U.S. Wine Laws + California Flashcards
Learn U.S. winemaking history, its important figures, and appellation law, plus California's winemaking regions, grapes, and styles.
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 designations, etc.)
What were the first 2 AVAs in the United States?
- Augusta, Missouri - 1980
- Napa Valley, California - 1981
In the U.S., if a wine has a variety printed on the label, what must the mimumum percentage of that grape be in that wine?
75% minimum if from:
- America
- State
- County
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 wine 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?
(pronounced hair-az-tee)
- Originally from Hungary
- Considered the patriarch of California wine industry
- Founded Buena Vista winery 1857
- His full bio can be read here
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 red and white?
White grapes
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Red grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
In which county is the Napa Valley?
Napa County
