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WSET D3 > North Coast - California > Flashcards

North Coast - California Flashcards

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1
Q

True or False,

The North Coast AVA is the largest AVA in California?

A

True!

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2
Q

What counties are covered by the North Coast AVA?

A
  • Lake
  • Mendocino
  • Napa
  • Sonoma
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3
Q

What mountain range separates Mendocino and Lake counties?

A

The Mayacamas Mountains

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4
Q

Between Lake County and Mendocino County, which is more inland?

A

Lake County is more inland, Mendocino County is right next to the Pacific

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5
Q

Mendocino County covers about 1 million ha, but how many ha are planted?

A

7,000 ha are planted

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6
Q

How many AVAs can be found within the Mendocino County AVA?

A

13 (which honestly is impressive)

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7
Q

How Many AVAs can be found within the Mendocino AVA?

A

6 (which is also impressive)

  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
  • McDowell Valley
  • Potter Valley
  • Redwood Valley
  • Cole Ranch
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8
Q

What is one of the moderating influences found in Anderson Valley?

A

Cold ocean air flows up the Navarro River, bringing Fogs in the mornings and cold air at night.

Further inland though conditions get warmer as the valley narrows

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9
Q

How much rain does Anderson Valley see annually?

A

900-2000mm (35 to 80 inches)

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10
Q

Due to the high amounts of rainfall in Anderson Valley, most vineyards are planted on ______

A

Slopes

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11
Q

What are the two most planted varieties in Anderson Valley?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

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12
Q

How many wineries are located within Anderson Valley

A

Approx. 85

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13
Q

Lake County sits in the rain shadow of what mountain range?

A

The Mayacamas Mountains

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14
Q

How many AVAs are found within Lake County?

A

7

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15
Q

Which AVA in Lake County is the biggest?

A

Clear Lake, as it also encompasses 4 other AVAs

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16
Q

What are the two most planted grapes in Lake County?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon

- Sauvignon Blanc

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17
Q

How many AVAs are there for Sonoma County?

A

18

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18
Q

What are the three biggest AVAs in Sonoma County?

A
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Northern Sonoma
  • Sonoma Valley
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19
Q

True or False,

If a wine comes from an AVA that sits entirely within Sonoma County, the words ‘Sonoma County’ have to be on the label

A

True

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20
Q

List all of the AVAs found within the Northern Sonoma AVA

A
  • Alexander Valley
  • Knights Valley
  • Rockpile
  • Chalk Hill
  • Russian River Valley
  • Green Valley
  • Dry Creek Valley
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21
Q

Where is Alexander Valley located within Sonoma County?

A

In the northeast corner of the AVA

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22
Q

What are the moderating influences for Alexander Valley?

A

Its warm climate is tempered by the cool Pacific Ocean air that comes in thru the Petaluma Gap and up the Russian River Valley

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23
Q

Where are the grapes planted in Alexander Valley?

A
  • On the fertile valley floor
  • Low nutrient sandy and gravel soils found at higher elevations
  • Plantings can range from 100-750 m (330-2500 ft).
24
Q

What are the most planted grape varieties in Alexander Valley?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
  • Chardonnay
  • Petit Verdot
  • Zinfandel
  • Merlot
  • Malbec
25
Q

Where is the Knights Valley AVA located in Sonoma County?

A

It is the most inland AVA, nestled between the Chalk Hill and Alexander Valley AVAs and the Mayacamas Mountains

26
Q

What are most planted grape varieties in Knights Valley AVA?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
  • Chardonnay
  • Merlot
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Syrah
  • Zinfandel
27
Q

What types of soils can be found in the foothills of the Mayacamas?

A

Free-draining Volcanic Soils

28
Q

Dry Creek is known for what two varieties?

A
  • Zinfandel

- Sauvignon Blanc

29
Q

What helps give Dry Creek Valley its warm days?

A

It is protected from the Pacific by coastal mountains

30
Q

What is the main moderating influence on the Dry Creek Valley?

A

Dry Creek Valley sits between some coastal mountain ranges and the Mayacamas Mountains, which creates a funneling effect for cold winds and fog from the San Pablo Bay

31
Q

What are the two main soil types found in Dry Creek Valley?

A
  • Gravel sandy loam on the valley floor

- Gravel red clay loam on the slopes and benches

32
Q

While Dry Creek Valley is known for producing Zinfandel, is it home to old vine Zinfandel?

A

Yes! There are some vines that are over 100 years old located in the AVA

33
Q

Is the Rockpile AVA only located within Sonoma County?

A

No, it actually extends up into Mendocino County

34
Q

What lake has a large effect on the Rockpile AVA, and what are those effects?

A

Lake Sonoma surrounds the southern portion of Rockpile on three sides, and Lake Sonoma creates and inversion layer, meaning that it stays relatively warm at night. The inversion layer also helps keep the fog lower giving the grapes long hours of sunlight

35
Q

True or False,

Vineyards must be planted above 244m/800ft to be considered part of the Rockpile AVA?

A

True

36
Q

Due to the higher altitudes, windy conditions and shallow hillside soils, are the yields high in the Rockpile AVA?

A

No, but what is grown is concentrated

37
Q

What are the main grape varieties grown in the Rockpile AVA?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Petit Verdot
  • Zinfandel
  • Petite Sirah
  • Syrah
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Malbec
  • Some Douro Valley Varieties
38
Q

Which portions of the Russian River Valley are the coolest?

A

The southern and western portions of the AVA are the coolest as they receive fog and ocean winds through the Petaluma Gap

39
Q

Does the fog that affects the Russian River Valley come in at night, or the morning?

A

It actually arrives in the evening, significantly dropping temperatures, leading to slow accumulation of sugars and better acid retention

40
Q

What are the most planted varieties in the Russian River Valley

A
  • Chardonnay

- Pinot Noir

41
Q

What is Goldridge?

A

A rich alluvial, sandy loam found in the Russian River Valley

42
Q

What are the range of soils found in the Russian River Valley?

A

Yellow sandstone to rocky sandy clay loam

43
Q

What are the two AVAs located within the Russian River Valley?

A
  • Green Valley

- Chalk Hill

44
Q

What grapes dominate in the Sonoma Coast AVA?

A
  • Pinot Noir

- Chardonnay

45
Q

Where is the Fort Ross Seaview AVA located?

A

In the northwest portion of the Sonoma Coast AVA

46
Q

What elevation must vineyards sit above in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA to put the AVA on the label?

A

280m/920ft

47
Q

What is significant about being at or above 280m/920ft in Fort Ross Seaview?

A

It means that the vineyards are above the fog layer and gain longer hours of sunshine and warmth compared to the surrounding areas

48
Q

What are some of the defining characteristics of the Sonoma Mountain AVA?

A
  • Planted on the eastern facing slopes on the Sonoma Mountain Range
  • Planted up to 730m/2400 ft above sea level, placing vineyards above the fog line
  • Lots of Sun exposure and warm daytime temps, but also cool at night coming down the mountains
  • Free-draining low nutrient Volcanic Soils
49
Q

What are the most planted grapes in the Sonoma Mountain AVA?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
  • Merlot
  • Zinfandel
  • Syrah
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
  • Also planted to Rhone Varieties
50
Q

Napa Valley repesents __% of the total production in California but __% of the total retail value

A
  • 4% of the total production

- 27% of the total retail value

51
Q

How many sub-AVAs are found in the Napa Valley? and how many can you name?

A

16

  • Rutherford
  • Oakville
  • Calistoga
  • St. Helena
  • Diamond Mountain District
  • Chile Mountain District
  • Mount Veeder
  • Oak Knoll
  • Coombsville
  • Carneros
  • Spring Mountain District
  • Yountville
  • Atlas Peak
  • Chiles Valley District
  • Stags Leap District
  • Wild Horse Valley
52
Q

If a wine from Napa Valley qualifies to put a sub-AVA on the label (e.g. Oakville, Rutherford, etc…) are wineries still required to put ‘Napa Valley’ on the label as well?

A

Yes, wineries must put both the sub-ava and Napa Valley on the labels

53
Q

What AVAs in Napa Valley are located on the valley floor?

A
  • Coombsville
  • Oak Knoll
  • Carneros
  • Yountville
  • Stags Leap District
  • Oakville
  • Rutherford
  • St. Helena
  • Calistoga
54
Q

What three Napa Valley AVAs are most affect by the fog that comes in from the San Pablo Bay?

A
  • Oak Knoll
  • Coombsville
  • Carneros
55
Q

What is the Rutherford Bench?

A

It is a three-mile stretch of famous vineyard land with gentle sloping alluvial soils at the bottom of the Mayacamas Mountains

56
Q

Napa Valley sits between which two Mountain Ranges

A

The Mayacamas and the Vacas

57
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for __% of the total plantings, and __% of the crop valley in Napa Valley

A
  • 40% of the total plantings

- 55% of the total value

WSET D3 (47 decks)

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