California North Coast Flashcards
CA North Coast AVAs
Napa Sonoma Lake Mendocino Solano Marin
Napa Valley Location/Geography
- Stretches from San Pablo bay 30 miles north to Mt. St. Helena
- Mayacama Mountains to west separate from Sonoma
- Vaca Mountains on east separate from Central Valley
- Napa river flows through center
Napa Valley Climate
- Maritime and varies depending on altitude, cooling air/fog from SP Bay
- cool air/fog creates large diurnal shifts
- southern AVAs more affected by cool air/fog
- warmer the further north you go
Napa Valley Topography
- Mountainous portions rise up to 2000 ft
- altitude is a major factor in vineyard location(s) / mesoclimates
Napa Soils
- vary tremendously
- volcanic, alluvial, and maritime soil types, [ranging from well-drained gravel loam, dense clays, and thin rocky soils]
Napa Grapes
Red
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Pinot Noir
White
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Viticulture
- Vineyards on hillsides or valley floor [differences in color, intensity, structure]
- Morning fogs create large temp shifts which help retain acidity
- wide range of climates allows Pinot in cool up to Cab/Zin in warm
Napa Vinification
- Marked by extensive use of New Oak
- MLF often used in whites
- Sparkling wines produced in cooler/southern areas (like Carneros)
Napa Valley Floor AVAs South to North
Los Carneros Oak Knoll Yountville Stagsleap [off side of yountville] Oakville Rutherford Saint Helena Calistoga
Napa Valley Side AVAs
West Side [east facing]
- Diamond Mountain
- Spring Mountain
- Mount Vedeer
East Side [west facing]
- Howell Mountain
- Atlas Peak
Valley Side AVAs style/grapes
-greater tannins/less rich palate than valley floor
Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel
- Chardonnay [ higher acid than valley floor]
Stags Leap, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford Styles/grapes
- warmer areas can ripen Cabernet Sauvignon well
- Merlot also planted
- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc main whites, ripe tropical fruit
- Rutherford warmest during day, reds most powerful
Saint Helena/Calistoga Grapes/Style/Climate
- warmest daytime temperatures
- fullest bodied wines in Napa Valley
- breezes through Chalk Hill Gap [in Mayacamas Mountains] cool / retain acidity
- Cabernet Sauvignon is focus but Zinfandel / Syrah as well
Los Carneros Style/Climate/Grapes
- cool enough for Pinot and Chardonnay [both still and sparkling]
- Tattinger and Codorńiu US setup here
Sonoma Valley Climate
- cooler coaster areas w/ warmer zones moving inland
- climate extremely varied depending on proximity to ocean, altitude, and gaps
- large diurnal shifts
- “Petaluma Gap” = break in coastal ranges
Sonoma Valley Grapes
Reds
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Syrah
Whites
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma Vinification
- intense reds, often new oak barrels
- styles incredibly diverse / highly depending on climate & winemaking
Sonoma Laws/Labelling
-all wines produced in county must state Sonoma County regardless of if includes AVA
Sonoma Major AVAs
Sonoma Coast AVA Fort Ross Seaview AVA Russian River Valley AVA Dry Creek Valley AVA Alexander Valley AVA Knights Valley AVA Sonoma Valley AVA Los Carneros AVA
Russian River Valley AVA climate/grapes
- very cool, foggy [Petaluma gap]
- great for Pinot Noir and Chardonnays [still and sparkling]
Dry Creek Valley AVA climate/grapes
- warmer than RRV
- hillsides = above fog, Zinfandel
- valley floor = Sauvignon Blanc
- Rhone Varieties/Cabernet Sauvignon also
Alexander Valley AVA climate/grapes
- warmer than Dry Creek
- fleshy/full bodied wines
- soft textured/full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon
- international varieties as well
Mendocino County AVAs
Anderson Valley AVA
Mendocino AVA
Mendocino County Location
- North of Sonoma along Pacific Ocean
- Russian/Navarro rivers
