Californie Flashcards
How important is California to US production of wine?
California produces the vast majority of wine made in the USA and many of the country’s most celebrated wines.
Combination of warmth, bright sun and cooling influences from ocean and altitude => diverse range of premium styles from rich powerful Cabernets to elegant Pinot Noirs.
What is the main climatic influence on California’s wine growing regions?
The California Ocean Current
it’s an extremely cold Pacific Ocean current which moves down from British Columbia and directly affects the coast of California.
Despite California’s latitude and northern California’s mountainous terrain, it is this ocean current that plays the largest role in moderating California’s grape growing regions.
Most California vineyards are protected from cold ocean currents by what geological feature?
Mountains - which run up most of the state’s coastline.
Without the mountains, California’s northern coast would be dramatically cooler due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The mountains help insulate California. However, in areas that are affected, the ocean cooling effect can be marked.
What are the beneficial effects of fog created by California’s cold ocean currents?
The cold evening air and morning fogs that are drawn in from the ocean help to lower morning and evening temperatures and retain acidity in the grapes.
Additionally, it takes longer for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning which extends the cooling effect well into late morning or afternoon.
What is the major detrimental effect of cold air and fog caused by California’s cold ocean currents?
The cooling influence of fog can be so intense that in some parts of California grapes can have difficulty ripening
What climatic factor links nearly all of California’s grape growing regions?
Lack of rain during the ripening season.
How do many California grape growers deal with the lack of rain during the ripening season?
Due to the shortage of rain in California, many grape growers use drip irrigation to make sure their vines have water during the growing season.
What is the beneficial impact of California’s low rainfall during the ripening season?
The scarcity of autumn rain means growers can leave their grapes on the vine late into the season, resulting in super-ripe grapes with intense flavors and elevated sugar levels.
What is the most planted red/black grape in California?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Usually wines are full-bodied, with very concentrated ripe cassis flavours and prominent spice aromas from new oak barrels.
Some producers choose to make their Cabernet Sauvignon in a less rich style, with fresher blackcurrant flavours.
What is the most widely planted grape variety of either color in California?
CHARDONNAY in a wide range of styles:
- inexpensive, high-volume (Central Valley): fruity with L/M acidity and sometimes a toasty note from oak staves or chips.
- Premium wines:
Used to be full-bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity, obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning the peach and banana fruit flavours.
Today, wide variety, restrained examples with less oak from cooler
regions such as Los Carneros and Russian River Valley.
SAUVIGNON BLANC.
Best wines come from coastal regions: high acidity and ripe citrus. Affordable, fruity wines from warmer regions eg Central Valley.
Despite its European origin, what grape is widely considered to be a uniquely Californian grape?
Zinfandel
What unique characteristic of Zinfandel allows it to be produced in several kinds of styles throughout California?
Zinfandel has the propensity of ripening unevenly, meaning that harvested bunches almost always include both unripe and raisinated grapes (which produces both underripe and overripe flavors in the wine).
Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries, and liquorice. Some can display a subtle herbaceous quality from underripe grapes.
What is White Zinfandel made from?
What is its general profile?
Rosé ZInfandel with early-harvested Zinfandel grapes
Berry-fruity
Pale pink
Medium-sweet
Low alcohol
Which areas in California have reputations for making distinctive Merlot with character?
The cooler regions of California, such as Monterey County and parts of California’s North Coast, and the warmer regions of Napa and Sonoma.
Merlot from these regions will be soft, lush, and velvety.
Which area in California has the largest plantings of Merlot?
Are these Merlots generally seen as higher quality or lesser quality than those from Napa, Sonoma or Monterey?
SAN JOAQUIN in Central Valley has the largest plantings, making simple, inexpensive wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit.
Better quality Merlots come from cooler sites such as
MONTEREY and the North Coast regions, especially NAPA
and SONOMA. These deeply coloured wines have soft, velvety tannins, a luscious body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum.
Which AVAs of California with moderate climate are known for producing premium Pinot Noir?
Russian River Valley AVA;
Los Carneros AVA;
Santa Maria Valley AVA.
Styles range widely. Some are light in colour, with classic gamey and vegetal notes, although most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavours (red cherry, strawberry) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.
Which white varieties are grown in California?
What does Fumé Blanc usually refer to?
Fumé Blanc usually refers to Sauvignon Blanc made in the United States that more than likely saw some new oak.
Be careful though, some producers will use Fumé Blanc on unoaked wines as a marketing term.
Of the five winegrowing regions in California, which three contain the majority of the well-known County Appellations and AVA?
North Coast
Central Coast
Central Valley
Where is the majority of California’s wine produced?
Central Valley
The hot + dry Central Valley has very fertile soil and irrigation is widely used to increase grape yields.
What is the climate of the North Coast region?
North Coast comprises the vineyards to the north of San Francisco Bay.
The climate is strongly influenced by the ocean, bringing fog and cool breezes that flow through the gaps in the coastal ranges and river valleys.
This affects the average temperatures and diurnal temperature ranges that determine grape plantings
What are the different areas in the North Coast region?
Napa Valley County
Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
