Ch 33 Flashcards
California climate
- latitude plays small role
- cold ocean current more crucial north of LA
- much of the coast line is mountainous which shields much of the state central valley
- cold air is accompany by fog
- takes time in the morning to break through
- Monetary and Santa Barbara funnel cold air
- other parts shortage of water- hang time- ripe grapes
california key black grapes
Cab sauv zinfandel merlot pinot noir syrah
california cab sauv characteristics
most widely planted grape in CA
- extremely expressive
- full body very concentrated ripe cassias flavors and spice aroma from new oak
- or less rich style: fresh black current flavors
California Zin
“own” grape of ____ has a range of styles
-tends to grow unevenly
-raisining -full body- high ABV
-RS left over
Red and Black fruits, dried berries and licorice, herbaceous from under ripe grapes
-large volumes of Rose, fruity pale med sweet Low ABV
California Merlot
widely planted
- soft tannin, ripe black fruit
- San Joaquin in Central valley is largest planting and inexpensive
- BETTER: cooler sites of Monterey and North Coast Regions: Napa, Sonoma
- deep color, soft velvety tannins
- luscious body and High ABV, Black Fruit, plum
California PN
Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley
- some Lt Color, classic gamy, vegetate notes, ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry
- sweet spice from oak
California Chardonnay
-most planted grape either color
INEXPENSIVE: Central Valley- high volume,fruity, low-med acid, toasty, staves, or chips
PREMIUM: wine variety
Los Carneros, Russian River Valley restrained
Very full body, high ABV, Low Acid oak hazelnut butter, beach banana
sauv blanc in CA?
central coast region
-high acid, ripe citrus flavor
-affordable fruity- central valley
Fume Blanc: oaked style
key growing regions in CA?
1) NORTH COAST: Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino
2) CENTRAL COAST: Santa Cruz, Montery
- Santa Luis Obispo (Paso Robles) and Santa Barbara (Santa Maria Valley)
3) Central Valley
- Lodi
North Coast has what sub regions?
1) Napa county
2) Sanoma and Mendocino
what are the sub regions of Napa?
Calistoga, Howel Mountain Spring Mountain, St Helena Rutherford Oakville Mount Veeder, Yountville, Stags Leap, Atlas Peak Los Carneros
what are the sub regions of Sanoma and Medicino
Mendocino county Sanoma Coast Dry Creek Valley Alexandrer Valley Russian River
Napa Valley AVA
N to S about 50 KM and about 5 KM wide -most expensive in land -margacamas MTS west (Sanoma) Vaca MTS (east) Morning fog, and cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo bay
Los Carneros AVA
Napa;
most south region
PN and Chard
still and sparkling = high quality
Stage Leap district, Oakvaille, and Rutherford
Principally premium wines
- least influenced by San Pablo = Rutherford
- consider to have most power and structure
- Cab, Chard, Sauv Blanc
Saint Helena AVA and Calistoga AVA
Napa
- warmest daytime temp
- concentrated full bodied fruit
- cool air through chalk hill gap in Magacamas MTS
- oppressive afternoon temp
- Cab, Sauv, Zin, Syrah
1) Howell Mt AVA and 2) Mount Veeder AVA
Napa- lie above the fog and cooled by altitude
1) West facing -hot afternoon sun
2) fuller bodied, higher ABV, higher Tannin, lower palate richness
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Franc, Zin, Chard
Sanoma County
1) Alexander valley: soft textured cab
2) Dry Creek Valley: hillside and floor, above fog, high quality zin
3) Russian River Valley - cool fog, PN, Chard, Sparkling
Mendocino county
North of Sanoma
Riesling, Gewurt, Sparkling
-warmer dry protected behind coastal hills
-full body w/ soft tannin cab, zin, syrah
Santa Cruz
a part of Central Coast Region -hillside and infertile soil -most elegant cab -moderate climate and high quality Chard and PN
Monterey
apart of the Central Coast Region
pacific ocean influence
chard and PN
further inland, merlot, Cab, Syrah
Paso Robles
central coast in San Luis Obispo county Cab, merlot, syrah East hot sunny and fertil West marine air; Zin and Rhone
Central Valley
Sacramento: San Jocquin Valley
- hot volume inexpensive, hot dry irrigation widely
- Cab, Merlot, Chard
- Colombard, Chenin, Barbara
Lodi: - Zin –> oldest and best in state
Key white grapes in California
1) Chard
2) Sauv blanc
California syrah
planted across the state
full bodied, rich style
some produces make leaner and more peppery style
