USA Flashcards
Bonded / un-bonded wineries
Bonded: licenced by the Trade & Tax bureau
un-bonded: “virtual wineries” = wine producing individual or companies without a physical winery premises
Major wine states in USA
California
Oregon
Washington state
New York State
AVA
American viticoltore area
Classification published in 1978
First AVA: Augusta Missouri 1980
Main varieties in USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Pinot noir
Sauvignon Blanc
Zinfandel
Meritage
Premium blend in which no grape accounts for more than 90% (must be Bordeaux blend)
5 large AVA of California
North coast
Central coast
South coast
San Francisco Bay
Sierra foothills
Napa valley location and vineyards
From south of Napa town to north of Calistoga
Vineyards in the slopes of Mayacamas mountain range (west) and Vaca mountain range (east) and valley floor
Napa valley climate
Different microclimate between valley floor and slopes
VALLEY FLOOR: Morning fog covers the valley floor, gradually burning up as the day progresses
Going north = less maritime influence / less fog / higher temp + more sunshine hours
HILLSIDES: above the fog line / longer sunshine hours / lower a stage temperature due to altitude / warmer daytime temp & lower nighttime temp
Difference between wine from valley floor and hillsides
Mountain wine: more concentrated
Valley floor: more elegant (deeper topsoil)
16 sub-appellation in Napa County:
- Los carneros(coolest due to proximity to San Pablo bay)
- coombsville
- wild horse valley
- Mount Veeder
- spring mountain district
- yountville
- oakville
- st Helena
- diamond Mountain
- atlas peak
- chiles valley
- Howell mountain ( wettest, coldest)
- oak knoll
- stag leap district
- Rutherford
- calistoga ( warmer, cab sav + Zinfandel)
Sonoma county location
West of Napa valley / 6 times larger than Napa
Los carneros
Shared between Napa and Sonoma / coolest climate due to proximity to San Pablo Bay
Sonoma county climate
Sonoma coast & Russian river valley greatly influenced by fog and cooler temperatures from Pacific Ocean
Further inland and to the north : less maritime influence + more sunshine hours
2 regional AVA in Sonoma County
Sonoma coast
Northern Sonoma
Main varieties in Sonoma
Zinfandel
Cab sav
Bordeaux blends
Merlot
Pinot noir
Chardonnay
Sav blanc
Sub-appellation of Sonoma county
Los Carneros
Rockpile
Sonoma valley
Sonoma mountain
Fort-Ross seaview
Bennet valley
knights valley
Petaluma Gap
Russian river valley
Green valley (R.R. Valley)
Solano Green Valley
Alexander valley
Chalk hill
Dry creek valley
Pine-mountain - Cloverdale peak
Moon mountain district
Fountains grove district
Mendocino county
North of Sonoma
Main varieties: Pinot noir / Zinfandel
Central valley
Extensive area / produces 75% of USA wine / mainly bulk and table wine
Rely on irrigation
Divided in : Sacramento valley (north)
San Joaquin valley (south)
Lodi AVA : only AVA of any note
Central coast location
From Oakland / San Francisco to north of LA
Monterey County AVAs and main varieties
Chardonnay most planted / excellent Pinot noir
Arroyo seco
Carmel Valley
Chalone
Hames valley
Sant Antonio valley
San Bernabe
San Lucas
Santa Barbara county
Has the longest growing season in California due to east-west mountain formation = gaps for cool breezes and cold fog (area suitable for Chard & Pinot Noir)
Further inland = hotter = Bordeaux varietals, Syrah , Rhone varietals
2 main AVA’s in Santa Barbara County
Santa Rita valley (north)
Santa Ynez Valley (south):
Santa Rita’s Hill
Ballard Canyon
Los Olivos District
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Paso Robles
Giant appellation divided in 11 AVA’s in 2014
Templeton gap= cool maritime air funnelled in
West of salinas river = cooler + limestone and calcareous soils
East of Salinas = warmer + sandier soils
Main varieties : Zinfandel + cab Sauvignon
Oregon location
On the pacific coast, between California and Washington state
Climate of Oregon
Maritime climate / rain shadow from Cascade Mountains
Dry summer months / most rainfall in fall
Irrigation is the norm / sustainable viticolture and organic farming commonly practiced
Main varieties in Oregon
Pinot noir
Pinot gris
Riesling
Syrah
Chardonnay
Viognier
South (warmer) :
Cab sav
Cab franc
Merlot
Gewürztraminer
Chardonnay
Main producers in Oregon
Domaine Serene
Eyrie Vineyard
Cristom
Domaine Drouhin
% to be labelled varietally in Oregon
Min 90%
Min 75% for Bordeaux, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
If origin is stated, must be 95% for Chardonnay / 90% for Riesling
Main producing area in Oregon
Willamette valley / between Coastal Range and Cascade Mountains
Willamette Valley main varietals
Pinot noir ( cross between Russian river valley and Burgundy)
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Walla Walla valley
Divided between Oregon and Washington state
Acidification is common / chaptalizatio. Is legal
Partial whole cluster fermentation for Pinot noir is used
11-18 months maturation in French Oak
Washington state location
Between 46 and 48 latitude
Abundant sunshine
Main AVA in Washington
Columbia Valley AVA accounts for the majority of the production
Main variety is Cab Sav and Merlot
Walla Walla AVA
Continental climate
Large diurnal shift
Prone to frost in spring
Cab Sav most planted + Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec
Yakima Valley
Washington first AVA (1983)
High elevation vineyards (250-900m)
Merlot most planted + Riesling , cab sav
Puget Sound
North west of Washington state
Close to ocean = maritime climate with dry summers and wet winters
Main varietals : Madeleine Angevive , Siegerebbe, Muller Thurgau , Pinot Gris , Pinot Noir
San Francisco Bay Area AVA’s & Sub-appellations
Contra Costa
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
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Sub-appellations:
-Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Clara Valley
Ben Lomond Mountain
Pacheco Pass
San Ysidro
Livermore Valley
Smallest Ava in California
Cole ranch - Anderson valley
Anderson valley Ava
Mendocino
Applegate ava
Oregon / south west
Dundee hills Ava
Willamette valley - Oregon
Willamette Valley soils
Jory
