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.
Who and when the first commercial winery was planted in Napa?
Charles Krug in 1861
What happened in Napa by the end of 1880s?
phylloxera
What others historic events brought to a decline in the wine industry in the late 19century?
Phylloxera first, Recession, WWI and Prohibition
What wine production was still allowed during Prohibition?
Sacramental and Medicinal wine
What are the years of the Prohibition?
1919-1933
Which grapes became the ones that got planted the most during prohibition?
Alicante Bouchet, Petit Syrah, Zinfandel and Carignan
Who hired Beaulieu winery?
They hired André Tchelistcheff, a Russian winemaker who trained in France
In which year for the first time after prohibition, dry wines overtook the sweet ones on popularity?
1967
In which year the Judgement of Paris was held?
1976
Which wineries won?
Chateau Montelena with a 1973 chardonnay
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cab Sav 1973
In which year the Napa Valley AVA was granted?
1981
What happened in the late 1980s in Napa?
Phylloxera hit again in 1986
Which Rootstock proved not to be resistant to Phylloxera?
AXR-1 developed by the Davies University
Which training techniques were used in the vineyards during late 1980s and 1990s replantings ?
Bordeaux techniques. VSP, High density plantings and low fruiting zone. All techniques designed to maximise warmth and sunlight in a marginal climate such as Bordeaux. It resulted in extreme ripe fruit
What movement boomed in the late 90s?
Micro producers that couldn’t afford a full time winemaker. Consulting Winemakers
Napa Valley:
Name the Valley Floor AVAs
Caliostoga, St Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Stag’s Leap District
List Avas Napa Valley anticlockwise, from Calistoga in the North West, ending with the Howell Mountain in the North again
Calistoga, Diamond Mountain District, Spring Mountain, St Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Stag’s leap District, Oak Knoll District.
Napa Valley and on the west Mount Veeder, Los Carneros.
In South West -> Coombsville, Wild Horse Valley (shared with Solano), Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley District, Howell Mountain
Napa Valley: Name the Hillside AVAs
Diamond Mountain District, Spring Mountain, Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak, Howell Mountain
Describe the style of Napa Valley Cab from Valley Floor and from hillside Vineyards
Valley Floor is More elegant and supple, less pigmented
The Hillside Vineyard style is denser, darker and more concentrated
Los Carneros: what’s the meaning of the name?
In which year the AVA got approved?
1983,
It means The Sheep
What are the most planted grapes in Los Carneros?
PN, CH and Merlot (in clay sandy soils)
What’s the soil in Los Carneros?
Volcanic towards mount Veeder, with some clay and sand
Which International Houses decided to invest in Los Carneros?
Taittinger “Domaine carneros”,
Moet at Chandon “ Domaine Chandon”
Iconic Vineyards in los Carneros
Hudson, Hyde, San Giacomo (Sonoma)
Howell Mountain AVA, what’s so unique about it?
To be entitled to the AVA system, vineyards must be above 1400 feet (above fog line) /420mt
What’s the soil profile in the Howell Mountains?
Volcanic
Name 2 iconic wineries in the Howell Mountain AVA
Dunn, Rattlesnake Ridge, La Jota
What is mostly planted in the Howell Mountain?
Cab Sav and Zinfandel
Where is the Wild Horse Valley Ava?
In the South east part of Napa, shared with Solano
Stag’s Leap District: Describe the Topography of the area. How does it affect viticulture?
SLD is an AVA located in the middle part of Napa Valley, on the valley floor.
The AVA is blessed by east-facing slopes that funnel and amplify the afternoon breezes. This helps against the diseases.
Stag’s Leap District:
What’s the soil profile?
It’s Volcanic, with more sandstone and shale to the east and clay and loam to the west
Who and when firstly planted a CS vineyard in the Stag’s Leap District?
Nathan Fay in 1961;
In 1973 Stag’s Leap Cellar begin his venture next door from Fay. Stags Leap Cellar now owns Fay original vineyard.
Where is Mount Veeder AVA?
Is it heavily planted?
It’s on the western part of the Napa Valley, on the edge of the Mayacamas Mountains.
The AVA is the largest in Napa, but most of the area is steeper than 30degrees, so it can’t be planted for the AVA.
What’s the main variety planted in Mount Veeder AVA?
CS
Atlas Peak AVA has 2 main producers: Name them
The majority of the AVA is covered by 2 vineyards.
* Stagecoach (owned by Gallo)
* Antica (owned by Antinori)
Rutherford AVA: Soil profile
Alluvial Gravel (W) silt clay (C), Volcanic (E) Terrain is flat with gentle hills
Rutherford AVA: Which iconic, historic wineries started here?
Inglenook and Beaulieu
Which iconic Chardonnay vineyard can be find in Rutherford?
Star Vineyard
Name 4 iconic wineries in Rutherford
Inglenook, Beaulieu, Caymus, Quintessa, Frog’s Leap
Who owns Beaulieu and who does Inglenook?
Beaulieu is owned by Diageo, while Inglenook is owned by Coppola
Which Ava is considered to be the heart of Napa? Which used to be the historic one?
Oakville is considered to be the heart of Napa, Rutherford is considered to be the historic one
What’s the soil profile of Oakville AVA?
The soil is Sedimentary (W) and Volcanic on the east
Name at least 3 iconic producers from Oakville
Far niente, Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Beckstoffer, Joseph Phelps
Name 2 iconic Vineyards in Oakville
To Kalon and Martha’s Vineyard
Who produces wine from the Martha’s Vineyard?
Heitz
Who owns To Kalon?
Beckstoff and Mondavi
Who planted the To Kalon vineyard? When ?
1868 by Hamilton Crabb
Where is the Spring Mountain District AVA?
In Napa, south of Diamond Mountain District with the Mayacamas Mountain on the west. (there’s no spring mountains)
St Helena AVA: What’s the weather?
Name 2 iconic producers
Climate is hot
Krug, Corison, Heitz and Phelps
Name an iconic winery in Yountville:
Dominus
There are more vineyards in Yountville than wineries
What’s Chiles Valley AVA an important source of?
Cheaper fruit
Where is the Diamond Mountain District AVA?
Name an iconic producer
It’s in the north of Napa, just south and west of Calistoga, north of Spring Mountain AVA with the Mayacamas on the west
*Diamond Creek is an iconic producer
Where is the Oak Knoll district?
What’s its soil profile?
Oak Knoll sits just north of the town of Napa.
It is dry with a lot of Fog influence. The soil profile is rich in clay. Merlot and Chardonnay are more succesfull in here.
Name an iconic producer of Oak Knoll District?
Matthiasson
In which year Calistoga and Coombsville got approved as AVA?
2010
What’s the soil in Calistoga?
Name an iconic vineyard. Where is it built on?
The soil is Volcanic
*Eisele vineyard.
Built in alluvial terrace
Eisele Vineyard: what was the previous name of the estate which has now changed its name to one of the vineyards?
Araujo Estate.
Artemis Domaines of François Pinault (owner also of Latour) purchased the property in 2013.
Renamed in 2016.
Name 2 iconic producers from Calistoga
Chateau Montelena, Volker Eisele Estate
Where is Coombsville? In which Region Category does it fall?
East of Carneros. It is considered a Region I
Name the 4 unofficial subregions of Napa Valley
Pritchard Hill, Conn Valley, Deer Park and Rutherford Bench
Where is the Pritchard Hill?
Why it’s not an AVA?
It’s between Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain.
It is not an AVA yet as the Chappellet family retains a trademark on the name.
Which iconic producer is based in Pritchard Hill?
Colgin
In which Napa’s AVAs would you find the majority of the Chardonnay plantings?
Carneros, Oak Knoll District, Yountville
Where would you find the vineyard Kongsgaard The Judge?
What’s iconic for?
Coombsville AVA
Chardonnay
Where would you find ‘The Star’ Vineyard?
What’s famous for?
In Rutherford
Cab sav
Where would you find the Mayacamas vineyard?
In Mount Veeder AVA
Renewn Cab Sav
In which Ava would you find the majority of the Merlot plantings?
In Oak Knoll District
Where is the Pope Valley?
It is within the Napa Valley AVA, northeast of the Howell Mountain
It is not considered a premium area, but in there it can be found Juliana’s Vineyard which sold in recent years for an extremely high price.
What’s the average production for producers such as Screaming Eagle and Harlan estate?
Screaming Eagle produces less than 1,000 cases per year
Harlan estate produces less than 2.000 cases per year
Where is the Chateau Montelena based?
In Calistoga
Where is the producer Dunn based?
They are based in the Howell Mountains.
Where are the producers Krug, Corison and Heitz based?
They are based in St Helena
Where are Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate based?
In Oakville
Where is Corison based?
In St Helena
Napa Vintages: Best in the 1980s
84, 85, 86, 87
Napa Vintages: Bad in the 80s?
88, 89
Napa Vintages: Good in the 90s?
from 1990 till 1997 Very Good
*1998 and 2000 bad
Napa Vintages in 2000s
2001, 02, 04, 07, 08, 09. all really good
2003 and 2005 not great
Napa Recent Vintages
2011 poor
2012 till 2019 very good (up to 90 points)
