USA and Canada Flashcards
Describe the climate of California.
California 1100 km from north to south but latitude of the vineyards along its length is not the deciding factor.
- California Ocean Current crucial
- only has effect where there are breaks in the coastal mountain range
- cold air drawn in in evening lower night temperatures
- fogs in morning shield vineyards from sun for half the day
- valleys at right angles to the sea such as those in Santa Barbara County and Monterey County act as funnels for cold air
- Central Valley by contrast has no exposure to sea and is therefore very hot
Lack of rain very important. Absent during ripening season (much drip irrigation) but dry autumns allow for longer ripening period
What is the most widely planted red grape in California?
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Describe Zinfandel.
Tendency to ripen unevenly, with harvested fruit sometimes including raisined grapes and underripe ones.
- Zinfandel made from raisined grapes will have concentration, full body, high alcohol and sometimes small amounts of residual sugar
Flavours of red and black fruit dried berries liquorice (herbaceous quality from underripe grapes sometimes)
What is white Zinfandel?
Rosé made from early-picked Zinfandel.
- frutiy
- pale in colour
- medium sweet
- low in alcohol
What does Merlot produce in California?
Approachable wines - soft tannins - ripe black fruit - for example those from San Joaquin in Central Valley But also higher quality ones from cooler sites such as - Monterey - Napa - Sonoma
Describe the style of Syrah wines in California.
Planted across the State.
- typically a full-bodied rich style
- smaller number of producers make more restrained, peppery style
What is the most widely planted grape of either colour in California?
Chardonnay.
Describe Chardonnay styles in California.
Inexpensive from Central Valley: - fruit forward - low to medium acidity - sometimes toast notes from staves or chips So therefore not unlike, Past Californian Chardonnay style : - full bodied - high alcohol - low acid - obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter - peach and banana flavours
Modern premium Chardonnay:
- more restrained
- examples come from Los Carneros and Russian River Valley
What are the main white varieties in California?
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
What does the term Fumé Blanc signify?
Hard to say. Marketing ploy in early 1970s by Robert Mondavi - renamed then unfashionable Sauvignon Blanc and put it in Bordeaux bottle, having given it some oak ageing. In the name alluded to the French Blanc Fumé, but in name only. Sold well and continues to do so but no fixed rules for what it actually is. Does not always have oak.
Where is the world’s largest winery?
Central Valley - Gallo’s
Talk about Robert Mondavi.
Robert Mondavi (1913-2008)
- 1936 he and father and brother moved family winery business from Central Valley to Napa
- 1962 visit to France persuaded him to take Cabernet Sauvignon to California
- split with brother whose descendants still run Krug winery
- 1966 opening of new winery on Oakville highway
- pioneered varietals
- cultural events associated with the winery and its wines
- wine tourism
- joint venture with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, 1979, Opus One (Napa Cabernet based wine)
- his winery ended up being bought by Constellation Brands
Where is the majority of California’s wine produced?
In the Central Valley.
Where is Californian premium wine produced?
Along the coast.
Describe the climate and topography of Central Valley.
- huge area; 80% of Californian production
- encompasses Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys
- fertile soil
- continental climate
- hot and dry (zones 4 and 5)
- irrigation used
- Lodi in the middle of length of Central Valley produces better quality - has cool air from Pacific
Talk about UC Davis.
University of California at Davis.
- in Central Valley
- home since early 20th century of viticultural department
- Eugene Hilgard (d. 1913) promoter of grafting to avoid Phylloxera and importance of matching variety to soil type
- Winkler of the eponymous degree day heat measurement system worked there
- Ruby Cabernet - Carignan x Cabernet Sauvignon cross, 1948
- Rubired - hybrid, 1958
Describe Ruby Cabernet.
American red grape cross. Carignan x Cabernet Sauvignon. Released from UC Davis in 1948
- aim was to combine Cabernet characteristics with Carignan productivity and heat resistance
- 1,482 ha in southern San Joaquin Valley in 2012
- also grown in South Africa and Australia.