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
