United States & North America

Question 1

When were vineyards first planted in California?

Answer 1

1648

Question 2

About how many wineries are there in California?

Answer 2

3700

Question 3

What is the largest wine growing area in California?

Answer 3

Central Valley

Question 4

Which color grape is grown the most in California?

Answer 4

Red

Question 5

Which two parties created the joint venture Opus One?

Answer 5

Robert Mondavi and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

Question 6

How man AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) are there in California?

Answer 6

100

Question 7

What is said to be the native variety grape in California?

Answer 7

Zinfandel - although this is actually a Croatian varietal.

Question 8

What percentage of a grape has to be in a bottle in order to call it by the grape name on the front label - e.g., Chardonnay, etc. 85%, 95%, 100%

Answer 8

85%

Question 9

What percentage of USA wine is produced in California - 60%, 80%, 90%?

Answer 9

90%

Question 10

Which is California’s most planted grape variety?

Answer 10

Chardonnay

Question 11

Which famous film director (e.g., The Godfather) now makes ‘Rubicon’ wine in Napa Valley?

Answer 11

Francis Ford Coppola

Question 12

Which Californian wines beat the French in the ‘Judgment of Paris’ competition in 1976?

Answer 12

Stags Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet

Chateau Montalena 1973 Chardonnay

Question 13

Which is the largest wine company in California?

Answer 13

E & J Gallo

Question 14

Which four French Champagne Houses make California sparkling wine?

Answer 14

Moet & Chandon, Mumm, Roederer, Taittinger

Question 15

The Oscar winning ‘Sideways’ film was a trip around which wine area?

Answer 15

Santa Barbara

Question 16

Which ‘County’ is California’s most northerly wine growing outpost?

Answer 16

Mendocino County

Question 17

How much of all California wine comes from Napa Valley?

Answer 17

5%

Question 18

Where does California rank in global wine production value?

Answer 18

4th largest (after France, Italy, Spain)

Question 19

What notable wine is made by Quady?

Answer 19

Their “Starboard” wine, an American take on Port using the same Portuguese varietals and styles.

Question 20

What was President Obama’s favorite Californian white wine?

Answer 20

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

Question 21

How many sub-AVAs are in Napa Valley?

Answer 21

16

Question 22

1. Describe the Carneros AVA’s climate and geography.
2. What are the most popular varietals?
3. Name two well-known Carneros producers.

Answer 22

1. It is a valley just north of the San Pablo bay, with portions in both Napa and Sonoma. The fog and breezes from the bay give it a cooler climate than more northerly areas.
2. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a focus on sparkling wine production.
3. Domaine Chandon (Moet & Chandon) and Domaine Carneros (Taittinger)

Question 23

1. Describe the Oak Knoll District’s climate and geography.
2. What are the most popular varietals?
3. Name one well-known Oak Knoll producer.

Answer 23

1. Valley just north of Carneros, the same San Pablo breezes make it the second coolest Napa AVA after Carneros.
2. Most popular are Merlot, Chardonnay, and Cab (in that order) but it is widely varied with some varietals that are less common in Napa, like Riesling and Pinot Noir.
3. Blackbird Vineyards (who make Pomerol-inspired blends)

Question 24

1. Describe the Yountville AVA’s climate and geography.
2. What are the most popular varietals?
3. Name two well-known Yountville producers.

Answer 24

1. Valley north of cooler Oak Knoll and Carneros, south of warmer Oakville and Rutherford, just west of Stags Leap. The French Laundry is in Yountville.
2. Known for Cabernet (70% of production), which is made in a subtle, tannic, age-worthy style.
3. Dominus Estate (owned by Christan Mouiex of Chateau Petrus) and Gemstone Vineyard (by winemaker Phillipe Melka)

Question 25

Where and when were the first vines planted in Napa? By whom?

Answer 25

Yountville, by George C. Yount. 1836.

Question 26

1. Describe the Stag's Leap District climate and geography. 2. What are the most popular varietals? 3. Name two well-known Stag's Leap producers.

Answer 26

1. Moderately warm Hillside AVA just east of Yountville. 2. Mostly Cab. 3. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (who won the 1976 Judgement of Paris) and Shafer (father/son family owned)

Question 27

1. Describe the Oakville climate and geography. 2. What are the most popular varietals? 3. Name two well-known Oakville producers.

Answer 27

1. Moderately warm valley, north of Yountville and south of Rutherford. 2. Bordeaux varietals 3. Screaming Eagle (most expensive California wine) and Opus One (joint venture of Mondavi and Chateau Mouton Rothschild)

Question 28

1. Describe the Rutherford climate and geography. 2. What are the most popular varietals? 3. Name two well-known Rutherford producers.

Answer 28

1. Moderately warm valley, north of Oakville and south of St. Helena. 2. Known for cabs with unique "Rutherford dust", NOT a mouthfeel, but an expression of terroir. 3. Beaulieu Vineyards (winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff) and Inglenook