United States- California - North Coast

Question 1

Geography of North Coast California

Answer 1

Coastal counties north of the San Pablo Bay

Question 2

Soils of North Coast California

Answer 2

Very diverse soils throughout

Question 3

Climate of North Coast California

Answer 3

Moderate to warm depending on proximity to the Pacific Ocean or San Pablo Bay.

Question 4

Central Coast physical features

Answer 4

Sonoma Mountain Range
Mayacamas Mountain Range
San Pablo Bay
Vaca Mountain Range
Napa River
Petaluma Wind Gap

Question 5

Napa Physical Features

Answer 5

North Napa is warmer; mountainous regions have lower yields and bigger diurnal shifts

Question 6

Sparkling wine traditional type

Answer 6

Sparkling wines are produced in cooler areas such as Carneros and Anderson Valley

Sparkling Sparkling wine is commonly traditional method

Question 7

Winemaking in north Coast

Answer 7

(-) Often extensive use of new French and sometimes American oak barrels for both red and white wines.

(-) Malolactic fermentation often employed when making white wines, especially Chardonnay.

Question 8

Learn to match grapes to AVA

Question 9

White Wine in North Coast

Answer 9

Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 10

Red Wine in North Coast

Answer 10

Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Syrah

Question 11

Minimum grape variety

Answer 11

75% grape variety

Question 12

Minimum grape variety for AVA

Answer 12

85% minimum

Question 13

Minimum grape variety for vintage

Answer 13

95% minimum

Question 14

Minimum grape variety for Estate vintage

Answer 14

100% minimum, must be in the same county

Question 15

Minimum grape variety for a single vineyard

Answer 15

95% minimum

Question 16

Reserve meaning

Answer 16

Has no legal meaning

Question 17

American vs. French oak flavor differences

Answer 17

American oak:
Flavor profile: Strong vanilla, coconut, sweet spice, sometimes with hints of dill.

Grain structure: Looser grain, leading to quicker flavor extraction.

Key points about French oak:
Flavor profile: Subtle vanilla, caramel, spice, toasted bread, with more complex nuances.

Grain structure: Tighter grain, resulting in a slower release of flavors.

Question 18

Service of Beverage

Answer 18

Young Cabernet Sauvignon often benefits from decanting. Old Cabernet Sauvignon needs decanting for sediment

Question 19

North Coast top vineyards for 5 years

Question 20

Iconic wines and vineyards

Question 21

Top producers

Answer 21

Opus One
Robert Mondavi
Beringer
Spottswoode
Far Niente
Groth
Cakebread
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Silver Oak
Chappellet
Caymus
Etude
Iron Horse
Domaine Carneros
Roederer Estate
Quintessa
Merryvale
Larkmead
William Selyem
Kistler

Question 22

Who is Robert Mondavi

Answer 22

-marketing strategist
-Promoted labeling wines varietally rather than generically, which became the standard for New World wines.

Question 23

Who is Agoston Haraszthy

Answer 23

Father of California wine

he was the founder of the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, California, and an early writer on California wine and viticulture.

Question 24

Who is André Tchelistcheff

Answer 24

• influential Russian-born American winemaker who played a key role in shaping the modern California

-Tchelistcheff is often referred to as the “Dean of American Winemaking.” After immigrating to the U.S. in the 1930s, he became the chief winemaker for Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) in Napa Valley, where he helped elevate California wines to international acclaim, particularly through his work with Cabernet Sauvignon

-mentored many of Napa Valley’s top winemakers and helped establish California as a world-class wine region

-introduced numerous innovative techniques that are now standard in winemaking, including the use of temperature-controlled fermentation, the development of improved vineyard practices, and the promotion of aging wines in small oak barrels

Question 25

What is the Paris Tasting of 1976

Answer 25

(-) Blind Tasting: A blind wine tasting where French and Californian wines were evaluated by a panel of top French wine experts, without knowing the origin of the wines.

(-) Surprising Outcome: Californian wines, particularly from Napa Valley, outperformed prestigious French wines in both the red and white categories, with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (red) and Chateau Montelena (white) taking top honors.

(-) Cultural Shift: The results shocked the French wine establishment and helped to establish California, and American wines in general, as serious competitors on the global stage,

Question 26

Who is Charles Krug

Answer 26

-started Charles krug winery in 1861, oldest winery and family owned
-Pioneer in Napa Valley: Krug played a key role in the early development of Napa Valley’s wine industry, contributing to its reputation for producing world-class wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Legacy: His descendants, including the Mondavi family, have continued his legacy, and the winery remains a cornerstone of Napa Valley’s rich winemaking heritage.