USA Flashcards
What does AVA stands for
American Viticultural Area
How many KM is california from north till south
1100KM
What are the mountains doing with the vineyards of California
The mountain shield most of the cooling effect of the Ocean
what is the main weather influence in california
the Oceans current
Explain the wheather conditions in California
Cold air often accompanied by fogs, drawn in from the ocean in the evening. lowering night time temp.
it takes long to warm up during the day(fog) influence well during the day.
What is the consequence of Fog in the vineyards?
Grapes are struggeling to fully ripen
When there is no exposure to the sun which climate does it have?
The climate will be hot
Why is drip irrigation widely practised?
A lack of rain and water shortages
Why are they obligated to leave the vine long into the season?
The scarity of Autumn rain
What is the result of hanging grapes longer in the vines?
Very ripe grapes with concentrated flavours, and high sugar. recently they want more fresh wines and they pick the grapes earlier
What is the main black variety in California
Cabernet Sauvignon
Describe a typical California CS
Many are full bodied, ripe cassis flavours. some producers make CS less rich style with fresher black currant flavours.
Which grape is regarded to Californias own grape?
Zinfandel
What can happen nowadays with the zinfandel grape
Sometime it includes ripen and unripen grapes
Describe a typical zinfandel grape from California
Raisining can result , full bodied red wines with high alcohol. sometimes small residue sugar.
red and black fruits, drieds berries and liquourice
What kind of quality can an unripe zinfandel grape display
subtle herbaceous quality
Are rose zinfandels early or late picked
early
Describe a typical white zinfandel
fruity , pale in colour, medium sweet and low in alcohol
Where can you find the most merlot planted
in San Joaquin (central valley)
Where do the make the most inexpensive merlots?
in San Joaquin (central valley)
Where does the better quality merlots coming from ?
From cooler sites such as Monterey
Where does a typical premium pn come from?
Russian river, Los carneros and Santa Maria valley
What kind of climate does Russian river, Los Carneros and SantaMaria valley have?
They have Moderate regions
Explain a typical Pinot Noir form Russian river, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley
Styles range widely, light in colour, classic gamey and vetegal notes. most show : sweet spice from oak, fruit flavours.
Describe a typical Syrah
Syrah is planted accros the state, and typically made full bodied and rich style some produces make leaner more peppery styles.
Which white variety is most widely planted?
Chardonnay
Which region can you find premium Chardonnay, less oak then previous years
Russian River Valley and Los Carneros
Describe a typical Chardonnay from Central Valley
Inexpensive, high volume, fruity with low to medium acidity and sometimes a toasty note from oak stave or chips
Where does the best SB coming from?
Californias coastal regions, giving wines with high acidity an ripe citrus flavours.
What is a synoniem for SB that sometimes was to indicate an oaked style, buts some pruoducers use this term for unoaked wines?
Fume blanc
Name the 3 County Appellations and AVA’s
Norht coast, Central Coast and Central Valley
Describe the climate of the north coast
The climates is strongly influenced by the Ocean, bringing fog and cool breezes.
What is the effect on the vineyard if the vineyard is influenced by the Ocean?
It affects diurnal temperature and average temperatures
What do they mean with the Bench of Napa valley
The fog line that goes not higher than around 1400 FT, the fog wil give concentrated wines
Is Los carneros warmer or cooler then rest of the regions and why
Los Carneros is 10 degrees lower then other regions. because of the influence of the San Paula bay
How large is the Napa Valley?
50KM from north to south, 5KM to east to west
Which mountains are on the west side of Napa?
Mayacamas mountains
Which mountains are on the eastern side of Napa?
Vaca mountains
What is the most significant influence in the Napa Valley
Morning fogs, and cool afternoon breezes of San Pablo Bay.
Which high quality grapes can you find in Los Carneros?
Pinot noir and Chardonnay
Are they only making still wines in Los Carneros, if not explain.
No, they make a Traditional method of sparkling wines
What grape varieties are grown in Stags Lep District, Oakville and Rutherford? And why?
CS(premium), since it is warm enough to ripen. Merlot , CH and SB(tropical flavours)
Which region (stags leap District, Oakville or Rutherford ) is the warmest during the day and has the most power and structured wines?
Rutherford
How is the gap called through the Mayacamas mountains?
Chalk hill
What is the influence of the Chalk hill gap on the vineyards of Saint Helena AVA and Calistoga
They receive warm day time temperatures but the cool air is relief som oppressive afternoon temp and much cooler night time temp.
What are the grape varieties in Saint Helena and Calistoga?
Main is CS, but also zinfandel and Syrah
Are Mountveeder and Howell mountain above or under the fog layer
above
Howell Mountain and Atlas peak are facing west or east?
west
Mount veeder, Diamond mountain and spring mountain district are facing west or east?
East
What grapers varieties are grown in Mount veeder and Howell mountain
main CS, merlot, Cabernet franc and zinfandel. CH is the main white variety.
(Mount veeder showing east) seems more fuller bodied wines with higher alcohol.
Where is russian river known for?
has a very cool, foggy conditions and is best known for high quality, elegan pinot noir and ch plus
Which region has a warmer climate and it wines tend to be more flashy and full bodied than those of the other Sonoma AVA in particular built a reputation of soft textured , full bodied CS
Alexander Valley
Describe extensive coast of Sonoma county
influenced by the cold pacific ocean. planted on south facing slopes to help maximising ripening. sonoma vally is parallel to napa valley. fogs and cooled by breezes. high quality of CH, but also old fines zinfandel
Where Dry creek known for
high quality of old vine zinfandels,
Explain the landscape of Dry creek and its grapes
planted densely both on its hillsides and its floor. the hill side above the fog layer are home to high quality zinfandels. wheras the vallley floor aare better suited for SB
rohne CS is also popular.
In which county can you find the Anderson Valley?
Mendocino county
Which white wines can you find in Anderson Valley
Gewurztraminer, riesling as well as sparkling wine
Explain the weather conditions and landscape in Mendocino County
Much warmer and drier conditions then Anderson Valley. Protected by the coastal hills of 900 M
Describe a typical Mendocino AVA
The wines are full bodied and often made from CS, zinfandel and Syrah
Name the AVA which include in the Central Coast
Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey.
Paso Robles AVA
Santa Maria Valley AVA
What is the AVA of Santa Barbara
Santa Maria Valley AVA
What is the AVA of San luis obispo
Paso Robles AVA
What is the AVA of Mendocino county
Anderson Valley
Which AVA has a infertile soils, however produces one of the most elegant CS produced in a moderate climate?
Santa cruz Mountains AVA
Where is Santa Cruz mountains located?
south of San Francisco
Which AVA is following the path of Salinas Valley is influenced by the cold pacific Ocean. CH and Pn are heavily planted closer to the coast where strong cool winds blow in a daily basis.
MontereyAVA
Where is Santa Lucia Highlands AVA located
Monterey
Where is Santa Lucia Highlands AVA known for
a source of High quality CH with citrus and tropical fruit flavours and balanced acidity.
How do the mountains lie in San luis Obispo and Santa barbara counties?
East west and not north south, which encourage the cool breeze into the vineyards.
Paso Robles is devided in 2 sections,which one are they and explain
East and West. East expierences , hot sunny weather, produces fruity wines for high volume and deep fertile soils
de West are known for high quality zinfandel and rohne types
Santa Maria valley is warmer or cooler then San Luis Obispo?
its slightly cooler
For what is Santa Maria known for, and describe charasteristics of the wine? and describe the climate
Premimum PN and Chardonnay concentrade fruit and high acidity, fog can cover the area, slow ripening process and yielding
Where is Santa Ynez Valley AVA
in Santa barbara county
What does Santa Ynez AVA produce?
Syrah and Bordeaux varieties.
Where is Sta Rita Hills AVA located?
west of Santa Ynez in Santa barbara county. same grape varieties.
Name the valleys of Central Valley
Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
Where does the vast majority wine come from?
From the Central Valley
What varieties can you find in the inexpensive valleys of Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
CS, merlot, CH, colombard, chenin blanc and barbera
Where is Lodi AVA located
Between Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys
Explain the weather conditions in Lodi AVA
cooling breezes from san francisco bay.
which varieties are grown in Lodi AVA
Most varieties are grown, some oldes and best zinfandel vineyards in the state.
