Napa Valley Flashcards
What two vineyards date back to the creation of the Rutherford AVA?
Flora Spring in the North
Beaulieu Vineyard’s BV Ranch #2
Grandfathered in to avoid breaking up the estates land holdings
What yearw as the Napa AVA established?
1981
Where is the fog line in Napa?
Approx. 1,400 feet
Notable vineyards of Oak Knoll
Aldo’s
Blackbird
Hendry Ranch
Trefethen
What is the name of the school on Howell Mountain?
Pacific Union College
Notable vineyards of Spring Mountain District
1993
Barnett
Behrens
Cain
Marston
Newton
Pride
Ritchie Creek
School House
Smith-Madrone
Spring Mountain
Stony Hill
Togni
What type of climate is Napa classified as?
Mediterranean - long, dry, hot summers and cooler, wet winters
What are Napa’s three basic bedrocks?
Great Valley sequence
Franciscan Assemblage (or Franciscan complex)
Napa Volcanics (also known as Sonoma Volcanics)
Great Valley and Franciscan are the oldest
What was allowed during Prohibition?
Sacramental and Medicinal wine
200 gallons of fruit juice each year
Home wine making became such a commonplace during the Prohibition that vine acreage actually increased during the 1920s
Napa Valley AVAs and years established
Napa Valley (1981)
Los Carneros (1983)
Howell Mountain (1983)
Wild Horse Valley (1988)
Stags Leap District (1989)
Mount Veeder (1990)
Atlas Peak (1992)
Rutherford (1993)
Oakville (1993)
Spring Mountain District (1993)
St. Helena (1995)
Yountville (1999)
Chiles Valley (1999)
Diamond Mountain District (2001)
Oak Knoll (2004)
Calistoga (2010)
Coombsville (2011)
What is precipitation like in Napa? What are the wettest/driest months?
Summer is driest
Most rainfall occuring between October and April
What estate revitalized Calistoga in the 1990s?
Larkmead
Who is Rutherford named after?
Thomas Rutherford who married George Yount’s granddaughter in 1864 and was given over 1,000 acres as part of her dowry.
Who is Yountville named after?
George C. Yount - planted Napa’s first vinifera vines inside the appellation in 1838 and 1839
Notable vineyards on Howell Mountain
Bancroft Ranch
Beatty Ranch
Black Sears
Cade
Dragon
Dunn
Hershey
Ink Grade
La JOta
Los Posadas
Rattlesnake Ridge
Stenhauer Ranch
True
W.S. Keyes
When was the Judgement of Paris? What were the wines?
1976
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon
When was Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars established and by who?
1973
Warren Winiarski
What is considered to be the first Napa cult winery? Where is it located? Who established it and when?
Diamond Creek
Diamond Mountain District
Al Brounstein - 1968
What body of water mitigates the climate in Napa?
San Pablo Bay
It is responsible for the reverse temperature gradient - the hottest areas are in the north toward Calistoga, the coolest areas are in the south
What appellations get fog cover?
In the south - Oak Knoll and Yountville get the most. Considerably thinner by the time it reaches Oakville, wispy at best by the time it reaches St. Helena
In the north - a smaller amount of fog makes its way into Calistoga via the Chalk Hill Gap near Diamond Mountain, but it burns off quickly and only has a modest effect on daytime temperatures
Which mountain is closest to the bay? What does this do?
Mount Veeder - it is the coolest mountain in the valley
What are the top two varietals on Howell Mountain?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Who created the Winkler Index?
UC Davis
What percentage of wine does Napa make for the world? For California? Revenue for California wine?
0.5% of the world
4% California output, 25% of the revenue for the state $$$$$
Who coined the term “Rutherford Dust?” What winery were they working for?
Andre Tchelistcheff
Beaulieu Vineyard
Who established the Oak Knoll Ranch and when?
John Osbourne, 1850s
He was one of the first in Napa to import an extensive collection of varieties and he personally sourced the material for many of the area’s pioneering vintners.
What is the geographical criteria for Howell Mountain?
A vineyard must be located at or above 1,400 feet above sea level to claim Howell Mountain AVA.
This is where the fog line is.
What is the name of the town on Howell Mountain?
Angwin
Notable vineyards of Stags Leap District
Fay
Futo 5500
Hartwell
Pine Ridge
Poetry
Regusci
S.L.V.
Shafer
Silverado
Sinskey
Steltzner
Wappo Hill
What is Sauvignon Blanc’s clone that is found in Napa Valley and occasionally blended with the grape?
Sauvignon Musque
What were the first non-native vines to arrive in the New World and where from?
Listan Prieto (Palomino Negro) via the Canary Islands
Notable vineyards of St. Helena
Aida
Beckstoffer Bourn
Beckstoffer Las Piedras
Beringer
Capella
Charles Krug
Corison
Crocker
Edge Hill
Forman
Grace
Hayne
Heitz
Hourglass
Kayli Morgan
Kronos
Lewelling
Library
Mandrone
Phelps
Quella
Spotswoode
Turley
Tychson Hill
Vineyard 29
Who was Goerges de Latour?
A Frenchman who worked for Beaulieu Vineyard during the period of poor quality wine post-prohibition. He brought Andre Tchelistcheff back from France
What wines finished 2nd overall in the Judgement of Paris?
1973 Domaine Roulot Meursault-Charmes
1970 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Notable vineyards of Diamond Mountain District
Constant
Dyer
Gravelly Meadow
Jasud
Lake
Red Rock Terrace
Schramsberg
Volcanic Hill
Notable vineyards in Los Carneros
Hudson
Hyde
Poseidon
Sangiacoma (Sonoma)
Stanly Ranch
Truchard
Notable vineyards of Oakville
Backus
Beckstoffer To-Kalon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Dalla Valle
Detert
Far Niente
Gamble Ranch
Groth
Harlan
MacDonald
Martha’s Vineyard
Martin Stelling
Oakville Ranch
Opus One
Rudd
Silver Oak
St. Eden
Tench
To-Kalon
Vine Hill Ranch
Weitz
What is legally unique about Pritchard Hill?
The Chapellet family took over Pritchard Hill in 1967, they have trademarked the name
They are the only ones that are allowed to put Pritchard Hill on the label of their wines, even if other estates founded on the hill use fruit from the hill.
What is Oak Knoll best known for?
Merlot - fruitful and supple.
Then, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
Where is the biggest diurnal shift in Napa?
North around Calistoga - up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
South - typically 20
When did dry wine take over sweet?
1967
What are the two main roads of Napa Valley?
Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail
Soils of Yountville
More gravel, clay and alluvial deposits in the west
Volcanic and sediment in the east
Rich deep loam and clay in the center
What is the smallest Napa AVA?
Diamond Mountain District
What are some estates on Pritchard Hill?
Chapellet
Colgin
David Arthut
Ovid
Continuum
Bryant
Soils of Stags Leap District
1989
Soils are complex - combination of sandstone and shale, with volcanic material concentrated along the eastern edge of the appellation.
More clay and loam to the west.
Toward the south, one of the Vaca’s biggest alluvial fans, which is currently split between Stags Leap Wine Cellars vineyards, Fay and S.L.V.
What was the most influential vintage in the 90s?
1997
Warm year, overly abundant
Too much fruit to process - one batch was processed at “normal ripeness” and the rest left out to be processed after, not expecting it to make good wine.
Resulting wines were concentrated with lower acid and smoother tannins. This led to extended hangtime being common in Napa.
What is Pritchard Hill’s body of water that helps mitigate the climate?
Lake Hennessey
When did Vertical Shoot Positioning come into play in Napa?
1980s and 1990s
Notable vineyards of Calistoga
Chateau Montelena
Eisele
Frediani
Jericho Canyon
Lamb
Larkmead
Luvisi
Three Palms
Tofanelli
Who did Winiarski get into a legal battle with?
Carl Doumani
What is the steepest a vineyard can be in Napa Valley? Which AVA does this affect the most?
30 degrees or less
Mount Veeder - steep slopes, underdeveloped AVA
When was the Wine Advocate launched?
Wine Spectator?
Wine Advocate - 1978
Wine Spectator - 1979
Depending on where the grapes come from, what can Los Carneros wines be labeled as?
Carneros
Napa Valley
Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Coast
When was the introduction of drip irrigation?
The 1970s
Which Champagne houses saw Carneros fit for sparkling wine production?
Taittinger - Domaine Carneros
Moet & Chandon - Domaine Chandon
What did Diamond Creek do before anyone else?
Focus solely on Cabernet Sauvignon
First to give primacy to terroir. subdividing its limited production according to soil type
Where is To-Kalon? Who established it? Who acquired it after?
Oakville
H.W. Crabb
Martin Stelling
Notable vineyards of Chiles Valley
Brown
Green & Red
Nichelini
Volker Eisele
Soil on Atlas Peak
Shallow, rocky, and low in fertility - lots of iron-stained volcanic material throughout
When was the initial decline in Napa; why did it happen?
Phylloxera hit in the late 1880s through the 1890s, dropping the planted area down to 3,000 acres.
A recession crippled the economy.
World War I broke out
Temperance movement gained significant velocity
Prohibition was ratified in 1919
What is different about Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon?
This region was designated a Region I on the Winkler Index
Tom Farella and John Caldwell made the case for Cabernet Sauvignon. Here, the grape shows more restraint than typical Napa
When did drip irrigation come into play?
late 1970s
When was Prohibition ratified? Repealed?
1919
Repealed in 1933
What was the first major winery in Coombsville?
Cedar Knoll (now Palmaz) established by Henry Hagen in the 1870s
Where is the largest diurnal swing in Napa?
Calistoga, the furthest north AVA
Quite warm - makes deeply colored, ultra-rich wines
When were the following estates founded?
Clos Du Val, Domaine Chandon, Opus One, Domaine Carneros?
Clos du Val - 1972
Domaine Chandon - 1973
Opus One - 1979
Domaine Carneros - 1987
Notable vineyards of Mount Veeder
Abel 1833
Hess
Lagier Meredith
Mayacamas
Progeny
Skaggs
Sky
What varietal dominates Mount Veeder? What other varietals thrive?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Then:
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Syrah
What did Fisher & Sons winery become? Where is it located?
Mayacamas
Mount Veeder
When was Napa deemed an AVA?
1981
Notable vineyards of Coombsville
Arcadia
Caldwell
Dead Fred
Haynes
Judge
Meteor
Moore
Palmaz
When was the great flood in Napa? What did it do? What did this lead to?
1986
It spread phylloxera across the valley
Majority of the valley had to be replanted and Cabernet Sauvignon surpassed Chardonnay in 1992
What is the soil like on Howell Mountain?
Climate?
Mostly volcanic - poor, thin and rocky
Northwest - rich in iron and clay
Southeast - grey and white volcanic ash (tuff)
Temperature sare cooler than on the valley floor, but the diurnal swing is smaller.
Growing conditions make for thick-skinned, small-berried fruit that tends to be quite tannic
What is most of the acreage devoted to in Los Carneros? Why? What other variety does well?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - proximity to San Pablo Bay and regular fog, cooler temperatures
Merlot is on the rise, thrives in the clay soil of Los Carneros
Who developed Antica? When? Who owns it now?
William Hill
1981
Antinori
Wild Horse Valley
1988
Not very significant viticulturally
Rocky and red-tinged soils with iron-rich volcanic material
Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Spans two counties - Solano/Napa
Notable vineyard - Heron Lake
What is Fume Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc with oak aging, term created by Robert Mondavi in the 60s.
Notable vineyards of Atlas Peak
Antica
Au Sommet (Heidi Barrett)
Kongsgaard
Stage Coach
Water Ranch
What is Schramsberg famous for?
Cultivating Napa’s first hillside vineyard
Where is Stagecoach vineyard located? Who purchased it? When?
Atlas Peak
Gallo
2017
Soil type on Mount Veeder
Craggy - soil is rocky and shallow
Very little volcanic material; shale, sandstone, clay and sandy loam
What were the first three vineyard deisgnated wines in Napa?
Martha’s Vineyard (1971)
Monte Bello (1971)
Eisele Vineyard (?)
Notable vinyeards of Rutherford
Beckstoffer Georges III
Beckstoffer Melrose
Booth Bella Oaks
Bosche
BV Ranch #1
BV Ranch #2
Cakebread
J.J. Cohn
Inglenook
Frog’s Leap
Long Meadow Ranch
Quintessa
Raymond
Round Pond
St. Supery
Stagelin
Star
Sycamore
Trailside
What hindered production in the 2000s?
Market crash in 2008
How were the Vaca Mountains were formed? Mayacamas?
Vaca - crust cracked and stacked on top of itself
Mayacamas - formed from a crustal wrinkle
In the south of the AVA, what three mountains surround Calistoga?
Howell Mountain to the east
Diamond Mountain District to the west
St. Helena to the north
Who are considered the architects of Howell Mountain?
Randy Dunn
Bill Smith
Bob Lamborn
Bob Brakesman
Mike Beatty
Who spearheaded the early development of Napa? What were some of their names? What did they do?
Europeans and people of European descent.
Agoston Haraszthy
Joseph W. Osbourne
George Belden Crane
H.W. Crabb
Gustave Niebaum
Thomas Rutherford
They imported dozens of European varieties
How much wine does Harlan and Screaming Eagle produce?
2,000 and 1,000 cases respectively.
Compared to Latour and Margaux who make 18,000 and 11,000 cases of their grand vins
Where does the fog enter Napa Valley? What do the Mayacamas Mountains do in regards to fog?
San Pablo Bay to the South
Chalk Hill Gap to the North
The mountains block the fog, only allowing it to enter from the two locations.
St. Helena climate, soil, style
Hot - Morning fogs are rare, as are ocean breezes.
Soil to the south is gravelly loam
Soil to the north is more volcanic
Wines are powerful, even gentler producers such as Corison and Spottswoode produce wines of significant intensity
What famous producer built their estate on To-Kalon?
Robert Mondavi
When were stainless steel vats introduced to Napa Valley? What was the choice elevage vessel prior to this?
1966.
Giant redwood vats
Who was the major contributor to the Wine Advocate?
Who was for the Wine Spectator?
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
James Laube - Wine Spectator
Notable vineyards of Yountville
Gemstone
Ghost Block
Grgich
Kapcsandy
Napanook
Paradise Hills
Sleeping Lady
Who are considered the top two producers on Atlas Peak?
John Kongsgaard
Heidi Barrett
During the replanting of the 90s, what farming practices did American’s adopt from the French in Napa Valley?
High density planting
Vertical shoot positioning
Low-fruiting zones to maximize the fleeting warmth and sunlight of a marginal climate
Who was Charles Krug? When did he create the winery?
A German native who would go on to start Napa’s first commercial winery.
1861
What wines is Yountville known for?
Merlot due to the clay and cooler temperatures
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for whites
Soils in Calistoga
Varied, but a lot of volcanic soil due to the surrounding mountains.
Good amount of loam and gravel
Home to one of Napa’s rare eastern alluvail fans upon which the famous Eisele Vineyard was established
Who is Pritchard Hill named after?
Charles Pritchard - the first man to establish a vineyard on the land mass in the 1880s
