California Breakdown Flashcards
California Introduction - Climate
Makes over 80 per cent of all US wine, 250,000 ha.
The state’s AVAs can be grouped into North Coast, Central Coast, Inland Valleys (including the Central Valley), Sierra Foothills and Southern California.
Climate - Pacific Ocean and Coastal Mountain Ranges. The topography of the land is much more influential than the degrees latitude, with some of the coolest areas also being some of the most southerly. 32–42°N, good sun.
Cold air pulled in from coast during the afternoons and evenings, giving a high diurnal range. Fog can form in the afternoons and often can last into the morning
California Introduction - Vineyard Management and Grapes
Pierce’s disease, spread by leafhopper insects called sharpshooters, is a serious threat. Spring frost, wildfires, smoke taint threats.
Approximately 85% of California wine production comes from wineries that are certified by one of the sustainable certification programmes across the state.
Top grapes = Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Colombard, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Sauv blanc. 63% black.
California Introduction - Wine Laws
140 AVAs. 5,900 grape growers and over 4,800 bonded wineries
Where a single grape variety is mentioned, at least 75% of the wine must be from that named variety.
A wine labelled with ‘California’ must be made entirely from grapes grown in the state.
At least 75% of the grapes must come from any named county, for example, Sonoma County.
If an AVA is mentioned, at least 85% of the grapes must come from that AVA.
Vineyard names may appear on the label if at least 95% of the grapes are from that vineyard.
At least 95 per cent of the grapes must come from any stated vintage if the wine is labelled with an AVA; this reduces to at least 85 per cent if purely a county or the state is mentioned.
Wineries can only use the term ‘estate bottled’ if the vineyards and winery is in the same AVA.
North Coast – Mendocino and Lake Counties
Mendocino County
Mayacamas Mountains run through the North Coast AVA, dividing Mendocino and Lake County. The county encompasses 13 AVAs.
Vineyards are grouped either in the cooler AVAs closer to the Pacific Ocean (Pinot noir, Chardonnay) or further inland in warmer areas (Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon), some of which are planted at altitude (Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling).
Mendocino AVA - can be used for multi-regional blends between AVAs.
Anderson Valley AVA - cold air and fog are funnelled inland along the Navarro River, giving cold evenings and mornings. Further inland, conditions are warmer. 900–2,000mm, winter and spring.
Lake County
rain shadow of the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east, giving a warm climate.
Clear Lake AVA - Most of the vineyards are in the southern part of the county around Clear Lake, the state’s largest natural lake. Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc most planted. Many of the vineyards are planted 1200’, benefit from the cooling effects of altitude.
North Coast – Sonoma County
Encompasses 18 AVAs. There are three overarching AVAs – Northern Sonoma AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA, and Sonoma Valley AVA – so large that they overlap with each other
Northern Sonoma AVA - covers a large area. It incorporates several smaller AVAs including Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley (plus Green Valley of Russian River Valley) and Dry Creek Valley.
Alexander Valley AVA - warm, influence from Petaluma Gap. Influence of altitude also helps to retain acidity in the grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted variety.
Knights Valley AVA
Dry creek Valley AVA - Zinfandel and Sauv Blanc.
Rockpile AVA - Influenced by snaking Lake Sonoma which surrounds the bottom of the AVA on three sides. The lake helps to create an inversion layer, which keeps the vineyards relatively warm at night. Planted on steep rocky slopes.
Russian River AVA - covers a range of both flat and hilly topography which influences the climate. The south and western parts of the AVA are coolest as they receive fog and wind through the Petaluma Gap. Inland, vineyards are sheltered by hills from the fog and breezes, giving warmer conditions, which are best for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and riper styles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Sonoma Coast AVA - wide variety of climates growing a range of grape varieties. Vineyards in the west of the AVA can be within a few miles of the coast and are extremely exposed to cold ocean winds and fog. Fort Ross Seaview AVA above fog line. Petaluma Gap AVA very windy.
Sonoma Valley AVA - In East. Sonoma mountain range shelters it from cool Pacific breezes. The southern part of the AVA is the coolest, as it opens straight on to San Pablo Bay.
Sonoma Mountain AVA - In West. Most vineyards are on east-facing, steep slopes within the Sonoma mountain range over 2000’ above fog. Mostly Cab, whites on coolest sites.
Bennett Valley AVA - small sub AVA. Grows mix of black/white.
Carneros AVA - cool to moderate climate, San Pablo Bay, fog, cold winds, low hills. Pinot, Chard, sparkling wines. Wines from this AVA can be labelled as ‘Carneros’, ‘Sonoma County’ or ‘Napa Valley’.
North Coast – Napa County
It represents 4% of California’s production but 27% of the retail value of all California wine sold. Napa Valley AVA encompasses the whole valley, but the area also has 16 smaller AVAs within it.
30 miles long by 5 miles wide, with 18,200 ha under vine, and formed by the Napa River, the Mayacamas mountains to the west and north and the Vaca mountains to the east.
nearly 90% of Napa County is under high levels of protection from development
Valley Floor - Carneros AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll AVA, Yountville AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, St Helena AVA and Calistoga AVA
Mountain Sides - Mount Veeder AVA, Atlas Peak AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA and Diamond Mountain District AVA
Central Coast
Runs for 280 miles from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. It extends about 60 miles inland from the coast and is cooled by marine air funnelling through gaps in the coastal hills.
Livermore Valley AVA - east side of San Francisco Bay in Alameda County. Wente Vineyards.
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA - Many of the vineyards are planted at high altitudes (up to almost 800 m) along a ridgeline, providing a moderating influence on day-time temperatures. At night, cool air slips down the slopes, forcing warm air upward.
Monterey County - The vineyard areas of Monterey County are based within the large Salinas Valley. Monterey AVA, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Arroyo Seco AVA, Chalone AVA, Carmel Valley AVA
San Luis Obispo County - between Monterey County and Santa Barbara County. Paso Robles AVA, Edna Valley AVA and Arroyo Grande AVA.
Santa Barbara County - most southern part of the Central Coast AVA. 6 AVAs - Santa Maria Valley AVA and Santa Ynez Valley AVA, which includes four sub-AVAs: Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara.
Central Valley
It consists of two valleys – the Sacramento Valley makes up the northern half with 6,700 ha under vine, while the San Joaquin Valley covers the southern half with around 61,000 ha under vine
High yielding vineyards are on flat fertile areas, hot temps!
French Colombard, Chardonnay, Muscat, Zinfandel and Merlot
Lodi AVA - particularly well-known for Zinfandel, with some vines over 100 years old
Clarksburg AVA
Sierra Foothills
Vast, covering just over 1 million ha and encompassing multiple counties as well as a few smaller AVAs. located 100 miles east of San Francisco, in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
most known for its old vine Zinfandel, with some vines considerably over 100 years old. Rhone varieties also planted.
South Coast
extends from south of Los Angeles to the border with Mexico. It includes a number of sub-AVAs. Many of the vineyards are planted in areas exposed to breezes from the Pacific, though some instead rely on altitude for temperature relief, as the low latitude of the area means that some cooling influence is necessary for quality wine grape production.
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chenin Blanc are some of the most common varieties
