in US
100% of the grapes must come from land owned or controlled by winery
All such vineyards must be located in the same AVA
Which large AVA was proposed by Gallo to label his wines as estate bottled
Northern Sonoma AVA
What are the main 5 large AVA’s of California
North Coast
Central Coast
South Coast
San Francisco Bay
Sierra Foothills
Which key grape growing areas of California doesn’t have an AVA
Central Valley - source of 75% of the state’s grapes
Where are the fine wine districts of California located
Near the coast
Fog and cool sea breezes mitigate temperature
Large diurnal swings
What is Meritage in USA
Premium Bordeaux blend
Both red or white
No single grape accounting for more than 90% of the blend
Trademark term by Meritage alliance
Which other names is Charbono known by
Corbeau in France
Douce Noir in Savoy
Bonarda in Argentina
Which counties are included in the North Coast AVA
Napa
Sonoma
Mendocino
Lake
Solano
Marin
How many sub AVAs are in Napa Valley
16 sub AVAs named after towns and mountains of the valley
Which bay is located south of Napa Valley
San Pablo Bay
Which are the southernmost and northernmost AVAs of Napa
Carneros - South
Calistoga - North
Which mountain ranges form Napa Valley
Vaca Mountains to the east
Mayacamas mountains to the west
What kind of soils are found in the Napa Valley
Diverse soils of volcanic, alluvial and maritime types
Well drained gravel loam, dense clay and thin rocky soils in hillside vineyards
What are the mountain sub AVA’s of Napa
Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak in East
Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain and Mount Veeder in the west
Which is the coolest and the wettest of the mountain sub appellations of Napa
Howell Mountain
At what height does the Howell Mountain AVA begins
1400 ft
Which Napa Valley AVA is divided between Napa and Solano county
Wild Horse Valley
Which Napa Valley AVA shares boundary with Wild Horse Valley AVA
Coombsville
Which Napa Valley AVA is east of Howell Mountain AVA
Chiles Valley District
Which AVA’s north to south are on valley floor of Napa Valley
Calistoga
St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap District
Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley
Los Carneros
Which is the most planted grape variety in Sonoma County
Chardonnay
How many AVA’s are in Sonoma County
18 AVAs
What geographical term should be on all Sonoma wines irrespective of AVA
Sonoma County
Which AVA of Sonoma county is shared with Marin county
Petaluma Gap AVA