United States: California Flashcards
What do rivers running to the ocean and gaps in the mountain ranges mean for California’s climate?
Land warms during the day and pulls in cooler air from the coast during afternoons and evenings, creating a high diurnal range
What role does fog play in California viticulture?
Cooling influence but also reduces exposure to sunshine
Discuss precision viticulture in California.
Attention to site and vine variety planted; matching rootstock to growing environment and growers needs
What bacterial disease is prevalent in California and how is it spread?
Pierce’s disease; spread by sharpshooter insects (leafhoppers)
In California, if a county is mentioned on the label then __% of the grapes need to come from that county. AVA mentioned: ___% of grapes
75
85
Where is Mendocino County located and what is the climate of the two groups of vineyards that the county is split into?
Runs along Pacific Ocean; north of Sonoma. Coastal AVAs are cool, inland AVAs are warmer and higher elevation
What is the most well known AVA in Mendocino and what is the climate like? What wines produced there?
Anderson Valley; only a few miles from ocean, it has warm days but very cool nights from cold air and fog from ocean. Early ripening PN and CH are most planted; other aromatic white
What AVA can be used for a multi regional blend for grapes coming from Yorkville Highlands, Redwood Valley, and McDowell Valley?
Mendocino AVA
What is the climate of Lake County?
Warm because of rain shadow from Mayacamas and Vaca; breezes provided by Clear Lake and cooling effects from elevation
What are the three overarching AVAs in Sonoma County, and why do they overlap with each other?
Northern Sonoma
Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Valley
It allows producers to use the term estate bottled when their vineyards and wines are spread far apart while still getting to use the word Sonoma on the label
What is the elevation law for wines coming from the Rockpile AVA? What is the moderating effect for this region?
Vyds must be above 800ft to be within the AVA Lake Sonoma (surrounds AVA on 3 sides) creates an inversion layer and keeps fog near lake, so vyds are all above the fog line (lots of sunshine)
What allows grapes in Northern California to ripen slowly while also retaining acidity?
The fog that arrives in the evening and retreats in the morning creates a large diurnal shift; elongates ripening period
Why has Green Valley of Russian River Valley been granted its own AVA?
It’s the first region in RRV to gain the first dogs in the afternoon/last area to have fog burn off (next to Petaluma Gap); results in some of coolest conditions in northern CA
What climatic condition defines the Petaluma Gap AVA? What style of wine does this lead to?
The windy conditions from its openness to the coast
High acid, fresh fruit, often lower alcohol
What is the Rutherford Bench? What kind of wine style does it contribute to?
A 3-mile stretch of vineyards located on a gently sloping alluvial fan at the bottom of the Mayacamas range in Napa, created from deposition of sediments by mountain streams. The soil is deep and rocky, and makes wines with a style between mtn and valley wines.
What is the climate like in Calistoga and st Helena, and what varieties are planted there?
Warm to hot with very little cooling influences; a lot of Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel along with CS and Merlot
What are some key climatic and geographical influences in Monterey county for viticulture?
Deep and cold Monterey bay gives off cool ocean winds; cool climate varieties planted near coast
Inland is warmer and flatter; irrigation common for high volume plantings
What legislation took place in Paso Robles in 2014?
Was split into 11 sub-AVAs to reflect distinctive features in growing environment; was previously the largest undivided AVA in CA
Where will you find the Templeton Gap and what does it do for the growing environment?
West side of Paso Robles; it’s a low point in the Coastal Range that allows cool ocean air to reach further inland
Describe the geographical influences in Santa Barbara County AVAs.
The Transverse Ranges run east to west, and funnel in cooling breezes and fog from the ocean; significantly elongates growing season
What characterizes the Sta. Rita Hills AVA?
Cool temperature
Calcium-rich soils
Hills that provide a multitude of soil types and microclimates
What two valleys does California’s Central Valley consist of?
Sacramento Valley to north (6700ha)
San Joaquin Valley to south (61000ha)
What are the two biggest producers in CA’s Central Valley?
E & J Gallo
Bronco Wine Company
What is the climate of Lodi? What kind of varieties are grown?
Hot Mediterranean; moderated by cooling winds flowing through breaks in coastal ranges to go far inland; low rainfall
Wide variety of grapes, but particularly known for Rhône varieties and Zinfandel
Where is the Sierra Foothills AVA located, and what is the climate and geography like?
East of SF, in western foothills of Sierra Nevada mountain range; covers 1 million ha
Very hot; planting at altitude (600-1000m) provides good diurnal range
