Napa/Sonoma/Medocino Flashcards
Important Napa AVA’s to identify on a map?
*Carneros AVA
*Stags Leap District AVA
*Oakville AVA
*Rutherford AVA
*Howell Mountain AVA
*Mount Veeder AVA
*Calistoga AVA
*Yountville AVA
Important AVAs of Mendocino?
*Anderson Valley AVA
Important AVAs of Sonoma to identify on a map?
*Carneros AVA
*Sonoma Coast AVA
*Alexander Valley AVA
*Russian River Valley AVA
*Dry Creek Valley AVA
Climate of the North Coast?
Moderate to warm depending on proximity to the Pacific Ocean or San Pablo Bay.
Difference in temp and diurnal shifts in Napa?
North Napa is warmer; mountainous regions have lower yields and bigger diurnal shifts.
Mountain ranges of the North Coast?
*Sonoma Mountain Range *Mayacamas Mountain Range
*Vaca Mountain Range
Important bodies of water of the North Coast? (other than the Pacific Ocean)
*San Pablo Bay
*Napa River
What is the Petaluma Wind Gap?
A 15 mile wind gap located between the Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay.
Winemaking in the North Coast?
*Often extensive use of new French and sometimes American oak barrels for both red and white wines.
*Malolactic fermentation often employed when making white wines, especially Chardonnay.
*Sparkling wines (usually traditional method) are produced in cooler areas such as Carneros and Anderson Valley.
Major white grapes of the North Coast?
*Chardonnay
*Sauvignon Blanc
Major red grapes of Northern Coast?
*Pinot Noir
*Merlot
*Cabernet Sauvignon
*Zinfandel
*Syrah
Most notable Napa AVAs and what grape their known for?
*Rutherford- Cab (Rutherford Dust Soil)
*Stags Leap- Cab (Gained popularity in the 70’s)
*Oakville- Cab
*Los Carneros- Chardonnay, PN, Sparkling (cooler)
*Calistoga- Zin and Cab (cooler)
*Coombsville- Historically PN and Chardonnay, now Cab
Most notable Sonoma Coast AVAs and what grape they’re known for?
*Russian River Valley- PN, Chardonnay
*Alexander Valley- Cab, Chard, Merlot, Syrah, Zin, PN
*Sonoma Coast- PN, Chardonnay
Who is Agoston Haraszthy?
*Haraszthy’s cellars at Buena Vista were the first stone wineries in the state.
*Founder of Buena Vista
*Hungarian born in 1812, moved to America when he was 28
Who is Robert Mondavi?
*Pioneered winemaking techniques in California
*created the Fumé Blanc style of wine, a dry, richly flavored Sauvignon Blanc aged in oak barrels
*In 1966, Mondavi founded his namesake winery in Napa Valley with the ambitious goal of producing wines that could rival the world’s best.
Who is André Tchelistcheff?
*Russian born winemaker (1901-1994)
*Known as “Maestro” or the Dean of American Winemakers”
*Helped institute Malo as standard practice
*Helped influence Washington Wine also
Where is the most Chardonnay produced in the north coast?
Mendocino and Lake County
Where is the most Pinot Noir produced in the North Coast?
Sonoma, specifically
*Russian River Valley
*Sonoma Coast
Where is the most Sauv B produced in the North Coast?
Napa, specifically
*Yountville
*Rutherford
*Oakville
*Saint Helena
Where is the most Cabernet Sauv prodcued in the North Coast?
Napa, specifically
*Stags Leap
*Rutherford
Where is the most Zinfandel produced in the north coast?
Sonoma, specifically
*Dry Creek
*Rockpile
*Russian River Valley
Where is the most Syrah produced in the North Coast?
All over Napa and Sonoma
What does Estate Bottled mean on a label?
The winery has managed the entire winemaking process on its own property, from grape cultivation to bottling.
What does Meritage mean on a label?
Signifies a wine that is a blend of specific “Bordeaux grape varieties” (like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc.) and is a trademark of the Meritage Alliance, requiring wineries to be members to use the term.
What does Claret mean on a label?
Same as Meritage (Bordeaux style blend) though it is not a protected term.
Who is Warren Winiarski?
*Founder and former winemaker of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
*Produced the legendary 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris Tasting,
Who is Charles Krug (no relation)
*Established the first winery in Napa (The Charles Krug Winery, 1861)
*The land used was part of a dowry given to Krug by his wife, Carolina Bale, who had inherited 540 acres of land north of St. Helena.
*Opened the first public tasting room in California in 1882.
Opus One
*Colab between Robert Mondavi, and Baron Philippe de Rothschild (owner of Château Mouton Rothschild)
*An unofficial California ‘First Growth’
*Blends Bordeaux traditions with California terrior
Robert Mondavi
*Started the trend of labeling wines by grape variety
*Instrumental in promoting wine as a part of “the good life,” fostering a cultural appreciation for wine, food, and the arts in Napa Valley.
*Opened the Robert Mondavi Winery (first major winery) after prohibition in 1966
Beringer
*First ‘gravity fed’ operation
*Among the first to operate using hand dug caves
*The first to offer vineyard tours in 1934
