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Wine Diploma > California: Central Coast > Flashcards

California: Central Coast Flashcards

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1
Q

The Central Coast AVA runs 280 miles from _____ to _____

A

From San Francisco to Santa Barbara

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2
Q

Which mountain range runs from north to south of the Central Coast AVA?

What effect do they have on the region?

A

The Southern Coast Ranges

They shelter vineyards from cool wet fog rolling off the Pacific

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3
Q

Describe the soils found in Livermore Valley AVA.

How does this effect vine growth?

A

Stony, free draining soils.

Low vigour

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4
Q

Which grapes are grown in Livermore Valley AVA?

A

Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel

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5
Q

Which three counties are included in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?

A

Santa Cruz
Santa Clara
San Mateo

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6
Q

What are the most planted varietals in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

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7
Q

Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA are planted at what elevations?

How does this effect vineyards?

A

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

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8
Q

What price and quality would you expect in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA?

A

Good to outstanding

Mid price to super premium

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9
Q

Name two high quality producers in Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.

A

Ridge Vineyards

Mount Eden Vineyards

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10
Q

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

A

Salinas Valley

Running from Monterey Bay

San Luis Obispo

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11
Q

Which is the largest AVA within Monterey County?

A

Monterey AVA

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12
Q

Cool air is funnelled into Monterey AVA from where?

A

From Monterey Bay in the north west, down the Salinas Valley

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13
Q

Why is the water in Monterey Bay particularly cold?

How does this affect sites in Monterey AVA?

A

There is a deep canyon, meaning the water does not heat up easily

Afternoons and evenings are cool and windy.

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14
Q

Where are the cooler sites found in Monterey AVA? Why?

What grapes are grown here?

A

Towards the north - these sites receive the most cooling influence off the Monterey Bay.

Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay

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15
Q

Where are the warmer sites found in Monterey AVA? Why?

What grapes are grown here?

A

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

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16
Q

What type of soils are found in Monterey AVA?

A

Sandy loam and gravel soils: free draining

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17
Q

Where is irrigation water for Monterey AVA sourced from?

A

Salinas River

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18
Q

What price would you expect of the wines from Monterey AVA?

What two factors contribute to this?

A

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

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19
Q

Plantings in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA are at what elevations?

A

Up to 350m

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20
Q

Vineyards Santa Lucia Highlands AVA are exposed to winds and fogs off of which bay?

A

Monterey Bay

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21
Q

Describe where and on what soils the majority of Santa Lucia Highlands AVA vineyards are planted.

A

On south east facing alluvial terraces overlooking the Salinas Valley

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22
Q

What is a key challenge for growers in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?

A

High winds - these can sometimes close stomatae causing ripening to slow

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23
Q

What are the key grapes grown in Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?

How would the style of these be best described?

A

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah (in more shaded areas)

Fresh with high acidity

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24
Q

Where would you find Arroyo Seco AVA?

A

To the south and east of the Santa Lucia Mountains

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25
Q

The Arroyo Seco AVA starts in the ____ ____ ___, a narrow gorge at the foot of the ____ ____ mountains, and opens up to the ____ ____ floor

A

Arroyo Seco Canyon

Santa Lucia Mountains

Salinas Valley floor

26
Q

Describe the growing conditions for Arroyo Seco AVA vineyards found in the canyon.

What are the key grapes grown here?

A

Warm and sheltered

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel

27
Q

Describe the growing conditions for Arroyo Seco AVA vineyards found on the valley floor.

What are the key grapes grown here?

A

Cooler than canyon sites: exposed to afternoon breezes

Riesling and Chardonnay

28
Q

Chalone AVA is in the ____ part of Monterey in the _____ mountain range

A

Eastern part

Gabilan Mountain Range

29
Q

At what elevations would you expect to find Chalone AVA vineyards?

Describe how this affects growing conditions here

A

Up to 550m

Vineyards are above the fog line
Long sunshine hours
Cool nights help retain acidity

30
Q

What type of soils are typically found in Chalone AVA vineyards?

How does this affect grapes grown here?

A

Free draining granite and limestone

This helps produce low yields of concentrated grapes

31
Q

What grapes are grown in Chalone AVA?

A

Best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Syrah are also grown

32
Q

Vineyards of Carmel Valley AVA are primarily located in which two valleys?

Which is more inland?

A

Carmel Valley and Cachagua Valley

Cachagua Valley is more inland

33
Q

Describe the growing conditions for vines located in the Cachagua Valley in Carmel Valley AVA.

What are the most planted grape varieties here?

A

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

34
Q

Is Carmel Valley cooler or warmer than Cachagua Valley? Why?

What grapes are grown in Carmel Valley (within Carmel AVA)?

A

Cooler - it is closer to the coast and receives more coastal influence

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

35
Q

San Luis Obispo County is between which two other counties on the Pacific coast?

A

Monterey and Santa Barbara

36
Q

Adelaida District AVA is located within which larger AVA?

A

In the north west of Paso Robles

37
Q

Adelaida District AVA is located within which mountains?

A

Santa Lucia Mountains

38
Q

Describe the climate in eastern Paso Robles AVA.

How does this effect the fruit grown here?

A

Warmer climate than in the west.

Full bodied wines with concentrated, ripe fruit

39
Q

Describe the climate in western Paso Robles AVA.

How does this effect the fruit grown here?

A

Cooler climate than in the east with more coastal influence.

Fresher wines with higher acidity

40
Q

Where is the Templeton Gap and what is its effect?

A

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

41
Q

How many sub AVAs in Paso Robles AVA?

A

11

42
Q

What type of soils are found in Paso Robles AVA?

A

Calcareous soils are a feature throughout (not common for California)

43
Q

Which grape variety makes up 40% of plantings in Paso Robles?

What other grapes is the region known for?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.
Becoming more known for black and white Rhone varietals

44
Q

Name two important producers in Paso Robles AVA

A

Saxum Vineyard

Tablas Creek

45
Q

What style and quality of wine can be found in Paso Robles AVA

A

Mostly good quality, inexpensive to mid priced

Some outstanding wines at mid to premium prices

46
Q

Edna Valley AVA receives cooling breezes and fogs off of which bay to its north?

A

Morro Bay

47
Q

What grapes are grown in Edna Valley AVA?

A

Mostly known for high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both still and sparkling)

Also plantings of Syrah, Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier

48
Q

Describe the growing conditions in Arroyo Grande Valley AVA.

What grapes are grown here?

A

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

49
Q

The AVAs of Santa Barbara County are located within the ____ ranges.

What is significant about these mountains?

A

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

50
Q

What positive effects does good air circulation have on vineyards in Santa Barbara County?

A

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

51
Q

What is significant about tasting rooms in Santa Barbara County?

A

Cellar doors cannot be set up at the winery - tasting rooms must be in a town or city

52
Q

Name two significant Santa Barbara County producers

A

Sine Qua Non

Mail Road Wines

53
Q

What are the main grape varieties in Santa Barbara County?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in cooler sites

Syrah in warmer sites

54
Q

Describe the soils and topography (including elevation) in Santa Maria Valley AVA

A

Sandy clay shale loams
Hillside slopes
100 to 250m

55
Q

Name the four sub AVAs of Santa Ynez Valley AVA

A

Santa Rita Hills AVA
Ballard Canyon AVA
Los Olivos AVA
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA

56
Q

Is Santa Rita Hills one of the warmer or cooler AVAs in Santa Ynez Valley AVA? Why?

A

Cooler

It is on the west side, and first area to receive the cooling Pacific breezes and fogs funnelled in off the coast

57
Q

Describe the terrain and soils in Santa Rita Hills AVA

A

Hilly Terrain

Calcium rich soils

58
Q

What are the main grapes grown in Santa Rita Hills AVA.

Describe the price point of the most sought after wines

A

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Syrah

Pinot Noirs are premium/ super premium - there is small supply and big deman

59
Q

Is Ballard Canyon one of the warmer or cooler AVAs in Santa Ynez Valley AVA? Why?

What grapes are grown here?

A

Warmer
It is further inland
The canyon runs north to south and shelters vineyards from breezes

Syrah and Grenache

60
Q

Describe the growing conditions in Los Olivos AVA

What grapes are grown here?

A

Warm, sunny days
Little altitude or fog influence: low diurnal range

Mix of Bordeaux, Rhône and Italian grapes

61
Q

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?

A

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

Wine Diploma (62 decks)

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