Grape & producers of US

Question 1

Alexander Valley and Knights Valley (warmest)

Answer 1

Cabs / Bordeaux blend;
Famous producer: Peter Michael, Arrowwood Cabs (Knights valley), Stonestreet (Alexander valley), Kendall Jackson
Knights valley the warmest, surrounding hills protect it from cool influences.

Question 1

Russian River Valley & Green Valley (part of RRV)

Answer 1

Char & PN.
Famous producers:
1. Coastal producers –> Hirsch, Marcassin, and Peay
2. Russian River Valley –> Dehlinger, Joseph Swan, Rochioli, and Williams-Selyem
3. Green Valley –> Kosta Browne, Freeman

Question 2

Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile AVA

Answer 2

Zinfandel (American or French oak)/ SB
Rockpile AVA (245m - 650m), steep rocky slope, low yields and concentrated.

Question 3

Sonoma Coast AVA

Answer 3

PN/Char;
Famous producer: Aubert, Cobb.

Question 4

West Sonoma Coast AVA

Answer 4

Sub - region: Annapolis, Fort Ross Seaview AVA (min 280m above fog line), Freestone-Occidental
PN/Char, some Syrah

Question 5

Petaluma Gap AVA

Answer 5

Area defined by wind (min 8mph)
PN/Char

Question 6

Carneros AVA

Answer 6

Low elevation, up to 200m.
PN/Char;
Famous producer: Domaine Carneros Taittinger, Kistler

Question 7

Sonoma Mt AVA

Answer 7

East facing, up to 730m. Volcanic free draining soils –> Concentrated Cabs.

Question 8

Bennett Valley AVA

Answer 8

Merlot, Rhone varieties.

Question 9

Moon Mt AVA

Answer 9

SW facing, 120-670m. Cabs & Zinfandel

Question 10

Livermore AVA

Answer 10

Char vines from Meursault, CabS vines from Margaux
Famous producers:
Wente Vineyards (Char)
Concannon Vineyards (Cabs)

Question 11

Santa Cruz Mt AVA

Answer 11

Vineyards at high altitude, less frost risk cuz air movement;
Cabs, Char, PN, Zin
Famous producer:
Monte Bello, Mount Eden

Question 12

Monterey AVA

Answer 12

Cooler in the north (Monterey Bay) – Char/PN;
Warmer inland/south – CabS, Zin, Syrah

Question 13

Santa Lucia Mt AVA

Answer 13

Vineyards planted up to 350m, exposed to fog and wind (very windy), slow down ripening and east facing
Char, PN, Syrah

Question 14

Arroyo Secco AVA

Answer 14

大象鼻子
protected canyon warmer (Cabs, Zin, Syrah), unprotected valley floor cooler from Monterey Bay (Char/Riesling).

Question 15

Chalone AVA

Answer 15

Single vineyard AVA, within Gabilan Mt range. Limestone soil
Vineyards at 550m above fog line – longer hrs of sunlight, cool night retain acidity.
PN/Char, CB, PB, Syrah

Question 16

Carmel AVA

Answer 16

Vineyards above fog line, up to 670m.
sheltered from coastal effect, can be warm, but cool night cuz altitude.
CabS in warmer area, and PN/Char in cooler area near coast.
Famous producer:
Talbott Vineyards (PN)

Question 17

Paso Robles AVA

Answer 17

Limestone/clay soils.
Western hilly AVAs: cooler with air funneled thru Templeton Gap – Rhone varietals from Tables Creek in Adelaida.

Inland valley areas: lower altitude, value for money CabS, Zin

Inland hilly AVAs: lowest rainfall and biggest diurnal range.
Touriga, CabS, Zin…