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WSET dip New World > USA and Canada > Flashcards

USA and Canada Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the climate of California.

A

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

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2
Q

What is the most widely planted red grape in California?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon.

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3
Q

Describe Zinfandel.

A

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)
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4
Q

What is white Zinfandel?

A

Rosé made from early-picked Zinfandel.

  • frutiy
  • pale in colour
  • medium sweet
  • low in alcohol
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5
Q

What does Merlot produce in California?

A 
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
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6
Q

Describe the style of Syrah wines in California.

A

Planted across the State.

  • typically a full-bodied rich style
  • smaller number of producers make more restrained, peppery style
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7
Q

What is the most widely planted grape of either colour in California?

A

Chardonnay.

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8
Q

Describe Chardonnay styles in California.

A 
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
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9
Q

What are the main white varieties in California?

A

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

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10
Q

What does the term Fumé Blanc signify?

A

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.

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11
Q

Where is the world’s largest winery?

A

Central Valley - Gallo’s

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12
Q

Talk about Robert Mondavi.

A

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
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13
Q

Where is the majority of California’s wine produced?

A

In the Central Valley.

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14
Q

Where is Californian premium wine produced?

A

Along the coast.

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15
Q

Describe the climate and topography of Central Valley.

A
  • 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
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16
Q

Talk about UC Davis.

A

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
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17
Q

Describe Ruby Cabernet.

A

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.
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18
Q

Describe Rubired.

A

Californian Red hybrid.

  • developed at UC Davis
  • released 1958
  • deeply coloured and productive
  • nearly 5,000 ha in 2012, nearly all in Central Valley
  • never mentioned on labels
19
Q

Talk about Lodi.

A

Lodi AVA. Cool area in middle of Central Valley. Lies east of the huge Sacramento river delta

  • cooling breezes from San Francisco Bay every day
  • wide range of varieties grown
  • some of the oldest Zinfandel vineyards here
  • good Viognier
  • Chardonnay over-cropped and bland
  • divided into 7 sub-AVAs in 2006
20
Q

Talk about Napa Valley.

A

Long and thin, influenced by coastal fogs in south. Vineyards on plain and up sides of valley on east and west.
- diverse range of climates
Calistoga [warmest, cool air ex mountain gap allows night time retention of acidity]
Howell Mountain [west facing so hotter]
Spring Mountain [east facing]
St Helena [warmest, cool air ex mountain gap allows night time retention of acidity]
Rutherford [warmer, Cab Sav, reds more powerful]
Oakville [warm, Cab Sav]
Mount Veedner [east facing]
Yountville [warm, Cab Sav]
Stag’s Leap District
Atlas Peak [west facing so hotter]
Los Carneros [half in Sonoma County; cool; high quality PN and Chardonnay]
Many vineyards on the sides of the mountains lie above the fog layer.
Also find Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in these AVAs.

21
Q

Name five AVAs in Sonoma County.

A 
Russian River Valley
Dry Creek Valley
Alexander Valley
Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Valley
22
Q

Talk about Russian River Valley.

A

AVA in Sonoma County. Benefits from the Petalurna Gap.

  • cool, foggy conditions
  • elegant Pinot Noirs
  • elegant Chardonnays
  • sparkling wine
  • some good Zinfandel
  • the AVA expanded, perhaps unfortunately, in 2003 and again in 2011
23
Q

What is the Petalurna Gap?

A

Break in the coastal ranges which allows cool air into Russian River Valley AVA.

24
Q

Talk about Dry Creek Valley.

A 
AVA in Sonoma County. (Dry Creek is a tributary of Russian River)
Notable for:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Zinfandel
- Cabernet Sauvignon
25
Q

Talk about Alexander Valley.

A

AVA in Sonoma County.

  • warmer than other Sonoma AVAs and with fleshier and more full-bodied wines
  • reputation for soft-textured, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons
26
Q

Talk about Sonoma Coast AVA.

A

AVA in Sonoma County.

  • artificial construction to allow scattered vineyards describe wines as ‘estate-bottled’
  • fragmentation into sub-AVAs has begun (Fort Ross- Seaview AVA started 2012 - above fog line but gets Pacific winds. Wild Hog, and Flowers are 2 producer-growers here)
  • cool climate and high rainfall compared to rest of Sonoma County
27
Q

Talk about Santa Cruz Mountains.

A

Diverse region and AVA in the north of the Central Coast, immediately south of San Francisco

  • 141,700 ha but scattered across huge area so very different soils etc
  • one of California’s coolest areas
  • best known for Cabernet Sauvignon
  • but Pinot Noir too
  • Bonny Doon Vineyard, founded by prominent Rhone Ranger Randall Grahm, is here
28
Q

What are the four large/important AVAs of the Central Coast?

A 
From the north:
Sant Cruz Mountains AVA
Monterey AVA
Paso Robles AVA
Santa Maria Valley AVA
29
Q

Talk about Monterey.

A

Large blanket AVA which follows the path of the Salinas Valley (runs in bend sinister)

  • strongly influenced by Pacific
  • Chardonnay and Pinot Noir heavily planted at Ocean end of Valley
  • less cool end has Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah
  • Santa Lucia Highlands is an AVA within Monterey known for quality Chardonnay with citrus and tropical flavours and balanced acidity.
30
Q

Where is Santa Lucia Highlands AVA?

A

Within Monterey AVA, on western side of Salinas Valley

  • supposed to be best AVA in Monterey
  • terraces up to 365 metres
  • sheltered from worst gusts of Ocean winds
  • Garys’; Pisoni - two wineries here that are well known
31
Q

Talk about Garys’ Vineyard.

A

In Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Monterey.

  • Gary Franscioni
  • Gary Pisoni
  • planted 1995
  • produces high quality Pinot Noir
32
Q

Talk about Paso Robles.

A

In San Luis Obsipo County, California.

  • heritage Zinfandel
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Rhone-style wines
  • now (from 2014) divided into 11 sub-regions
  • about 16,000 ha of vineyards planted
33
Q

Talk about Santa Maria Valley.

A

Very exposed to the Pacific, thus cool and good for

  • Pinot Noir
  • Chardonnay
  • fog sometimes covers vineyards all day
  • slow ripened grapes with high acidity
  • Bien Nacido Vineyard - supplier of grapes, varietal wines and budwood from its nurseries
34
Q

The centre of wine production in northern Oregon is…..?

A

Williamette Valley. Lies to west of Cascade Mountains and stretches south from Portland.

35
Q

What is the climate of Williamette Valley?

A

Moderate.

  • breezes from Pacific
  • growing season dry with long sunny days and cool nights
36
Q

What are the two main varieties grown in Williamette Valley?

A

Pinot Noir - ripe red fruit flavours, hint of cinnamon, high acid
Pinot Gris - tends to be made in a fruity dry style. Shows more flesh than Pinot Grigio but more acidity than Alsace Pinot Gris.

37
Q

Talk about Washington State.

A

Continental climate.
Large AVA Columbia Valley has most of the vineyards
- within it is Yakima Valley AVA, and
- Walla Walla AVA
All lie within the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains to the east, so dry. Irrigation with river water is necessary.
- long warm summer days and cool nights ensure optimal ripeness
- but major problem in the area is winter freeze which can very seriously damage crop volumes
- Merlot
- Cabernet
- some Syrah
- Chardonnay
- Riesling - dry style with ripe stone fruit

38
Q

Talk about New York State.

A

Mainly American and hybrid vine species for juices and jellies but
Riesling
Chardonnay
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon all grown.
Finger Lakes is most important AVA
- deep glacial lakes
- store heat and extend growing season
- noted for the quality of its perfumed Rieslings
- Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also produced.

39
Q

Talk about climate in Canada.

A

In both British Columbia and Ontario a continental climate in wine areas. Large lakes go some way to moderate temperatures.
- cold enough in winter for ice wine

40
Q

Talk about Ontario.

A

Ontario has 3 DVAs:
Niagara Peninsula
Lake Erie North Shore
Prince Edward County
- all close to a Great Lake which moderates summer and winter temperatures of the continental climate. Delay of budburst in spring helps minimise frost damage.
Wide range of grapes grown - over 50 varieties.

41
Q

What is a DVA?

A

Designated Viticultural Area - used in Canada.

42
Q

Talk about Niagara Peninsula.

A

Most important of Ontario’s 3 DVAs.

  • Riesling does well, making fresh, fruity dry and off-dry wines
  • Vidal, a hardy hybrid is used for ice wine (but does not have the acid structure and aromatic complexity of Riesling
  • Chardonnay grown
  • Pinot Noir
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
43
Q

Talk about British Columbia.

A

Most important DVA is the huge Okanagan Valley

  • rain shadow gives it semi-desert environment
  • so far north the summer days are very long giving extra hours for ripening
  • large glacial lakes moderate temperatures
  • Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Ice Wine (usually from Riesling or Vidal).

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