Napa Flashcards
How large is Napa in comparison to Bordeaux?
1/8 the size of Bordeaux and produces .5% of the world’s wine.
It equals about 4% of California’s total wine output but, due to high value, 25% of the state’s annual wine revenue.
Which grape is known as “Mission” in California due to it’s use by the missions spreading throughout California for sacramental purposes?
Listan Prieto
When was the Mexican-American War?
1846-1848; at its conclusionn a swath of land including California was ceded to the United States.
Almost simultaneously gold was discovered in the Sierra Foothills, launching the gold rush
When did Charles Krug, a German native, go on to star Napa’s first commercial winery?
1861
From Charles Krugs first commercial winery in 1861 to the 1890’s 140 wineries emerged with 15000 acres under vine. The industry then took a nose dive, what began its downturn?
Phylloxera hit in the late 1880’s and 1890’s and the ha under vine shrunk to 3,000 acres
A recession hit the national economy, the WWI broke out and the temperance movement gained significant velocity.
Then prohibition struck in 1919.
During prohibition, vineyards remained planted, although not to premium varieties. Why did vineyards remain planted?
There was an annual allowance of each household to make 200 gallons of fruit juice. (Which was then fermented). This mean grapes were being shipped to homes and the shipping times meant more durable grapes so many of the vineyards were replanted with grapes such as Alicante Bouschet (40%) and Petite Syrah (30%)
What event made Georges Latour, proprietor of Beualieu Vineyards go in search for a scientifically trained Winemaker? Who did he find?
Poor quality wine was produced due to lack of understanding of microbiology and cleanliness policies and Beaulieu vineyards, was one of those vineyards. Georges Latour went to Europe in search of a scientifically trained winemaker and found Andres Techeistcheff. Tchelistcheff not only elevated the quality standards at Beaulieu but within the entire Napa Valley by advocating for cleanliness and control above all.
Tchelistcheff was the first to explore the notion of terroir in Napa and suggested that Pinot Noir and white grapes would fare better in the cooler south end of the valley and red grapes up north.
A landmark piece of environmental legislation was enacted in 1968. What was it and what was its impacts?
The growing expansion in Napa alarmed conservationist, who feared Napa might suffer the same fate as Santa Clara and other towns within proximity of San Francisco.
In 1968 the Agricultural Preserve was a enacted, a landmark piece of environmental legislation that limited development within much of Napa Valley to preserve its agricultural heritage.
In 1966 Rovert Mondavi Winery opened in Oakville to much fanfare and spurred on more wineries to be built and open directly following. What was the next big event in Napa wine to spur on further growth and interest?
1976 judgement of Paris
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars won for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena won for Chardonnay. Other Napa wines placed very high as well
This stirred increased interest, investment and growth in Napa wine
The massive flooding of the winter of 1986 spread phylloxera through the valley, what was the result of this?
Most of the vines were planted on AXR1 rootstock which was sufficiently resistant. This meant lots of replanting in the valley and proprietors chose to replant with majority Cabernet Sauvignon over Chardonnay. This in many ways marked the beginnings of the modern Napa valley
Which mountain range separates Sonoma and Napa?
The Mayacamas
What is San Pablo Bay’s influence on Napa?
It ushers in the cool ocean breezes and fog to Southern Napa, cooling the area.
The Chalk hill gap in the north as the same but much more minimal effect in Norther Napa
Due to the hot weather in the Napa area, the diurnal swing is essential to growing wine. How large is that diurnal swing?
It varies, but at the largest gap, can be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit
Are diurnal swings larger on the valley floor or high up on the hills?
On the valley floor.
Higher up in the hills the daytime temperatures are lower but the nighttime temperatures are higher. This is especially. true above the fog line which sits at approximately 1400 feet.
What mount range sits to the east of Napa?
The Vaca Mountains
Cabernet Sauvignon is Napa’s lead grape in acres planted (and otherwise). What percentage of Napa is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon?
46% as of 2016
Where are the most prestigious Napa cab locations?
Along the valley floor, praticularly the western bench land, of Stags leap, Oakville, Rutherford, and St Helena; the mountain appellations of Howell Moutain, Pritchard Hill and Diamond Mountain.
Also, to a lesser extend, Calistoga and coombsville
South of Oakville, some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon sites exist, such as Yountville’s Dominus and Sleeping Lady, but cooler climate varieties gain in prominence.
Which is the second most widely planted variety in Napa County?
Chardonnay @ 5900 acres (vs Cab Sauv’s 21,747 acres)
List the top six varietals planted by acreage in Napa
Cab Sauv 21,747 acres Chardonay 5,900 acres Merlot 4154 acres Sauvignon Blanc 2776 acres Pinot Noir 2615 acres Zinfandel 1275 acres
Where is most Pinot Noir found?
Carneros
But some is found I Coombsville, Spring Mountain and even Rutherford
Sauvginon blanc is planted in almost every Napa appellation, yet its style remains similar throughout Napa. What is its style?
Styles range less here than with other varieties, and Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc tends to be more tropical than grassy. Oak aging is not uncommon, especially among high-end Napa producers, who have extended their Bordeaux homage into the white spectrum. Oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc is occasionally labeled as Fumé Blanc, a term invented by Robert Mondavi in the 1960s to imbue the variety with an Old World gravitas.
Where does Zinfandel originate from? What is it’s name there?
Croatia
Crljenak Kaštelansk
What governing body oversees the Napa AVAs?
TTB - Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
What do AVA’s define?
Just physical limits of an appellations - it does not attempt to control the varieties planted, farming practices or winemaking techniques.
When was the first Californian AVA awarded?
1981 - the Napa Valley AVA
Oddly, it was the second in the nation after Augusta in Missouri
How many AVA’s are there in Napa?
17 AVAs - the Napa Valley AVA and 16 AVAs nested within the Napa Valley AVA
Which AVAs are the driest in Napa?
Driest by rainfall are Carneros and Coombsville even though they are closest to the sea. The see 18-24in/yr of rainfall whereas northern AVAs see 40-55in/yr of rainfall
What is the highest peak in the Napa Valley AVA?
Atlas Peak, 2600 ft
What is the typical soil type closer to the Napa River?
Clay, Silt (more fertile)
Further away, alluvial gravel, alluvial sands
In the Vaca Mountains, what’s the primary soil type?
Volcanic (Atlas Peak and Howells Mountain)
In the Mayacamas mountains, what soil type(s) are there?
More of a mix (than the Vaca mountains) - Sandstone, shale, volcanic
What is the total planted acreage of the Napa Valley AVA?
43,365 acres
which Napa Valley AVA spans both Napa and Sonoma counties?
Carneros
A Carneros wine can be bottled as either Carneros, Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, or even Sonoma Coast.
What are the primary varietals are found in Carneros?
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Merlot is gaining traction as it performs well in the clay soils of Carneros
