North Coast AVA Flashcards
Name first AVA in California and the year it became recognized as such?
In 1981 Napa Valley became the first AVA in California, second in the USA.
What year did the first winery open in Napa and what was the name?
Charles Krug winery founded in 1861
Name the 16 sub AVA’s in Napa County.
- Atlas Peak
- Calistoga
- Chiles Valley District
- Coombsville
- Diamond Mountain District
- Howell Mountain
- Los Carneros
- Mt. Veeder
- Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
- Oakville, Rutherford
- St. Helena
- Spring Mountain District
- Stags Leap District
- Yountville
- Wild Horse Valley.
https://napavintners.com/napa_valley/docs/Napa_Valley_Appellation_map.pdf
What year was the Judgement of Paris?
The Judgement of Paris, by the Academie de Vin was in 1976
What were the winning wines of the 1976 Judgement of Paris?
The winning wines were:
- 1973 Chardonnay - Chateau Montalena
- 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon - Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar
Define AVA
American Viticultural Area
What agency regulates the US wine industry?
Tax and Trade Bureau or TTB
What is the USA required percentage for varietal and AVA labeling?
Varietal = 75%
AVA = 85%
How far does North Coast expand?
From Napa to Sonoma
Napa Valley produces what % of California’s harvest?
Napa Valley produces only 4% of California’s harvest.
40% of Napa’s harvest is?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Describe Napa’s “upper valley” soils…
Porous, well-drained soils with low water-holding capacity. Generally yield riper, firmer, more tannic wines
Describe Napa’s “Southern Valley” soil…
dense, slow-draining clays.
Describe soils in Diamond Mountain & Howell Mountain…
Volcanic, ash and alluvial fans.
Describe soils in Carneros north to Oak Knoll.
Sedimentary clays interlaced with shell and sand.
How many different soils foind in the Napa Valley?
Over 140 different soil types.
Los Carneros and Yountville are know for producting what varietals?
Los Carneros and Yountville produce excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
Rutherford is know for producing what varietal?
Rutherford produces excellent Cabernet sauvignon.
Calistoga is know for producing what varietal?
Calistoga produces excellent Zinfandel and Petite sirah.
What is Napa’s Calistoga AVA suitable for?
The northern most AVA, where summer temps are above 90%, producers focus on sturdier grapes like Cab Sauv and Zinfandel
Describe the climate of Napa Valley…
Formed by Mayacamas Mounts to west, and Vaca Mounts to east, Valley had diverse soil of volcanic, alluvial and maritime, ranging form well drained gravel loam to dense clay to thin rockey soil - cool ocean air funnels through Petaluma Gap into San Pablo Bay and upward thru valley.
What is Napa’s Carneros AVA suitable for?
The Southernost AVA within NAPA, it’s suitable for Sparkling Wine Production
What counties are included in California’s North Coast AVA?
- Napa
- Sonoma
- Mendocino
- Lake
- Solano
- Marin
