Central Coast/Central Valley CA

Question 1

Central Coast

Answer 1

All land from SF to LA, inland nearly to Central Valley. Includes counties, of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara

Question 2

North Central Coast

Answer 2

Alameda (Livermore Valley), Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey

Question 3

South Central Coast

Answer 3

San Luis Obispo (Paso Robles), Santa Barbara (Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley)

Question 4

Central Valley

Answer 4

San Joaquin (Lodi)

Question 5

Alameda (Livermore Valley) AVA

Answer 5

Warm, behind hills, screening out fog. Cool passage of warm marine air. Graves climate, stonier-than-graves soil. Zin, Petit Sirah, Chard, CS. Better for SB/Semillon

Question 6

Santa Clara Valley (Silicon Valley) AVA

Answer 6

20 small wineries for tourist reasons. Mirassou owned by Gallo.

Question 7

Santa Cruz Mountains AVA

Answer 7

Diverse climates/soils. Cooler, high altitude. PN, RS, Zin, CS. Ridge, Bonny Doon, Mount Eden Vineyards

Question 8

Monterey AVA

Answer 8

Blanket AVA; Arroyo Seco, Carmel Valley, San Lucas, Hames Valley, San Antonio Valley, Chalone, Santa Lucia Highlands, San Bernabe. Rainfall low, irrigation required

Question 9

Largest contiguous vineyard in the world

Answer 9

San Bernabe’s 13,000 acres owned by Delicato

Question 10

Arroyo Seco AVA

Answer 10

Chard, CS (less successful), RS (nectarines, off-dry to med-sweet)

Question 11

Carmel Valley AVA

Answer 11

Only seaward facing AVA in Monterey. Bernardus (top quality), Talbott Vineyards, Diamond T

Question 12

Chalone AVA

Answer 12

Chard, PB, PN. Above the fog, crystal laden, calcareous soils. Chalone Winery

Question 13

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

Answer 13

Monterey’s best. Terraced vineyards at 1,200 ft. Chard, PN, Syrah. Paraiso Vineyards, Hahn Estates, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

Question 14

San Luis Obispo AVAs

Answer 14

Arroyo Grande, Edna Valley, York Mountain, Paso Robles

Question 15

Arroyo Grande AVA

Answer 15

One of coolest area’s of CA. 100 yr old Zin, Chard, PN

Question 16

Edna Valley AVA

Answer 16

Edna Valley Vineyards. Chard, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier. Some PN. Long, cool, season. Fungal disease an issue

Question 17

York Mountain AVA

Answer 17

Tiny, single winery AVA

Question 18

Paso Robles AVA

Answer 18

666,000 acres. Inland plain where headwaters of Salinas River congregate

Question 19

Paso Robles AVA varieties

Answer 19

CS (39%), Syrah, SB, CH, Zin. Also Petit Sirah, CF, Grenache, Mourvèdre, PV, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc

Question 20

Paso Robles AVA producers

Answer 20

J. Lohr. Tablas Creek (Ch de Beaucastel)

Question 21

Santa Barbara AVAs

Answer 21

Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Sant Ynez Valley

Question 22

Santa Barbara climate

Answer 22

Low rainfall, semi-tropical, extremely cool and foggy

Question 23

Santa Maria Valley AVA

Answer 23

PN/CH. Byron, Qupé, ABC. Kendall-Jackson (Tepusquet Vineyard). Bien Nacido Vineyard (owned by Miller family)

Question 24

Santa Ynez Valley AVA climate

Answer 24

Fog, elevation, maritime influence. Wind big hazard. Cool, foggy in east/west, warmer in sheltered areas of the north by elevation and hills

Question 25

Santa Ynez Valley AVA varieties

Answer 25

PN, CH, RS, Syrah. Warm zones Syrah, Grenache, SB, CS

Question 26

Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Answer 26

Distinct climate. Sanford, Sea Smoke, Brewer-Clifton, Longoria

Question 27

Ballard Canyon/Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVAs

Answer 27

Warmer. SB, CF, Merlot, Syrah, CS. Firestone Vineyards, Beckman Vineyards

Question 28

Central Valley AVA

Answer 28

Sacramento Valley (N), San Joaquin Valley (S, table grapes, raisins, bulk wine)

Question 29

Lodi AVA

Answer 29

Cooler than N/S Central Valley, warmer than Clarksburg. Zin (12,000 acres), fleshy, plummy, ripe, good value. Viognier. 7 sub-AVAs.

Question 30

Clarksburg AVA

Answer 30

Only CB distinguishes itself

Question 31

Mexico

Answer 31

Mediterranean. Low yields, sandy soils (no phylloxera). Zin, Petit Sirah, Colombard. L.A. Cetto