USA Flashcards
How is the effect of the fog on the vineyards? Name the 2 areas in New World that fog has a particular importance.
Fog can help cool an area that may otherwise struggle to produce high-quality grapes.
Examples:
• California
• Casablanca Valley in Chile
Where can we see Mediterranean climate other than Mediterranean sea?
Coastal California
Chile
South Africa
South Eastern Australia
Compare the mediterranean climate with maritime climate and the effect on the vines.
The extra warmth and sunlight in Mediterranean climates, compared with maritime climates, leads to wines that are fuller bodied, with riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower levels of acidity.
The lower rainfall can have a positive effect on the health of the grapes but can also lead to drought.
Which regions in the New World countries make a small proportion of oak matured Sauvignon Blanc as a point of difference from their usual fresh, fruity wines?
California and New Zealand
List the regions that have built up a reputation for premium Chardonnay.
- Russian River Valley (has very cool foggy conditions) and Los Carneros (morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay) in California
- Adelaide Hills, Geelong and Mornington Peninsula in Australia
- Gisborne and Marlborough in New Zealand
- Casablanca Valley in Chile
List the Classic regions for Cabernet Sauvignon outside Europe.
- Napa Valley in California
- Coonawarra and Margaret River in Australia
- Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand
- Stellenbosch in South Africa
- Colchagua Valley in Chile
What are the key factors determining a vineyard’s climate in California?
- Exceptionally cold California Ocean Current
- Mountains : shielding much of the state from the cooling effect of the ocean.
- Gaps in the mountains : the cooling effect can reach well inland. (Due to a break in the coastal ranges ; Russian River Valley AVA has very cool, foggy conditions.)
- Valleys that lie at right angles : Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties, act as funnels for the cold air.
- Fog : cold air, often accompanied by fogs, is drawn in from the ocean in the evening, lowering night-time temperatures. It takes for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning means that the cooling influence extends well into the day. (Los Carneros and Russian River)
- Lack of rain during the ripening season.
- Latitude plays a small role in determining a vineyard’s climate.
How is lack of rain during ripening season effecting the vineyards? What is the solution?
Water shortages are a real concern and drip irrigation is widely practised. The scarcity of autumn rain has always allowed growers to leave the grapes on the vine long into the season. This extra ‘hang time’ results in very ripe grapes with very concentrated flavours and very high sugar levels. More recently, there has been a greater appreciation of freshness, and many growers are now picking slightly earlier.
Which grape is regarded as California’s ‘own’ grape variety ? Explain the styles.
Zinfandel.
1- concentrated, full-bodied red wines with high alcohol levels, sometimes with small amounts of residual sugar. Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries, and liquorice.
2- It has a tendency to ripen unevenly, with the consequence that the harvested fruit can sometimes include both raisined and underripe grapes. So, some can display a subtle herbaceous quality from underripe grapes.
3- Early picked Zinfandel for large volumes of rose. These wines, commonly referred to as White Zinfandel, are typically fruity, pale in colour, medium -sweet and low in alcohol.
Describe the Merlot in California. And list the areas having the plantings of Merlot.
• Approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit.
o San Joaquin in Central Valley has the largest plantings, making simple, inexpensive wines.
• Better quality Merlot with deeply coloured wines have soft, velvety tannins, a luscious body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum.
o from cooler sites such as Monterey and the North Coast regions, especially Napa and Sonoma.
Where do the premium Pinot Noir come from in California?
moderate regions such as Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley.
How is the style of Pinot Noir changes in California?
Some are light in colour, with classic gamey and vegetal notes, although most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavours (red cherry, strawberry) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.
What is the most planted grape variety of either colour in California?
Chardonnay
How is the Chardonnay colour changing throughout the state?
o the inexpensive, high-volume wines from the Central Valley tend to be fruity with low to medium acidity and sometimes a toasty note from oak staves or chips.
o In the past, high-quality California Chardonnay had a reputation for being very full-bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity, with obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning the peach and banana fruit flavours.
o Today, there is a wide variety of premium Chardonnay including restrained examples with less oak from cooler regions such as Los Carneros and Russian River Valley.
How is the SB style changes in California with the regions?
o The best Sauvignon Blanc comes from California’s coastal regions, giving wines with high acidity and ripe citrus flavours.
o Affordable, fruity, everyday wines come from warmer regions such as the Central Valley.
