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North Coast > Sonoma > Flashcards

Sonoma Flashcards

1
Q

Cities/Towns of Sonoma

A

Santa Rosa
Rohnert Park
Windsor
Healdsburg
Petaluma
Sebastopol
Sonoma

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2
Q

Topography/Soil

A

San Andreas Fault + subsystems run north and south through Sonoma.

Maycamas range in the south- separates Sonoma and Napa

Mount Saint Helena is shared between Napa and Lake
-it is NOT a valcano

Soil is a mosaic
-almost always contains some combination of marine history from being under water for a zillion years.
-almost always has volcanic material due to tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions from northern California.
-Often the soil is granitic to the west of the San Andreas fault and more diverse in the east.

Goldrige soil- Russian River
Altamont-

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3
Q

Climate

A

Generalizing is tough because of the size.

Generally: Maritime influence even up to 60 miles inland.
-Petaluma Gap- Cool air blow east into the San Pablo Bay and north into Sonoma.
-Petaluma Gap also funnels fog in from the bay.

Often cold air pools on the ground, rather than drifting upward.

Warmest areas are in the northeast.

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4
Q

Wine Law

A

Governed by the TTB

All Sonoma wines, regardless of appellation, must have Sonoma County on the bottle in addition to more specific AVA.

Several overlapping AVAs.

Always had a problem with winemakers labelling their wines with the larger or better AVA leaving several to go unused.

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5
Q

Sonoma County Winegrape Commission

A

Dedicated to making Sonoma 100% sustainable.

Vineyards must be certified by Fish Friendly Farming, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Lodi Rules, Sustainability in Practice.

By 2019 99% of vineyards are sustainable.

Wines that are sustainable have a “Sustainably Farmed Grapes” logo. This requires that 85% of grapes come from Sonoma and 85% from a vineyard certified by any of the four organizations.

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6
Q

Major White Grapes

A

Chardonnay is the most planted grape in Sonoma.
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Viognier
Gewuztraminer
Semillon
Pinot Blanc
Riesling
Rousanne
Muscat Blanc/ Muscat Canelli

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7
Q

Major Red Grapes

A

Pinot Noir is the most planted red grape. Still less than Chardonnay.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Merlot
Syrah
Petit Sirah
Cabernet Franc
Malbec
Sangiovese
Petit Verdot

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8
Q

Chardonnay

A

Popularized by James Zellerbach who planted it at Hanzell on Moon Mountain in the 50s.

Chateau St. Jean started using Sonoma Chardonnay grapes around this time too.

Judgement of Paris popularized the varietal even more.

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9
Q

Sauvignon Blanc

A

Started with cuttings from Chateau d’Yquem.

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10
Q

Zinfandel

A

Sonoma’s third most planted grape.

Prone to millerandage- the best Zinfandel producers don’t care and use all grapes- other producers try to mitigate the problem.

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11
Q

Pinot Noir

A

Hanzell spearheaded quality Pinot Noir production in the 50s.

Grape of choice for Sonoma Rose.

Production focused in:
West Sonoma Coast
Portions of the Petaluma Gap
Russian River
Green Valley
Sonoma Valley

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12
Q

Sangiovese

A

Nearly 300 acres planted.

Reflects Sonoma’s rich Italian heritage.

Part of the Cal-Ital movement in the late 20th century.

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13
Q

Other Varietals

A

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Albarino
Trousseau Gris

Carignan
Alicante Bouschet
Mencia
Sagrantino

Often these varietals are used as blending partners or in field blends.

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14
Q

Sonoma AVAs- North to South (kind of)

A

Pine Mountain/Cloverdale Peak
Alexander Valley
Rockpile
Dry Creek Valley
Knights Valley
Chalk Hill
Sonoma Coast
Fort Ross-Seaview
Russian River
Green Valley
Fountaingrove
Sonoma Valley
Bennet Valley
Sonoma Mountain
Moon Mountain
Petaluma Gap
Carneros

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15
Q

Sonoma Valley

A

Southeast corner of Sonoma.

Mayacamas mountains to the east- Coastal Ranges to the west.

Pathway of the Petaluma gap.
-Fog and maritime influence.

Maritime climate with the gap’s influence but days are warm to hot and diurnal shifts are significant.

Varied soil structure: reddish volcanic material and alluvial are common.

Rhone varietals perform well here.
Old vine Zinfandel is the prizewinner.

Ravenswood Winery
Bedrock Wine Co.

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16
Q

Sonoma Mountain AVA

A

Along the western slopes.

Established in 1985

East facing- 2400 feet in elevation.
-early and midday heat and sun.

Volcanic soil.

Bordeaux varieties particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Examples:
Benzinger
Laurel Glen

17
Q

Bennet Valley AVA

A

Between Sonoma Mountain, Taylor Mountain, and Bennet Peak.

650 acres planted.

Approved in 2003.

Once a widely planted area suffered under the blight of phylloxera and prohibition.

400-1100 feet in elevation.
Elevation coupled with cool are from the Petaluma Gap through Crane Canyon make this AVA one of the cooler AVAs in Sonoma.

Volcanic soil -eroded lava- with alluvial content.

Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay-Merlot are the most produced wine although Pinot Noir and Rhone Varietals find success too.

Examples:
Mantanzas Creek.
Verite- La Muse (Merlot+Cabernet Franc+ Malbec)

18
Q

Moon Mountain District AVA

A

Est. 2013

Lays across the Mayacamas Range.
-Essentially the western face of Napa’s Mount Veeder

Cool climate

Soils reflect maritime origins and ashy volcanic contributions.

Moon Mountain is a reflection of the area’s rock outcroppings.

400-2700 feet in elevation.
-Fog line sits around 800 feet creating a range of growing conditions.

Bordeaux and Rhone Varietals plus Zinfandel and Chardonnay are successful in the upper portions of the AVA.

Hanzell is located here and sits below the fog line.
-Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Kistler- Original vineyard is in the upper portions of Moon Mountain.

Monte Rosso
-Late 19th century
-Reestablished by Louis M. Martini after prohibition.
-Named Monte Rosso because the volcanic red soil.

Montecillo is another notable vineyard.

Winery Recap:
Hanzell
Kistler
Monte Rosso
Montecillo

19
Q

Carneros AVA

A

Shared with Napa

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
-Merlot thrives in clay soils.

One of the coldest winegrowing AVA in either county.

Long history of vine cultivation dating back to the 1800s.
-In 1889 the area was described at the California Medoc.
-Stanly Ranch
-Rancho Huichica
-Andre Tchelistcheff and Louis Martini revived the region after prohibition by buying grapes from Stanly Ranch.

Many properties that sell grapes rather than bottle.
-Hyde
-Hudson
-Sangiacomo

Big seller of sparkling wine grapes.

Sparkling wine outposts:
Domaine Carneros: Tattinger
Gloria Ferrer: Freixenet
Artese: Codorniu

20
Q

Petaluma Gap

A

Est. 2017

Windy and foggy.

Big area that extends from the Pacific to San Pablo Bay

Vine cultivation dates back to 1830s.
-G.V. Fischer- 1884.

75% of acreage is dedicated to Pinot Noir.
-Remainder is Chardonnay and Syrah.

The Gap’s Crown Vineyard is the most famous vineyard.

21
Q

Russian River Valley AVA

A

Began by Russian settlers.

Prohibition forced plantings of apples, hops, and other crops. Cider and beer remain prominent in the region.

Charles Bacigalupi, Joe Rochiolo Jr., and Joseph Swan were to first to revive Pinot Noir in the area.

Includes Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol.

Not really a valley but more like a succession of hills.

Rolling hills pool fog creating cold areas and high frost risk.

E&J Gallo lobbied the TTB to redraw the region’s lines in 2011 to include their Two Rock Vineyards.

AVA est. in 1983

The Russian River flows from the northeast corner.

Eastside Road and Westside Road are home to some of the regions best-known vineyards.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
-Significant amount of new oak.
-Pinot often exceeds 14% abv.

Russian River Valley Winegrowers
-The AVAs vintners association.
-Divided the region into “neighborhoods”

RR Valley Wingrowers Neighborhoods

Middle Reach
-Healdsburg
-“Classic” area of Russian River.
-Williams Selyem; Rochiolo, Bacigalupi.
-Warmer temperatures.

Santa Rosa Plains
-Old Vine Zin.

Laguna Ridge
-Extends south from the Russian River.
-Altamont and Goldridge Soils.
-Joseph Swan & Trenton Estate

Green Valley
-Goldridge soil.

Sebastopol Hills
-Coldest area of Russian River.
-Goldridge + Altamont soils.

Eastern Hills
-Bordeaux and Rhone Varieties.
-Warmest area.

Examples:
Williams Selyem
Kosta Browne

22
Q

Green Valley of Russian River AVA

A

One of the “neighborhoods” delimited by the Russian River Winegrowers Association.

Pioneered by the Dutton Family in the 1970s.

Follows the path of Green Valley Creek which is tributary of the Russian River.

Goldridge Soil- Covers 60% of the AVA
-Low water-retention
-Demands greater irrigation efforts.

Holds fog quite densely.
Heavy winds

Ripening is more successful in the western areas with higher elevation.

Cool conditions allow for traditional method sparkling wine.
-Iron Horse

23
Q

Chalk Hill AVA

A

Est. 1983

Overlaps Russian River AVA and Alexander Valley AVA.

Gets warmer as the elevation gains.

White volcanic soils.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Examples:
Chalk Hill Estate- 1972: Dominant producer in the AVA.
Arnot-Roberts
Rodney Strong

24
Q

Fountaingrove District AVA

A

Est 2015

Vine growing dates back to the 19th Century

Weird story- Fountaingrove was started by a cult. It was purchased in 1875 by Thomas Lake Harris who relocated the Brotherhood of New Life from New York to this area of California. After his death the winery blew up and exported to the east coast and Europe.

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates plantings.
Rhone and Bordeaux varieties are planted as well.

White volcanic ash.

25
Q

Sonoma Coast AVA

A

Lightened and more finessed wine.

Daniel Schoenfeld, David Hirsch, Bohan Family, Martinelli Family.

Very large AVA- 800 square miles.
-So large much of it isn’t actually coastal.
-The AVA is often used to represent a style rather than a location.
-Littorai categorizes their Pivot Vineyards as Sonoma Coast AVA because of the delicate style of the Pinot Noir grown there.
-In the same area as Littorai, Merry Edwards labels their wines Russian River.

26
Q

West Sonoma Coast AVA

A

Est. 2022

Covers the 141,846 acres along the coast.
-Some call this the True Sonoma Coast.

In the north is Annapolis which spills from the Redwood Forests.
-Nutrient poor soils littered with fossils.

Occidental is south of Fort Ross-Seaview AVA.
-Vineyards are three to four miles from the coast.
-Windy and foggy.
-Pinot Noir is common here.

Freestone is just south of Occidental
-Rolling hills.
-Cold- below the fog line, severe frost risk.

Heavy wind, cold temperatures, high elevation in the coastal ranges.

Pinot Noir-Chardonnay-Viognier-Syrah

Syrah is often most peppery in this area.

Wines can take on a briny flavor too.

27
Q

Fort Ross-Seaview AVA

A

Est. 2012

Only official AVA in West Sonoma AVA.

Named after an historic landmark in Jenner, CA.

Fort Ross Vineyard is the closest to the ocean; only a mile away from the ocean.

Most vineyards are 1,000 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Plantings need to be above the fog line, the climate is too cold otherwise.

28
Q

Knights Valley AVA

A

Est. 1983

Easternmost AVA in Northern Sonoma.

Often described as a natural extension of Calistoga from Napa.

Alluvial and volcanic soil.

Named after Thomas Knight who first planted vines here.

Examples:
Peter Michael
Anakota- Pierre and Helene Seillan
-They also make Verite

29
Q

Alexander Valley AVA

A

Est. 1984

Russian River flows through here.
Cool air from The Petaluma Gap and the Pacific.

Higher elevation in the east- 2500 feet.
-Fog line between 1200 and 1800 feet.

The region is warmer in the north.

Known for Cabernet Sauvignon where the varietal takes on more herbaceous notes.

Stonestreet Mountain Estate- 5,100 acres with vines that climb up to 2,500 feet. Part of the Jackson Family portfolio.

Pocket Peak is an unofficial AVA
-Skipstone wines
-Aperture wines

30
Q

Dry Creek Valley AVA

A

Est. 1983

Zinfandel-Sauvignon Blanc

Surge of wineries developed in the 1970s.
-Lambert Bridge
-A. Rafanelli
-Lytton Springs

Dry Creek is small tributary of the Russian River.

Region can get very hot but strong diurnal shifts keep things in check.

Gravel and sandy loam on the valley floor.
Red rocks (?) on the hillsides.

Zinfandel often exceed 16 to 17% abv.
-Brambly fruit and sweet herbaceousness.
-Wines from the western side often see shade and offer the best examples.

Cabernet Sauvignon offers a similar experience to Zin.

Sauvignon Blanc is planted in more fertile areas.

Italian varieties are found here too:
Fiano
Vermentino
Barbera
Montepulciano
Sangiovese
Aglianico

31
Q

Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak

A

Est. 2011

300 acres under vines.

Split between Mendocino and Sonoma.

NE corner of Alexander Valley.

Bordeaux Varieties.
-Cabernet Sauvignon cover 3/4 of planted area.

1,600-3,000 feet in elevation.

Rocky volcanic soils.

Intense wind and large diurnal shifts.

32
Q

Rockpile AVA

A

Est. 2002

Elevation begins at 800 feet.
-Most vines are planted above 1,000 feet.

Sits above the fog line.

Clay loam w/ oxidized iron.

The name orignates from the Pomo tribe which called the place “land of many rocks.”

Rockpile Ranch established in 1992

Zinfandel-Bordeaux-Rhone Varieties

North Coast (8 decks)

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