North America Flashcards
Where does the U.S. rank in wine production in the world?
4th largest
Where does the U.S. rank in acreage of land under vine?
6th highest
90% of all American wine is produced from which state?
California
When did the US surpass France in wine consumption?
2011
Name 3 native species of grapevine in North America
Vitis labrusca
Vitis rotundifolia
Vitis aestivalis
What is an example of a Vitis labrusca variety?
the Concord grape
What is an example of a Vitis rotundifolia variety?
the Scuppernong grape
What is an example of a Vitis aestivalis variety?
the Norton grape
When was the Mission grape introduced to Mexico?
in the early 1500s
What monks brought the mission grape to California?
Franciscan monks
When did George Yount arrive to Napa and plant his first vineyard?
1839
When was California annexed from Mexico?
1847
When did Agoston Haraszthy arrive in Sonoma?
1849
What winery did Agoston Haraszthy in Sonoma?
Buena Vista, one of california’s oldest commercial wineries
Who is known as the “father of California wine”?
Agoston Haraszthy
How many different varieties is Agoston Haraszthy credited with bringing to California?
over 300
How did Agoston Haraszthy die?
He MAY have been eaten by an alligator in the jungles of Nicaragua
When and where did Charles Krug establish his winery?
1861 in St. Helena
What is the oldest winery in Napa?
Charles Krug
When was Schramsberg established?
1862
What is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa?
Beringer
When was Beringer established?
1876
Who established Inglenook Winery in 1880?
Gustav Niebaum
When was phylloxera discovered in Napa and Sonoma?
the early 1870s
How long did phylloxera affect Napa and Sonoma?
1870s-1890s
Who is credited for discovering resistance to phylloxera in American rootstocks?
Charles Valentine Riley, a Missouri entomologist
What amended started Prohibition?
the 18th amendment
What amendment ratified Prohibition?
the 21st amendment
When was the American prohibition?
1920 - December 5, 1933
What did congress pass in 1919 to start prohibition?
the Volstead Act
Who did Georges de Latour hire as winemaker of Beaulieu in 1938?
Andre Tchelistcheff, a russian winemaker trained in France
What famous wine did Andre Tchelistcheff introduce from Beaulieu Winery?
the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Who is dubbed the “dean of American winemakers”?
Andre Tchelistcheff
Name 4 of Andre Tchelistcheff’s most famous students
Robert Mondavi
Louis Mondavi
Joe Heitz
Mike Grgich
When was the first harvest for Robert Mondavi Winery?
1966
What year did table wines surpass fortified wines in America?
1967
When did Robert Mondavi introduce his Fume Blanc bottling?
1968
Name 3 early modern pioneers in Sonoma
Hanzell
Martin Ray
Simi
Who is the famous winemaker of Monte Bello (Ridge)
Paul Draper
When did Paul Draper take over Monte Bello (Ridge)?
1969
When was the first vintage of Mount Eden Vineyards?
1972
What is Monterey’s oldest commercial vineyard?
Chalone Vineyard
When was Chalone Vineyard established?
1960
Who established the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in 1970?
Richard Sanford
Where is Sanford & Benedict vineyard located?
in Santa Babara’s Santa Ynez Hills
What was Dr. Konstantin Frank’s job before becoming a winemaker?
he was a janitor at Cornell University
When was Dr. Konstantin Franks’s Vinifera Wine Cellars founded?
1962
When did David Lett first plant Pinot Noir grapes in the Willamette valley?
1965
What winery is associated with David Lett?
Eyrie Vineyard
Who organized the 1976 Judgement of Paris?
Steven Spurrier
What were the winning red and white wines of the 1976 Judgement of Paris?
1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
What was the first Napa valley wine to sell for more than $100 at release?
1978 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Name 3 examples of cult producers in Napa
Screaming Eagle
Colgin
Harlan Estate
When was the first AVA established in America?
1980
What was America’s first AVA?
Augusta AVA in Missouri
When was the Napa Valley AVA established?
1981
What government agency oversees the AVA system?
the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
When was the Calistoga AVA approved by the TTB?
2009
If a label lists an AVA, whats the min. % of grapes used to produce the wine must have originated from the stated region?
min. 85%
If a label lists by country/state/county, whats the min. % of grapes used to produce the wine must have originated from the stated region?
min. 75%
If a label lists a single vineyard, whats the min. % of grapes used to produce the wine must have originated from the stated single vineyard?
min. 95%
What % of a wine labeled with an AVA must come from the stated vintage?
min. 95%
What % of a wine labeled with a state or county must come from the stated vintage?
min. 85%
What is the min. % of a stated variety for American varietal wines?
min. 75%
What % of a wine labeled Estate Bottle must come from land owned or controlled by the winery in the US?
100%
California is divided into what 4 large AVAs?
North Coast
Central Coast
South Coast
Sierra Foothills
What % of California’s wine is sourced from the Central Valley?
75%
What are the requirements for a wine to be labeled “Meritage”
has to be a blend
no grape can make up more than 90% of a blend
can be red or white
must be produced from Bordeaux varieties
What are the 6 counties covered in the North Coast AVA?
Napa
Sonoma
Mendocino
Lake
Solano
Marin
What % of California’s vineyards are located in Napa Valley?
4%
How many sub-AVAs are located in Napa Valley AVA?
16
What is the name of the area that cool ocean air funnels into Napa?
The Petaluma Gap
What body of water is south of Napa Valley?
San Pablo Bay
What is the southernmost AVA in Napa?
Carneros
What is the northernmost AVA in Napa?
Calistoga
What is the altitude range in Napa valley?
zero to 2,000 ft above sea level