Other USA, Mexico, Canada Flashcards
Name 3 wild grape vines indigenous to the US
Vitis Labrusca, vitis rotundifolia & vitis aestivalis
What was the nations first bonded winery? When was it established? Where is it located?
Pleasant Valley Wine Company, est. in 1860, located in Hammondsport in the Finger Lakes
When did the prohibition begin? What amendment was it in the constitution?
1920- 18th amendment
How did some wineries survive the prohibition?
By producing still-legal Christian sacramental wines
What amendment ratified the prohibition? When?
21st amendment in 1933
Who planted Riesling in the Finger Lakes?
Dr. Konstantin Frank
Who first planted Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley? When?
David Lett (of Eyrie Vineyard) in 1966
How many US states produce wine?
All 50
Who originally oversaw the AVA system?
The ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms)
When did the ATF finalize the AVA system?
In the late 1970’s
What are the demarcated appellations based upon?
Distinctive geographical, physical and climatic features
When was the first AVA approved? What was it and where is it?
Late 1980; Augusta AVA in Missouri
Who now oversees the AVA system?
TTB (Tax and Trade Bureau)
When was the TTB created? By who?
In 2002 by the Homeland Security Act
Explain why the TTB suspended the entire process of new AVA approval in 2007.
With the proposal to create a Calistoga AVA within Napa Valley, it exposed a contentious disconnect between the rights of a brand and truth in appellation labeling. (2 wineries- Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates- did not use enough Calistoga fruit in their wines and stood to lose their names if the AVA was approved)
If a label lists an AVA, what is the minimum of grapes must be sourced from within the named AVA?
85%
If a label lists a county, state or country, what is the minimum for grapes that must be sourced from within? What are the exceptions to this?
75%. California and Oregon require 100% and Washington requires 95%
Wines labeled by a single vineyard require what percentage of grapes to be sourced from within?
95%
What are the requirements for vintage dating wines?
If an American or imported wine in the US uses a vintage date, the wine must carry an appellation smaller than a country. For wines labeled with an AVA, a min of 95% must come from the stated vintage. For wines labeled with a state or county, a min of 85% must come from the stated vintage.
What is the minimum varietal makeup for a varietal designation?
75% minimum with the exception of vitis labrusca grapes, which are only required to be at 51%
What are the requirements for alcohol content on labels?
Alcohol content must be stated on labels, within a margin on +/- 1.5%. As an alternative, wines in the 7-14% ABV range can be labeled as ‘table wine’ or ‘light wine’.
What are the labeling requirements for sulfites and health warnings?
Law requires a government health warning and the phrase ‘contains sulfites’ provided they are present in a concentration of 10 parts per million or more.
What are the requirements for using the term ‘estate bottled’?
100% of the grapes must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery. In addition, the winery and all vineyards used in the production of an estate bottled wine must be located within the same AVA
What is the climate of the Willamette Valley?
Mild, temperate, rainy
What are the sub AVAs of Willamette Valley?
- Dundee Hills
- Eola-Amity Hills
- Ribbon Ridge
- McMinnville
- Yamhill-Carlton District
- Chehalem Mountains
What are the soils of the Willamette Valley AVA? (In general)
Alluvial soils, known as Willamette Silt over older volcanic and sedimentary bedrock.
What is the soil of the Dundee Hills AVA?
Jory- a well drained volcanic topsoil
What is the soil of the Ribbon Ridge AVA?
Willakenzie- fine loam, ash covered
What styles of wine typically develop out of Jory soils? What about Willakenzie?
Jory soils provide more elegance whereas Willakenzie is renowned for a denser style and darker fruit
Where do you find Jory soil?
Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, OR
Where do you find Willakenzie soils?
Ribbon Ridge AVA, Willamette Valley, OR
What are the sub AVAs of Southern Oregon AVA?
- Umpqua Valley
- –Elkton Oregon
- –Red Hills Douglas County
- Rouge Valley
- –Applegate Valley
What is the general climate of Southern Oregon AVA?
One of the warmest and driest regions in the state (with the exception of Walla Walla)
What three AVAs are shared between Washington and Oregon?
- Columbia Gorge
- Columbia Valley
- Walla Walla Valley
What AVA is shared between Oregon and Idaho?
Snake River Valley
Varietal wines from Oregon must contain a minimum of what percentage of the stated varietal? What are the exceptions to this?
90%; White/red Bordeaux varieties, major Rhone varieties, Zin, Sangiovese, Tannat and Tempranillo (These are only required to reach 75%)
A wine listed by AVA in Oregon must have what percentage of its fruit sourced from that AVA?
95%- as opposed to the federal law of 85%
Where is Chehalem Mountains AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Were is Ribbon Ridge AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Where is Yamhill-Carlton District AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Where is Dundee Hills AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Where is McMinnville AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Where is Eola-Amity Hills AVA?
Willamette Valley, OR
Where is Red Hills Douglas County AVA?
Southern Oregon, OR
Where is Umpqua Valley AVA?
Southern Oregon, OR
Where is Elkton Oregon AVA?
Umpqua Valley, Southern Oregon, OR
Where is Applegate Valley AVA?
Southern Oregon, OR
Where is Rogue Valley AVA?
Southern Oregon, OR
Where is Columbia Gorge AVA?
Columbia Valley, WA/OR
Where is Walla Walla Valley AVA?
Columbia Valley, WA/OR
Where is Snake River Valley AVA?
OR/ID
All of Washington’s wine regions are to the east of what mountain range? What is the exception to this?
Cascades; Puget Sound AVA
What is the climate of eastern Washington?
Experiences a true continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters: frost and winter freezes are serious concerns for growers, but ripeness is easily achieved in the state’s warm growing seasons.
What is the largest AVA in Washington?
Columbia Valley AVA
What are the sub AVAs of Columbia Valley (Washington side)?
- Yakima Valley
- –Red Mountain
- –Rattlesnake Hills
- –Snipes Mountain
- Walla Walla Valley
- Wahluke Slope
- Lake Chelan
- Horse Heaven Hills
- Naches Heights
- Ancient Lakes of Columbia
What was the first AVA of Washington?
Yakima Valley (est. 1983)
What is Washington’s smallest AVA?
Red Mountain AVA
What is the most planted grape in Yakima Valley AVA?
Chardonnay
What is the most prominent varietal coming from the Red Mountain AVA?
Cab Sauv
What are the soils of Walla Walla Valley AVA (Washington Side)?
Basalt bedrock and thin alluvial topsoil
What are the most planted grapes in Walla Walla Valley (Washington side) AVA?
Cabernet Sauv, Merlot and Syrah
Where is Puget Sound AVA?
Washington
Where is Yakima Valley AVA?
Columbia Valley, WA
Where is Rattlesnake Hills AVA?
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, WA
Where is Red Mountain AVA?
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, WA
Where is Snipes Mountain AVA?
Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, WA
Where is Naches Heights AVA?
Columbia Valley, WA
Where s Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA?
Columbia Valley, WA