North America and the USA Flashcards
In U.S. wine law, estate bottled means what?
Grapes must come from one or more vineyards owned or leased by a winery. Vineyards must be within a single AVA Winery must be located in that AVA
EU wine law states that for varietal labeling a wine must be 85% of a stated grape, however, they will allow US wines to be imported at what percentage?
75%
What is the alcoholic content allowed variation between delcared and actual percentage for table wines of 14% or below?
1.50%
These names do not apply even after being preceded by an American appellation?
Bordeaux and Rioja
Approximately ___% of Sonoma County’s wines are red (Cabernet and Pinot Noir… Merlot, Zin and Chard are also important).
2/3
Approximately ___% of Napa County’s grape production is red grapes, mostly Cabernet.
3/4
The South Coast AVA is where?
It is south of LA and Temecula Valley AVA is a part of it.
Sierra Foothills AVA is where and what is it known for?
Siera Nevada Mountains (east of San Francisco and east of Central Valley). Known for Zinfandel
Where is the San Francisco Bay AVA?
Area from San Francisco to Oakland, and south to Santa Cruz
What makes up the Central Coast AVA?
Monterrey County: Monterrey AVA,
San Luis Obispo: Paso Robles AVA, Edna Valley AVA, and Arroyo Grande Valley AVA
Santa Barbara: Santa Maria Valley AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, and Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Name the five broad regional AVA’s in California that encompass most of the smaller ones.
North Coast Sierra Foothills San Francisco Bay Central Coast South Coast
US wine law states that if a wine has a stated vintage date and hails from a US state or country similiar regions in other countries such as an Italian IGT or French Vin de Pays it must contain ___% of that stated vintage.
85%
US wine law states that if a wine has a stated vintage date and hails from an AVA or foreign appellation it must contain ___% of that stated vintage.
95%
US wine laws for delineating areas that have unifying viticultural characteristics, regardless of where they fall relative to political boundaries are called what?
American Viticultural Areas
What is the United States’s ranking for wine producing countries?
The US is ranked 4th: Italy France Spain US Argentina Australia
California, Oregon, Washington and New York make up what percentage of US wine production?
97.5%The other 2.5% is made up by the other 46 states.
Name the AVA’s from North to South in Oregon
Columbia Valley
Willamette Valley
Umpqua Valley
Rogue Valley
Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, and Walla Walla Valley cross over political boundries into Washington.
Napa County is the ___ largest California county in terms of grape acreage?
3rd. Behind San Joaquin and Sonoma Counties
True or False? California is the largest AVA on the west coast?
False. California is the largest Appellation.
Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin are examples of what?
French American Hybrids
The upper end of the vine that has been grafted to the American rootstock is known as what?
Scion
During prohibition, each household could produce up to how many gallons of wine?
- This actually increased California grape production.
Prohibition was enacted with the passage of what ammendment in what year?
18th ammendment, 1920.It was repealed in 1933 with the 21st ammendment.
What makes up the California North Coast AVA?
Napa, Sonoma, Mendecino, and Lake Counties.
Sonoma County AVA’s: Sonoma Valley AVA, Carneros AVA, Russian River Valley AVA, Chalk Hill AVA, Dry Creek Valley AVA, Alexander Valley AVA and Knights Valley AVA
Mendacino and Lake Counties: Mendocino AVA and Anderson Valley
Napa County AVA’s: Napa Valley AVA, Yountville AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, St. Helena AVA, Calistoga AVA, Carneros AVA (also extends into Sonoma) and Chiles Valley AVA
Washington is the ___largest producer of vinifera wine in the US.
2nd. It also has the most acreage after California and has developed a reputation for top quality red wines. **However, it ranks third in overall production
The majority of Canadian Grapes are grown where?
On the shores of the great lakes, mostly in the Niagara Peninsula Appellation. Thus area is known for Reisling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.British Columbia is also the other major source in the Okanagan Valley (more desert like conditions). Known for Merlot, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Mexico primarily grows grapes where?
Off the coast of Baja California. Doesn’t export much wine. Grows international varities as wells are Barbera, Bebbiolo and Tempranillo.
Name the top five wine producing states:
California 230M New York 11.4M Washington 9.5M Oregon 2.3M New Jersey 660k
What is New York’s rank in wine production in the US and which AVA is primarilty responsible for this?
2nd. Finger Lakes AVA Produces mostly Lambrusca.
How many acres of vineyards are in the US?
940K acres
Who were ERNEST & JULIO GALLO?
They were responsible for ensuring there was consistency in the wine biz after Prohibition
What is Charles Krug known for?
Founded 1st Napa Winery in 1861
What was Robert Mondavi known for?
He was the first winemaker to make high quality wine in Calif
What are the top ten grapes gwon by acreage in the United States?
CHARDONNAY 105K CABERNET SAUV 85K MERLOT 55K ZINFANDEL 51K PINOT NOIR 45K FRENCH COLOMBARD 27K SYRAH 23K SAUVIGNON BLANC 16K PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO 15K RUBIRED 11K
If you are out of Zinfndel at a restaruant, what kinf of wine should you recommend to serve the guests?
Primitivo
One reason the northeastern United States struggles with fine wine production is:
Summertime humidity promotes a wide variety of vine diseases.
True or False: In Napa County, the further south you go, the hotter the average temperature.
FALSE
Mendocino’s best known appellation, producing cool climate grapes is:
Anderson Valley
The greatest threat to wine production among the San Francisco Bay AVAs is?
Urban and suburban development
The hottest AVA on the entire Central Coast is:
Paso Robles
The Southern Oregon super-AVA include:
Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley
Which of the “other 46” states is best known for the native American Norton grape?
Missouri
Name two characteristics of Canadian Ice Wine.
Is commonly intensely-flavored and quite sweet
In the case of American sparkling wine that qualifies to be sold in the European Union, which labeling indicates the wine is most similar in style to French Champagne?
Naturally fermented in this bottle
“This” is very important
To qualify as a “varietal” wine in the United States, what percentage of the wine must be from a single grape variety?
At least 75% (but 90% in Oregon)
The European Union’s own rules call for 85%, but will allow US wines to be imported under varietal labels at the 75% level.
For so-called “Desert Wines” having more than 14% alcohol by volume, the TTB allows estimates of that level to be off by plus or minus
1%
The wine must contain a minimum of what percent of that variety, grown in the appellation of origin, for native American grape varieites?
51%
Fume Blanc is the same as?
Sauvingnon Blanc
Mataro is the same as?
Mourvedre
Muscat Canelli is the same as?
Muscat Blanc
Pinot Grigio is the same as?
Pinot Gris
Shiraz is the same as?
Syrah
Valdepenas is the same as?
Tempranillo
White Riesling is the same as?
Reisling
These two grapes are considered unique to the United States…
Zinfandel and Petite Sirah
Concord, Catawba, Delaware and Isabella are all examples of what?
labrusca species of grapes
When did the AVA (American Viticulture Area) system we know today begin?
1978
Extra Credit- First approved AVA was in Agusta, MO in 1980. Napa Valley was the second sometime later.
In order to qualify for the easy-to-understand single varietal designations, the wine must be produced from at least what percentage of a single grape variety?
75%
What name is used to create brand clarity among wines that are blends of the so-called Bordeaux grape varieties? And what grapes can be used in these blends?
Meritage. Members of the Meritage Alliance may use the label term Meritage for their red wines blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenère. White Meritage must be produced from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. No single variety may comprise more than 90% of the blend.
Napa is best known for what?
Cabernet and Bordeaux style blends
What are the primary varietals of Lake County?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah are the varietal standouts
Nearly every type of wine grape grows in which two AVA’s?
San Francisco Bay and Central Coast
What is the hottest AVA in the Central Coast?
Paso Robles. Known for producing Cab and Zin
The central Valley is known for what?
Major wine grape varieties include Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, Muscat, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Texas is becoming known for which two grape varieties?
Tempralillo and Grenache
Grapegrowing ability in Texas is negatively affected by what?
Rampant Pierce’s Disease
Put the four major AVA’s in Oregon from North to South
Columbia Valley
Willamette Valley
Umpqua Valley
Rogue Valley
Companies Will Usually Restructure
What are the only two types of generic wines allowed under American law?
vermouth and sake
True or False: The EU will allow the importation of semi-generic wines?
False.
Semi-generics, including Port, Sherry, Marsala, Sauterne, Tokay and Chianti, must be used in conjunction with an American place name: “American Chablis” or “California Sherry”. Despite this allowance, the European Union, following its own laws, will not allow wines so labeled to be imported.
What are the top two grapes produced in Washington?
Cabernet Sauvingnon and Chardonnay
Washington is known for which white grapes?
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Why are Washington’s vineyards primarily disease free?
Low humidity year round makes the area relatively disease free.
Who regulates that AVA system in the USA?
What do they look for when creating a new AVA?
The federal Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the AVA system .
The Bureau is looking for areas that:
- Are precisely defined on a US Geological Survey map;
- Use a name that has been commonly or historically associated with the area;
- Have climate, soil, aspect, elevation and other topographical and geological features that make it distinct from surrounding wine producing areas.
Souath Coast AVA is known for?
Chardonnay and Reds
Where are Some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California?
Sierra Foothills AVA
Which AVA is suffers severely from Pierce’s Disease?
South Coast AVA
What is the greatest threat to wine growing in the San Fran Bay AVA?
urban and suburban development
What AVA is shared by both Napa and Sonoma?
Los Carneros
What is the number 1 grape produced in Sonoma?
Chardonnay, although 2/3 of production is red.
There are seven items that must be included on a US wine label. What are they?
These seven items that must be included on a US wine label:
1) A brand name
2) The class or type of wine (fruit, sparkling grape, rice, dessert wine, etc)
3) Name and address of the bottler
4) The alcohol content of the wine
5) A sulfite statement
6) A Health warning
7) The net content of the bottle
8) Imported by and name of the importer must appear on imported wines
Why are most of Washington’s vineyards phylloxera free? .
Because of sandy soils and the area’s cold winters
Wine content by percentage:
- Wines labeled United States or American must have 100% US content.
- Wines labeled California or Washington must have 100% content from those states.
- Wines labeled by any other state name or county name have a 75% content rules.
- Wines labeled by an AVA must have 85% content from that AVA.
- For specific vineyard labeling, the threshold is 95%
The TTB allows a claim of varietal content of what percentage for wines made up of native American grape varieties?
The TTB allows a claim of varietal content at the 51% level for wines made up of native American grape varieties.
This was on CSW TEST
Which Washington State AVA is partially in Oregon?
Columbia Gorge
Why is there a sulfite warning on wine labels?
To protect asthmatics.
A sulfite warning must be on a label if the sulfur count is over 10 parts per million
Is the concord grape a native American species or a hybrid?
Native American species
After prohibition ended, what kind of wine did the public want?
Primarily sweet and fortified wines. It then shifted to quality dry wines after the servicemen returned from Europe after being exposed to their wines.
