Californian wines Flashcards
Name two ways the climate impacts vineyards in California.
The California Ocean Current is very cold and impacts vineyards. Some years grapes struggle to ripen.
All of California’s wine regions lack rain during the ripening season
Describe the style of Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Style - full-bodied, concentrated ripe cassis flavours (kir), and spice aromas from new oak. Other styles are less rich with fresher, blackcurrant flavours.
What is the most widely planted black grape variety?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is considered California’s ‘own’ grape variety and describe the style?
Zinfandel
Style: It can ripen unevenly which means that some bunches have ripe raisined and unripe grapes. The raisining can result in concentrated, full-bodied red wines with high alcohol, some residual sugar and flavours of both red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice. Some can display herbaceous quality from underripe grapes.
White Zinfandel - Large volumes of rose Zinfandel (White Zinfandel) are made from early-picked grapes and are fruity, pale in colour, medium-sweet and low in alcohol.
Describe the style of Merlot and where it’s planted.
It makes wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit.
Largest plantings in San Joaquin in the Central Valley - inexpensive
Cooler sites produce higher quality - Monterey and North Coast (Napa and Sonoma) - Deeply coloured wines with soft, velvety tannins, luscious body, high alcohol and classic flavours of blackberry and plum.
Describe the style of Pinot Noir and where it’s planted.
moderate regions such as Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley.
Style- light in colour, gamey and vegetal notes although most show layers of ripe red fruit flavours (red cherry and strawberry)
Describe the most widely planted grape of either variety and where it’s located.
Chardonnay
Inexpensive, high volume- Central Valley tend to be fruity with low to medium acidity and sometimes a toasty note from oak staves or chips.
High quality- used to be full-bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity with flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning the peach and banana fruit flavours. Now, more is being produced from cooler areas such as Los Carneros and Russian River Valley with less oak and more restrained flavours.
Describe the location and style of Sauvignon Blanc and what is it often referred to when oaked.
Sauvignon Blanc - the best comes from the coastal regions giving wines with high acidity and ripe citrus flavours. More affordable ones come from warmer regions such as the Central Valley. ‘Fume Blanc’ is used to indicate that the wine has been oaked but some producers used it even if the wine hasn’t been oaked.
Name the main AVA’s located in the Napa County.
Napa Valley, Los Carneros, Stags Leap, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, Calistoga, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder.
Name the main AVA’s in Sonoma and Medocino County
Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and Mendocino Valley.
Describe the Napa Valley climate
cooling influences which creates diverse climate and a range of wine styles. Most significant are the morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from the San Pablo Bay that moderate the vineyards in the southern part of the valley.
Describe the wines of the Central Valley
Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys and produces a majority of Californian wine, most of which is inexpensive, high-volume. Hot, dry climate and irrigation is needed. Rubired and Ruby Cabernet are new varieties that were bred to suit these conditions. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay are widely planted as are Colombard, Chenin Blanc and Barbera.
Describe the wines from Los Carneros (Napa)
Los Carneros AVA is the most southerly vineyard that lies on the valley floor and extends into Sonoma County.
High quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which are used to make still and traditional method sparkling wines.
How are the wines of Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford AVAs different from Los Carneros.
They are warmer and can ripen Cabernet Sauvignon.
Known for making premium wines from this grape.
Rutherford is the warmest and is best known for having red wines with the most power and structure.
Merlot is also planted here
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the main white varieties showing ripe tropical fruit flavours.
What are the warmest AVAs in Napa?
Saint Helena and Calistoga AVAs receive the warmest daytime temperatures and produce some of the most concentrated, full-bodied wines in the valley.
Cool air through the Mayacamas Mountains provides some relief from the oppressive afternoon temperatures and cooler night-time temperatures to help retain acidity in the grapes.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the main grape but Zinfandel and Syrah are also grown here too.
