US Wine History & AVA Laws Flashcards
The United States of America is the world’s __largest producer of wine, and claims the world’s __highest acreage of land under vine
4th, 5th
California produces approximately __% of all American wine, followed by New York, Washington, and Oregon
90
North America has what native grape vines?
Vitis labrusca (the Concord grape) Vitis rotundifolia (the Scuppernong grape) Vitis aestivalis (the Norton grape)
The __ grape, introduced to Mexico in the early 1500s, made its way northward to Rio Grande settlements in present-day Texas and New Mexico as early as 1629
Mission
In __, Franciscans at the San Juan Capistrano Mission produced California’s first wine from the grape
1783
In 1823, the Franciscans built the __, the last of the missions and the northern terminus of the Spanish Empire in North America—a site now occupied by Sonoma’s town square
San Francisco de Solano Mission
By __, George Yount had arived in Napa as the first American settler to set foot in the valley, and had planted its first vineyard
1839
Who founded Buena Vista, one of California’s oldest commercial wineries?
Hungarian-born, self-styled “Count” Agoston Haraszthy arrived in 1849
Haraszthy is credited with-
introduced more than 300 varieties to the state
After working for Haraszthy, __ moved in 1861 to St. Helena in Napa Valley and founded his eponymous winery—the oldest in the valley
Charles Krug
Jacob Schram built Schramsberg in __
1862
Finnish immigrant Gustav Niebaum founded the legendary Inglenook Winery in __
1879
Beringer, Napa’s oldest continuously operating winery, was established in __
1876
What wreaked havoc in CA from 1873-1890
Phylloxera
Vines were grafted onto ___ after Phylloxera in CA
Vitis riparia and its hybrids (american rootstocks)
In New York, commercial winemaking can be traced to the __, when Robert Prince produced wine from native grapes on Long Island
1840s
What dominated vineyards in the Fingerlakes from the 1850s onwards?
native Concord & the American hybrids Catawba and Delaware
The nation’s first bonded winery, __, was est in 1860 and is still operating today, near Hammondsport in Finger Lakes
Pleasant Valley Wine Company
Ohio: in the mid-19th century,__ annually produced 150,000 bottles of traditional method, hand-riddled sparkling Catawba
Nicholas Longworth
Missouri, German immigrants were by 1856 producing 100,000 gallons annually, and __ in Hermann became the third largest winery in the world by the turn of the century
Stone Hill Winery
American grapevines and their hybrids were vitally important in Missouri; to this day the __ grape remains the pride of the state
Norton
__, a Missouri entomologist, earned his place in the history of wine for his part in saving it—he was the first to understand the innate resistance of American grapes species to phylloxera
Charles Valentine Riley
What change happened in the 1920s in US wine industry?
nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of “intoxicating liquors” with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution
The Frenchman Georges de Latour’s Beaulieu Vineyards actually thrived during the dry times, declaring itself-
the “House of Altar Wine.”
When was prohibition lifted?
The 21st Amendment, ratified in 1933
In 1938, Georges de Latour hired __, a Russian winemaker trained in France, to oversee the production at Beaulieu
André Tchelistcheff
What did André Tchelistcheff bring to BV and CA?
He introduced the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a new benchmark in quality for American wine, and brought new standards of hygiene and techniques to California, including temperature-controlled fermentations and controlled malolactic fermentation
Tchelistcheff, dubbed the “dean of American winemakers,” mentored-
Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, Joe Heitz, and Mike Grgich
CA wineries that survived Prohibition
Inglenook, Beringer, and Beaulieu
Following his departure from Charles Krug due to a family feud, Robert Mondavi, a man many credit with creating the “brand” of Napa Valley, launched his winery’s first harvest in-
1966
In 1968, Mondavi singlehandedly made Sauvignon Blanc saleable by renaming it “__” and aging it in oak.
Fumé Blanc
Who were early modern pioneers in Sonoma?
Hanzell, Martin Ray, and Simi
Winemaker Paul Draper in 1969 took over production of-
“Monte Bello” at Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains
__ Vineyards, originally est by Paul Masson in 1878, produced its first vintage under its new name in 1972
Mount Eden
The 1st __ Vineyard bottling (Monterey’s oldest commercial vineyard) debuted in 1960
Chalone
In 1970, disregarding much advice to the contrary, Richard Sanford planted Pinot Noir in his new-
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Hills
Dr. Konstantin Frank, a janitor at Cornell University, demonstrated in the face of tremendous skepticism that __ could grow successfully in the Finger Lakes
Vitis vinifera
His Vinifera Wine Cellars, founded in __, achieved praise with Riesling and sparkling wines and ignited a new interest in noble varieties in New York
1962
In 1965, __ of Eyrie Vineyard planted his first Pinot Noir grapes in the Willamette Valley
David Lett
Who placed first in the 1976 “Judgment of Paris”?
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
In 1978, a __ Cabernet Sauvignon was the first Napa Valley bottling to top the $100 mark at release
Diamond Creek
Phylloxera recurred in California’s vineyards in the __
1980s
What was the 1990s stylistic shift in CA?
ripeness, body, and higher alcohol levels, more weight and fruit
What are new problems for CA growers?
Pierce’s Disease and the invasive, destructive light-brown apple moth both
The bureau approved America’s first AVA—__—in late 1980
Augusta, in Missouri
Napa Valley gained AVA status in __
1981
Today, the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a new federal bureau created by the Homeland Security Act of _, oversees the AVA system
2002
What did the TTB approve in 2009, setting an example for future label integrity?
Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates—did not use enough Calistoga fruit in their wines, and stood to lose their names if the TTB approved the AVA application. In late 2009, the TTB approved the AVA without grandfathering either winery
% of Grapes Required for Labeling by Appellation
If labeled by country, state, or county: 75%
If labeled by AVA: 85%
If labeled with a single vineyard: 95%
wines labeled as California or Oregon are required to be made-
solely from grapes grown in the state
wines labeled as Washington must contain at least __% of grapes grown in the state
95
For wines labeled with an AVA, a min __% must come from the stated vintage
95
; for wines labeled with a state or county, the min is relaxed to __
85%
Wine with a varietal designation must contain a min __% of the stated variety
75
Vitis labrusca grapes, like Concord, are an exception, and need only comprise a min __% of a varietal wine
51
Alcohol content must be stated on the label, within a margin of-
+/- 1.5%
As an alternative, wines in the 7-14% abv range may simply be labeled as-
“table wine” or “light wine.”
In order to legally qualify for the term “Estate Bottled,”-
100% of a wine must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery
The winery and all vineyards used in the production of an estate-bottled wine must be located-
within the same AVA
