United States Wine Law - Certified Sommelier Exam Flashcards
T or F: California produces the bulk of American wine
True. California produces approx 90% of all american wine followed by NY, WA, and OR
What are the species of grape vines found native in the US
- Vitis Labrusca (Concord and Catawaba grapes)
- Vitis Rotundifoia (Scuppernog)
- Vitis aestivalis (Norton)
When and where was California’s first wine produced?
In 1783, Franciscans at the San Juan Capistrano Mission produced CA’s first wine from the grape
When was the first American Settler in Napa?
George Yount arrived in 1839, planting Napa’s first vineyard
Who helped stave off Phylloxera?
Charles Valentine Riley, a Missouri Entomologist, understood the innate resistance of America grape species to Phylloxera - French erected a statue in Montpellier in his honor
When did prohibition start and stop
Started with series of state-level prohibitions, maine in 1851, Kansas in 1881, nationwide ban with the 18th Amendment in 1919. Repealed in 1933 with 21st Amendment
How did Quality come about in the USA’s early wine making days
1938, Georges de Latour hired Andre Tchelistcheff, a Russian winemaker trained in France, to oversee production at Beaulieu. Dubbed “Dean of American Winemakers”, he mentored Robert Mondaivi, Louis Martini, Joe Heitz and Mike Grgich.
What is America’s first AVA?
Augusta, in Missouri, in late 1980
When did Napa gain AVA status?
1981
Who regulates/govern alcohol/wine in the US?
the TTB - Tax and Trade Bureau
What % of grapes must be in the bottle if a US AVA is listed?
85% minimum
What % of grapes must be in the bottle if an AVA is not used, and it’s listed by county, state or country in the US?
75% except CA, OR and WA
If a wine is listed as from California or Oregon, what % of grapes must come from that state?
100%
If a wine is listed as from Washington what % of grapes must come from that state?
95%
In the US, if wine is labeled from a single vineyard, what % of the grapes must be from the vineyard?
95%
