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Certified Sommelier > North America - California - North Coast > Flashcards

North America - California - North Coast Flashcards

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1
Q

California North Coast map

A
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2
Q

Where is this region located?

A

Coastal counties north of the San Pablo Bay

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3
Q

What are the counties in this region?

A

Lake County
Mendocino County
Sonoma County
Napa County

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4
Q

What AVA is in Mendocino County?

A

Anderson Valley AVA

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5
Q

What AVAs are in Sonoma County?

A

Carneros AVA
Sonoma Coast AVA
Aleander Valley AVA
Russian River Valley AVA
Dry Creek Valley AVA
Knights Valley AVA

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6
Q

What AVAs are in Napa County?

A

Carneros AVA
Stags Leap District AVA
Oakville AVA
Rutherford AVA
Howell Mountain AVA
Mount Vedeer AVA
Calistoga AVA

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7
Q

What is the climate of this region?

A

Moderate to warm depending on proximity to Pacific Ocean or San Pablo Bay

North Napa is warmer

Mountainous regions have lower yields and bigger dinural shifts.

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8
Q

What are some of the geopgraphical physical features of this region?

A

Sonoma Mountain range
Mayacamas Mountain range
San Pablo Bay
Vaca Mountain Range
Napa River
Petaluma Wind Gap

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9
Q

What are common winemaking techniques in this region?

A
  • Extensive use of new French oak and some American oak for both red and white
  • Malo for whites, especially Chardonnay
  • Sparkling wines in traditional method produced in cooler AVAs such as Anderson Valley and Carneros.
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10
Q

What are the white grapes?

A

Chardonnay
Sauv Blanc

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11
Q

What are the red grapes?

A

Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cab Sauv
Zinfandel
Syrah

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12
Q

Chardonnay major AVAs

A

Carneros
Anderson Valley
Russian River Valley
Knights Valley
Sonoma Coast

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13
Q

Pinot Noir major AVAs

A

Carneros
Anderson Valley
Russian River Valley
Petaluma Gap
Sonoma Coast

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14
Q

Cab Sauv major AVAs

A

Calistoga
St. Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Howell Mountain
Alexander Valley
Knights Valley
Yountville

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15
Q

Sauv Blanc major AVAs

A

Rutherford
Oakville
Stags Leap
Yountville

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16
Q

Zinfandel major AVAs

A

Dry Creek Valley
Calistoga
St Helena

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17
Q

Merlot major AVAs

A

St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Howell Mountain
Dry Creek Valley
Yountville

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18
Q

Syrah major AVAs

A

Calistoga
St. Helena

19
Q

What are the “minimum” wine laws?

A

75% min grape variety
85% min for AVA
95% min for vintage
95% min for single vineyard
100% for Estate Bottling, must be in same county

20
Q

What does the term Meritage mean on a wine label?

A

A term permitted for use with wines that are in the style, and with the grape varieties, of the wines or Bordeaux

Created in 1988 to provide a recognizable name for blended wines to use as an alternative to generic terms.

Only members of Meritage Aliance can use this term.

Must be the more expensive wine of its style and no more than 25k cases produced.

21
Q

What does the term Estate Bottled mean on a label?

A
  • Evokes “chateau concept” of Bordeaux
  • Grapes must come from one or more vineyards owned or leased by winery
  • Vineyard must be in a single AVA
  • Winery must also be located in that AVA**
22
Q

What does the term Claret mean?

A

Light red wine

23
Q

What does “Reserve” mean on a wine label?

A

No legal definition at the federal level

24
Q

American vs. French oak flavor differences

A

American oak
* Greater amount of aromas
* Tropical or exotic notes such as coconut
* Roasted aromas such as coffee, smoke, tobacco and cocoa.

French oak
* More delicate and subtle aromas
* Vanilla, honey, nuts and sweet and herbaceous spices

25
Q

Cab Sauv producers to know

A

Cab Sauv:
Opus One
Robert Mondavi
Beringer
Spottswoode
Far Niente
Groth
Stag’s Leap
Silver Oak
Caymus
Etude
Quintessa
Merryvale
Larkmead

26
Q

Merlot producers to know

A

Chappellet
La Jota

27
Q

Chardonnay producers to know

A

Cakebread
Chappellet
Kistler

28
Q

Sauv Blanc producers to know

A

Groth
Robert Mondavi (Fume Blanc)
Spottswoode

29
Q

Sparkling producers to know

A

Iron Horse
Domaine Carneros
Roederer Estate

30
Q

Pinot Noir producers to know

A

Domaine Carneros
William Selyem
Littorai

31
Q

What are some exmaples of icnoic wines and their producers?

A

Heitz - Martha’s Vineyard
Ridge Monte Bello Vineyard Cab Sauv
Screaming Eagle - Cab Sauv/The Flight
Opus One - Overture
Stags Leap Wine Cellers Cab Sauv
Silver Oak - Bonny’s Vineyard, Cab Sauv

32
Q

Napa 2021 vintage

A

As vines struggled to ripen their fruit at the end of 2020, they put less energy toward their nascent buds, resulting in a low crop in 2021. But the growing season was without major weather incidents, producing vibrant, powerfully fruited and well-structured wines

33
Q

Napa 2020 vintage

A

BAD - FIRE

Wet winter into dry spring—was ideal, but it all changed from there, with unrelenting heat. Wildfires bracketed the harvest, giving only a few producers the chance to thread the needle. Many estates missed the small window of opportunity and mostly declassified their crops. Wines have up-front fruit and rustic structures

34
Q

Napa 2019 vintage

A

PRETTY GOOD?

A wet spring resulted in less overt tannic structure, with small, concentrated berries delivering dense yet pure fruit flavors. Harvest stretched into October thanks to very moderate temperatures in August and September. Wines are ripe and lush yet well-defined; a worthy follow-up to the benchmark 2018 vintage

35
Q

Napa 2018 vintage

A

GREAT YEAR

A wet winter provided sufficient water through the dry, warm, even-keeled season. Ripening was slow under full canopies, and the drawn-out harvest allowed producers to pick when they wanted. A spectacular year, with wines that are rich and dark, but detailed, restrained in style and very terroir-driven

36
Q

Napa 2017 vintage

A

BAD YEAR

Drought broke over the winter, with lots of vegetation and healthy vines to start the season. Good growing season turned wickedly hot in early September, with no cooling-off period, then wildfires raged in early October, raising the specter of smoke taint. Napa’s most difficult season in recent memory

37
Q

Napa 2016 vintage

A

GOOD

The final drought-influenced vintage of the run since 2012, this time without serious heat spikes. Rockier soils and drier spots ripened first, while heavier soils allowed for longer hang time. Wines show intense fruit against the backdrop of their varying terroirs; crop still down from normal

38
Q

Who was Agoston Haraszthy?

A

“Father of the California wine industry”

Hungarian immigrant who helped found the California wine industry and brought many European vines to Sonoma in 1861. Founded Buena Vista winery.

39
Q

Who was Robert Mondavi?

A

California winemaker who was most instrumental in establishing the reputation of Californian wine quality among consumers.

40
Q

Who was Andre Tchelistcheff?

A

California winemaker who introduced many modern techniques to US and mentored many other winemakers.

41
Q

1976 Judgement of Paris

A

Thanks to the advancements in US winemaking due to the efforts of Mondavi and Tchelistcheff, two California wines prevailed over classic French wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux in a blind tasting conducted by world renowned experts.

Winners: Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cab Sauv and Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay

42
Q

Who was Warren Winiarski?

A

Founder of Stags Leap

43
Q

Who was Charles Krug?

A

One of the pioneers of Napa wine, established Charles Krug winery. Worked for Agoston. Krug winery bought by Mondavi after he passed.

44
Q

When to decant Cab Sauv?

A

Young Cab Sauv benefits from decanting
Old Cab Sauv needs decanting for sediment

Certified Sommelier (50 decks)

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