USA: Appellations of Origin Flashcards
Appellations of Origin for the USA
AVA Stands for?
American Viticultural Area
AVA’s sumarised.
An American Viticultural Area or AVA.
A delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic and/or climatic features that distinguish it and affect how grapes are grown.
An AVA designation on a wine label accurately describes the origin of a certain percentage of the grapes used to make the wine.
Deffinition of a viticultural area?
Defined Geographic Areas defined and approved by TTB.
Based on geographic features such as climate, geology, soils, geography and elevation.
Appellations of Origin - USA
Minimum of 75% from US
Explain the role of the TTB.
To endorse that the wine comes from a specific delimited geographic area.
TTB does not endorse quality.
Appellations of Origin - Multi-state
- Must show % from each state. Max. of 3 states
Appellations of Origin - State (e.g. Virginia)
- 75% from that state
State Appelations are not AVA’s
Appellations of Origin - Multi-county
Must show percentages from each
Appellations of Origin - County (e.g. Napa County)
A political subdivision - 75% must come from that county
County Appelations are not AVA’s
Appellations of Origin - American Viticultural Area (AVA) (e.g. Napa Valley, Carneros)
at least 85% must come from the AVA except Oregon at 95%
Appellations of Origin - Individual Vineyard (e.g. Martha’s Vineyard [Heitz])
- 95% must come from the vineyard - must also use recognised Appellation of Origin (e.g. county, AVA)
Appellations of Origin is administered by the TTB. What is the TTB?
the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau,
Are AVA’s the same as European AOP’s, DOC etc
AVA not the same as European AOC, DOC, IGP by means of restrictions and control of vini- and viticultural methods.
More like European IGP’s.
For wines labeled by single vineyard must contain a minimum of what % of grapes grown in the stated vineyard?
95%
Which States require wines to be made 100% from grapes grown in that state if stated on label.
California and Oregon.
Wines labeled as Washington must contain what minimum % of grapes grown in the state?
95%
For wines labeled with county, state, or country, give the minimum varietal %.
List the exceptions
- = 75% USA
- = 100% California and Oregon
- = 95% Washington
- = 85% Texas
Which states require wines to be made 100% from grapes grown in that state if stated on label.
California and Oregon.
Explain the term “Estate Bottled”.
- Optional term that legally certifies that the winery grew 100% of the grapes on land it owns or controls and that the winery crushed, fermented, finished, aged, and bottled the wine in a continuous process on the same property.
- Both the vineyard and winery must be located in the viticultural area that is stated on the label.
California’s two most northern wine regions?
Lake County & Mendocino County.
How are Appellations defined in the US?
Appellations are defined by political boundaries, such a county, state or country, or by federally-recognized regions called American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
First AVA established in the United States?
Augusta Missouri.
Minimum varietal origin requirement if label lists AVA?
85% from stated AVA.
California’s two most northern wine regions?
Lake County and Mendocino County
Explain the term “Estate Bottled”.
This optional term certifies legally that the winery grew 100% of the grapes on land it owns or controls and that the winery crushed, fermented, finished, aged, and bottled the wine in a continuous process on the same property. Both the vineyard and winery must be located in the viticultural area that is stated on the label.
An American appellation of origin is?
- National boundary. The United States.
- State Boundary. Two or no more than three States which are all contiguous.
- County Boundary. Must be identified with the word “county”, in the same size of type, and in letters as conspicuous as the name of the county.
Most of California’s wine production is in?
Central Valley
For wine with a varietal designation must contain a minimum of what % of the stated variety?
What is the exception?
75%
Vitis labrusca grapes, like Concord, are an exception, and need only comprise a minimum 51% of a varietal wine.
The major winegrowing regions of California are divided into four large AVAs, Name them.
- North Coast,
- Central Coast,
- South Coast,
- The Sierra Foothills
North Coast AVAs include which counties? (5)
- Lake County
- Mendocino County
- Napa County
- Solano County
- Sonoma County
Napa AVAs (16)
- Calistoga
- Diamond Mountain District
- Howell Mountain
- Chiles Valley District
- St. Helena
- Spring Mountain
- Rutherford
- Oakville
- Yountville
- Mount Veeder
- Atlas Peak
- Stags Leap District
- Oak Knoll District
- Los Carneros (also in Sonoma)
- Coombsville
- Wild Horse Valley
What is the minimum % of a US named varietal wine?
75%
What is the minimum % of a California named varietal wine?
75%
The Federal TTB requires that for a State or County label what % of grapes must be sourced from the place named?
75%
The Federal TTB requires that for a declararion of AVA what % of grapes must be sourced from the AVA named?
Oregon is an exception with what percentage required?
- 85%
- 95% in Oregon
If a producer labels their wine by county or state, what percentage of grapes must be used from that area?
What are the exceptions?
75%
If labeled California and Oregon, 100% must be from state grown fruit.
If labeled Washington, 95% must be from state grown fruit.
If labeled Texas, 85% must be from state grown fruit.
Wines labeled by vineyard must contain at least __% fruit from that vineyard.
95%
What are the requirements for a wine to be labeled “estate-bottled”?
100% must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery.
The winery and all vineyards used in the production of an estate-bottled wine must be located within the same AVA.
What are the percentages of grapes required for labeling by region?
If labeled by country, state, or county: 75%
If labeled by AVA: 85%
If labeled with a single vineyard: 95%
What percentage of fruit must come from the stated vintage if labeled with an AVA?
What is the exception in Oregon?
85%
95% in Oregon.
What percentage if labeled by county or state?
Exceptions?
- 75%
- 100% California & Oregon
- 95% Washington
- 85% in Texas
Wine with a varietal designation must contain a minimum of the stated varietal in %?
75%.
Vitis Labrusca grapes, such as Concord, are an exception, and need only comprise a minimum what % of a varietal wine?
51%
What group do the Concord and Catawba grapes belong to?
Vitis Labrusca (Fox grape)
What alcohol level must a wine have to be labeled, simply, table wine and with no percentage required on label?
7-14% abv
Law requires a government health warning, and the phrase “Contains Sulfites”, when they are present in a concentration of how many parts per million or more?
10ppm
How do U.S. counties qualify as legal appellations of origin for wine?
Automatically.
