USA Flashcards
AVA
American Viticultural Area since 1978
First AVA
Augusta Missouri 1980
TTB
Trade and Tax Bureau, controls the AVA system
Five main regions of California
North Coast Central Coast Sierra Foothills Central Valley South Coast
Account for 90% of American wine
Meritage
Recognizable brand name for Bordeaux style blends from California
Meritage Red
Made from a blend of two or more of the the following grapes:
Cab Sav Cab Franc Merlot Malbec Petit Verdot St Macaire Gros Verdot Carmenere
No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend
Meritage White
A blend of two or more varieties including:
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Muscadelle du Bordelais
No single variety may make up more than 90 percent of the blend
Counties of California North Coast
Lake Mendocino Sonoma Napa Solano Marin
Napa AVA’s
Calistoga Howel Mountain Chiles Valley District Diamond Mountain District Spring Mountain District St Helena Ruterhford Oakville Mount Veeder Younthville Stags Leap District Atlas Peak Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Los Carneros Coobsville Wild Horse Valley
Napa style wines
Best known for cabernet sav Bordeaux blends
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also of good quality
Napa climate
Carneros is the south coolest area due to its proximity to the St Pablo Bay (extension of the San Francisco Bay).
Clear differences between the hillside vineyards and valley floors.
Morning fogs cover the valley floor gradually burning of as the day progresses.
Further north the average temp increases because of less frog and a more Maritime climate, with more hours of sunshine because some vineyards are above the frog line. Temp can be cooler at night.
Mayacamas Mountains
On the west side of Napa which acts as border between Napa and Sonoma to the west
Vaca Mountain Range
On the east side of Napa
Sonoma Regional AVA’s
Northern Sonoma
Sonoma Coast
Sub AVA’s of Sonoma
Los Carneros Sonoma Coast Rockpile Sonoma Valley Sonoma Mountain Russian River Valley Sonoma Country Green Valley of Russian River Valley Bennett Valley Chalk Hill Dry Creek Valley Knight's Valley Alexander Valley Fort Ross-Seaview Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
Los Carneros
AVA shared between Napa and Sonoma
Famous for sparkling wine, Traditional Method and outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Cooler climate due to proximity to the St Pablo Bay
Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley are influenced by?
Early morning fogs and cooler temp from the Pacific Ocean
Best known grape varieties for Sonoma
Zinfandel Bordeaux blends Cab sav Merlot Pinot Noir Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
Mendocino County
To the north of Sonoma, most of the AVA’s are located in the south of the county
Mendocino sub AVA’s
Pine Mountain Cloverdale Peak Mendocino Ridge Yorkville Highlands Anderson Valley Benmore Valley Cole Ranch McDowell Valley Redwood Valley Potter Valley Dos Rios Covelo
Smallest AVA in the US
Covelo, Mendocino, North Coast, California, USA
Anderson Valley
Largest AVA of Mendocino
Well known for its quality Pinot Noir and Riesling
Mendocino grape varieties
Generally known for Zinfandel and Pinot Noir
Central Valley
North Coast California, accounts for 75% of all Californian wine and relies on irrigation
San Francisco Bay Area AVAs
Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Clare Valley Ben Lomond Mountain Pacheco Pass San Ysidro Livermore Valley
Livermore Valley AVA
Located within San Francisco Bay Area, Central Coast.
Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Located within San Francisco Bay Area, Central Coast.
Cooler higher altitude vineyards
Monterey AVAs
Arroyo Seco Carmel Valley Chalone Hames Valley San Antonio Valley San Bernabe San Lucas
Monterey wine styles
Chardonnay is the most planted variety, but some excellent Pinot Noirs are also produced
San Louis Obisbo County AVAs
Paso Robles
Arroyo-Grande Valley
Edna Valley
York Mountain
Paso Robles AVA’s (11)
Adelaide District Creston District Paso Robles Genesco District El Pomar District Paso Robles Highlands District Paso Robles Willow Creek District San Juan Creek San Miguel District San Margarita Ranch Templeton Gap (Coolest AVA)
Paso Robles wine styles
Zinfandel and Cab Sav are widely grown and Rhone varieties are growing in importance
Santa Barbra County AVAs
Santa Maria Valley
Sta. Rita Hills
Santa Ynez Valley
Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Where is Oregon
Located between California to the south and Washington State in the north
Willamette Valley AVAs
Dundee Hills Eola-Amity Ribbon Ridge McMinnville Yamhill-Carlton District Chehalem Mountains
Willamette Valley wine styles
Respected for high quality Pinot Noirs
Often described as a crossing between California’s Russian River and Burgundy Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay and Riesling also do well here
The Colombia Valley AVA is situated in?
Mainly in Washington State but a small part of the appellation is in Oregon
Walla Walla Valley and Colombia Gorge are equally divided between Oregon and Washington
Oregon Wines with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling stating on the label must contain a minimum of?
90% of the stated variety
Oregon Wines that have a designated area on the label must contain a minim of?
95% from the designated area
Washington State
Located to the north of Oregon.
Relies on irrigation form the Columbia River
Colombia Valley AVA
For the vast majority in Washington State and accounts for the vast majority of wine in the State
The most planted varieties are Cab Sav and Merlot
Walla Walla AVA
Mostly in Washington State and partly in Oregon
Continental climate with long, hot and dry summers and very cool nights.
AVA labelling requirements grapes
If labeled by country, state, or county: 75%
If labeled by AVA: 85%
If labeled with a single vineyard: 95%
New York State
Second biggest wine producing state after California
Generally known for Vitis Labrusca grapes: Concord Catawba Delaware Diamond Elvira Ives Niagara
Sub AVAs of New York Finger Lakes AVA
Cayaga Lake
Seneca Lake
Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc do well here
Sub AVAs of Long Island AVA
The Hamptons Long Island
North Fork of Long Island
Warm enough to grow Bordeaux varieties
AVA Labelling terms vintages
AVA: min of 95% must come from the stated vintage
State or County: min of 85% must come from the stated vintage
