Napa Valley and Sonoma Flashcards
The main grapegrowing regions of California are divided into five large AVAs. What are they?
North Coast AVA Central Coast AVA South Coast AVA San Francisco Bay AVA Sierra Foothills AVA
What region of California accounts for 75% of wine produced in the state, but is not an AVA?
Central Valley
The South Coast AVA covers vineyard land between what two cities?
Los Angeles and San Diego
Which two white grapes account for most of the vineyard acreage in the Central Valley?
Chenin Blanc and French Colombard
In a Meritage Blend there must be at least two BDX varietals, but no one grape can account for what percentage?
No grape may account for more than 90%
What are the 6 counties that comprise the North Coast AVA?
Mendecino Lake Napa Sonoma Marin Solano
Napa Valley accounts for approximately what % of California’s total acreage?
4%
How many subappellations are located in Napa Valley AVA?
16
Why are the southern AVAs of Napa Valley cooler than the northern?
Cool marine air blows eastward through the Petaluma Gap into the San Pablo Bay and funnels up the valley.
What are the mountains that define the Napa Valley?
Mayacamas Mountains (west) Vaca Mountains (east)
What are the 3 mountain AVAs from North to South in the Mayacamas Mountains?
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District
Mount Veeder
What AVAs are closest to Howell Mountain AVA to the west and which is closest to the east?
Calistoga and St. Helena to the west.
Chiles Valley District to the east
What are the mountain AVAs in the Vaca Mountains from north to south?
Howell Mountain AVA
Atlas Peak AVA
What is the wettest and coolest of the mountain AVAs?
Howell Mountain AVA
What was the first AVA within Napa Valley to receive AVA status?
Howell Mountain (1984)
To achieve Howell Mountain AVA status, the vineyards must be at least what altitude? Why?
1400ft; above the fog line which serves as a climate moderator for, instead, the valley below. Howell Mountain AVA climate is defined by its altitude and diurnal temperature variation.
What are the top 4 producers of Howell Mountain AVA?
Dunn Vineyards
La Jota
O’Shaughnessy
Robert Craig
Appellation of Stony Hill?
St. Helena AVA is where Stony Hill is located.
AVA where Antinori grew Sangiovese?
Atlas Peak AVA
AVA of Stagecoach Vineyard
Atlas Peak AVA
Where is Storybook Mountain Vineyards located?
Calistoga AVA
What are three top producers located in Calistoga AVA?
Chateau Montelena
Araujo Estate
Storybook Mountain Vineyards
From what Sonoma AVA do cooling breezes come from cooling Calistoga at night?
Knights Valley
AVA of Von Strasser?
Diamond Mountain District AVA
What is the AVA of Mayacamas?
Mount Veeder AVA
Three producers producing wine in Mount Veeder AVA?
Mayacamas
Hess
Lokoya (Jackson Family)
Who is credited for planting the To Kalon vineyard in Oakville? When?
Hamilton Crabb in 1868
Who are the two owners of To Kalon?
Robert Mondavi and Andy Beckstoffer
Where is the Rutherford Bench?
Stretches from St. Helena down to Yountville on the west side of the Napa Valley at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains.
In what appellation are the Bella Oaks, Bosche, Sycamore, Inglenook, and Beulieu Vineyard located?
Rutherford AVA
Clos du Val is a pioneer of what AVA?
Stags Leap District AVA
What are 5 producers of Stags Leap District AVA?
Chimney Rock Pine Ridge Shafer Silverado Vineyards Sinskey
What are 4 notable producers located in Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA?
Lewis Cellars
Trefethen
Robert Biale
Monticello Vineyards
What grape does Robert Biale champion and in what AVA is this producer located in?
Champions of legendary Zinfandel
Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA
When was Domaine Chandon established and in what AVA is it located?
1973
Yountville AVA
What is the appellation of Dominus?
Yountville AVA
What is the first vintage of Dominus?
1983
In what AVA of Napa Valley is the Foss River a prominent feature?
Atlas Peak AVA
What are the Napa Valley AVAs (valley floor) from North to South?
Calistoga AVA St. Helena AVA Rutherford AVA Oakville AVA Yountivlle AVA Stags Leap AVA (borders Yountville east) Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA Coombsville AVA Wild Horse Valley AVA (borders Coombsville to the east) Carneros AVA
How much larger is Bordeaux than the Napa Valley?
8 times larger
How much wine does Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle produce annually? How much do First Growth estates in Bordeaux produce on average?
Harlan and Screaming Eagle produce less than 2,000 and 1,000 cases respectively.
First Growth Châteaux in Bordeaux produce on average over 10,000 cases of their grand vin
What was the first vintage of Harlan Estate? When was it released?
1990
Released in 1996
When did the Vitis vinifera vine first find its way into California? What was the first grape that thrived?
In the 1770s with Spanish missions that spread up the coast from San Diego.
Listan Prieto/Palomino Negro, brought from the Canary Islands. This grape became known as Mission.
Who is responsible for planting Napa Valley’s first vinifera (Mission) vines?
George Yount in 1838
When was California ceded to the United States from Mexico?
At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1848
What caused a population boom in San Francisco?
The Gold Rush of 1849 following the conclusion of the Mexican-American War. Many came to California with hopes of gold but couldn’t afford return tickets so the population of the area boomed.
What was Napa Valley’s first commercial winery and when was it etablished?
Charles Krug in 1861
Who was largely responsible for the establishment of professional viticulture in the Napa Valley?
The influx of European immigrants like Charles Krug (Germany) during the gold rush who fell back on familiar crafts following the rush such as viticulture.
Who is credited for cultivating Napa’s first hillside vineyard?
Schramsberg
When did Phylloxera devastate the Napa Valley?
Late 1880s through the 1890s
What were the top grapes grown in the Napa Valley during the 1920’s? Why was this?
Alicante Bouschet
Petite Sirah
Zinfandel
Carignan
These were considered better “shipper varieites” and could tolerate long travel, often unrefigerated, compared to premium varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc which used to be the most planted.
When was Prohibition repealed?
December 5, 1933
Why did a flood of flawed wines hit the market following the repeal of National Prohibition?
Due to poor hygiene practices in the winery at the time.
Who brought André Tchelistcheff to the United States and when?
George de Latour following backlash of poor quality wines coming from his Beaulieu Winery following prohibition.
What did André Tchelistcheff advocate that advanced quality in the Napa Valley?
Cleanliness and hygiene in the winery and he was the first to explore the notion of terroir and its effects on quality potential for certain grape strains.
Through the 1930s and 1950s what were the most common fermentation vessels? Aging Vessels?
Concrete and redwood oak barrels were the most common fermentation vessels.
Old used American oak bourbon barrels ere the most common aging vessels during this time.
In what decade did stainless steel tanks and French barriques arrive to Napa Valley?
1960s
What fundamentally altered the American palate toward sweeter wines prior to the 70s?
The rise in the soda and fast food movement.
In what year did dry wine sales from California overtake sweet wine sales?
1967
In what year did Robert Mondavi Winery open?
1966
What was passed into legislation in order to prevent urban sprawl in Napa Valley?
the Agricultural Preserve in 1968
What aided in the steady growth of Napa Valley during the 1960s into the early 1970s?
Flower power and the hippie movement as people wanted to move away from the cities into rural areas for more hands-on pursuits.
When was the Judgement of Paris and which wines won top marks?
1976
White: 1973 Chateau Montelena
Red: 1973 Stag’s Leap S.L.V.
When were the Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator launched?
1978 and 1979 respectively
In what year did Napa Valley become an AVA?
1981
What was the first vintage of Opus One?
1979
When was drip irrigation introduced to the Napa Valley?
1970s
What event led to widespread of Phylloxera in the Napa Valley during the 1980s?
Flooding during the winter of ‘86
What rootstock were many vines planted to that proved futile against phylloxera?
AXR1
What caused Cabernet Sauvignon to overtake Chardonnay in 1992 in the Napa Valley?
The 1991 “60 minutes” special on the French Paradox
What viticulture techniques adopted from Bordeaux in the 1990s resulted in a shift in style of Napa Valley towards more ripeness?
VSP
High-Density Planting
Low-Fruiting Zones
These helped to maximize effects of the sun and warmth in the marginal climate of Bordeaux, but in Napa resulted in the production of much riper and more powerful wines.
What vintage resulted in the advent of longer hang time?
1997
this abundant year forced wineries to leave some fruit on the vine while initial wave of produce was fermented. The grapes that received extra hang time and more ripeness produced wines with lower acid and smoother tannins. These wines were typically blended with the wines of grapes harvested earlier to create a new style.
What are 3 producers of Napa that continued to make wine in more of a restrained style despite fashion changes in the 90s toward riper styles?
Mayacamas
Phillip Togni
Heitz
What is the first Napa Valley wine to retail for over $100?
1978 Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, and Spring Mountain AVA were established in what year?
1993
What is the youngest AVA in Napa Valley and in what year was it established?
Coombsville AVA
2011
What is the climate of Napa Valley?
Mediterranean
What are the two main entry points for fog into the Napa Valley? Where does a majority of the fog come from?
San Pablo Bay (south), majority comes from here
Chalk Hill Gap (north)
What AVA receives its fog from the Chalk Hill Gap? How does it differ from the fog from the San Pablo?
Calistoga AVA
Burns off quicker so has a more modest effect on the climate though the largest swing of temperature in the Napa Valley (40 degrees) is seen here
What is the average diurnal temperature difference in the Napa Valley?
20 degrees F
How are the day/night time temperature differences at higher elevations in Napa Valley?
Higher elevations see lower day time temps but higher night time temps.
The valley floor typically gets warmer during the day, but receives the most of the cooling influence of the fog.
The fog line sits at what elevation?
Approximately 1400ft
What areas of the Napa Valley see the highest amount of rainfall?
The mountain AVAs and the northern AVAs see the most rainfall
Despite receiving the same amount of rainfall why do the Mayacamas seem more verdant than the Vaca Mountains?
Because the Mayacamas receive the gentle morning sun and are protected from the hot afternoon sun due to their eastern exposures.
The Vacas bake in the afternoon sun due to their western exposure.
What are Napa’s three basic bedrocks? Which are the youngest and oldest?
Great Valley Sequence (oldest)
Franciscan Assemblage (oldest)
Napa/Sonoma Volcanics (youngest)
Where are most of Napa Valley’s alluvial fans concentrated?
In the western foothills of the valley near the Mayacamas
What is the maximum slope that you can plant a vineyard on in Napa Valley?
max of 30 degrees
What percentage of Napa Valley’s total plantings does Cabernet Sauvignon account for?
46%
What is the AVA of the Sleeping Lady Vineyard?
Yountville AVA
What is the average price per ton for Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley?
$6k - $20k at the highest end
Peter McCrea is associated with what winery? What was his role there? Who owns it now?
Stony Hill Vineyard
He was the owner
Gaylon Lawrence is now the owners as of 2018
What is the AVA of Stony Hill Vineyard?
Spring Mountain District
What rootstock was considered superior to AXR1?
St. George
What 3 AVAs have the majority of Napa’s Chardonnay plantings?
Carneros
Yountville
Oak Knoll
What is the appellation of Kongsgaard’s The Judge Vineyard?
Coombsville AVA
What is the AVA of the Star Vineyard and who is the top producer?
Rutherford AVA
St. Clement
AVA of Napa Valley with the most Merlot?
Oak Knoll District
Where are the vineyards for most Sauvignon Blanc in Napa Valley planted?
Along the Napa River where the soils are more fertile.
Where are the most ancient Zinfandel vines of Napa Valley planted?
Calistoga AVA, the mountains, or in Coombsville AVA
What was the old traditional vine training method of Napa Valley? What system was widely put into place in the 1980s and 1990s?
California Sprawl was the old method that involved a single vine trained two two wires, one fruiting wire and one canopy wire. This resulted in a lot of fruit shading.
VSP, or Vertical Shoot Positioning was the system that was widely put into place during the 1980s and 1990s which allowed for a more exposed and uniform fruiting zone. Permitting mechanical farming.
When did the drought of the past decade occur?
2012-2016
What was the style of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1960s and 1970s?
Gutsy and tannic, with full flavor at lower alcohol levels. Earlier picking, harvest in one pass, and higher crop loads. Fermented in giant redwood vats, though stainless steel was introduced to the Napa Valley in 1966.
What was the style of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1980s?
Dialed back ripeness with lower alcohol and lower extract. Wines often over manipulated whether by acidification or over filtration.
When was Napa Valley awarded the AVA designation?
1981
What were the first two nested AVAs to be established within Napa Valley? When was this?
Los Carneros
Howell Mountain
Both established in 1983
Why are vineyards beyond the reaches of Napa Valley proper considered part of the AVA?
When the original boundaries were drawn up, those outside the valley who had been the source of grapes of bottles labeled Napa Valley argued that this was unfair. Larger brands who saw value in being able to source cheap grapes lobbied for the inclusion of wine land beyond the valley and the ATF sided on the favor of inclusion.
Between what two townships is the most famous bench land located? Which two AVAs have the best benchland?
St. Helena in the north to Yountville in the South.
Oakville and Rutherford have the best land.
What was the first vintage of Martha’s Vineyard and what AVA is this located within?
1966; Oakville AVA
What was the first vintage of Eisele Vineyard?
1991
What was the first vintage of Harlan Estate?
1990
What was the first vintage of Dominus Estate?
1983
What was the first vintage of Screaming Eagle?
1992
What was the first vintage of Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard? What was its historical significance?
1978;
First wine in Napa Valley History to be priced at $100 per bottle
What two wines put Napa Valley on the map at the Judgement of Paris?
1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
1973 Château Montelena Chardonnay
What is Napa’s northern boundary?
Mount St. Helena and Lake County
What is Napa’s western boundary?
Mayacamas Mountains
Where is the Juliana Vineyard?
Pope Valley in the eastern part of Napa Valley AVA
What are the 16 nested AVAs within Napa Valley?
Los Carneros Howell Mountain Wild Horse Valley Stags Leap District Mount Veeder Atlas Peak Rutherford Oakville Spring Mountain St. Helena Yountville Chiles Valley Diamond Mountain District Oak Knoll Calistoga Coombsville
What is the oldest nested AVA within Napa? Youngest?
Los Carneros and Howell Mountain were both founded in 1983 and are the oldest.
Coombsville founded in 2011 is the youngest.
Where is Pritchard Hill and who is the only family permitted to use this on their labels?
Located between Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain above Lake Hennessey.
Chappellet is the only family permitted to use this on their family’s wines as they have the trademark.
Where is Conn Valley? Which of Bond’s vineyards is located here?
Across Lake Hennessey from Pritchard Hill.
Bond’s Melbury Vineyard is located here.
When was the Buena Vista winery founded and by whom?
1856; Agoston Haraszthy
When was the Historic Vineyard Society founded and what is its purpose? What are 5 wineries associated with this 501(c)3?
Founded in 2011 the Historic Vineyard society was founded for the purpose of preserving California’s historic vineyards through education regarding their history.
Ridge Bedrock Wine Co. Biale Vineyards Turley Wine Cellars Carlisle Winery
What is the minimum elevation for the Fort Ross Seaview AVA?
Min 920ft.
What is the minimum elevation for the Mendocino Ridge AVA?
Min 1200ft.
What is the minimum elevation for the Howell Mountain AVA?
Min 1400ft
What are 3 AVAs of Lake County?
Clear Lake AVA
Guenoc Valley AVA
Benmore Valley AVA
What is the AVA of Ridge York Creek Vineyard?
Spring Mountain AVA
Which of the Diamond Creek bottlings does Lake Vineyard get bottled into when not made on its own?
Gravelly Meadow
What California winery was originally called Hacienda del Rio?
Williams Selyhem
What is the worst vintage in Napa Valley between 2010-2015?
2011
