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CMS Certified Exam > California - North Coast > Flashcards

California - North Coast Flashcards

1
Q

What are the five ‘Super AVAs’ of California

A

1) North Coast
2) San Fransisco Bay
3) Central Coast
4) South Coast
5) Sierra Foothills

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2
Q

As of December 2022, how many AVAs does California have?

A

147

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3
Q

What is the best known U.S. wine region

A

Napa Valley AVA and it’s sub-appelations

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4
Q

What are the most popular wines made in Napa Valley?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet-led Bordeaux style blends.

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5
Q

What are the three largest California counties as far as wine grape acreage goes?

A

1) San Joaquin
2) Sonoma
3) Napa

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6
Q

How much wine production in California does Napa contribute to?

A

4%

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7
Q

What mountain ranges flank Napa Valley

A

The Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains to the east.

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8
Q

What geographical influences allows Napa Valley to stay warm and sunny?

A

The mountains on either side of the valley that protects it from the cool air coming off of the Pacific Ocean.

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9
Q

3/4 of Napa County’s total grape acreage is devoted to red or white varieties?

A

Red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Petit Syrah, and Malbec

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10
Q

What are the leading white varieties in Napa County?

A

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

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11
Q

What body of water provides cool foggy air to the southern part of Napa
county?

A

San Pablo Bay

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12
Q

How many AVAs are in Napa County?

A

17 including Napa Valley AVA.
The majority of these appellations are in the western part of the county

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13
Q

What counties does the North Coast AVA include?

A

Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, and Marin

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14
Q

What is the gap that funnels the cool air from the San Pablo Bay into Napa Valley?

A

Petaluma Gap

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15
Q

What does Napa Valley’s elevation range from?

A

0 to 2000ft above sea level.

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16
Q

What kind of style does Cabernet Sauvignon from the mountains of Napa Valley produce?

A

The mountain fruit from the sundrenched hillside vineyards of Napa produces Cab that is prized for its density, dark fruit, and concentration.

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17
Q

What kind of fruit does the hillside vineyards of Napa produce?

A

Smaller berries with higher acidity due to the cooler temps from the higher elevation.

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18
Q

What are the appellations that are considered mountainside AVAs?

A

To the West:
-Mount Veeder
-Diamond Mountain District
-Spring Mountain District

To the East:
-Atlas Peak
-Howell Mountain District

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19
Q

What is the only AVA on in the North Coast AVA that is elevation specific?

A

Howell Mountain, starting at 1400ft of elevation

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20
Q

What AVA is the coolest and wettest of the mountain AVAs?

A

Howell Mountain

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21
Q

What is a viticulture concern for Napa’s hillside growers?

A

Erosion.
Heavy winter rains can wash away a vineyards entire topsoil.

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22
Q

What kind of Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be produced in the valley floor appellations of Napa?

A

Valley fruit tends to make more elegant and supple style of wines with less color and intensity.

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23
Q

What appellations are considered valley floor AVAs in Napa?

A

Yountville, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Calistoga, St. Helena, and Rutherford.

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24
Q

What is Rutherford AVA known for?

A

‘Rutherford Dust’
It produces wine with a firm tannic structure.

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25
What grape is planted in Carneros for both still and sparkling wine?
Pinot Noir
26
How many miles of coastline does Sonoma have?
Over 50 miles
27
How much of California's wine production is Sonoma responsible for?
6%
28
What is the most planted variety overall in Sonoma?
Chardonnay
29
How many AVAs are in Sonoma?
19
30
Where are the coolest temps found in Sonoma County?
In the northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA
31
What keeps the northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA cool?
Altitude, cold ocean air from the Pacific, and persistent coastal fog
32
What grapes and style of wine is the Russian River Valley known for?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in fruity, forward styles.
33
What is the climate in the Russian River Valley described as?
Moderate Ma
34
Is the Russian River Valley north or south of Heldsburg?
South
35
What kind of soil is the Russian River Valley known for?
Fertile, alluvial soils like Goldridge sandy loam
36
What AVA is nestled in the Russian River Valley AVA?
Green Valley AVA
37
What climate and soil is Green Valley known for?
Green Valley has a very cool climate, morning fog, and Goldridge soil.
38
What are some popular producers from the Russian River Valley?
Joseph Swan, Rochioli, & Williams-Selyem
39
What are some popular producers from the Green Valley AVA?
Kosta Browne Freeman Iron Horse (sparkling)
40
What region in Sonoma has the warmest climate?
Knights Valley
41
What AVAs are located north of Heldsburg and are region III climates in Sonoma?
Alexander Valley Knights Valley Dry Creek Valley Rockpile
42
What is the soil type and dominant grape in Alexander and Knights Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon grown in gravel soils.
43
Is the Cabernet Sauvignon from Knights Valley or Alexander Valley more similar to the style produced in Napa?
Knights Valley Cabernet is more similar to Napa Valley's - Alexander Valley produces Cabernet that is more herbaceous and has less body.
44
What is a famous producer from Knight's Valley?
Peter Michaels Les Pavots
45
What variety is Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile AVA known for?
Ripe, powerful Zinfandel aged in either French or American oak.
46
What is Sonoma County's most established AVA?
Sonoma Valley AVA
47
What mountain ranges is Sonoma Valley AVA in between?
The Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains
48
What grape varieties are successful in Sonoma Valley AVA?
Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon
49
What happens to the climate in Sonoma Valley AVA as you travel north?
The climate gets warmer
50
Which nested AVA in Sonoma Valley favors Merlot due to its cool temperatures?
Bennett Valley AVA - it's too cool to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon routinely
51
What is the only AVA that Sonoma County shares with Napa County?
Carneros
52
What style of wine is Carneros known for?
Sparkling
53
What Champagne house and Cava producer set up estates in Carneros?
The Champagne house Taittinger, and the Cava producer Codorniu.
54
What grapes are dominant in the Petaluma Gap AVA?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and cool climate Syrah
55
What are climactic influences in the Petaluma Gap AVA?
Wind and fog
56
Where is Mendocino located?
North of Sonoma at the confluence of the Russian river and Navarro river
57
What AVAs are included in Mendocino?
Anderson Valley Potter Valley Redwood Valley McDowell Valley Yorkville Highlands Cole Ranch A portion of Mendocino Ridge
58
Which is the smallest AVA in America?
Cole Ranch AVA located in Mendocino
59
Which AVA in Mendocino is one of the coolest climates in California?
Anderson Valley AVA
60
What are some influences that create a cool climate in Anderson Valley?
Ocean air and fog that trail inland along the Navarro River and the steep hills that frame the valley.
61
What Champagne house established itself in Anderson Valley rather than Carneros?
Louis Roderer
62
In addition to classic sparkling varieties, what other grapes do well in Anderson Valley?
Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
63
What elevation are the vineyards of Mendocino Ridge AVA restricted to?
At least 1200ft above sea level
64
What grape variety thrives in Mendocino Ridge AVA?
Pinot Noir & Zinfandel - it does well above the fog line where it can get plenty of cool climate sun.
65
What is the smallest wine producing county in the North Coast?
Lake County
66
How many AVAs are in Lake County? Name them
8 AVAs Clear Lake Benmore Valley Red Hills-Lake County AVA Big Valley District-Lake County Kelsey Bench-Lake County Guenoc Valley Upper Lake Valley
67
What does Clear Lake do for the climate in Lake County?
It acts as a buffer for hot temperatures permitting grape growing
68
What does the high elevation, low humidity, and large diurnal swings do for the grapes in LAke County?
It promotes grapes with good acid retention.

CMS Certified Exam (18 decks)

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