Mendocino

Question 1

AVAs of Mendocino

Answer 1

Dos Rios
Covelo
Eagle Peak
McDowell Valley
Potter Valley
Redwood Valley
Cole Ranch
Anderson Valley
Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
Yorkville Highlands
Mendocino Ridge

Question 2

Yorkville Highlands AVA

Answer 2

First AVA in Mendocino

Connects Alexander Valley with Anderson Valley

Fog comes down from Anderson Valley into Yorkville Highlands.

Vintners plant on hillsides above the fog line anywhere from 850 to 2500 feet.

Thin, rocky, gravelly soil.
-Good drainage.

400 planted acres.

Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Pinot Noir-Merlot

Examples:
Copain
Halcon

Question 3

Anderson Valley AVA

Answer 3

Est. 1983

Secluded and idyllic

Pinot Noir and Winter White Wine Festival.

Pinot Noir with critical acclaim: many winemakers in Sonoma have an Anderson Valley wine in their portfolio.

Also renowned for sparkling wine.
-Spearheaded by John Scharffenberger
-Roederer Estate is here too.

Navarro River
-Flows to the Pacific.

Cool, maritime climate.

Heavy diurnal swings- sometimes 40 to 50 degree differences.

Ridgetops have thin sandstone
Valley floor has deep alluvial loam.
Pennyroyal is a common herb that influences a spearmint characteristic to wines.

More than 2/3 of the land is planted to Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay is the second most planted varietal.
Alsatian varietal thrive as well:
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
-Late-harvest and dry.
*Navarro Vineyards- Cluster Select series

One “neighborhood”
Deep End

Question 4

Cole Ranch AVA

Answer 4

USAs smallest AVA
-150 acres- 55 to the vine.

Pretty much a monopole owned by Mike Lucia of Rootdown Wine Cellars.

Pinot Noir-Cabernet Sauvignon-Pinot Noir-Merlot-Riesling-Chardonnay

Question 5

McDowell Valley AVA

Answer 5

1000 feet in elevation.

Rhone varieties + Zinfandel + Pinot Noir.

Question 6

Notable Wineries

Answer 6

Parducci Wine Cellars
-First winery to feature Mendocino County on the label.

Fetzer Vineyards
-Early organic farmers.

Question 7

Redwood Valley AVA

Answer 7

Cabernet Sauvignon-Zinfandel-Barbera-Syrah-Petite Sirah

First cultivated by Italian immigrants.

Marine air seeps in from a break in the mountains.

Question 8

Potter Valley AVA

Answer 8

Hot days but elevation helps.

Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc-Riesling-Pinot Noir

Question 9

Other AVAs

Answer 9

Eagle Peak AVA
-120 acres of vines.
-Pinot Noir, mostly.

Covelo AVA
-Round Valley
-Less than 10 acres of vineyards

Dos Rios AVA
-Eel River
-10 vineyard acres.

Question 10

Mendocino Ridge AVA

Answer 10

Vines only planted above the fog line.

Zinfandel and Pinot Noir.