North Coast - California Flashcards
True or False,
The North Coast AVA is the largest AVA in California?
True!
What counties are covered by the North Coast AVA?
- Lake
- Mendocino
- Napa
- Sonoma
What mountain range separates Mendocino and Lake counties?
The Mayacamas Mountains
Between Lake County and Mendocino County, which is more inland?
Lake County is more inland, Mendocino County is right next to the Pacific
Mendocino County covers about 1 million ha, but how many ha are planted?
7,000 ha are planted
How many AVAs can be found within the Mendocino County AVA?
13 (which honestly is impressive)
How Many AVAs can be found within the Mendocino AVA?
6 (which is also impressive)
- Anderson Valley
- Yorkville Highlands
- McDowell Valley
- Potter Valley
- Redwood Valley
- Cole Ranch
What is one of the moderating influences found in Anderson Valley?
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
How much rain does Anderson Valley see annually?
900-2000mm (35 to 80 inches)
Due to the high amounts of rainfall in Anderson Valley, most vineyards are planted on ______
Slopes
What are the two most planted varieties in Anderson Valley?
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
How many wineries are located within Anderson Valley
Approx. 85
Lake County sits in the rain shadow of what mountain range?
The Mayacamas Mountains
How many AVAs are found within Lake County?
7
Which AVA in Lake County is the biggest?
Clear Lake, as it also encompasses 4 other AVAs
What are the two most planted grapes in Lake County?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sauvignon Blanc
How many AVAs are there for Sonoma County?
18
What are the three biggest AVAs in Sonoma County?
- Sonoma Coast
- Northern Sonoma
- Sonoma Valley
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
True
List all of the AVAs found within the Northern Sonoma AVA
- Alexander Valley
- Knights Valley
- Rockpile
- Chalk Hill
- Russian River Valley
- Green Valley
- Dry Creek Valley
Where is Alexander Valley located within Sonoma County?
In the northeast corner of the AVA
What are the moderating influences for Alexander Valley?
Its warm climate is tempered by the cool Pacific Ocean air that comes in thru the Petaluma Gap and up the Russian River Valley
Where are the grapes planted in Alexander Valley?
- 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).
What are the most planted grape varieties in Alexander Valley?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
- Chardonnay
- Petit Verdot
- Zinfandel
- Merlot
- Malbec
Where is the Knights Valley AVA located in Sonoma County?
It is the most inland AVA, nestled between the Chalk Hill and Alexander Valley AVAs and the Mayacamas Mountains
What are most planted grape varieties in Knights Valley AVA?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
- Chardonnay
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Syrah
- Zinfandel
What types of soils can be found in the foothills of the Mayacamas?
Free-draining Volcanic Soils
Dry Creek is known for what two varieties?
- Zinfandel
- Sauvignon Blanc
What helps give Dry Creek Valley its warm days?
It is protected from the Pacific by coastal mountains
What is the main moderating influence on the Dry Creek Valley?
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
What are the two main soil types found in Dry Creek Valley?
- Gravel sandy loam on the valley floor
- Gravel red clay loam on the slopes and benches
While Dry Creek Valley is known for producing Zinfandel, is it home to old vine Zinfandel?
Yes! There are some vines that are over 100 years old located in the AVA
Is the Rockpile AVA only located within Sonoma County?
No, it actually extends up into Mendocino County
What lake has a large effect on the Rockpile AVA, and what are those effects?
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
True or False,
Vineyards must be planted above 244m/800ft to be considered part of the Rockpile AVA?
True
Due to the higher altitudes, windy conditions and shallow hillside soils, are the yields high in the Rockpile AVA?
No, but what is grown is concentrated
What are the main grape varieties grown in the Rockpile AVA?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Petit Verdot
- Zinfandel
- Petite Sirah
- Syrah
- Cabernet Franc
- Malbec
- Some Douro Valley Varieties
Which portions of the Russian River Valley are the coolest?
The southern and western portions of the AVA are the coolest as they receive fog and ocean winds through the Petaluma Gap
Does the fog that affects the Russian River Valley come in at night, or the morning?
It actually arrives in the evening, significantly dropping temperatures, leading to slow accumulation of sugars and better acid retention
What are the most planted varieties in the Russian River Valley
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
What is Goldridge?
A rich alluvial, sandy loam found in the Russian River Valley
What are the range of soils found in the Russian River Valley?
Yellow sandstone to rocky sandy clay loam
What are the two AVAs located within the Russian River Valley?
- Green Valley
- Chalk Hill
What grapes dominate in the Sonoma Coast AVA?
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
Where is the Fort Ross Seaview AVA located?
In the northwest portion of the Sonoma Coast AVA
What elevation must vineyards sit above in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA to put the AVA on the label?
280m/920ft
What is significant about being at or above 280m/920ft in Fort Ross Seaview?
It means that the vineyards are above the fog layer and gain longer hours of sunshine and warmth compared to the surrounding areas
What are some of the defining characteristics of the Sonoma Mountain AVA?
- 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
What are the most planted grapes in the Sonoma Mountain AVA?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
- Syrah
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Also planted to Rhone Varieties
Napa Valley repesents __% of the total production in California but __% of the total retail value
- 4% of the total production
- 27% of the total retail value
How many sub-AVAs are found in the Napa Valley? and how many can you name?
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
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?
Yes, wineries must put both the sub-ava and Napa Valley on the labels
What AVAs in Napa Valley are located on the valley floor?
- Coombsville
- Oak Knoll
- Carneros
- Yountville
- Stags Leap District
- Oakville
- Rutherford
- St. Helena
- Calistoga
What three Napa Valley AVAs are most affect by the fog that comes in from the San Pablo Bay?
- Oak Knoll
- Coombsville
- Carneros
What is the Rutherford Bench?
It is a three-mile stretch of famous vineyard land with gentle sloping alluvial soils at the bottom of the Mayacamas Mountains
Napa Valley sits between which two Mountain Ranges
The Mayacamas and the Vacas
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for __% of the total plantings, and __% of the crop valley in Napa Valley
- 40% of the total plantings
- 55% of the total value
