Napa Valley Flashcards
Napa’s size in comparison with Bordeaux?
Napa is roughly one-eighth the size of Bordeaux and produces less than 0.5% of the world’s wine. That equals about 4% of California’s total output but, due to the high value of the wines, 25% of the state’s annual wine revenue
Name some of the biggest wineries of Napa
E&J Gallo winery, followed by Beringer, Beaulieu Vineyard, Duckhorn and Martini, are considered large by international standards; the majority are quite small, producing less than 10,000 cases of wine each year
Which is the first vintage of Harlan?
1990
Which was the first single vineyard wine of Napa and its first vintage?
The now iconic Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine in Napa Valley to be labelled with a vineyard designation, and has been ever since the inaugural vintage of 1966
When was the first vines planted, where, from who and which varieties?
Vitis vinifera and formal viticulture made their way to California in the 1770s, when the state was under Spanish control. The first non-native vines were Listan Prieto, a grape also known as Palomino Negro that was brought to the New World via the Canary Islands. These vines were initially planted near the San Diego mission at some point after its 1769 founding. From there, the Spanish spread up the coast, establishing Catholic missions as far north as Sonoma. These missions grew grapes for sacramental purposes, and the vines eventually came to be known as “Mission”
Who planted the first vineyard in Napa and when?
George Calvert Yount would go on to make vinous history when he planted Napa’s first vineyard, a small patch of Mission vines, in 1838 or 1839.
When was the Mexican-American War?
The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846 to 1848 and then was succeeded by the Gold Rush
Who established the first commercial winery in Napa that helped to shape its industry?
Charles Krug, a German native who would go on to start Napa’s first commercial winery in 1861, was among this initial wave of Europeans that helped shape the industry. Using a cider press borrowed from Agoston Haraszthy in Sonoma, Krug essentially acted as Napa’s first consulting winemaker, assisting local homesteaders in their efforts
Name some of the most important wineries that had been established in the late 1800s
Europeans, mostly of Italian, Swiss, and especially German descent, played important roles, establishing such foundational wineries as Inglenook, Fisher (now Mayacamas), Beringer, Italian Swiss Colony, and Schramsberg, which is famous for cultivating Napa’s first hillside vineyard. These are only a handful of the many wineries established in this era. By the end of the 1880s, less than 30 years after Krug launched his eponymous project, Napa Valley could boast of over 140 wineries and 15,000 acres under vine. These vineyards were not only plentiful but diverse, due to the pioneering efforts of figures such as Agoston Haraszthy, Joseph W. Osborne, George Belden Crane, H. W. Crabb, Gustave Niebaum, and Thomas Rutherford. These men looked beyond the Mission grape, actively importing and cultivating dozens of European varieties. Zinfandel, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon were among the earliest success stories
When did phylloxera hit Napa?
Phylloxera assailed Napa’s vineyards in the late 1880s through the 1890s
Apart phylloxera what other reasons contributed to the decline of Napa in the 1800s?
WW1 (1914-1918) and Prohibition (1919-1933)
Premium varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc were ripped out, and all but 1% were replaced with “shipper varieties.” By 1926, the composition of Napa’s vineyards was 40% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Petite Sirah, 16% Zinfandel, and 13% Carignan
Who shaped Napa’s wine industry post -prohibition?
the Russian exile André Tchelistcheff. Passionate about education and collaboration, Tchelistcheff elevated the quality standards not just at Beaulieu Vineyard but within the entire valley. He advocated for cleanliness and control above all and was among the first to explore the notion of terroir in Napa, suggesting that Pinot Noir and white grapes would fare better in the cooler south end of the valley, and red grapes up north. UC Davis also emerged as a guiding light around this time, devising the Winkler Index among other initiatives. Even the state of California intervened, establishing basic quality standards for bottled wine such as legal limits for volatile and total acidity.
Describe Napa’s indusrty in the 1930s to 1960s
Growth in the 1930s through the 1950s remained slow, with only a handful of wineries opening each decade. Along with the notable relaunches of Beringer, Beaulieu Vineyard, Mayacamas, and Inglenook, newcomers such as Stony Hill and Louis M. Martini graced the scene, and the Mondavi family transitioned into the fine wine sphere through the purchase of Charles Krug. During these decades, though some producers were crafting dry wines of note, fortified wines and massive blends with faux-European designations such as “Burgundy” and “Claret” made up much of production. Redwood and cement tanks were the fermentation vessels of choice, and any oak aging was typically done in used American oak bourbon barrels. Though there was improvement in controlled malolactic fermentation and temperature control, largely due to the work of Charles Krug’s Peter Mondavi and Inglenook’s John Daniel Jr. and George Deuer, modern equipment such as stainless steel tanks and French barriques wouldn’t arrive in Napa until the 1960s.
The rise of soda and fast food moved the collective national palate toward the sugary end of the spectrum. Dry wine sales wouldn’t overtake sweet wine until 1967.
Who made Judgement of Paris, when and which wines were awarded?
1976 Judgment of Paris. This famous event, arranged by British merchant Steven Spurrier to honor America’s 200th birthday, was a blind tasting held in Paris and graded by French judges. California wines, specifically the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon, took home top marks
When did Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator launched?
In 1978 and 1979, respectively, the magazines The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator were launched
When did Napa Valley AVA was delineated?
1981
When did European investments came?
The 1970s and early 1980s also saw the first real wave of European (specifically, French) investment, which provided further testimony to the quality potential of Napa Valley. Among others, Clos Du Val formed in 1972, Domaine Chandon in 1973, Opus One in 1979, and Domaine Carneros in 1987
When drip irrigation came to Napa?
The advent of drip irrigation in the late 1970s meant that more vineyard land could be cultivated
Which type of rootstock was used in the 1980s for phylloxera?
Many of the new vineyards planted during the 1980s had used AXR1 for a rootstock, which proved insufficiently resistant.
When did Cabernet Sauvignon became the main grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon overtook those of Chardonnay in 1992
Name some of the elite wine producers in the late 1980s to early 1990s
In the late 1980s and early 1990s and was epitomized by an elite group of micro-producers that included Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Colgin. These wineries had in common a combination of scant production, extremely high prices, and polished, showy wines. The increasingly powerful American wine press adored them, and consumers went to great lengths to win the coveted spots on their mailing lists. Because their productions were so small, most of these wineries could not justify hiring a dedicated winemaker and instead relied on consulting winemakers, who became the rock stars of Napa Valley.
What style was favoured in the 2000s?
ripe, concentrated wines with smooth tannins and low acids from extended hang time
1997 warm and abundant vintage was favored by consumers
Describe Napa’s climate
Napa Valley’s climate is classified as Mediterranean, with long, dry, hot summers and cooler, wet winters. Physically, Napa is sandwiched between the ocean-influenced Sonoma County and the warmer, drier Central Valley. The wider, southern end of Napa Valley is close to the San Pablo Bay and its attendant fog and breezes. It’s this proximity that gives Napa its reverse temperature gradient, with the hottest areas in the north toward Calistoga and the coolest areas in the south.
Because Napa Valley is such a warm place, its dramatic diurnal swing is a huge part of what makes quality viticulture possible.Elevation affects the diurnal swing as well; higher up in the hills, the daytime temperatures are lower but the nighttime temperatures are higher, making for a smaller day-to-night shift than on the valley floor.
Rainfall moves in a similar pattern, with the highest levels at the north end of the valley and in the mountains. Summers are generally bone dry, with most rain falling between October and April, sometimes for a month at a time. Though the two mountain ranges—the western Mayacamas Mountains and the eastern Vaca Mountains—receive virtually the same amount of precipitation, the Mayacamas look verdant while the Vacas appear scorched. This is largely because the eastern-facing slopes of the Mayacamas enjoy the gentle morning sun while the western-facing Vacas bake in the afternoon heat
Soils of Napa?
The soils of Napa Valley are incredibly diverse, with over 30 distinct types that overlap and interweave, forming complex patterns. These soils evolved from Napa’s three basic bedrocks: Great Valley sequence, Franciscan Assemblage (or Franciscan Complex), and Napa Volcanics (also known as Sonoma Volcanics). The Great Valley sequence and Franciscan Assemblage are the oldest of the three and both formed between 80 and 140 million years ago. The former was created when the sand- and clay-dominant ancient seabed near the Sierra Nevada Mountains compressed over millions of years to create sandstone and shale, and the latter formed offshore as the Farallon Plate subducted beneath the North American Plate. Franciscan Assemblage is a term for a wide range of substrates formed by this action, as undersea volcanoes, marine substrate, and ocean crust were smeared together along the edge of the North American Plate. Then, only seven million years ago, after what we know as California had risen from the sea, volcanic vents opened in the ground, spewing lava and ash on top of the preexisting bedrock.
Volcanic material is present throughout the valley but concentrated along the Vacas and the Mayacamas north of St. Helena.
One critical development from a grapegrowing perspective was the formation of alluvial fans, sometimes referred to as Napa’s benches. These benches act as a transition point between rocky hillside vineyards and the fertile valley floor. They are created over a long period of time, as rivers, streams, and rainwater carry mountain material down the slopes. The larger, heavier items such as rocks and gravel accumulate closer to the mountain, while the lighter materials such as silt and sand travel further. The result is a gently sloping, gravel-rich, well-draining patch of earth that is uniquely suited to vine cultivation. Interestingly, in Napa Valley, most alluvial fans are located on the western foothills. This is due in large part to the fact that the valley floor slopes gently southward and westward.
Which soils are essential for Sauvignon Blanc?
The Napa River bisects the length of the valley. Centuries of flooding have resulted in the buildup of richly fertile sand, silt, and loam around its banks. This is generally considered inferior land for Cabernet Sauvignon production and so is often used for Sauvignon Blanc or other, less fussy varieties.
Which are Napa’s white grape varieties?
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Muscat Blanc
Pinot Gris
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
White Riesling
Which are Napa’s red grapes?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Merlot
Petit Verdot
Petite Sirah (Durif)
Pinot Noir
Sangiovese
Syrah
Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly grown?
Cabernet Sauvignon can be found throughout Napa, but the most prestigious locations are the valley floor appellations of Stags Leap, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena (especially along the western benchland); the mountain appellations of Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill, and Diamond Mountain; and, to a lesser extent, 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. In the mountains, Spring Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Atlas Peak also boast excellent Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards
Chardonnay is mainly grown?
Today, Chardonnay remains the second most widely planted variety in Napa County. While most vines are in Carneros, Oak Knoll, and Yountville, a handful of other sites excel. These include Kongsgaard’s Judge Vineyard in Coombsville, the Star Vineyard in Rutherford, Mayacamas on Mount Veeder, and Stony Hill on Spring Mountain. The style of Napa Valley Chardonnay varies wildly depending upon the intention of the producer, but everything from rich and oaky to lean and crisp can be found.
Merlot is mainly grown?
Merlot was a rarity in Napa Valley until the Bordeaux makeover of the early 1990s.
Most of the vines are in the sprawling Oak Knoll appellation, but almost every AVA has some Merlot.
While it is most often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and occasionally Cabernet Franc, Merlot can be found on its own as well. Depending on the source of the fruit, styles vary. Merlot from warmer areas such as St. Helena and Calistoga can be quite full-bodied and rich, while those examples from the south, especially clay-rich Carneros, can be more elegant
Pinot Noir is found mainly?
It was in the 1940s that Tchelistcheff and others began advocating for greater terroir sensitivity, with much of the conversation focused on moving Pinot Noir to cooler areas of Napa. Today, this is a given. Most Pinot Noir is in Carneros, but it is also found in Coombsville, Spring Mountain, and even Rutherford.
Sauvignon Blanc is grown mainly?
Sauvignon Blanc has been a popular grape among Napa’s vintners since the early 1980s, and today it is planted in almost every appellation. It is regularly found along the banks of rivers and streams, especially the Napa River. Not only does it perform well in highly fertile, fluvial soils, but it retains its acidity at high temperatures and is also quite resistant to Pierce’s disease, a malady carried by sharpshooters, which are often found by waterways. Sauvignon Blanc’s more aromatic clone, Sauvignon Musqué, has also been gaining in popularity, and the two are regularly blended together. 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.
Zinfandel is found mainly?
during Prohibition, it became one of California’s most widely planted varieties. Today, most of the truly old vine vineyards in Napa are either Zinfandel or mixed black field blends that include Zinfandel. These ancient vineyards tend to be concentrated in Calistoga, on the mountains, or in Coombsville.
Zinfandel had a difficult time recovering its reputation after Prohibition, and many vineyards were converted—and still are being converted—to more fashionable and profitable grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. The White Zinfandel phenomenon that began in the late 1970s, however, saved more than one great old Zinfandel vineyard from the bulldozer. That said, it hardly did Zinfandel’s reputation any favors. White Zinfandel remains a popular category among low price point brands, but very little of it is made from Napa Valley fruit. Napa Zinfandel tends to be vinified in a dry, red style, with expressions that vary from jammy to muscular to elegant.
(The 2001 discovery of the Croatian origin of Zinfandel, where it is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski, was made by a Napa vintner and geneticist, Dr. Carole Meredith, based in part on the recollections of another Napa vintner, the Croatian-born Mike Grgich.)
Stainless steel was introduced to Napa when?
1966
What is California Sprawl?
Historically, Napa’s vineyards were planted in a manner known as California sprawl, a kind of floppy, bush-style training wherein the grapes were well protected from the sun by a wild and untamed canopy. The vines tended to be widely spaced and, if planted prior to the mid-1970s, were dry-farmed.
Which were the viticultural advancements in the 1970s-80s?
The introduction of drip irrigation in the 1970s and the popularization of Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) in the 1980s and 90s transformed the appearance of Napa’s vineyards
Napa’s organic certification?
Napa Green.
The 2016 Napa Valley crop report states that 3,897 acres are certified organic, which equals about 9% of all vineyard land.
Los Carneros and Howell Mountain became AVAs when?
1983
Name the valley floor AVAs of Napa
Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga
Oakville and Rutherford became AVAs when?
1993
Carneros can be bottled as?
Carneros, Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, or even Sonoma Coast
Name some of the top vineyards in Carneros
Hudson, Hyde, Poseidon, Sangiacomo (Sonoma), Stanly Ranch, Truchard
Main grapes of Carneros?
Its regular fog and constant ocean breezes (San Pablo Bay) make it an ideal area for cool climate varieties, and for many years Carneros was referred to as Napa’s Burgundy. Indeed, most of its acreage is dedicated to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Merlot has been gaining traction in recent years, and to great effect, as it thrives in the clay-dominant sandy soils.
Also shows less diurnal range
Name 2 sparkling wine producers from Carneros
Taittinger establishing Domaine Carneros and Moët & Chandon (Domaine Chandon), Gloria Ferrer, Mumm Napa and Codorníu Napa
Name some top producers from Carneros
Dumol
Kistler
Tor
HDV
Aubert Wines Larry Hyde & Sons
Clos du Val
Paul Hobbs
Patz & Hall
Saintbury
Rombauer Vineyards
Schramsberg
Name the top vineyards of Howell Mountain
Bancroft Ranch, Beatty Ranch, Black Sears, Cade, Dragon, Dunn, Hershey, Ink Grade, La Jota, Las Posadas, Rattlesnake Ridge, Steinhauer Ranch, True, W. S. Keyes
Howell Mountain’s topography, climate, soils and grapes?
a vineyard must be located at or above 1,400 feet (430m) above sea level (Vaca) to claim the appellation. This elevation was not randomly selected; rather, it is what is known as the fog line, the atmospheric inversion layer that marks the upper limit of the fog. Above this elevation, vineyards have an almost unmitigated access to sunshine.
The soils are poor, thin, and rocky. Though the majority are volcanic, they vary in that expression, with the northwest side of the mountain rich in iron and clay, and the southeast area dominated by compressed grey and white volcanic ash, or tuff. Daytime temperatures are cooler than on the valley floor, but the diurnal swing is smaller. The challenging growing conditions make for thick-skinned, small-berried fruit that tends to be quite tannic. Though the mountain is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, its many Zinfandel vineyards often make for equally excellent wines.
Howell’s most famous mountain?
Angwin
Name some top producers from Howell Mountain
Robert Craig has the highest winery in the area at 2,300 ft, and the highest vineyard is Black Sears at 2,500 ft. Robert Craig is a mountain AVA specialist
La Jota was one of the first wineries to plant in this area in the late 1800s.
Randy Dunn (Dunn Vineyards) - 100% Cabernets with almost 3 years in oak - iconic producer
Hundred Acre
Lokoya Winery
Abreu
Turley wine cellars
Wild Horse Valley’s climate, grapes and soils?
The region sits at high elevation, which, along with its proximity to the San Pablo Bay, makes for a cooler growing climate. The soils are rocky and red-tinged with iron-rich volcanic material. The scant production is mostly dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, and the latter two can be quite refined in style
Name a vineyard of Wild Horse Valley
Heron Lake
What is unusual for Stags Leap (1989)?
Stags Leap is also unusual in that it is the only valley floor AVA to not cross the river, and is one of the smallest AVAs
Stag Leap’s topography, soils and grapes?
Stags Leap is surrounded by Yountville on all other sides. The soils are complex, featuring a combination of sandstone and shale, with volcanic material concentrated along the eastern edge of the appellation, and more clay and loam to the west. Toward the south of the appellation lies one of the Vaca range’s biggest alluvial fans, which is currently split between two Stags Leap Wine Cellars vineyards, Fay and S.L.V
Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape by far, however, and these examples have generally shown a great ability to age.
the wines of Stags Leap were known for their supple texture, smooth tannins, and firm acidity
Who planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in Stags Leap?
In 1961, Nathan Fay famously planted the area’s first post-Prohibition Cabernet Sauvignon
Name some of the top vineyards of Stags Leap
Fay, Futo 5500, Hartwell, Pine Ridge, Poetry, Regusci, S.L.V., Shafer, Silverado, Sinskey, Steltzner, Wappo Hill
Name some top producers from Stags Leap
Shafer
Chimney Rock
Stags Leap Wine Cellars
Cliff Lede Vineyards
Realm Cellars
Odette Estate
Fudo 5500 Estate
Pine Ridge Vineyards
