USA: california, oregon, washington, new york Flashcards
wine law:
1) regional boundary: county state, us boundary
2) AVA: american vitiicultural area:they can vary significant in size:
eg: rutherford is a very small area in napa whereas central coast covers an area from san francisco in the north to santa barbara in the south
- —- avas can include land in more than one state
- - sta rita hills AVA, is predominantly located within the bounderies of the larger Santa Ynez valley AVA
3) there are fed laws about perc from grapevariety, vintage or ava
4) not all wines are qualify for ava: so you found california or napa county,… on their label
what is the climate of California ?
1) the influence of the cold ocean current is very important to define californian climate:
a) north of l.A. (all in the south of california and where the most vineyards are located) is the coast line of california very mountanious
- – these mountains protect the state so much of the cooling effects of the ocean
— at the other way these ocean cooling effect can by very strong in regions that are not protected
2) cold air, often accompagnied by fogs, is drawn in from the ocean in the evening— this lowers the night time temp
- - the time that the sun breaks up the fog result that the cooling influance extends well into the day
3) due the cooling effect, vineyards in the north can struggle in some vintages to reach full ripeness
4) when there are gaps in the mountains, the fog can reach well inlands
- - valleys that lies in a right angle with the ocean, such as those in monterey and santa barbara counties acts like a funnels (trechter) for cold air
5) by comparison, where there is no exposure to the ocean such as the entral valley, the climate is hot
6) the other factors that links all of californin wine region is the lack of rain
- – water shortages is widely known problem
- — drip irigation is widely used
- – due the scarity of rain, the growers have extra hang time and can harvest later
- —-this result in very ripe grapes with very concentrated flavours and very high sugar levels
7) more recently there has been more appreciation for fresher styles
- — so earlier picking
cabarnet sauvignon is the most widely planted black grape of california. prime sites can produce the best of the world. how are they ?
many of them are full bodied, with very concentrated ripe cassis flavours and prominent spice aromas from the new oak barrels
some producers prefer to make a fresher cabernet with fresher blackcurrant flavours
___ is regardes as californias own grape.
zinfandel
what is the disadvantage of zinfandel ?
it has a tendency to ripe unevely, so the chance that there are raisend grapes and unripen grapes while the harvest is big
what are the characteristics of zinfandel?
- ripen unevely so
a) raisined style: concentrated, full bodied style with chance on a little residual sugar and high alc
b) some can have a herbaceous character from the unripe grapes
large volumes of rosé zinfandel are made from early picked grapes and is called:
white zinfandel: fruity pale in colour med sweet and low in alc
how about merlot in california?
1) widely planted
2) making soft approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black frui
3) San Joaquin valley (south of the central valleys) has the largest plantings, producing simpel inexpensive wines
4) better quality comes from the cooler regions like Monterrey (central coast) and the north coast regions:
- especially napa and sonoma
- - these wines have a luscious body, high alc and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum
premium pinot noirs can come from moderate regions like:
- russian river valley
- los carneros
- santa maria
style range widely according to the vineyard sites and winemaking practices: - some are light in colour, with classic gamey and vegetal notes
– most shows ripe red fruit, with sweet spice flavours from oak maturation
syrah is planted across the state and is typically made in a full bodied rich style. some make also:
a leaner, peppery style
is chardonnay the most planted grape of either black or white variteties ?
yes
what can you expect from chardonnay of the central valley ?
inexpensive high volume wines:
- fruity
- low to med acidity
- sometimes toasty notes from oak staves or chips
how was a traditionally expensive chardonnay ?
1) full bodied
2) low to med acidity
3) obvious flavours of oak
4) butter hazelnut and peach banana
how is today a premium chardonnay from los carneros and russian river valley ?
- restrained
- high acidity
- cittrus
the term fume blanc is to indicate an oaked style of ___.
sauvignnon blanc, but some producers use this term for unoaked wines
the majority of california wine is produced in ___ where the soil is very ____ and ____ is used to increase yield.
- central valley
- fertile
- irrigation
the premium wineregions located primarily along _____.
californian coast
where do we found the north coast of california ? and how is the climat.
they compromise the vineyards to the north of san francisco bay. the climate here is strong influanced by the ocean, bringing fog and cool breezes. this affects the average temp and diurnal temp ranges that determine the grape plantings
napa valley has the most expesive vineyard lands and has the prestigious wineries of california.
thrue
what else can you say about napa’s vineyards ?
1) to the west tha wayacamas mountains form the border with sonoma and on the east the vaca mountains who seperate napa from the northern part of central valley
2) vineyards are found on both the valley floor and on each valley side
napa county is subjected to a number of ____ , providing a diverse range of _____ and ____. and the most significant are?
- cooling influences
- climats
- wine styles
the most significant influances are the morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from san pablo bay ( the northern extension of san francisco bay) that moderates the vineyards to the south of the bay
los carneros ava is the most ____ vineyard area on the valley floor and extends into _____ . it is cool enough to ensure:…
- southerly
- sonoma county
it is cool for the grapes: chardonnay and pinot noir
—- but also sparkling wines from methode traditionelle
stag leaps district, yountville, oakville and rutherford are known for its ?
- premium wines from cabernet sauvignon
- they profit still a little bit from the cooling effects of the san pablo bay
!!! rutherford has the least influance from the san pablo bay and is the warmest during the day
— and his reds wines have the most power and structure
in the ___ of the napa valley there is ____ AVA and ____ AVA. they often recieve the _____ daytime temp and makes the most ____ and ____ wines.
- North
- saint helena
- calistoga ava
- concentrated
- full bodied wines
where does the northern part of napa valley gets their cooling influences ?
1) thrue tha gaps of the chalk hill gap of the mayacamas mountains comes a chill breezes who have a cooling effect in the afternoon
2) the altitude and breezes from the mayacamas mountains gives enough coolings to retain acidity
- some vineyards are above the fog level but they are instead cooled by their altitude.
- – aspect is also a important influence.
- the west facing vineyards are full exposed to the afternoon sun (howel mountain ava)
- —– they giving full bodied wines with higher levels of alcohol
- the east facing vineyards (mount veeder ava, spring mountain district) are lighter
overall the vineyards of the valley sides tend to have more tannins and less richness on the palate than those on the valley floor.
yeah buddy
which other grapes are there grown in napa valley ?
1) cab S is the principal
2) merlot
3) cab franc
4) zinfandel
- – it all depends on site
russian river valley has due the differences of the sonoma countys climate and due the petaluma gap, very cool conditions and foggy conditions and this is suited for:
1) high quality elegant pinot noir and chardonnays
2) as well sparkling wines of these grapes
the avas north of russian river valley are perceptibly ____.
warmer
what is special about Dry creek valley ?
1)the hillsides above the fog are suited for high qualty old vines zinfandel
2) the the valley floor is suited for sauvignon blanc
3) rhone varieties and cabarnet sauvignon are also popular
alexander valley is warmer and their wines are more ___ and ____ then the rest of sonoma county.
Fleshy and full bodied
what kind of reputation does alexander valley has ?
it has a reputation for its soft textured full bodied cabarnet sauvignon
– although other varieties are well suited here
what is special at sonoma coast ?
1) the climate here is greately influenced by the pacific ocean
- — the vineyards are planted on south facing slopes to help maximise ripening
what is so special about sonoma valley ?
1) it runs paralel to the napa valley
2) it is cooled by the breezes of the san pablo bay
3) the region produces high quality chardonnay, but also known for its old vine zinfandels
where do you find aromatic grapes for whites like riesling, gewurztraminer as well as sparkling wines ?
in the north of california, mendocino county: anderson valley AVA
the larger mendocino county ava experience much warmer and ___ conditions, protected by coastal hills up to 900 m. here the wines are?
- drier
the wines are full bodied, with soft tann and often made from CS, zinfandel and syrah
where do you found santa cruz moutain and name a few more ava’s.
1) on the north of the central coast region
from north to south:
1) Santa cruz Mountains AVA
2) Monterey AVA
san luis obispo and santa barbara counties:
1) Paso robles AVA
2) Santa Maria valley AvA
what kind region is santa cruz mountain ava ?
1) it includes hillsides location with infertile soils
2) produces one of the elegant cab suv
3) moderate climate
what can you tell about monterey ava ?
1) Strong influenced by the pacific ocean
2) chardonnay and pinot noir have been heavely planted closer to the coast where cool wind blows on a daily basis
3) further along the valley, cool winds have less effect so suited for: Merlot, cab suav
- — santa lucia ava is known for its high quality chardonnay
san luis obispo and santa barbara counties mountains are located from east to west rather than north to south. that is good for?
it encourages the flow of cool breezes from the ocean mainland
paso robles can be divided in 2 distinct zones:
1) the east experience hot sunny weather
- deep fertile soils
- – good for production of high volumes inexpensive wines fruity style
2) the west is cooled by marine air and is known for its high quality zinfandel and rhone varieties
3) also some cab sauvignon planted
santa maria valley ava of santa barbara county is significant cooler why ? and well suited for :
1) in low layer areas the fog can cover up the vineyards, during the day
2) slowing up the ripening proces
- — so concentrated fruit flavours balanced by high acidity
3) well suited for pinot noir and chardonnay
the vast central valley encompasses the _____ and ______ valleys. and produces the vast majority of californian wine. how is the climate ?
Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys
the climat is hot and dry, irrigation is permitted known for its large volumes of inexpensive brands - cab sauvignon - chardonnay merlot - rubired - ruby cabarnet - colombard, chenin blanc and barbera
What do you know about the lodi ava ?
it lays in the half of sacramento valley and the half in san joaqim valley.
- it profit from the cooling breezes from the san francisco bay
describe willamete valley:
1) ) lies to the west of the cascade mountains
2) it has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in oregon
3) the willamete valley has a moderate climat and enjoys the cool breezes from the pacific ocean
4) the growing season is mostly dry with long sunny days and cool nights
5) pinot noir is by far the most planted grape variety and produces wines with ripe red fruit flavours, a hint of cinnamon spice and high levels of aci
- – pinot gris is also widely grow and tends to be made in fruity, dry style
what is so special about southern oregon ?
it lays under willamete valley and have a few ava’s
- this region have the warmest growing conditions in oregon
– although there can be cooler areas within its hillsides
—this makes that the region can grow both sort of grapes: cab s merlot, … for the warm sites
Pinot noir chardonnay, pinot gris for the cooler sites
which ava has has the washington state ? describe them.
1) Columbia valley AVA: lies on the east of the cascade mountains in the valleys of the columbian river and its tributaries (zijrivieren). due the cascade mountains the region is almost free of rain and breezes. irrigation from the rivers is a necesity
- due the long daylight hours consistent summer temperatures
- the fruit attains optimal ripeness due to the sunny days
- cool nights helps te grape maintain natural levels of acidity
- —- winter freeze is a big problem
2) yakima valley
it results in plummy, full bodied merlot and cabarnet sauvignon, intensely concentrated is also common
- chardonnay also, sometimes with toasty notes
- riesling is also popular in a dry style, with ripe stonefruits
compared with the wineregions on the west of the usa, new york is fully planted with hybrid vine species. but also from the vitis vinifera. why so much hybrids and which vitis vinifera ?
- the grapes of the hybrids are used for jellies
- riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir and cab s
the wineregions are at the finger lake ava, these deep glacial lakes release a heath well into november.
- raising the air temp for the surrounding vineyards and extending the growing season.
- – the region is well known for its perfumed rieslings
- – but also produces pinot noir, cab franc, chardonnay
- – as well as a number of american species and hybrids
