USA - California North Coast Flashcards
Name the 5 main AVAs of California
North Coast AVA, Central Coast AVA, South Coast AVA, S.Francisco Bay AVA, Sierra Foothills AVA
Which area produce the 75% of California state’s wine?
The inland Central Valley which is not considered an AVA.
Which Counties the North Coast AVA encompasses?
Mendocino County, Lake County , Sonoma County, Napa County, Marin County and Solano County
Where is Mendocino County?
Within North Coast AVA in California, west of Lake County , North of Sonoma
What are the main mountain ranges in Mendocino?
Coastal Ranges to the west , Mayacamas to the East
In which County are the Eel, Navarro, and Russian rivers?
Mendocino. Eel in the North, Navarro on the west, Russian River on the East moving south to Sonoma
What are the 2 Avas in the north of Mendocino? What’s the river that goes through them?
Covelo and Dos Rios
* close to Eel River
List the Avas of Mendocino
Covelo and Dos Rios
Eagle Peak Mendocino County (approved 2014), Redwood Valley, Potter Valley
Cole Ranch (smallest AVA) and Mc Dowell Valley
Mendocino Ridge, Anderson Valley, Yorkville Highlands, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
Mendocino
Which others AVA does Mendocino AVA encompasses?
A portion of Mendocino Ridge, Anderson Valley, Yorkville Highlands, Cole Ranch, Mc Dowell, Redwood Valley, and Potter Valley
Which 2 AVAS in Mendocino are technically Monopoles?
Cole Ranch and McDowell Valley
- CR is 24 hectares, the smallest AVA. “Esterlina” monopole
- McDV located at the foothills of the Mayacama’s Mountains
What’s the characteristic of the Mendocino ridge Ava?
It’s the only non continuous AVA in US
What are the main grapes planted in Anderson Valley?
PN, Alsatian grapes (focus on SPK wines)
Anderson Valley runs west to east. What is the name of the eastern portion and of the western one?
* ‘The deep end’ (west)
* ‘Boonville’ (east)
Which iconic producers would you find in Anderson Valley?
Littorai, Williams Selyem, Roederer Estate , Navarro
Which vineyards would you associate to Littorai?
Savoy, Cerise
Which iconic vineyard would you associate to W Selyem in the Anderson Valley?
Ferrington Vineyard
In which year Roederer Champagne established itself in the Anderson Valley?
1982
Where is Lake County?
Within North Coast AVA in California
*East of Mendocino
What’s the reputation of the Clear Lake AVA?
It’s an historic source of inexpensive grapes sold to wineries in Napa and Sonoma
Name the Avas in Lake county
Clear Lake AVA -> 4 sub Avas within it : High Valley AVA, Big Valley AVA, Kelsey Bench AVA, Red Hills AVA
Benmore Valley AVA Guenoc Valley AVA
Describe, where is Sonoma County?
California, within North Coast AVA Mendocino to the North, Lake County and Napa to the east, Marin County and San Pablo Bay to the South
What percentage of the Californian wine is produced in Sonoma?
6%
What’s the most planted grape in Sonoma?
Chardonnay, but red grapes lead on whites
What Climate Region is Sonoma considered?
it ranges from I to III (from cool to moderate)
Which River goes through the northern part of Sonoma?
Russian River.
Where is the AVA of Pine Mountain / Cloverdale Peak?
In the north east of Sonoma, shared with Mendocino
Which wine region in Sonoma has the Russian River going from north to south?
Alexander Valley
Avas of Sonoma County?
Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, Bennett Valley, Knights Valley, Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, Moon Mountain District Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Coast, Northern Sonoma, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, Fort Ross-Seaview, Fountaingrove District, Petaluma Gap, and a majority of the Carneros AVA
What is planted mostly in the Alexander Valley? What kind of climate and soil?
AV is a Region III with a gravel soil. Bordeaux varietals are mostly planted here
Where is the Knights Valley? What’s the weather like?
Knights Valley is the warmest AVA in the county. Bordeaux grape varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, are most prominent in the gravelly soils of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley.
Sonoma Valley AVA: Where is it? Which mountain ranges can you find? What’s the soil profile?
It’s an Ava located in the South East corner of Sonoma County. It encompass the AVAs of Bennett Valley, Moon Mountain and the Sonoma’s part of Carneros You can find the Mountain Ranges of Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountain Soil is Volcanic mostly
What cooling influences are affecting Sonoma Valley?
The Petaluma Gap and the San Pablo Bay
Which Climatic Region is Los Carneros?
Region I
What’s the climate in Los Carneros?
Very windy and Foggy
Which iconic international producers invested in Los Carneros?
Ferrer (Freixenet), Taittanger, Codorniù
Where is Rockpile AVA? What is mostly planted there?
In the Northern part of Sonoma County, within Northern Sonoma AVA, with the Lake Sonoma on the east
*Zinfandel
Where is The Dry Creek Valley AVA?
In the Central, Northern part of Sonoma County With Alexander Valley to the East, Russian River (South), Northern Sonoma to the west Lake Sonoma is in the north west part of the AVA
What’s the most iconic producer of the Dry Creek Valley?
Dry Creek
What’s the largest AVA in Sonoma County?
Sonoma Coast AVA , 500,000 acres ( 220000ha) It covers the entire west coast, including the AVAs of Fort Ross Seaview, part of Chalk hill, Russian River Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Carneros (Sonoma part), Petaluma Gap
What’s the soil of Russian River Valley called?
Goldridge (Sandy loam)
What varieties are mostly planted in Russian River V AVA?
PN and CH (tipically fruity)
Which Mountain Regions would you find In Napa?
Mayacamas (W) Vaca mountains (E)
What’s the name of the Bay to the South?
San Pablo Bay
What’s the climate of the Napa Valley AVA?
Mediterranean climate
What percentage of Californian vineyard acreage is found in Napa?
4%
From where the cool Ocean Breezes influence the climate of Napa?
Through the Petaluma Gap, and through San Pablo Bay
What’s the altitude range in Napa?
It goes from zero to 2000 ft (600mt)
What’s the typical valley soil?
Extremely diverse. Volcanic, Alluvial, Maritime, Loam, Clay and Rocky Soil
What are the main towns in Napa Valley N to S?
Calistoga (north), St Helena, Yountville, Napa (south)
What’s an issue for the hillside vineyards?
Erosion
Who planted in 1839 the 1st Napa vineyard? Which grape was planted?
George Yount, Mission grape
What happened in 1848?
The Goldrush in California. It did boost the population and immigration.