United States of America Flashcards
How far back do sparkling wine production go for USA?
19th C
What companies were around for sparkling wine production in USA in the beginning
Haraszthy
F. Korbel & Bros
What sparkling wine company became relevant in the modern period beginning in 1965 in USA?
Schramsberg when they produced a Blanc de Blancs brut which was also the first commercial use of Chardonnay in USA sparkling wine
What happened in 1970s in regards to Sparkling wine production in USA
there was an establishment of a number of companies owned by Champagne and Cava producers that set up to make traditional method sparkling wines spearheaded by Moet & Chandon
What style sparkling wines are made in USA
a range of styles: traditional, tank, and a small amount of Pet Nat
Where does most production of sparkling wine occur in USA?
CA - but also found in Washington and Oregon
What quality levels are traditional method Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend made in USA? pirces?
good to outstanding
prices are med to super premium
General SAT for USA sparkling wines made in traditional style
med intensity aromas of ripe apple and lemon with brioche/ biscuit autolytic notes
med + acidity
typically made in Brut style
what additional flavors do tank sparkling wines in USA have?
raspberry, peach, etc
Besides Tank and traditional method what other method is used for sparkling in USA?
Pet Nat
What style are tank fermented wines in USA made in?
Extra Dry with noticable residual sugar
What is the price point for tank fermented wines in USA?
inexpensive to mid price
Where are grapes grown in CA for Chardonnay and Pinot noir sparkling wines?
in coastal regions cooled by cold pacific ocean; cool air is drawn towards the hotter central valley brining cool breezes and/or fog to areas close to the coast along river valleys and gaps in coastal mountains
What makes coastal parts of CA ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir? why?
cooling influences - helps to produce grapes with ripe flavors and high levels of acidity with moderate alcohol, producing a premium priced wine
In addition to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir what other varietals are used for mainly tank methods of wines in USA
PInot gris, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Syrah, and Tempranillo
When grapes are grown in warm regions when are they harvested
early
what might wines require to underripe flavors in USA sparkling?
residual sugar
What are the most important areas for sparkling wines in CA?
Anderson Valley (Mendocino County)*
Russian River Valley (Sonoma County)*
Carneros (Sonoma and Napa counties)*
Napa Valley (Napa County)
Monterey (Monterey County)
Edna and Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo County)
Santa Maria Valley and Sta Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County)
Lodi (San Joaquin County)
Where is Anderson Valley located in CA?
northwestern part of this AVA is close to Pacific
What is the climate of Anderson Valley AVA
moderate temps cool ocean breezes and fog are conveyed along the Navarro river valley reduced sunshine hours further up the valley
wide diurnal temps ranges are common and enable growers maintain higher levels of acidity in the fruit
What estate is Anderson Valley home to for sparkling wines?
Roederer Estate founded by champagne house of same name
Who buys grapes from Anderson Valley
wineries outside of the region for their own sparkling wines
What sparkling wine producer is housed in Russian River AVA
Korbel
How is the Russian River valley suitable for sparkling wine?
cool breezes and fog provide cooling influences via the river and through the Petaluma Gap in the coastal mountain range
Even though Carneros is not on the coast how does it still produce good sparkling wines?
has a significant cooling from the San Pablo Bay
Who is Carneros home to in terms of sparkling wine producer
Gloria Ferrer (founded by Freixenet) and DOmaine Carneros (founded by taittinger)
How does Napa help supply sparkling wines in US?
it is too hot to grow grapes for sparkling wines, but important wineries that produce it were founded in Napa. now they source their grapes to cooler areas
some producers choose to blend Napa fruit with that sourced from other regions
What happened in Monterrey County in 1940s in regards to sparkling wine
professors Winkler and Amerine of UC Davies devised the Heat Summation Scale and id’ed large portions of Monterey as cool zones (1-2) which are suitable for chardonnay and pinot noir - resulting in many new vineyards
What is the main cooling influence in Monterrey
the wide Salinas valley that is open to the open which is particularly cold due to a deep canyon in the ocean floor near this part of the coast - creating cool areas in northern parts of Monterey with high diurnal temps creating sites suitable for grapes of sparkling wines
What two AVAs are the coolest part of San Luis Obispo? why
Enda Valley and Arroyo Grande
due to its proximity to the coast and the cold ocean
besides Monterey where else did Winkler and Amerine also identify as cool zones 1-2
Santa Barbara County - east-west running Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley form channels to allow cool breezes and fog to seep into Santa Barbara County
Which two areas in CA are too warm for growing premium grapes for sparkling wines but produce high vol tank method and flavored sparkling wines?
Central Valley and Lodi
Where is the second largest producer of sparkling wine in USA?
Washington State
Who is the largest producer by far from Washington state
Chateau Ste. Michelle
what contributes to the grapes high acidity in Washington State?
northernly latitude and high diurnal temp range
What varietals are used to make sparkling in Washington State?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier blends
What styles of sparkling wines are made in Washington State?
Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs
single varietal wines from other varieties such as Muller Thurgau, riesling, and Gewurztraminer
What is the pirce point for sparkling wines made in Washington State
mid priced
What dose Willamette Valley in Orgeon have to offer sparkling wines?
cool climate to allow fruit to ripen slowly and retain naturally high acidity
Who is the pioneer and largest producer of sparkling wine in Oregon
Argyle
Who is Radiant Sparkling Wine
a specialist company who can supply wineries who do not specialize in sparkling wines the technically demanding process of traditional method
What method is typically used to make sparkling wines in USA?
traditional for premium sparkling wines and tank for inexpensive wines
How are premium sparkling wines typically made in USA
by blending a range of base wines - ex blending higher acidity wines with wines with ripe fruit notes but lower acidity
How long are sparkling wines left on the lees in USA
many are left for extended periods (3 yrs) to add intensity of autolytic notes
What is a more common style in US than in other countries for sparkling wine?
Blanc de Noirs (white wine made from black grapes)
10What are the regulations around Blanc de Noirs in US
unlike the EU there aren’t any - often producers will use mainly black skinned fruit but complement it with some small percentage of white grapes
What producer is a good example of how mainly black skinned fruit is used for Blanc de Noirs but complement it with some small percentage of white grapes
Schramsberg
10% of chardonnay is included
What are many wineries doing for sparkling wines in US? why?
making small batches of wines only sold through the tasting room or direct to consumers
it is not financially feasible to invest in the equipment needed to perform riddling, disgorgement and dosage, nor do they have the expertise
What kind of facilities provide riddling, disgorgement and dosage for wineries who do not have the expertise in US
Specialist custom crush facilities such as rack and Riddle in Sonoma or Brut Custom crush in Napa
How do some historical producers label their sparkling wine “Champagne” in the US?
The US government allows it on brands established prior to 2006 if the Geographic origin accompanies the Champagne term on the label
What are the three different types of companies producing sparkling wines in US?
specialist sparkling wine companies often founded by Champagne and Cava houses
Wine companies that produce small batch premium wines
large companies that produce inexpensive sparkling wines as part of a larger range (both national and international distribution)
Where do specialist sparkling wine companies founded by Cava and Champagne houses in CA distribute to?
across the US and export small quantities
What is an example of a specialist sparkling wine company in US
Roederer Estate
Where are wines from companies producing small batch premium wines seeling the wine?
cellar door, direct to consumer, in winery’s own restaurant, or locally
Give an example of a wine company producing small batch premium sparkling wines in US
Schramsberg
Give an example of a large wine company that produce inexpensive sparkling wines as a part of a larger range
Barefoot and Cupcake
How many cases of sparkling wine were produced in USA in 2020? how much did this supply to the total shipments of sparkling wine in US that year?
12,500,000 cases (83% in CA)
45%
What has CA sparkling wine lost significant market share to in that last 15 years
imported sparkling esp Prosecco