USA - California Flashcards
Where are the headquarters of Gallo located?
Modesto in the Central Valley, California
What are the four large AVAs of California?
North Coast AVA (1983)
Central Coast AVA (1985)
South Coast AVA (1985)
Sierra Foothills AVA (1987)
Which large AVA covers land between Los Angeles and San Diego?
South Coast AVA (1985)
Is Central Valley an AVA?
No
Which area of California grows 75% of that states wine?
Central Valley
When was the Meritage Alliance founded?
1988
What is Meritage?
- A white or red wine made from a blend of approved Bordeaux grape varieties.
- Must be a blend of two or more varieties, with one variety making up no more than 90% of the blend.
- To use the name ‘Meritage’ the producer must be a member of the Meritage Alliance.
Varieties allowed are:
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec Petit Verdot St. Macaire Gros Verdot Carmenère
Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Muscadelle du Bordelais.
What is the most important AVA in the Central Valley area?
Lodi AVA (1986)
Which AVA produced 20% of California’s total wine production?
Lodi AVA (1986)
Where is Lodi AVA located and how does it compare to the rest of the Central Valley?
Located just south of Sacramento on the eastern edge of the Sacramento River Delta
Slightly cooler than much of the Central Valley, due to the influence of a gap in the coastal ranges, which pulls the coastal air inland from the San Francisco Bay and over the delta.
What are two significant producers located in Lodi AVA?
Sutter Home
Robert Mondavi Woodbridge
What are the seven sub-AVAs of Lodi AVA?
Alta Mesa Borden Ranch Mokelumne River Cosumnes River Jahant Sloughhouse Clements Hills
What was the rootstock recommended to Californian viticulturalists by UC Davis, and subsequently found to be susceptible to phylloxera?
AXR-1
What is AXR-1?
The rootstock recommended to Californian viticulturalists by UC Davis, and subsequently found to be susceptible to phylloxera.
What style of wine is most associated with Sierra Foothills AVA?
Zinfandel, many from very old vines
What are the sub-AVAs of Sierra Foothills AVA?
Fair Play AVA El Dorado AVA Fiddletown AVA North Yuba AVA California Shenandoah Valley AVA
Where is Sierra Foothills AVA located?
East of Sacramento and Lodi
Western edge of Sierra Mountains in California’s historic gold rush area
How many sub-appellations are within Napa Valley AVA?
16
What percentage of California wine is produced in the Napa Valley?
4%
What are the two mountain ranges to the east and west of Napa Valley?
West - Mayacamas
East - Vaca
What percentage of Napa Valley plantings is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon?
50%
Chardonnay - 12%
Merlot - 10%
Sauvignon Blanc - 8%
What are the 16 nested AVAs of Napa Valley AVA?
Calistoga AVA Diamond Mountain District AVA Chiles Valley District AVA Atlas Peak AVA Coombsville AVA Howell Mountain AVA Los Carneros AVA Mt. Veeder AVA Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA Oakville AVA Rutherford AVA St. Helena AVA Spring Mountain District AVA Stags Leap District AVA Yountville AVA Wild Horse Valley AVA
When was Napa Valley AVA established?
1981
Who established Napa Valley’s first commercial winery?
Charles Krug (1861) First vines arrived in the region in 1830s
Which three nested AVAs of Napa Valley AVA are most influenced by San Pablo Bay?
Los Carneros AVA
Coombsville AVA
Wild Horse Valley AVA
What is the northern extension of San Francisco Bay called?
San Pablo Bay
Which Napa Valley AVAs are located in the Mayacamas, above the fog line?
Mount Veeder AVA
Spring Mountain AVA
What is the name of the gap in the Mayacamas that allows cool Pacific air to cool parts of Calistoga AVA?
Chalk Hill Gap
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Atlas Peak AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Mountain - up to 792m asl
Cool
Volcanic soil, irrigation required
CS - high acid; Chard
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Calistoga AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley although at up to 370m asl, much more elevated than the southerly AVAs Warm to hot High rainfall Volcanic soil, varied CS; Zin; Syrah; Petite Sirah
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Chiles Valley AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley and hillsides in Vaca Range - up to 366m asl Warm days, cool nights Later harvest than on valley floor Alluvial soil, marine origin CS - lush yet firm; Mer; CF; Zin
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Coombsville AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Low hillsides of Vaca Range Cool - moderated by San Pablo Bay Low rainfall Volcanic soil CS - hillsides; grown on lower slopes - Mer; Chard; Syrah; PN
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Diamond Mountain District AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Mountain - up to 671m asl Warm, high diurnal range High rainfall Red volcanic soil CS; CF; both with firm structure and good aging potential
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Howell Mountain AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Mountain - above the fog line - up to 792m asl Warm and dry, despite decent rainfall No marine influence Free draining, poor volcanic soil CS; Mer; Zin; Chard; Viognier Firm structured wines
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Los Carneros AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley but varied - sea level to 213m asl Cool Lowest rainfall in Napa Valley Clay and calcium rich soils Chard; PN
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Mount Veeder AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Mountain - up to 792m asl
Cool to moderate climate
Above the fog line - smaller diurnal range, warm nights
Sedimentary, marine derived soil, acidic, low fertility
CS; Mer; Zin; Chard
Agebility is a hallmark of Mt Veeder
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Oak Knoll District AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley Moderate to cool, marine influence Alluvial fan soils formed by Dry Creek Mer; Chard; CS; SB; Ries. Long growing season for CS and Mer
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Oakville AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley Moderately warm Strongly affected by morning fog Sedimentary gravel soils, some heavier volcanic soils CS; CF; Mer; SB Ripe, rich and full wines
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Rutherford AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley
Moderately warm - a little warmer than Oakville or Stags Leap District
Marginally influenced by morning fog
Difference between Western Bench area (gravelly, sedimentary soils) and eastern area (volcanic, more fertile)
CS; Mer; CF; ZIn
Intense, ripe, mineral, firm tannin for long aging
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Spring Mountain AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Mountain - above fog line, up to 792m asl
Cool to moderate climate, but lower diurnal range
Sedimentary shale soils, high drainage, low fertility
CS; CF; Mer; Zin; Chard
Powerful, firm, tannin and acidity for aging
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of St Helena AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley
Hot, protected by western hills, no fog or wind
Narrow part of valley, heat reflection from hillside
Sedimentary, gravel-clay; north and east has more fertile, deeper volcanic soil
CS; CF; Mer; Syrah; Zin; SB - passionfruit and forward
Deep and ripe, jammy reds
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Stags Leap District AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley and lower hillsides
Moderately warm - afternoon marine winds cool hot air from Stags Leap rocks
Volcanic gravel, loam and rocky hillsides
CS; Mer; velvety textures, soft tannin
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Wild Horse Valley AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley of Vaca Range Coolest of all nested Napa Valley AVAs Strong marine influence and elevation up to 650m asl Red volcanic soil - requires irrigation PN; Chard
What are the significant varieties, soils and climate of Yountville AVA? Mountain or valley AVA?
Valley Moderate with marine influence and morning fog, afternoon marine breezes Noticable diurnal range Gravel, silt CS; Mer Ripe, violet and rich
Name a winery in Stags Leap District AVA
Shafer (top wine Hillside Select)
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Stags’ Leap Winery
(note position of apostrophes!!!)
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
1970 - founded by Warren Winiarski after taking cuttings from Nathan Fay’s vineyard
1972 - first SLV wine made with assistance from André Tchelistcheff
1976 - the 1973 SLV Cabernet won the Judgement of Paris
1990s/2000s - wines affected by brett
2007 - SLWC sold to Chateau Ste Michelle and Antinori collaboration.
Top wines are SLV vineyard, Fay vineyard and Cask 23 (a barrel selection of the three wines)
Stags’ Leap Winery
Grapes first planted 1872, established Stags’ Leap winery in 1888
1908 - stopped production, grapes sold to other wineries, becomes a resort
1972 - production resumes
1989 - Stags Leap District AVA established
Top wines are ‘The Leap’ and ‘Audentia’ but known for Petite Sirah
Owned by Treasury Wine Estates
Who was the first person to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in the area now known as Stags Leap District AVA?
Nathan Fay - planted in 1961
Which wine was the top red wine in the Judgement of Paris. What vintage was the wine and in which year was it awarded?
1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon
Awarded 1976
Name a winery in St Helena AVA
Corison (top wine Kronos Vineyard)
Established 1987
Heitz Cellars (top wine Martha's Vineyard CS and Trailside Vineyard CS from Rutherford) Established 1961
Spottswoode (top wine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon)
Established 1982
Name a winery in Howell Mountain AVA
Dunn Vineyard (top wine Howell Mountain CS) Established 1979
Name a winery in Diamond Mountain District AVA
Diamond Creek Vineyard Established 1968, first vintage 1972 Wines are - Volcanic Hill Vineyard Gravelly Meadow Vineyard Red Rock Terrace Vineyard Lake Vineyard (only made in the best years - 12 times since 1978)
Which years has Diamond Creek ‘Lake Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon been produced?
1978, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2013,
What was California’s first single vineyard wine?
1966 Heitz ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Name a winery in Mount Veeder AVA
Mayacamas Vineyards Established 1889 (As Fischer & Sons)
Name a winery in Oakville AVA
Harlan Estate
Established 1984
Top wine ‘Harlan Estate’ released commercially in 1990
Second wine ‘The Maiden’ released 1995
Opus One
Established 1979 - joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton-Rothschild
Second wine - Ouverture (multi-vintage)
1979 - first vintage Opus One
Constellation Brands owns 50% of Opus One (when it purchased Robert Mondavi Estate in 2004) but it operates independently.
Robert Mondavi
Founded 1966
1943 - Robert’s father Cesare purchased Charles Krug Winery, then managed by sons Robert and Peter
1965 - Argument, Robert leaves family business and establishes own winery. Heart of project was the To-Kalon vineyard, planted 1868. Adopted temperature control, French oak use.
1966 - first Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
1968 - first Fumé Blanc
1971 - first Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 - sold to Constellation Brands
Retains roughly three-quarters of the nearly 600-acre To-Kalon site, perhaps Napa’s most treasured valley floor vineyard site,
Which wine was the top white wine in the Judgement of Paris. What vintage was the wine and in which year was it awarded?
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Awarded 1976
Name a winery in Calistoga AVA
Chateau Montelena
Established 1882 as A.L. Tubbs Winery
Top wine Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, first released 1978
Closed 1920 - 1933 for Prohibition, until 1940 sold grapes
1940 - renamed Ch. Montelena
1947 - winery closed
1958 - property sold to Frank family
1972 - Jim Barrett took sole ownership, made Mike Grgich winemaker
1976 - Judgement of Paris
Name a winery in Rutherford AVA
Beaulieu Vineyard
Established 1900
Top wine - Georges de Latour Private Reserve
First made 1936
Founded by Georges de Latour
Traded through Prohibition by making sacramental wine
1938 - brought André Tchelistcheff to BV from France as winemaker
1969 - Purchased by Heublein Inc. who also owned Inglenook, reputation declined
1973 - Tchelistcheff resigns
1997 - Purchased by Diageo
Dana Estates Established 2005 Cult wines, Korean owner Helms Vineyard, first made 2005. Hershey Vineyard, first made 2006 Lotus Vineyard, first made 2006 Onda first made 2010
What was the first vintage of Beaulieu Vineyard ‘Georges de Latour Private Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon?
1936
When was the To-Kalon vineyard planted?
In 1868 by H.W. Crabb
Nearly 600-acre To-Kalon site, perhaps Napa’s most treasured valley floor vineyard site
