U.S. Wine laws + California Flashcards
What is the name of the governing body that oversees the beverage alcohol industry in the United States?
TTB
Tax and Trade Bureau
what does the TTB do?
- defines and approves the boundaries of AVAs
- delimits AVAs based on unique geographical, physical, and climatic features
what are AVAs?
American Viticultural Areas
- they refer to geographic location only (read: not political designation, etc)
what were the first 2 AVAs n the United States?
- Augusta, Missouri - 1980
- Napa Valley, California - 1982
what are the U.S. labelling laws by variety?
or, if a wine has a variety printed on the label, what must he minimum percentage of that grape be in that wine?
75% minimum if from:
- america
- state
- county
- AVA
there is one U.S. state that has a higher minimum percentage if the wine is labeled by varietal. What is that state and what is the percentage?
- Oregon
- 90% minimum grape if listed on the label
in the U.S., if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label and the wine’s appellation is a STATE or COUNTY, how much of the stated vintage must be in the bottle?
(e.g. Rodney Strong California Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, or Morgan Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2018)
85% must come from the stated vintage
in the U.S., if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label and the wine’s appellation is an AVA, how much of the stated vintage must be in the bottle?
(e.g. Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir 2017)
95% must come from that vintage
If a U.S. bottle of wine whose stated appellation on the label is from COUNTRY (U.S.)., STATE or COUNTY, what minimum percent must the wine from that state, county, or country?
75%
In the U.S., if a bottle of wine is labeled with a specific AVA, what minimum percent must the wine be from that AVA?
85%
If a U.S. bottle of wine states that the wines comes from a specific, single vineyard, what minimum percent of the wine must come from that vineyard?
95%
What does it mean when a U.S. bottle of wine states that it is “Estate Bottled”?
100% of the grapes must be grown on land owned or controlled by the producer (winery), and that land must be in an AVA
In what century was U.S. viticulture started on the East Coast?
By whom?
- mid 1500s: French Huguenots are credited with starting wine production in Florida.
- 1600s: vines planted in Jamestown and in the northeast by settlers
In what century was U.S. viticulture started on the west coast, and who planted the first grapevines?
- 16th century: Franciscan monks planted vines in what is now Texas and New Mexico;
- 17th century: Franciscan monks planted vines in California
Grapes were used for sacrament
who was Agoston Haraszthy?
- originally from Hungary
- considered the patriarch of California wine industry
- founded Buena Vista winery in 1857
what were some setbacks the U.S. wine industry suffered in the late 1800s - early 20th century?
- Phylloxera arrived, decimating vineyards (phylloxera is originally from east of the Mississippi);
- Prohibition (1920-1933)
- Great Depression (1929-1939)
- World War II (U.S. involvement 1941-1945)
who were two influential winemakers in California following Prohibition?
- André Tchelistcheff
- Robert Mondavi
today, the U.S. is the world’s … th largest producer of wine
4th
how do the climates of coastal California differ from inland California?
- coast: cool
- Inland: warm to hot
the further inland you go, the hotter the climate becomes
Mountain ranges in California can either block or funnel in cool Pacific Ocean breezes, depending on their ….
orientation
if a range runs north-south, it blocks cool air; if a range runs west-east, it funnels in cool air
what are California’s 4 major wine growing areas?
- North Coast
- Central Coast
- Central Valley
- Sierra Foothills
what 4 counties make up the North coast?
- Mendocino
- Lake
- Napa
- Sonoma
what are California’s major grape varietals, both reds and white?
white grapes: - chardonnay - sauvignon blanc red grapes: - cabernet sauvignon - pinot noir - merlot - zinfandel
in which county is Napa Valley?
napa county
what is the length of Napa Valley?
where does it start?
- ~ 30 miles long
- starts at San Pablo Bay
what are the 2 mountain ranges in the Napa Valley?
- Vaca Mountains (east side)
2. Mayacamas Mountains (west side)
which mountain range separates Napa and Sonoma counties?
Mayacamas Mountains
what is the name of the river that runs though the Napa Valley?
napa river