Chap 33: California Flashcards
How long is the state of California?
Approx. 1100 kilometres from north to south
What is the role of latitude in determining the climate of California vineyards?
Relatively small
What is the biggest cooling influence in California?
The exceptionally cold California Ocean Current
Where are most of the vineyards of California located?
North of Los Angeles
Describe the coastline of California
More mountainous north of LA
What is the climatic role of the mountains in California?
They shield much of the state from the cooling effect of the ocean
What is common evening weather for California?
Cold air, often accompanied by fogs is drawn in from the ocean, lowering night-time temperatures
How and when do Californian fogs dissipate? How does this affect the vineyard climate?
The time it takes for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning, means that the cooling influence extends well into the day
Describe the effect the fog can have on the grapes?
Some years, the effect can be so dramatic that grapes can struggle to ripen fully
Where in California does the cooling fog penetrate further inland?
Give 2 examples and explain how it works.
Where there are gaps in the mountains, the cooling fog can reach well inland.
Valleys that lie at right angles to the ocean, such as those in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties, act as funnels for the cold air.
What is the climate like in areas of California that have no exposure to the ocean? Give an example
Hot
Central Valley
What is the second climatic feature that links all of California’s wine regions?
A lack of rain during the ripening season
How is the lack of rain in California’s ripening season counteracted by grape growers?
Water shortages are a real concern and drip irrigation is widely practiced.
What has been the effect of the lack of rain during autumn in California?
It has allowed growers to leave grapes on the vine for long into the season
What has been the result on grapes of the longer ripening season in California?
They have concentrated flavours and very high sugar levels
What has been the recent trend in Californian winemaking?
There has recently been a greater appreciation for freshness and many growers are picking slightly earlier
What is the most widely planted black grape in California?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Give an overview of the quality of Cabernets from prime sites in California
They can produce extremely expressive wines that rival the quality of the best produced anywhere
What is the profile of California’s best Cabernets?
* Body
* Flavors based on style
Full-bodied
Ripe cassis flavours
Prominent spice aromas from new oak barrels
Some are less rich, with fresher blackcurrant flavours
They can produce extremely expressive wines that rival the quality of the best produced anywhere
What is regarded as California’s ‘own’ grape variety?
Zinfandel
What style is Zinfandel made into in California?
It’s made into a range of styles
What is the biggest viticultural difficulty with Zinfandel?
It tends to ripen unevenly, with the result that harvested fruit can include raisined and underripe grapes
What can be the result on wine of raisined Zinfandel?
* Body
* Alc
* Sweetness
* Flavors
- Concentrated, full-bodied red wines
- High alcohol levels
- Sometimes some residual sugar
- Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice. Some display subtle herbaceous qualities from underripe grapes.
How is rose Zinfandel harvested?
made from early picked grapes.
How are Zinfandel-based rosés of California commonly labelled?
White Zinfandel
Describe White Zinfandel
* Flavor
* Color
* Sweetness
* Alc
Fruity
Pale in colour
Medium-sweet
Low in alcohol
What is the third most widely planted grape of California?
Merlot
Give an overview of Merlot-based wines in California
* Tannins
* Flavor
Approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit
Which area of California has the largest plantings of Merlot?
San Joaquin in Central Valley
What are the Merlot wines of San Joaquin, Central Valley like?
Simple and inexpensive
Give 3 examples of areas that produce better qualities of Merlot in California.
What do they have in common?
Monterey and the north coast regions, especially Napa and Sonoma
They are cooler sites
Describe the better quality Merlots of California
* Tannin Quality
* Body
* Alc
* Flavors
Luscious body
Deeply coloured
Soft, velvety tannins
High alcohol
Classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum
Where in California do its premium Pinot Noirs typically come from?
Moderate regions such as Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley
What is the style of Pinot Noir in California?
Styles vary widely according to vineyard site and winemaking practices
Describe the style range for Pinot Noir in California
* Color
* Aromas
Some are light in colour, with classic gamey and vegetal notes
Most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavours (red cherry, strawberry) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation
What is the fifth black grape of California? Where is it planted?
Syrah - planted across the state
What broad style is Syrah generally made into in California?
What other style do some producers make Syrah into in California?
Typ. made in a full-bodied, rich style. Some producers make leaner, more peppery styles.
What is the most widely planted WHITE grape variety in California?
Chardonnay
Describe the inexpensive, high volume examples of Chardonnay in California
* Flavor
* Acidity
* Where are they mostly made?
- Fruity, but sometimes with a toasty note from oak staves or chips
- Low to medium acidity
- Mostly made in Central Valley
What’s the formative reputation of high quality Californian Chardonnay?
* Body
* Alc
* Acidity
* Flavors
- Very full-bodied
- High alcohol
- Low acidity
- Obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning the peach and banana fruit flavours.
Where are the more restrained, less oaky styles of Chardonnay being produced in California?
Los Carneros & Russian River Valley
What is California’s ‘second’ white variety?
Sauvignon Blanc
Where does the best Sauvignon Blanc in California come from? Why is this?
The coastal regions, giving wines with high acidity and ripe citrus flavors
Where are the more affordable fruity, everyday Sauvignon Blancs of California from?
Warmer regions such as Central Valley
What does Fumé Blanc sometimes indicate when used in California?
An oaked style of Sauvignon Blanc, but some producers use this term for unoaked wines
Where in California is the majority of wine produced?
Central Valley
Briefly describe viticulture in Central Valley, California
Soil is very fertile and irrigation is used to increase yield
Where are California’s premium wine regions located?
Primarily along the coast
What is the primary focus of quality wine producers along California’s coast?
Managing quality in the vineyard
Producing wines reflective of each area
How many regions are the principal vineyards of California grouped into?
Five
Which three of California’s five wine-making regions contain the majority of the state’s well known County Appellations and AVAs?
North Coast
Central Coast
Central Valley
What are the principal winemaking counties of North Coast region in California?
Napa County
Sonoma County
Mendocino County
Where is California’s North Coast region?
Comprises vineyards north of San Francisco Bay
Describe the climate of the vineyards in North Coast region
Strongly influenced by the ocean, bringing fog and cool breezes flow through the gaps in the coastal ranges and river valleys
What effect do the fogs and cool breezes of North Coast have on climate?
They affect average and diurnal temperature ranges that affect grape-plantings
How long is the Napa Valley AVA?
About 50km north to south
How wide is Napa Valley AVA?
Only a few km wide
Which AVA has the most expensive land and some of the most prestigious wineries of California?
Napa Valley AVA
What marks the boundarys of Napa Valley AVA?
The Mayacamas Mountains to the west form the boundry with Sonoma county and to the east the Vaca Mts seperate Napa from the Northern part of the Central Valley.
Where within Napa Valley AVA are the vineyards found?
On the valley floor and each valley side - these are divided into a # of smaller AVAs
What creates the diverse range of styles available in Napa Valley AVA?
The variety of cooling influences which creates a diverse range of climates and therefore a range of different wine styles
What are the most significant cooling influences of Napa Valley AVA?
The morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay
What essentially is San Pablo Bay?
The northern extension of San Francisco Bay
Which area of Napa Valley AVA do the San Pablo Bay fogs and breezes moderate?
The vineyards to the south of the valley
What is the most southerly vineyard area on the valley floor of Napa Valley AVA?
Los Carneros AVA
What area does Los Carneros AVA cover?
It extends into Sonoma County
What grapes are notably produced to a high quality level in Sonoma County? Why is this possible?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
It is cool enough to produce them to a high quality
What styles of wine are made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Los Carneros AVA?
Still and traditional method sparkling
What is the climate like slightly further north along the valley floor from Los Carneros AVA?
Warmer
What are the principal AVAs just north of Los Carneros AVA along the valley floor?
Stags Leap District
Yountville
Oakville
Rutherford
What are Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford primarily renowned for?
Premium Cabernets as climate is becomes warm enough for it to ripen
Which of the AVAs just north of Los Carneros AVA produces wines with the most power and structure? Why?
Rutherford - it’s the least exposed to the cooling influences of San Pablo Bay and so is warmest during the day compared to the other AVAs in this area
Which other varieties are widely planted in Napa’s premium Cabernet AVAs?
Merlot
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Describe the flavours produced by whites of Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford
They all typically show white tropical fruit
What are the AVAs in the north of Napa Valley (north of Rutherford)?
Saint Helena AVA, Calistoga AVA and Howell Mountain
Describe the climate and influences in Saint Helena AVA and Calistoga AVA. What impact does this have on the grapes & wine?
They recieve some of the warmest day time tempatures and therefore can produce some of the most concentrated, full-bodied wiens in the valley.
Cool air through the Chalk Hill gap in the Mayacamas Mountains can provide some relief from afternoon temperatures and much cooler night-time temperatures help to retain acidity in the grapes.
What is the main grape produced in Saint Helena and Calistoga?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which additional grapes are also grown in Saint Helena and Calistoga?
Zinfandel and Syrah
Which vineyards are unaffected by fog in Napa Valley? Why?
Many of those on the valley sides and therefore lie above the fog layer
How are the vineyards of the valley sides in Napa Valley cooled, if not by the fog?
By their altitude
Other than altitude, what else has an important effect on vineyard climate in the vineyards of the valley sides in Napa Valley?
Aspect
Which AVAs of Napa County have west-facing vineyards? What is the result on the climate and the wine produced?
Those of Howell Mountain AVA and Atlas Peak AVA - They get full exposure to the hot afternoon sun and tend to be warmer than those facing east, giving fuller bodied wines with higher alcohol levels.
Which AVAs of Napa County have east-facing vineyards? What is the result to the climate?
Diamond Mountain District AVA
Spring Mountain District AVA
Mount Veeder AVA
Less/no exposure to the hot afternoon sun
Cooler than those on west-facing sites
What is the general structural difference in the red wines of the valley sides in Napa Valley?
They tend to have higher levels of tannins and less richness on the palate than those on the valley floor
What is the principal variety of wines made from vineyards of the valley sides in Napa Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Which other grapes are generally grown on the vineyards of the valley-side AVAs in Napa Valley?
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Zinfandel
Chardonnay
What is the main white variety grown on the vineyards of the valley-sides in Napa Valley?
Chardonnay
What are the valley-side Chardonnays like compared with those of the valley floor in Napa Valley?
They tend to have higher levels of acidity and display citrus and stone fruit aromas
Which is the larger of Sonoma and Napa County?
Sonoma County
Which of Sonoma and Napa has the greater variety of climates?
Sonoma County
Where is Russian River Valley AVA?
Sonoma County, to the west of Napa County
What are the weather conditions like in Russian River Valley AVA? Why?
Due to a break in the coastal ranges, known as the Petaluma gap, the Russian River Valley AVA has very cool and foggy conditions.
What wines is Russian River Valley AVA known for?
High quality, elegant wines made from:
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Sparkling wines from the above varieties
What are the main AVAs to the north of Russian River Valley AVA?
Dry Creek Valley AVA & Alexander Valley AVA
What is the climate like in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley AVA?
Perceptibly warmer than Russian River Valley AVA
Describe how Dry Creek Valley AVA is planted
Planted densely on both the valley floor and hillsides
What varieties are planted chiefly in Dry Creek Valley AVA and where in the valley are they planted?
High quality, old-vine Zinfandel is planted above the fog layer on the hillsides
Valley floor vineyards are better suited to Sauvignon Blanc
What other varieties are popular in Dry Creek Valley AVA?
Rhône varieties and Cabernet Sauvignon are also popular
Which AVA of Sonoma County is warmer still, than Dry Creek Valley AVA?
Alexander Valley AVA
How do the wines of Alexander Valley AVA compare with those of the other Sonoma AVAs?
They tend to be fleshier and fuller-bodied
What style of wine has Alexander Valley AVA built a particular reputation for?
Soft-textured, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon
Which varieties other than Cabernet does Alexander Valley AVA successfully make?
A range of international varieties
Which AVA lies to the west of Alexander and Dry Creek Valley?
Sonoma Coast AVA
What is the climate of Sonoma Coast AVA?
Greatly influenced by the cooling effect of the cold Pacific Ocean
How are vineyards planted in Sonoma Coast AVA? Why
Vineyards are often planted on south-facing slopes to help maximize ripening.
Describe and name the AVA to the south of Sonoma Coast AVA
Sonoma Valley AVA runs parallel to Napa Valley
What is the weather like in Sonoma Valley AVA?
It is heavily influenced by breezes and fogs from San Pablo Bay (like southern parts of Napa)
What is Sonoma Valley AVA best known for?
High quality Chardonnays & Old vine Zinfandels
Which county lies to the north of Sonoma County?
Mendocino County - it is very large and diverse
Name a notable AVA of Mendocino County. What is the climate and what does it produce?
Anderson Valley AVA - very cool climate, a source of grapes for aromatic whites made from varieties such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer as well as sparkling wines.
Describe climate/conditions in Mendocino AVA compared to Anderson Valley AVA
Much warmer and drier than Anderson Valley AVA
How does Mendocino AVA achieve such relatively warm, dry conditions?
It’s protected behind coastal hills that rise up to 900 metres
Describe wines from Mendocino AVA
* Body
* Tannins
* Varietals
Full-bodied with soft tannins and often made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah
List major wine-producing counties of the Central Coast area in California
Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Counties
San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
Describe the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and its location and climate
A diverse region in the north of the Central Coast that includes hillside locations with infertile soils and moderate climate
Describe the wines of Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Some of California’s most elegant Cabernet Sauvignons and some high quality Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs
Where is Monterey AVA?
It follows the path of the Salinas Valley in Central Coast
What is the biggest moderating influence in Monterey AVA?
The Pacific Ocean
Which varieties are planted closest to the coast of Monterey AVA? Why?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so that on a daily basis the strong, cool winds from the ocean blow on them.
What are conditions like further along the valley in Monterey from the cool coastal area?
What is grown in these areas?
Cool winds are less evident and Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah are grown
Describe plantings in Salinas Valley, Monterey
There are a number of AVAs on the slopes surrounding the Salinas valley within Monterey County.
Which is the most notable of the slope-AVAs along the Salinas Valley in Monterey County?
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
What is Santa Lucia Highlands AVA most noted for producing?
* Quality
* Varietal(s)
* Flavors
High-quality Chardonnay with citrus and tropical fruit flavours and balanced acidity
Where are San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties located?
In the southern part of the Central Coast
Describe the terrain of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties and the resulting effect
The mountains are east-west rather than north-sout, thus encouraging the flow of cool ocean breezes onto the mainland
What is the major AVA of San Luis Obispo County?
Paso Robles AVA
Of which varieties does Paso Robles AVA have major plantings?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah
How many distinct zones does Paso Robles have?
Two
Describe the eastern zone of Paso Robles (climate, soil and style of wine produced)
Hot, sunny weather and deep, fertile soils producing supple, fruity wines for high volume brands
Describe the western zone of Paso Robles
Cooled by marine air and has gained a reputation for high quality Zinfandel and Rhône varieties
Which AVA lies to the south of Paso Robles AVA?
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Where is Santa Maria Valley AVA
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast
Describe Santa Maria Valley AVA climate and key varietals produced
Significantly cooler than Paso Robles AVA and well-suited to growing premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes
What is the impact of fog in Santa Maria Valley AVA? What impact does this have on the wine?
In low-lying areas, fog can cover the ground during the day, encouraging a slow-ripening process, and yielding wines with concentrated fruit flavours balanced by high acidity
Where in Santa Barbara County is slightly warmer?
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
What are the wines of Santa Ynez Valley AVA like?
Red wines from Syrah and Bordeaux varieties
Which AVA is in the far west of Santa Ynez?
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Describe climate & climatic influences in Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Much cooler than Santa Ynez Valley AVA and strongly influenced by the ocean
What does Sta. Rita Hills AVA specialise in?
Pinot Noir, backed up by Chardonnay and a # of aromatic varieties.
Which areas is Central Valley comprised of?
Encompasses the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
Describe the climate of Central Valley
Mostly hot and dry & irrigation is widely practiced
How is wine from the central valley labelled?
Without an AVA it is simply labelled “California”
What was new that came out of the conditions in Central Valley? Why?
New varieties; Rubired and Ruby Cabernet were bred in CA to make the most of the hot & dry conditions.
Which traditional varieties are widely planted in Central Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay widely planted as well as Colombard, Chenin Blanc and Barbera
Which AVA straddles the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys in the middle of Central Valley?
Lodi AVA
What is unique about the conditions in Lodi AVA?
Despite being in Central Valley, it is still kept relatively cool, as it is east of the huge Sacramento Delta and thus benefits daily from cooling breezes from San Francisco Bay
What varieties are grown in Lodi AVA?
Most varieties, but it is also home to some of the oldest and best Zinfandel vineyards in the state
