california/oregon/washington Flashcards
which is the definition of AVA?
Ava means American Viticutural Area.
A system to demarcate appellations based on distinctive geographical, physical and climatic features.
Which are minimum requirement for grapes on AVA?
If labelled from a stated region grapes must come at least 85% from there;
If producer decide to label by county/state/country minimum is lowered by 75%;
If labelled California or Oregon wines must contain 100% grown in the state;
If labelled Washington must contain at least 95% grown in the state;
Wines labelled by single vineyards contain a minimum of 95% grown in the state vineyard;
Which are the climatic influence of California?
Fog and cool sea breeze from pacific ocean mitigate warm temperatures and create a large diurnal swing from warm days to cool nights.
Coastal fogs moderate temperatures trough sonoma
Fine wine districts are located near the coast.
Which are the borders of sonoma?
North by Mendocino county
East by lake and napa counties considering mayacamas mountains
South by marin county and san paolo bay
West by pacific ocean that give maritime influence
Which are the soil of sonoma?
Soil reflect marine and volcanic history
West of san andreas fault that cross from north to south is granitic soil
Sandy ocean floor with volcanic rock
Wilson grove formation: marine sandstone+goldridgde soil
which are the climate type that can be found in sonoma?
Warmer reaching the northeastern corner
Cooler towards ocean and marine borders
What is petaluma gap and which influence give?
A break in mountain range and shoreline with san paolo bay create the petaluma gap;
Hot air coming from central valley sunctions in cold pacific winds creating a cooler effect
Which style can be found in sonoma chardonnay?
Leaner style can be found closer to pacific on the sonoma coast
Rcher inland
Style: opulent/rich - late picking(richness)
full mlf - barrel fermentation
lees contact - batonnage
Which style and where can be found sv.blanc in sonoma?
Imported by charles wetmore in 1882 using cuttings from chateau d’yquem.
Planted usually closeby its progeny cab.s in warmer side of sonoma.
When cropped high deliver grassy, green pyrazinic flavours.
Riper style undergo barrel fermentation and extended lees contact.
Zone:
russian river valley - cooler areas delivering freshness
Dry creek valley - fertile soil
What’s referring at Fumè blanc?
Coined by Robert Mondavi in 1968 referring at Loire appellation of Pouilly fumè are sv.blanc usually aged in oak
Which is the red most planted variety in sonoma?
Pinot noir
Which are the style of pinot noir and where can be found?
Style :Chiseled, crunchy, berry flavoured, high acidity, low alcohol
Areas: Sonoma coldest sites
West sonoma coast
Petaluma gap
Russian river valley
Green valley
Practice: whole clusters - carbonic maceration
Style: opulent/rich
Areas : warmer sites of:
Sonoma valley
carneros
Russian river valley
Practice: full destemming - new oak
which are the style and where can be found cab.s in sonoma?
Inexpensive: made on fertile soil closeby fluvial path from russian river valley trough alexander valley
Premium: Knights valley, Alexander valley, Sonoma mountain, Moon mountain
Blending: monovarietal of bordeaux style
Marker: stoic tannin, rich dark fruit, herbaceous notes if unripe
maturation: new oak barrique (american)
Which are the style of zinfandel from sonoma?
Zinfandel is characterised from diffential fruit ripening, at harvest can be found overripe and green berries in a single bunch.
Solution: crop thinning or late harvest (high alcohol)
Areas: dry creek valley (warm climate)
Sonoma valley
Russian river valley
Style: pale red in colour, softly tannic,brambly, garrigur (herbal)
Which are the influence of petaluma gap?
Early morning fog drive away sun and the delay temperature rising, the wind:
reducing yeald
Thickening skins
Delay ripening
Preserve acidity
Grapes: Pinot n./chard/syrah
Soil: marine/vulcanic
Which area is best suited for sparkling wine in sonoma?
Carneros ava due to its cool climate is best suited for chard/pinot n. in sparkling method
Green valley for fogs coming from petaluma and maritime winds exposure
Which soil define russian river valley and what’s his influence?
Soil is goldridge, a sandy clay loam based well known for the high drainage and really helpful in a maritime climate (rainfall)
Where can be found richer style premium pinot noir in sonoma?
Pinot n. can be found in this style in russian river valley, considered the warmest sites for premium pinot n.
Style: muscolar/rich/high alcohol
Flavour: chritmas spices/cranberry
Which are the style of coastal sonoma?
Wine are usually characterised by finesse due to extreme maritime influence, wind and high elevation
Winemakers can decide to label wines based on the style:
Lean/lighter: sonoma coast
Riper/richer: russian river valley
Grape: pinot n./chard
What characterised fort ross seaview?
Vineyards can be found above the fog producing a riper style of pinot noir
Which variety other than pinot noir can be found in Russian river valley?
Chardonnay - rich/yellow orchard fruit - mlf- new oak
Zinfandel - fresher style
what characterised knights valley?
easterly of sonoma, narrow and hot climate
Most protected from maritime influence
Situated at the base of mount saint helena
Soil: alluvial - vulcanic
Grape: cabernet sauvignon
What characterise alexander valley?
cooling effect from petaluma, pacific ocean and russian river
soil: fertile/alluvial on river bank suited for chardonnay/sv.blanc
Going east get higher in altitude : less fog
ideal for cabernet sauvignon
What’s the typical variety of dry creek valley and where grows best?
Old vine zinfandel, from jammy to more herbaceous notes growing on rocky hillside for better drainage
Hot climate
Northern sonoma AVA
Los Carneros, Rockpile, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Russian River Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Solano Green Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Knight’s Valley, Alexander Valley, Fort Ross-Seaview, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
sonoma AVA
petaluma gap, moon mountain district and fountain groove district
which are the grape most known in sonoma?
zinfandel, pinot noir, chardonnay bordeaux blends
NAPA ava
-Carneros and coombsville (south and cooler)
-Wild horse valley (west of coombsville and slightly warmer)
-Mount veeder, spring mountain district and diamond mountain district (hillside on mayacamas mountains)
-Atlas peak, chiles valley, howell mountain, pope valley (hillside on vaca mountains)
-oak knoll, yountville, oak ville, stag leap district, rutherford, calistoga, st.helena (valley floor)
area of central coast
san francisco bay, monterey, san luis oporto, paso robles, san benito, santa barbara
which are the AVA of san francisco bay?
contra costa, santa clara and santa cruz and sub appellation of:
santa cruz mountains
santa clara valley
livermore valley
ben lomond mountain
pacheco pass
which are the main variety of Monterey county?
chardonnay and pinot noir
which are the AVA of Monterey county?
arroyo seco, carmel valley, chalone, hames valley, san antonio valley, san bernabe and san lucas
Which area are in san luis obispo?
edna valley, arroyo grande valley
Pinot n./chard.
Which are the main Ava of santa barbara?
santa rita valley in the north
santa ynez valley in the south
which are the AVA included in santa ynez valley?
sta rita hills, ballard canyon, happy canyon of santa barbara, los olivos district
which are the grape of santa barbara?
on the coast pinot noir and chardonnay
inland: syrah and bordeaux varieties
grape of paso robles
Greanche, syrah, merlot, cabernet s.
Principal area of oregon
Williamette valley
red hills douglas county
rogue valley
applegate valley
columbia valley
walla walla valley
which are the AVA shared between Oregon and washington?
columbia valley, columbia gorge and walla walla valley
which is the percentage for a grape stated on the label in oregon?
90%
where is situated willamette valley?
between cascade mountains and coast range
Principal subzone of williamette valley
chehalem mountains
riddon ridge
yahmill-carlton district
dundee hills
eola-amity hills
van duzer corridor
What’s influence the climate of washington?
Washington vineyards are located east of cascades mountains, acting as a rain shadow creating a continental climate
Extra sunlight is gained by the northern latitude
Columbia river
Soil:basalt/sandy
Which are the principal ava of washington and his variety?
Columbia valley–> following columbia river
Yakima valley:
Rattlesnake: higher elevation:merlot, riesling, cabernet s.
Red mountain:warmest growing region: tannic cabernet sauv.
wahluke slopes
snipes mountain
Goose gap
Walla walla (shared with oregon): premium cabernet s., merlot, syrah, chard. riesling
columbia gorge
which is the most planted variety in walla walla?
cabernet sauvignon
which are the AVA included in yakima valley?
snipes mountains, rattlesnake hills, red mountain, candy mountain, goose gap
which is the most planted variety in yakima valley?
merlot, riesling
which are the grape of puget sound, his climate?
madeleine angevine, muller thurgau and siegerribe on a maritime climate
which are the the five main region of california?
north coast, central coast, sierra foothills, central valley and south coast
which are the area that tend to produce finer wines?
cooler areas as valleys and hillside
which are the main grape of california?
chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot and zinfandel
which is the name introduced in 1998 recognize bordeaux blend?
meritage, no single variety can be up more that 90% in the blend
which is the percentage of grape stated on the label when in california?
100%
Which is the AVA shared between sonoma and napa and what’s produced?
carneros producing chardonnay, pinot noir and methode traditionelle
