USA Flashcards
USA-Highlights
the start of sparking wine in the US?
started in the 19<strong>t</strong>h century with Haraszthy and Korbel & Bros
1965 Schramsberg – Blanc de Blancs Brut- 1st commercial use of Chardonnay in sparking wine
1970s -Moet & Chandon (1973) established number Co owned by Champagne and Cava producers for trad method sparking
USA-Highlights
describe the styles produced?
trad, tank, small amounts of Pet Nat
California produces more than half in US
Oregon and Washington state too
USA-Highlights
describe the quality level produced using Trad method?
Chard and PN – good to outstanding w/ mid to super-premium
med intensity aroma of ripe apple, lemon, toasty autolytic
med+ acidity, brut style
few use PM- much less common than in Champagne
USA-Highlights
describe the quality level produced using tank method?
range into using fruits like raspberry, peach
often in an Extra dry style w/ noticeable RS
inexpensive to mid priced
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California- describe the growing conditions for sparking wine generically in California?
Premium made from Chard and PN
predominantly grown on costal regions cooled by Pacific
air drawn in toward hotter Central Valley- breeze and fog
to coast, river valleys and mountain gaps along coast
ideal to promote flavors, retain acidity, moderate ABV
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California- what other varieties are used here?
Tank method- PG, Pinot Blanc, Sauv Blanc, Vio, syrah, Tempranillo
if warmer region harvest is early
may require RS to compensate for under-ripe flavors
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California- name the important regions?
*Anderson Valley- Mendocino Co
*Russian River Valley- Sonoma Co
*Carneros -Sonoma and Napa Cos
Napa Valley- Napa Co Lodi- San Joaquin Co
Monterey- Monterey Co
Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo Co)
Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills- Santa Barbara Co
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California- Anderson Valley, Mendocino Co
NW part of AVA close to Pacif
cool ocean breeze & fog conveyed along Navarro River
mod temp and reduce sunshine- wide diurnal common
Roederer Estate -founded by Champagne house same name
Many wineries here produce small amounts of sparking
Wineries outside buy fruit from here to make sparking wines
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California- Russian River Valley Sonoma County
Cool breezes and fog influences from river and through the Petaluma Gap (costal mountain range)
Korbel’s home is here
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Carneros, Sonoma and Napa County
cooling influence from San Pablo Bay
Gloria Ferrer – founded by Cava producer Freixenet
Domaine Carneros- founded by Taittinger
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Napa Valley, Napa Co
most is too hot to produce grapes for sparking wine
Wineries source from cooler region- Schramsberg, Carneros
some choose to blend Napa fruit w/ sourced fruit
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Monterey, Monterey County
1940s professors Winkler and Amerine of UC Davis
Heat Summation Scale
Identified large portions of __ as zones 1-2 good for Ch & PN
Wide Salinas valley open to ocean
ocean here is particularly cold due to a deep canyon in the ocean floor near the coast
creating cool areas in northern parts of Monterey with high diurnal temp ranges
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County
These two AVAs are in the coolest part of the ____
proximity to the coast and cold ocean
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County)
1940s professors Winkler and Amerine of UC Davis
Heat Summation Scale
identified large portions of ___ as zones 1-2
east-west running valleys of Santa Maria and Santa Ynez channel cool breezes and fog to seep into ___ county
USA- Growing Env & Grape
California-Lodi, San Joaquin County
Central Valley and ____ are too warm
Weibel (company) produce large volumes of tank method and flavored sparkling wines here
USA- Growing Env & Grape
Washington State-
2nd largest producing state
Chateau Ste. Michelle far largest producer
northerly latitude, high diurnal produce high acid Chd, PN, PM
Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noir
single varietals = Muller Thurgau, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
mid priced
USA- Growing Env & Grape
Oregon State
PN and Chard
cool climate of Willamette Valley – fruit ripen slowly, natural acidity
Argyle home here
Radiant Sparkling Wine- specialist company that can be contracted to make trad sparking wine for wineries here
USA-Winemaking
quality produced?
premium typically traditional
blending range of base wines
higher acidy blended with ripe fruit notes lower acid
extended lees aging -eg 3 years, adds intensity of autolytic notes & production cost
inexpensive by tank
USA- Winemaking
Blanc de Noirs in US?
typically form PN, more common a style than in other countries
no regulations, may include small % of Chard – eg. 10%
USA- Winemaking
where sold?
many wineries are making small batch from tasting rooms or direct to consumers
common to use specialist custom crush facilities to provide the 2nd ferm process where either not have room for equipment or financially feasible to invest it equipment.
USA- Winemaking
name 2 big custom crush facilities?
Rack & Riddle in Sonoma
Brut Custom Crush in Napa
USA- Wine Law and Business
2006?
producers prior to this used Champagne on label
after, if not grandfathered in, must use sparkling
USA- Wine Law and Business
types of companies producing sparking?
- Specialist often founded by Champagne and Cava houses
distribute across US, small export- Roederer Estate
- Produce small batch premium
cellar door, direct to consumer, winery’s rest or local -Schramsberg
- Large winery inexpensive sparking as part of a larger range
national and international distribution- Barefoot and Cupcake
USA- Wine Law and Business
2018?
12,500 cases produced in the US, virtually all CA
Supplied 45% of total shipment of sparking that year
USA- Wine Law and Business
USA market share?
While sparkling wine has grown -once seen as special occasion & large domestic brands dominated
CA lost significant market share to imported- Prosecco
Millennials less bound to US, perceive foreign more authentic
