US_CA_NAPA Flashcards
5 Major Red Varieties of Napa Valley
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Pinot Noir
Same as CA, minus Red Zinfandel
2 Major White Varieties of Napa Valley
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
Same as CA, minus Pinot Grigio
Napa Valley Location
50 Miles north of San Francisco
5 Napa Valley Landmarks
Towns from nort to south on HWY 29
* Calistoga
* St Helena
* Yountville
* Napa
Napa Valley Geography
* Dimentions
* North, East, South, West
* Middle
- 30 miles long
- 1-5 miles wide
- North: Extinct volcano Mount St Helena
- East: Vaca Mountains
- South: San Pablo Bay
- West: Mayacamas Mountains
- Middle: Napa River
Napa Valley Climate (defined)
+2 Facts
- Mediterranean with dry, warm summers and cool, wet winters.
- Cooler in the south, warmer in the north.
- In the early morning, mountain vineyards get more sun than valley vineyards that are under fog
Napa Valley Mesoclimate
Eastern vs Western VIneyards
- East hills/Vacas (Howell Mountain and Stags Leap, east Oakville and east Rutherford get more afternoon heat and sun. Grapes get very ripe and wines can be very full-bodied.
- West hills/Mayacamas (St Helena, Spring Mountain, Mount Veeder), western Oakville and western Rutherford recieve cooler morning sun/less afternoon sun and produce wines that are more balanced and have less body.
16 AVAs of Napa Valley
Mayacamas Mountains (West)
* Diamond Mountain
* Spring Mountain
* Mount Veeder
Vaca Mountains (east)
* Howell Mountain
* Chiles Valley
* Atlas Mountain
Valley (central)
* Calistoga
* Mount Saint Helena
* Rutherford
* Oakville
* Yountville
* Stags Leap
* Oak Knoll District
* Coombsville
* Wild Horse Canyon
* Los Carneros
3 Top Napa Valley Vintages
From past 10 years
2019: 97: ripe, lush and well-defined
2018: 99: rich, dark and detailed
2016: 98: intense fruit
Rutherford Varieties / Styles
* 5 Red
* 1 White
* 1 Style
* nickname
- Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Syrah (4 Bordeaux + PS)
- Sauv Blanc (mostly in sandy soils near Napa River)
- Powerful / Elegant Bordeaux-based Blends “The Pauillac of California”
Rutherford Location / Geography
1 / 2 Facts
- Mostly on Valley Floor
- 6 square miles: 2x3.5
- 150-500 ft elevation range
**
Rutherford Climate
2 Facts
- Warmer in North because Maritime influence from SF Bay
- Napa’s sunniest AVA (widest) with more sun in east
Rutherford
Terroir Nickname
4 Soils
- Rutherford Dust for its distinct minerality. “Ther Pouillac of CA”
- Gravel, Sand, loam, volcanic
George Yount
2 Facts
- Credited with planting Napa Valley’s first grapevines in 1839
- Gave land to son-in-law, Thomas Rutherford, who planted first vines in Rutherford
3 Subzones of Rutherford
Rutherford Bench
Central Valley
Eastern Benchland
5 Rutherford Producers
Central Valley
Peju
Inglenook
Beaulieu Vineyards
Sequoia Grove
Cakebread Cellars
7 Rutherford Producers
Eastern Benchland
Rutherford Hill: Northeastern Vaca Mountains
Quintessa: Bordeaux Blends. Makes limited amounts of Illumination (SB)
Frogs Leap: Organically-grown grapes
Mumm
Honig: Award-winning Cab Sauv and Sauvignon Blanc since 1980
Caymus
Piña: Est: 1856. 8th Generation Family owned. Far eastern Side. 5 Cab vineyards
Cakebread Cellars
EST by Who
Vineyards / Where
Major Varieties
- EST in 1979 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread.
- 16 Vineyards: 15 Napa / 1/Anderson Valley.
- Major Varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet.
- Minor Varieties: Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel.
“Exceptional wines that won’t break the bank”