North America Flashcards
The 5 Super AVA’s of California
North Coast - includes Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, lake
Sierra Foothills
San Francisco Bay
Central Coast
South Coast - below los Angels
Primary purpose - to allow grapes from far separated vineyards to be blended and still qualify for AVA and estate bottled status.
This large area grows the majority of California’s grapes but is not an official AVA
The Central Valley
Approx. vineyard acreage of Napa County
45,000 acres 3rd County largest after San Joaguin and Sonoma
Body of water that cools the southern area of Napa County
San Pablo Bay
Leading grape variety of Napa County
Cabernet Sauvignon (3/4 red varietals)
Napa AVA shared with Sonoma County
Carneros (Los Carneros)
Napa AVA shared with Solano County
Wild Horse Valley
“Valley Floor” appellations of Napa Valley
Calistoga St. Helena Rutherford (known for Rutherford dust) Oakville Stags Leap District Yountville Prime Cabernet Sauvignon territory
Eastern most AVA of Napa Valley
Chiles Valley
Mountain range on the boarder between Napa and Sonoma
Mayacamas Mountains
Mountain range located in the eastern portion of Napa County
Vaca Mountains
Elevation specific AVA of Napa
Howell Mountain
Leading grape variety of Sonoma
Chardonnay
Leading red grape variety of Sonoma County
Pinot Noir
Sub region of the Russian River Valley AVA
Green Valley
Subregion of the sonoma Coast AVA
Fort Ross-Seaview
AVA that contains Bennet Valley and Sonoma Mountains AVAs
Sonoma Valley AVA
AVA in Sonoma named for chalky volcanic soils
Chalk Hill
AVA located within the Mendocino AVA well know for sparkling wines
Anderson Valley
AVA known as “Islands in the sky”
Mendocino Ridge 1200 ft and above known for Zinfandel
County where the Guenoc Valley AVA is located
Lake County
County that contains the Chalone, Arroyo Seco, and Santa Lucia Highlands AVAs among others
Monterey
County that contains the Paso Robles AVA
San Luis Obispo
County that contains the Hamas Valley AVA
Monterey
County that contains the Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Santa Barbara
5 sub AVAs of the Sierra Foothills AVA
North Yuba, Fiddletown, El Dorado, California Shenandoah Valley, Fair Play
AVA in California’s Central Valley, located directly east of San Francisco
Lodi
7 sub appellations of Lodi
Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Clements Hills, Cosumnes River, Jahant, Mokelumne River, Sloughhouse
AVA that contains the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Knights Valley AVAs
Northern Sonoma AVA
Sonoma County AVA specializing in Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley
Mountain range that forms a rain shadow for Washington State Ineyards?
Cascades
Washington sState AVA that contains Sattle, Tacoma and Olympia
Puget Sound
Leading grape variety of Puget Sound?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Largest AVA in Washington State?
Columbia Valley
Washington Satate AVA named for the pothole lakes formed by the missoula floods?
Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
AVA located directly south of the Yakima Valley AVA
Horse Heaven Hills
Leading white grape variety of Washinton State?
Charonnay
3 AVA’s that straddle the Washington and Oregon State Lines?
Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, Walal Walla
Leading red grape of Oregon
Pinot Nori
Leading white grape of Oregon?
Pinot Gris
6 sun Appellations of the Willamette Valley AVA?
Dundee Hills Ribbon Ridge, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Yamhill-Carlton District, Chehalem Mountains
Sub Appellation of the Rogue Valley?
Applegate Valley
2 sub appellations of the Umpqua Valley?
Elkton Oregon
Red Hill Douglas County
Appellations shared by Oregon and Idaho
Snake River Valley
Largest Wine producing AVA of NY state?
Finger Lakes AVA
Viticulturist who introduced vinifera gapes to NY state?
Dr. Konstatin Frank
The premier wine growing region of British Columbia
The Okanagen Valley
Oldest continuously operating winery in North American
The Brotherhood Winery in the Hudson River AVA
Canada’s voluntary appellation system
VQA Vintners Quality Alliance
Leading appellation of Ontario
The Niagara Peninsula
What years did prohibition effect the US
1920-1933
What event in 1849 increased the population and demand for wine
The Gold Rush
What year was the Paris Tasting
1976
Who is recognised for bringing European vines to Sonoma in 1861
Agoston Haraszthy
Who is recognised as the founder of the 1st Napa Valley winery in 1861
Charles Krug
Who is recognised as the founder of the first commercial winery in the US in Ohio
Nicolas Longworth
Who is Andre Tchelistcheff
California winemaker credited with bringing modern techniques to the US
Who is Junipero Serra
Franciscan monk that planted the first vineyard in Clifornia 1760
Who is Frank Shoonmaker
Wine journalist credited with creating varietal labeling
Who is Bob Trinchero
Founder of white zinfandel
What are the 3 tiers in the US system
Producers or suppliers - including importers
Distributors or wholesalers - licensed state by state
Retailers on premises and off premises - the interface with the buying public
The federal agency responsible for enforcing laws relevant to businesses engaged in the importation of alcohol
The TTB (The alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the Department of Treasury
The federal agency responsible for enforcing laws aimed at illegal production and smuggling of alcohol
The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
The federal agency that maintains the list of AVAs
The TTB
The federal agency that oversees alcohol labelling and advertising
The TTB
The federal agency responsible for collecting alcohol excise tax
The TTB
What is a control state
Where the state government is the sole distributor 5 states - Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming plus 2 counties in Maryland.
Criteria for an AVA
an area defined by a unifying viticultural characteristics. No max or min size
How many AVAs are there as of Oct. 2014
210 disinct AVAs in 30 different states. More than 120 are in CA
What elements are required on a wine label
brand name
the class or type of wine
alcohol content
the name and address of the bottler or importer
The place of origin
the net contents of the bottle unless it is embossed on the glass
a sulfite statement - if it contains 10ppm or more
a health warning - 2 part standard Pregnancy and driving
What additional elements may appear on a label
vintage date grape variety or varieties Appellation of origin "estate bottled" Optional info about the wine, winery etc Label Art
What place names are considered semi generic by the US government and can be used if they were approved before March 2006
Chablis, Burgundy, Chianti, Port, Madeira
They are no longer accepted by the TTB and cannot be exported to Europe
3Champagne” was one of these terms
Alcohol content regulations from the TTB
If a wine is less than 14% it can be called table wine
If a percentage is stated the TTB allows a variance of 1.5%
For wines higher than 14% and sparkling wines the variance is only 1%. These wines are also taxed at a higher %.
For wines identified by country of origin only must contain what percent of grapes from the stated area?
75%
A 750ml Bottle contains how many fl ounces
25.4
If a label has a vintage date what criteria must be met
for wines coming from a place of origin - 95% min must come from the stated year
Its reduced to 85% if the place of origin is listed as a US state or country or similar region in other countries such as a French IGP or Italian IGT
What is the minimum volume required for a varietal label
75%
with the following exceptions:
51% for native American varietals
90% for most single Oregon State wines
If no one varietal is 75% then all parietals can be listed with their corresponding percentage
The EU is 85% but they have ab agreement with the US for exports
What is the definition of Meritage (rhymes with heritage)
permitted for wines made with Bordeaux varietals in the style of Bordeaux
1988 Maritage society
Must be a blend of at least 2 varieties and no one variety can compose more that 90%
White Meritage is the same with white varieties for Bordeaux
Appellation of origin hierarchy from largest to smallest
Country State County Require 75% exceptions California and Oregon require 100% and Washington requires 90% AVA - for AVAs 85% Vineyard - 95%
requirements for “estate bottled”
sourced from vineyards owned by the same winery
must be from a single AVA
the winery must also be located in the AVA
Native American grape varieties
Concord, Catawba, Delaware, Niagra - labrusca
other species - Norton, Muscadine, Scuppernog
Which vinifera grape varieties are considered unique to the US
Zinfandel - similar to the Croatian grape Tribidrag
Petit Sirah - Durif a natural syrahxpeloursin cross that occurred in a nursery of Fraois Durif a French botanist
Most important climatic feature in Napa
The air that works its way north of the chilly San Pablo Bay
Napa’s leading white varietal
Chardonnay
How many AVAs in Napa county
17 including Napa Valley AVA
Coolest region of Napa
Carneros planted with Chardonnay and Pinot noir - sparkling wines
Higher elevation appellations
Mt. Veeder
Diamond Mountain Mayacamus Mountians
Spring Mountain District
Howell Mountain Vaca Mountins
Atlas Peak
What is the only AVA that is elevation specific
Howell mountain 1400 to 2400 ft above sea level
One of the smallest AVAs
Diamond Mountain - exclusively volcanic soils
One of the coolest AVAs in California the Mendicino AVA known for sparkling wine production
Anderson Valley
The smallest AVA in the US
Cole Ranch in the Mendicino AVA 60 acres owned by Esterlina Winery
What defines Lake County
Location at the intersection of the Mayacamus and Vaca Mountains. The average elevation of the vineyards 1500 to 300 ft. High UV light = thicker skins
Cabs rule
How many AVAs in Lake County
7
