USA-California Flashcards
The united States’ GI system is based on the__________1____________.
1=American Viticultural Area(AVA)
Latitude plays a relatively small role in determining a vineyard’s climate in much of California. The influence of the exceptionally cold ______1_____________is much more crucial.
1= California Ocean Current
North of Los Angeles (where most of the vineyards are located) the coast line of California is ______1________.
1= mountainous
(These mountains shield much of the state from the cooling effect of the ocean; however, in areas that are affected, the cooling effect can be marked.)
Cold air, often accompanied by ____1____, is drawn in from the ocean ________2_______, lowering ______3________.
The cooling effect can be so dramatic in vineyards near the coast that, in some years, grapes can struggle to fully ripen.
1= fogs 2= in the evening 3= night-time temperatures
(In addition, the time it takes for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning means that the cooling influence extends well into the day.)
Where there are gaps in the mountains, the cooling effect can reach well inland. Valleys that lie at right angles to the ocean, such as those in Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties, _______1______ for the cold air.
1= act as funnels
Where there is no exposure to the ocean, such as in the Central Valley, the climate is ____1____.
1= hot
The other factor that links all of California’s wine regions is a _____1_____ during the ripening season. Water shortages are a real concern and drip irrigation is widely practiced.
1= lack of rain
______1______________ 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.
1= The scarcity of autumn rain
_______1_________ is the most widely planted black grape in California. Many of the wines are ___2_______, with very concentrated ______3______ flavours and prominent ______4_____ aromas from new oak barrels. Some producers choose to make their 1 in a less rich style, with fresher blackcurrant flavours.
1= Cabernet Sauvignon 2= full-bodie 3= ripe cassis 4= spice
_______1_______ is regarded as California’s ‘own’ grape variety and it is made in a range of styles. It has a tendency to ripen unevenly, with the consequence that the harvested fruit can sometimes include both raisined and underripe grapes.
1= Zinfandel
(Zinfandel)
The raisining can result in concentrated, full-bodied red wines with ______alcohol levels, sometimes with small amounts of residual sugar. Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries, and ____1______. Some can display a subtle _______2______ quality from underripe grapes.
high
1= liquorice 2= herbaceous
Large volumes of rose Zinfandel are made from early-picked grapes. These wines, commonly referred to as White Zinfandel, are typically fruity, pale in colour, ______1_____, _____2____.
1= medium-sweet 2= low in alcohol
(Black Varieties)
______1_______ is also widely planted, generally making approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit. San Joaquin in Central Valley has the largest plantings, making simple, inexpensive wines.
1= Merlot
Better-quality Merlots now come from cooler sites such as Monterey and the North Coast regions, especially _____1____ and _____2____. These deeply coloured wines have soft, velvety tannins, a luscious body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum.
1= Napa 2= Sonoma
(Black Varieties)
Premium ______1_____ can come from moderate regions such as Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley. Styles range widely, according to the vineyard site and winemaking practices.
1= Pinot Noir
(Premium Pinot Noir)
Some are light in colour, with classic gamay and vegetal notes, although most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavours (_______,________) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.
red cherry, strawberry
What are the 4 principal red grape varieties in USA?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel