California: Central Coast Flashcards
The Central Coast AVA runs 280 miles from _____ to _____
From San Francisco to Santa Barbara
Which mountain range runs from north to south of the Central Coast AVA?
What effect do they have on the region?
The Southern Coast Ranges
They shelter vineyards from cool wet fog rolling off the Pacific
Describe the soils found in Livermore Valley AVA.
How does this effect vine growth?
Stony, free draining soils.
Low vigour
Which grapes are grown in Livermore Valley AVA?
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel
Which three counties are included in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?
Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
San Mateo
What are the most planted varietals in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA are planted at what elevations?
How does this effect vineyards?
Up to 800m along a ridge line
Altitude provides moderating influence from day time temperatures
At night cool air descends the slopes and forces warm air upwards: nights are relatively warm and frosts are avoided
What price and quality would you expect in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?
Good to outstanding
Mid price to super premium
Name two high quality producers in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
Ridge Vineyards
Mount Eden Vineyards
The vineyard areas of Monterey County are based with the large _____ _____, running from ____ _____ in the north west of the county to the border with ___ ___ ____ in the south
Salinas Valley
Running from Monterey Bay
San Luis Obispo
Which is the largest AVA within Monterey County?
Monterey AVA
Cool air is funnelled into Monterey AVA from where?
From Monterey Bay in the north west, down the Salinas Valley
Why is the water in Monterey Bay particularly cold?
How does this affect sites in Monterey AVA?
There is a deep canyon, meaning the water does not heat up easily
Afternoons and evenings are cool and windy.
Where are the cooler sites found in Monterey AVA? Why?
What grapes are grown here?
Towards the north - these sites receive the most cooling influence off the Monterey Bay.
Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay
Where are the warmer sites found in Monterey AVA? Why?
What grapes are grown here?
Inland and to the south - these sites receive less cooling influence off the Monterey Bay and are warmer.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and Chardonnay
What type of soils are found in Monterey AVA?
Sandy loam and gravel soils: free draining
Where is irrigation water for Monterey AVA sourced from?
Salinas River
What price would you expect of the wines from Monterey AVA?
What two factors contribute to this?
Inexpensive to mid price volume wines
Irrigation water is easy to source from the Salinas River
Vineyards are planted on the large, flat, valley floor meaning mechanisation is easy
Plantings in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA are at what elevations?
Up to 350m
Vineyards Santa Lucia Highlands AVA are exposed to winds and fogs off of which bay?
Monterey Bay
Describe where and on what soils the majority of Santa Lucia Highlands AVA vineyards are planted.
On south east facing alluvial terraces overlooking the Salinas Valley
What is a key challenge for growers in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?
High winds - these can sometimes close stomatae causing ripening to slow
What are the key grapes grown in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?
How would the style of these be best described?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah (in more shaded areas)
Fresh with high acidity
Where would you find Arroyo Seco AVA?
To the south and east of the Santa Lucia Mountains
The Arroyo Seco AVA starts in the ____ ____ ___, a narrow gorge at the foot of the ____ ____ mountains, and opens up to the ____ ____ floor
Arroyo Seco Canyon
Santa Lucia Mountains
Salinas Valley floor
Describe the growing conditions for Arroyo Seco AVA vineyards found in the canyon.
What are the key grapes grown here?
Warm and sheltered
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel
Describe the growing conditions for Arroyo Seco AVA vineyards found on the valley floor.
What are the key grapes grown here?
Cooler than canyon sites: exposed to afternoon breezes
Riesling and Chardonnay
Chalone AVA is in the ____ part of Monterey in the _____ mountain range
Eastern part
Gabilan Mountain Range
At what elevations would you expect to find Chalone AVA vineyards?
Describe how this affects growing conditions here
Up to 550m
Vineyards are above the fog line
Long sunshine hours
Cool nights help retain acidity
What type of soils are typically found in Chalone AVA vineyards?
How does this affect grapes grown here?
Free draining granite and limestone
This helps produce low yields of concentrated grapes
What grapes are grown in Chalone AVA?
Best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Syrah are also grown
Vineyards of Carmel Valley AVA are primarily located in which two valleys?
Which is more inland?
Carmel Valley and Cachagua Valley
Cachagua Valley is more inland
Describe the growing conditions for vines located in the Cachagua Valley in Carmel Valley AVA.
What are the most planted grape varieties here?
Up to 670m above sea level
Depending on aspect, can be sheltered from coastal influence
Some of the warmest sites in Monterey
Altitude and surrounding mountains give cool nights
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Is Carmel Valley cooler or warmer than Cachagua Valley? Why?
What grapes are grown in Carmel Valley (within Carmel AVA)?
Cooler - it is closer to the coast and receives more coastal influence
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
San Luis Obispo County is between which two other counties on the Pacific coast?
Monterey and Santa Barbara
Adelaida District AVA is located within which larger AVA?
In the north west of Paso Robles
Adelaida District AVA is located within which mountains?
Santa Lucia Mountains
Describe the climate in eastern Paso Robles AVA.
How does this effect the fruit grown here?
Warmer climate than in the west.
Full bodied wines with concentrated, ripe fruit
Describe the climate in western Paso Robles AVA.
How does this effect the fruit grown here?
Cooler climate than in the east with more coastal influence.
Fresher wines with higher acidity
Where is the Templeton Gap and what is its effect?
It is a low point in the Coastal Range on the west side of Paso Robles AVA
It allows winds to travel inland and provides a moderating influence on temperatures on westerly sub AVAs
How many sub AVAs in Paso Robles AVA?
11
What type of soils are found in Paso Robles AVA?
Calcareous soils are a feature throughout (not common for California)
Which grape variety makes up 40% of plantings in Paso Robles?
What other grapes is the region known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.
Becoming more known for black and white Rhone varietals
Name two important producers in Paso Robles AVA
Saxum Vineyard
Tablas Creek
What style and quality of wine can be found in Paso Robles AVA
Mostly good quality, inexpensive to mid priced
Some outstanding wines at mid to premium prices
Edna Valley AVA receives cooling breezes and fogs off of which bay to its north?
Morro Bay
What grapes are grown in Edna Valley AVA?
Mostly known for high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both still and sparkling)
Also plantings of Syrah, Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier
Describe the growing conditions in Arroyo Grande Valley AVA.
What grapes are grown here?
Warm sunny days
Valley channels fog in from south west (lowering night time temperatures)
One of the coolest AVAs in California
Dominated by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for still and sparkling
The AVAs of Santa Barbara County are located within the ____ ranges.
What is significant about these mountains?
In the Transverse Ranges
It is an east-west orientation of the Southern Coast Ranges: fog and winds are funnelled in eastwards off the pacific, lowering the temperatures
What positive effects does good air circulation have on vineyards in Santa Barbara County?
Reduces frost risk and fungal disease
Grapes can be kept on the vine into the autumn months, which can be needed for full ripeness in the coolest sites
What is significant about tasting rooms in Santa Barbara County?
Cellar doors cannot be set up at the winery - tasting rooms must be in a town or city
Name two significant Santa Barbara County producers
Sine Qua Non
Mail Road Wines
What are the main grape varieties in Santa Barbara County?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in cooler sites
Syrah in warmer sites
Describe the soils and topography (including elevation) in Santa Maria Valley AVA
Sandy clay shale loams
Hillside slopes
100 to 250m
Name the four sub AVAs of Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Santa Rita Hills AVA
Ballard Canyon AVA
Los Olivos AVA
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA
Is Santa Rita Hills one of the warmer or cooler AVAs in Santa Ynez Valley AVA? Why?
Cooler
It is on the west side, and first area to receive the cooling Pacific breezes and fogs funnelled in off the coast
Describe the terrain and soils in Santa Rita Hills AVA
Hilly Terrain
Calcium rich soils
What are the main grapes grown in Santa Rita Hills AVA.
Describe the price point of the most sought after wines
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Syrah
Pinot Noirs are premium/ super premium - there is small supply and big deman
Is Ballard Canyon one of the warmer or cooler AVAs in Santa Ynez Valley AVA? Why?
What grapes are grown here?
Warmer
It is further inland
The canyon runs north to south and shelters vineyards from breezes
Syrah and Grenache
Describe the growing conditions in Los Olivos AVA
What grapes are grown here?
Warm, sunny days
Little altitude or fog influence: low diurnal range
Mix of Bordeaux, Rhône and Italian grapes
Describe the growing conditions in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA - why is it warmer and what cooling influences are there?
What grapes are grown here?
East-west valley shifts north-south blocking breezes
Warm temperatures
Cooling influence from high altitude sites and afternoon winds
High diurnal range
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
