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WSET level 3 2020 > California > Flashcards

California Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the U.S’s GI system based on?

A

American Viticultural Area (AVA)

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2
Q

Can AVAs cross borders and/or overlap?

A

Yes and yes

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3
Q

What plays quite a small role in determining the climate of individual Californian vineyards, despite the regions dimensions?

A

(Despite a massive North to South spread)

Latitude

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4
Q

What is the most crucial moderating influence in California?

A

The exceptionally cold California Ocean Current

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5
Q

What can inhibit the cooling effect of the California Ocean Current?

A

Mountainous coast

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6
Q

What two cooling factors does the cool sea bring to land?

A

Cold breezes in the evening

Fog

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7
Q

Monterey and Santa Barbara counties see lots of funnelled cool sea air, why?

A

Mountains at right angles to the sea

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8
Q

What is the climate like in California where there is no exposure to the ocean?

A

Hot

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9
Q

What is a grape-growing hazard in California?

A

Water shortage

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10
Q

There is a scarcity of Autumn rain in California, how has this affected wine styles here?

A

Grapes can be left on the vine long into the season, resulting in concentrated fruit with high amounts of sugar, resulting in high alcohol, full-flavoured ripe wines

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11
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in California?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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12
Q

California Cabernet is full-bodied with very concentrated flavours of … and showing prominent …?

A

Ripe Cassis

Spice aromas from new oak

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13
Q

What sort of flavour might be found in a less rich Cali Cabernet?

A

Fresh blackcurrant

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14
Q

Which grape “belongs” to California?

A

Zinfandel

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15
Q

What is ‘White Zinfandel’ made from?

A

Early picked Zinfandel grapes

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16
Q

What is the shared peculiarity of Chenin Blanc and Zinfandel?

A

Uneven grape ripening

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17
Q

Aside from red and black fruit, dried berries and sometimes a herbaceous character from some under-ripe berries, what is a distinctive flavour character of Zinfandel?

A

Liquorice

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18
Q

What level of sweetness and alcohol is found in White Zinfandel usually?

A

Medium-Sweet

Low alcohol

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19
Q

Merlot is widely planted in California, what kind of sites are more premium styles made?

A

Cooler

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20
Q

Can premium Pinot Noir be made in California? Will wines most likely see oak?

A

Yes and yes

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21
Q

What are the five black grape varieties relevant to California?

A 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Syrah
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22
Q

Both the following styles of Syrah are made:
- full-bodied and rich
- leaner and pepper
Which is typical to California?

A

Full-bodied and rich

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23
Q

Is there mention of Merlot being blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in the book?

A

No

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24
Q

What are the two white grapes relevant to California?

A

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

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25
Q

In what style were high-quality Chardonnays traditionally made in California? (body, alcohol, acid, flavours)

A

Full-bodied
High alcohol
Low acid
Oak, butter and hazelnut underpinning banana and peach

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26
Q

Where are more premium examples of California Sauvignon Blanc found? They are high-acid wines with flavours of …?

A

Coastal regions

Citrus

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27
Q

Where are mass-produced wines from fertile soils mainly made with the aid of irrigation?

A

Central Valley

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28
Q

There are 5 regions in California but 3 regions that contain the majority of California’s county appellations and AVAs, what are they?

A

North Coast
Central Coast
Central Valley

29
Q

What are two elements intrinsic to the North Coast of California?

A

Ocean breezes and fog

30
Q

How does fog and coastal breeze penetrate the mountains on the North Coast?

A

River valleys and gaps in the ranges

31
Q

Which AVA has some of the most expensive vineyard land? This land is varied in terrain and has many AVAs inside it

A

Napa Valley AVA

32
Q

What mountain range separates Sonoma and Napa?

A

Mayacamas Mountains

33
Q

In what bay do morning fogs and cool breezes originate in Napa Valley? What part of the valley do they cool the most?

A

San Pablo Bay

Southern part of Napa AVA

34
Q

The North coast can be broken into 3 counties, what are they?

A

Napa County
Sonoma County
Mendocino County

35
Q

Which AVA is Napa Counties most southerly and cool? Why? What grapes are grown here?

A

Los Carneros AVA
Proximity to San Pablo Bay
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (for still and sparkling)

36
Q

Further north of Los Carneros AVA in the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal variety in all AVAs. What AVAs also widely plant Merlot? (3) What two white grapes are also planted here? (2)

A

Stags Leap District
Oakville
Rutherford
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

37
Q

Which smaller Napa AVAs make premium reds that are said to have the most power and structure? (3)

A

Stags Leap District AVA
Oakville AVA
Rutherford

38
Q

Which two Napa Valley AVAs often receive the highest daytime temperatures and as such produce the most full-bodied and concentrated wines in the valley? (2)

A

St Helena AVA

Calistoga AVA

39
Q

(Napa) What other black grape varieties are grown in the St Helena and Calistoga AVAs? What helps retain acidity in grapes here?

A 
Zinfandel and Syrah
Cool air (through the Chalk Hill Gap in the Mayacamas Mountains)
Cooler night-time temperatures
40
Q

Some AVAs in the Napa Valley sit too high to be moderated by morning fog, what is the main moderating influence for these areas?

A

Altitude

41
Q

Which two AVAs are moderated by altitude rather than fog in Napa? What makes a large difference in warmth between these two areas?

A

Howell Mountain AVA
Mount Veeder AVA
Aspect

42
Q

(Napa) Howell Mountain AVA is …-facing?

A

West-facing

other non-bold example is Atlas Peak

43
Q

(Napa) Mount Veeder AVA is …-facing?

A

East-facing

other e.g. Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain

44
Q

What makes west-facing vineyards in the northern hemisphere warmer?

A

Afternoon sun

45
Q

Higher altitude AVAs on the Napa Valley sides tend to exhibit … levels of tannin and … richness on the palate?

A

Higher

Less

46
Q

What are the four AVAs of note in Sonoma County?

A

Russian River AVA
Dry Creek Valley AVA
Alexander Valley
Sonoma Coast AVA

47
Q

What allows for the growing/production of high-quality, elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in Russian River AVA?

A

A gap in coastal mountains letting in cool breezes and fog

48
Q

Which AVA is just north of Russian River Valley and perceptibly warmer? Fog is still of influence here, except higher up where there are plantings of old vine…?

A

Dry Creek Valley

Old vine Zinfandel

49
Q

In the Dry Creek Valley AVA, what grapes are on slopes and what grapes do better on the valley floor?

A

Old vine Zinfandel on slopes

Sauvignon Blanc on valley floor

50
Q

What other grapes are popular in Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County), other than Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Rhone varieties and Cabernet Sauvignon

51
Q

Which Sonoma County AVA has a reputation for softly textured, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

Alexander Valley AVA

52
Q

What Sonoma County AVA is not a valley and is situated to the west?

A

Sonoma Coast

53
Q

Where might grapes be planted in Sonoma Coast AVA? Why?

What varietals might be found here?

A

South-facing aspects
To aid ripening
Old vine Zinfandel and Chardonnay (high quality)

54
Q

Which County lies to the north of Sonoma?

A

Mendocino County

55
Q

Mendocino County consists of the large Mendocino AVA and Anderson Valley AVA. What grapes are grown in these AVAs?

A

Mendocino - Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah (Soft tannins, full-bodied)
Anderson Valley - Riesling, Gewurtztraminer

56
Q

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA produces some of the most elegant Cabernet Sauvignon in California. What other grapes are grown here of high-quality?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

57
Q

Monterey AVA sees plantings of … and … closer to the coast and …, … and … further inland away from breezes

A

Pinot and Chardonnay

Merlot, Cab Sauv and Syrah

58
Q

Which two counties experience cool breezes encouraged by the east-west laying mountains?

A

San Luis Obispo

Santa Barbara

59
Q

Which successful AVA is associated with San Luis Obispo?

A

Paso Robles AVA

60
Q

Paso Robles AVA can be broken into two sections, east and west. What are the climate, soil conditions and varietals of the East? What style are these wines made in?
What grapes are grown in the cooler marine East?

A

Hot, sunny weather
Fertile soils
Merlot, Cab-sauv, Syrah made in a supple fruity style for high-volume brands
Zinfandel and Rhone varieties

61
Q

Paso Robles AVA can be broken into two sections, east and west. What influences the climate and what are the main varietals found in the West? What is the quality like here?

A

Cool, due to marine air
Zinfandel and Rhone varieties
High quality

62
Q

Down towards LA is Santa Barbara County. What is the AVA producing premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here?

A

Santa Maria Valley AVA

63
Q

What slows ripening of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County?

A

Fog and exposure to the coast

64
Q

What is the climate in the Central Valley?

What agricultural technique is a common necessity?

A

Hot and dry

Irrigation

65
Q

New grape varieties Rubired and Ruby Cabernet were bred to take advantage of Central Valley conditions. What other varieties are widely planted?

A

Cab Sauv, Merlot Chardonnay

Barbera, Colombard and Chenin Blanc

66
Q

Where can you find some of the best and oldest Zinfandel in the state

A

Lodi AVA

67
Q

Although overlapping the hot Central Valley, Lodi boasts the cooling influence of the San Francisco Bay via …?

A

The Sacramento Delta

68
Q

What two valleys does Lodi AVA straddle?

A

San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys

WSET level 3 2020 (41 decks)

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