Module 4- Key Grape Varieties

Question 1

SB comes from French word _____ meaning “_____. Why?
SB is a parent of ___
It’s considered the ___ most important white grape in Napa Valley

Answer 1

sauvage, wild, leave shapes are similar to wild grapevines
CS
2nd

Question 2

SB makes up about _____ % of Napa Valley acreage
Each ton sells for about ____

Answer 2

6.1
$2291

Question 3

SB buds early or late? ripens early or late? thin or thick skinned?
SB clusters: small or big? high or low vigor?
high or low: aromatics, pigment, acidity
SB vines adaptable or no compared to CS and Chard?

Answer 3

Buds late, ripens, early, thin skinned
small clusters, high vigor (need canopy control)
high aromatics, low pigment, high acidity
more adaptable

Question 4

SB are very prone to what 3 things? Why is this not common in Napa Valley?
Why is SB typically picked at night?

Answer 4

Winter injury, mildew, black rot. Not common as Napa is warm and dry
Preserve the delicate aromatics in the grapes

Question 5

SB sometimes blended with ___ to produce a ____ texture
what 3 agents are used to ferment/age?

Answer 5

semillon, creamier
stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, concrete eggs (fresh and fruit forward with some minerality)

Question 6

Where was Chardonnay first mentioned?
What are Chardonnay’s parents?

Answer 6

1865 in Saone-et-Loire, France
Pinot Noir, Gouais blanc

Question 7

Chardonnay makes up about ___ of Napa Valley acreage
Chardonnay sells for about $______ a ton

Answer 7

14%
$2811

Question 8

Chardonnay:
Buds early or late? Ripens early or late? Thin or thick skinned?
Clusters small or big? high or low vigor?
high or low: aromatics, pigment, acidity
Whare in Napa Valley is it grown?

Answer 8

Buds early, ripen early, thin skinned
Medium clusters, high vigor
Low aromatics, medium+pigment, low acidity
Carneros, Oak Knoll, Spring Mountain

Question 9

Chardonnay:
What does MLF add?
If aged in oak, how long?

Answer 9

Butter, cream flavors
6-16 months

Question 10

What is the composition of “Blanc de Blancs”?
What is the most common method of sparkling wine production?

Answer 10

100% chardonnay
Traditional

Question 11

CS:
Cross between ____ and ____
Earliest mentions of CS were from ____
What was Hedgeside Winery?

Answer 11

SB and CF
Gironde in SW France (known as Petit Cabernet)
Produced leading CS in Napa 1882-1883. (now Del Dotto)

Question 12

CS:
makes up ___% of total acres in Napa Valley
sells for about $____ a ton

Answer 12

45.3%
$7498

Question 13

CS:
Buds early or late? Ripens early or late? Thin or thick skinned?
Clusters small or big? high or low vigor?
high or low: aromatics, pigment, acidity
CS thrives on well drained or poorly drained soils

Answer 13

Buds late, ripens mid-late, small grapes with tough resistant skins
Clusters small-medium, medium+ vigor.
high aromatics, pigment, tannins
well drained

Question 14

CF:
Parent to what other grapes?
First in Napa valley when? where?

Answer 14

CS, carmenere, SB
1880s, To Kalon Vineyard and Inglenook

Question 15

CF:
makes up ___% of total acres in Napa Valley
sells for about $____ a ton

Answer 15

2.5%, $7871 a ton

Question 16

CF:
Buds early or late? Ripens early or late? Thin or thick skinned?
Clusters small or big? high or low vigor?
What is notable about the moderate long bunch stem?

Answer 16

Bus mid to late, ripens mid to late
small-mid sized clusters, moderate-high vigor
easier to hand harvest

Question 17

CF: