California General Flashcards
How are the state’s AVAs grouped?
- North Coast
- Central Coast
- Inland Valleys (incl Central Valley)
- Sierra Foothills
- Southern California
What is the name of the University of wine research and education called?
Davis
What did Prohibition do?
Stopped the manufacture, transportation, sale and possession of alcoholic beverages.
Who promoted wine quality and put the grape variety and origin of the wine on labels?
Robert Mondavi
Which Pioneer started using temp-controlled fermentation, better winery hygiene and techniques to prevent diseases and frost damage?
André Tche-list-chef a leading winemaker and consultant
What event put California on the Wine Map?
What 2 wines?
The 1976 Judgement of Paris
1973 Stag’s Leap Cab Sav (Napa)
1973 Chateau Montlena Chardonnay
What happened when phylloxera started to attack Cali vineyards in the 1980s?
Less use of AXR1 rootstock which gave high yields, and opportunity to re-evaluate site selection, canopy management etc.
What style of wine was popular in the 1990s?
Deeply coloured, highly concentrated, high alcohol wines
What are the 2-key influences on climate in California?
1) Cold Pacific Ocean
2) Ranges of mountains that run along the length of the state
How does the cool air reach further inland?
Through gaps in the Coast Ranges: Land warms during the day, air above rises and pulls cooler air in also giving high diurnal range
What does this air movement do?
it cools the vineyards and air movement reduces risk of fungal disease and frost and in some cases slow the ripening)
When does Fog form and for how long? what effect does it have?
For forms in the afternoons and can last into the morning which cools and reduces exposure to sunshine.
California has low latitude - what does this mean?
32º-42º means when the fog burns off sunlight is intense
What does altitude bring to wines from California?
Altitude can be a cooling influence but more likely to be above the fog line so have long hours of intense sunshine leading to greater levels of colour and tannins in black grapes
Which 2 valleys make up Central Valley
San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento