California

Question 1

What is the main climate determinate in California?

Answer 1

Cold ocean current. Mountains shield much of the vineyard areas from the cold current.

Question 2

What causes the California cooling effect?

Answer 2

Cool air, with fog, drawn from the ocean in the evening, lowering nighttime temperatures. The cooling effect extends well into the day b/c of the time it take to burn off the fog. Where there are gaps in the mountains, the cooling effect can reach well inland. Valleys that lie at right angles to the ocean (Monterrey and Santa Barbara) act as funnels for the cold air. But in the Central Valley, the climate is hot.

Question 3

Other than the ocean cooling effect, what other factor links all of California’s wine growing regions?

Answer 3

Lack of rain during the ripening season.

Question 4

How does lack of rain during the ripening season affect California wines?

Answer 4

Growers leave grapes on the vine longer resulting in extra long “hang time”, very ripe grapes with very concentrated flavors and very high sugar levels. There is a growing trend toward freshness and picking earlier.

Question 5

What is the most widely planted black variety?

Answer 5

Cabernet

Question 6

Describe a typical cabernet.

Answer 6

Full-bodied, very concentrated ripe cassias flavors, prominent spice from new oak.

Question 7

What are the 5 main black varieties?

Answer 7

Cab, Zin, Merlot, Pinot, Syrah.

Question 8

Describe a Zin.

Answer 8

California’s “own” grape. Made in a range of styles. Ripens unevenly so that harvested grapes can include raisined and underripe grapes. Raising can conclude in concentrated, full-bodied reds with high alcohol, and small amounts of residual sugar. Both red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice. Herbaceous if from underripe grapes.

Question 9

What is a white Zin?

Answer 9

Rose zin from early picked grapes. Fruity, pale in color, medium sweet, low in alcohol.

Question 10

Describe a merlot from the Central Valley

Answer 10

Approchable, soft tannins, ripe black fruit. Simple.

Question 11

Describe a premium California Merlot.

Answer 11

Deeply colored, soft velvety tannins, luscious body, high alcohol, blackberry and plum flavors.

Question 12

What areas are known for premium Pinot’s?

Answer 12

Russian River, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley. Red cherry, strawberry, sweet spice from oak, light in color, gamey, vegetal notes.

Question 13

Describe a California Syrah.

Answer 13

Full bodied and rich; or leaner and peppery.

Question 14

What are Californias 2 main white varieties ?

Answer 14

Chard and SauvBlanc.

Question 15

What 2 areas are producing a restrained Chard?

Answer 15

Los Carneros and Russian River Valley.

Question 16

Where does the best SauvBlanc come from?

Answer 16

Costal regions. High acidity, ripe citrus.

Question 17

Where is the majority of California wine produced?

Answer 17

Central Valley. Premium wine regions are located along the coast.

Question 18

What strongly influences the North Coast Vineyards? (Napa, Sonoma, Mendicino).

Answer 18

Ocean. Bringing fog and cool breezes through the gaps effecting the diurnal range.

Question 19

What forms the eastern and western boundaries of Napa Valley?

Answer 19

Mayacamas on the West and Vaca on the east.

Question 20

What is the most significant climate influence on Napa Valley?

Answer 20

San Pablo bay. Morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes.

Question 21

Which AVA do both Napa and Sonoma share?

Answer 21

Los Carneros. Most southerly AVA in Napa. Known for high quality Pinot and Chard.

Question 22

Name the Napa AVA’s from south to north.

Answer 22

Los Carneros, Stage Leap, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena and Calistoga.

Question 23

Which Napa AVA is considered to have the most power and structure?

Answer 23

Rutherford.

Question 24

What are the 2 main white grape varieties in Napa?

Answer 24

Chard and Sauv Blanc.

Question 25

Which Napa AVA’s can produce some of the most concentrated and full bodied wines in the Valley?

Answer 25

Saint Helena and Calistoga. Warmest daytime temperatures.

Question 26

What gap provides cool air to Napa?

Answer 26

Chalk Hill in the Maycamams. Helps acidity.

Question 27

What cools the vineyards not located on the valley floor?

Answer 27

Altitude.

Question 28

How do mountainside wines on the eastern side of the valley differ from those on the west?

Answer 28

Face the hot afternoon sun. Fuller bodied, higher alcohol. Both sides have greater levels of tannin and less richness than the valley floor.

Question 29

How does Chard on the mountains differ from valley floor?

Answer 29

Citrus and stone fruit with higher acidity.

Question 30

What is the name of the break in the costal range mountains in the Russian River?

Answer 30

Petaluma Gap.

Question 31

What is the Russian River known for?

Answer 31

Elegant Pinot’s, Chard’s, and sparkling wine made from both.

Question 32

What is Dry Creek Valley known for?

Answer 32

Old vine zin’s on the hillside above the fog; Sauvignon Blanc on the valley floor.

Question 33

How does Alexander Valley differ from Dry Creek?

Answer 33

Warmer, so wines are more fleshy and full bodied. Soft textured full bodied cabs, as well as international varieties.

Question 34

What influences the Sonoma Coast AVA?

Answer 34

Cold Pacific Ocean. Vineyards planted on south facing slopes to maximize ripening. Chards and old vine zins.

Question 35

Anderson Valley AVA is in which county?

Answer 35

Mendocino.

Question 36

What is Anderson Valley known for?

Answer 36

Cool. Therefore aromatic whites Riesling and Gewurztraiminer. Sparkling wines. Differs from the Mendicino AVA which is much warmer, drier, behind protected coastal hills. Makes full bodied, soft tannin reds.

Question 37

Name two AVA’s in the north part of the Central Coast?

Answer 37

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and Monterey AVA. Hillside locations with infertile soils. Elegant cab’s, high-quality chard’s and pinot’s.

Question 38

What is the AVA on the slopes surrounding Salinas Valley in Monterey County known for high quality Chards with citrus and tropical fruit and balanced acidity?

Answer 38

Santa Lucia Highlands.

Question 39

Name two counties in the southern central coast?

Answer 39

San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Here the mountains lie east-west rather than north-south, encouraging cool ocean breezes.

Question 40

What are two AVA’s in the southern Central Coast?

Answer 40

Paso Robles and Santa Maria Valley.

Question 41

Describe Paso Robles’s two distinct zones.

Answer 41

East is hot, sunny with deep fertile soils, producing supple fruity wines for high volume brands. The West is maritime cooled and produces high quality zin’s and rhone varieties.

Question 42

What is the significantly cooler Santa Maria Valley known for?

Answer 42

Premium pinot and Chard.

Question 43

Where is the vast majority of California wine produced?

Answer 43

Central Valley. Hot, dry and irrigated. Rubired and ruby cab bred for there. Also cab, merlot, chard, colombard, chennin blanc, and Barbera.

Question 44

Where is Lodi and what is it known for?

Answer 44

Lodi AVA straddles the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys in the middle of the Central Valley. Gets cooling breezes from San Francisco Bay. Has some of the oldest zin in the state.