USA General Flashcards
Which wild grapevine species are native to America ?
Vitis Labrusca (Parent of Concord and catawba) Vitis aestivalis (parent of Norton ) Vitis Rotundifolia ( Scuppernong )
What and when were the first attempt in the US to cultivate vines?
1492 Columbus discovered Americas. Colonists attempted to cultivate native vines, but soon realised that they were not making good wine.
1619 A Virginia law required every settler to plant at least 10 vine. Unsuccessful because of Phylloxera
Which was the first Vinifera introduced to North America?
Mission (Listán Prieto) synonim Pais and criolla chica
Who introduced the Mission to the Americas?
When was it introduced to the North America?
Spanish settlers introduced the grape to Mexico in the early 1500
1629 was planted in Texas and New Mexico
Franciscan Monks brought the grape to California
When and who planted the first vineyard in Napa? Which grape was planted?
1839, George Yunt planted a vineyard in Napa with the Mission grape
In which year the Goldrush hit the US?
1848, Sutter’s Mill, California
Who is Agoston Haraszthy?
Hungarian born
Arrived in Sonoma in 1849
He founded Buena Vista , one of California’s first commercial wineries
He introduced more than 300 varieties (someone said Zinfandel is credited to him)
What’s the oldest winery in St Helena?
Charles Krug 1861
Schramsberg was built in 1862
Which is Napa’s oldest continuously operating winery?
Beringer, 1876
In which year the iconic Inglenook winery was founded?
1880 by finnish immigrants
Which varieties dominated vineyards plantings in the finger lakes by the end of the 19th Century?
From 1850, Catawba, Delaware and Concord.
All hybrids
What is the main grape pride of Missouri?
Norton grape (Vitis Aestivalis)
What was the focus of the wine market after Prohibition?
1933.
Industrial, focus on inexpensive, low quality wines.
By 1935 81% of wine production in Calif is based on sweet, fortified wines.
Followed by decades of cheap, generic table wine
Through the 70s
What are the years of Prohibition?
1919-1933
Who is Andre Tchelistcheff?
A Russian winemaker trained in France, hired by George de Latour to oversee the production at Beaulieau
What Tchelistcheff brought to the wine industry in the US?
New Hygiene Standards and Techniques (ex. Temperature controlled fermentation and controlled MLF)
In which year R Mondavi launched his winery 1st Vintage?
1966, Tchelistcheff was one of his menthor
When did Mondavi made his Fume Blanc?
1968
Which year was the Judgement of Paris?
What happened?
1976
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar CS
and Chateau Montelena CH
placed first against 1st growth Bordeaux and 1er Cru
What happened in 1980 in California?
Phylloxera Outbreak
However, this was an opportunity for producers to reassess grapes and clonal selection per site. Half of the vineyards was replanted.
Which was America’s 1st AVA?
Augusta, Missouri 1980
In which year Napa Valley got recognised the AVA?
in 1981
Which Federal Bureau oversees the AVA system?
Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a new federal bureau created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, oversees the AVA system.
What is an AVA?
American Viticultural Areas
it only refers to the origin.
No guidelines in vineyard or winery
What percentage of the stated variety must be in the wine for native American grapes?
Vitis Labrusca (ex. Concord) only 51%
What’s the alcohol margin allowed on labels?
Alcohol must be stated. Margin +/- 1.5%
However, if alcohol range between 7-14% wines can be labeled ‘Table wine’ or ‘Light Wine’
What’s the percentage of grapes required by appellation?
coming from that particular appellation
75% -> Country, State, County *
85% -> AVA
95% -> Single Vineyard
- State of California and Oregon -> 100%
State of Washington -> 95%
What’s the percentage of grapes required for the stated vintage?
For smaller than country.
State or County -> 85% min
AVA -> 95% min
When a winery can use ‘Estate Bottled’?
- AVA on label
- Winery is within the same AVA
- Winery owns or ‘control’ vineyards
- Winery crushes, ferments, finishes, and bottles wines on the property
‘control’ -> lease agreement or similar for at least 3 years
What is Meritage ?
A term, trademarked by Heritage Alliance, used by producers to indicate a premium blend in which no grape accounts for more than 90%
- It can be Red or White
- It must be produced by Bordeaux Varieties
What’s the Smallest AVA?
Cole Ranch, Mendocino
Which Champagne House established itself in Anderson Valley rather than Carneros?
Louis Roederer
It produces one of the most elegant styles in California
In which County is the Majority of Los Carneros?
Sonoma
What kind of soil will you find in the Russian River Valley?
Goldridge, Fertile, alluvial, sandy loam
Sonoma
Where is the Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA?
Sonoma, surrounded by Russian River Valley AVA
What was the original name of Opus one?
Napa Médoc. Renamed in 1982
What is Dominus 2nd label?
Napanook (1996)
How many wineries there are in Napa?
What’s the avg of cases produced per year?
In 2017 , 475 wineries.
However more than 1000 brands
Average production is smaller than 10.000 cases per year
Why Schramsberg winery became famous in Napa?
1st winery to cultivate on hillside vineyard
When ‘The Wine Advocate’ and ‘Wine Spectator’ were launched ?
What did they introduced?
1978 and 1979
Both embraced the 100 points score
Easy to understand to public
Opus one started as a joined venture of who?
What was the first vintage?
What’s the 2nd wine?
Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rotschild from Ch Mouton- Rotschild
1st Vintage 1979
Since 1993, 2nd wine is Overture
Who is Behind Domaine Carneros?
Champagne Taittanger
Founded in Los Carneros in 1987, it’s a joint venture of Taittanger and Kobrand Corporation
What’s an extremely important climatic feature in Napa?
Which Areas are affected?
Fog
Mayacamas Mt block the Fog , but there are 2 main entries: through San Pablo Bay (main entrance)
and through Chalk Hill gap to the North
During Summer, Fog’s almost every morning
Strong in Oak Knoll, Yountville
Oakville thinner
St Helena and Calistoga just a bit
How Fog can affect the climate?
Fog makes an area cooler, sunlight cannot penetrate through.
It helps ripen grapes during the day
What climatic factors makes Napa Suitable for Viticulture?
The Diurnal Swing
Calistoga has the biggest drop ( up to 40 F)
What are the most planted grapes in Napa?
CS at least 50% of Plantings (21,747 acres 2018)
CH is the most planted white (5,900 acres 2018)
SB is the only other white grape with a bit of true representation
Majority of plantings are reds
What was the French Paradox discussed in the 1991’s 60 minutes?
How did affect Napa?
Promoting red wines over whites for health reasons
Also, ABC movement ‘Anything but Chardonnay’ backslash of a new fashion (circa 1995)
Wineries opted for red varieties during the post phylloxera replantings
at 2017, What was the percentage of vineyards certified Napa Green?
45% It’s a sustainable certification
Who produced the first single vineyard in Napa?
From which Vineyard?
Martha’s Vineyard 1966
Heitz Cellar
What is the most planted vine variety in the eastern USA?
Concord (Vitis Lambusca’s son)
When did Georges de Latour release Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon? Who was his winemaker?
1938; André Tchelistcheff (russian winemaker trained in France)
When was the Judgment of Paris? Who organized it?
1976; Steven Spurrier
What was the first Napa Valley bottling to top the $100 mark at release? When did this occur?
Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978
When did the cult wineries of Screaming Eagle, Colgin and Harlan Estate emerge in CA?
1990’s
What are the current vineyard concerns in CA?
Pierce’s Disease and the light-brown apple moth
What was the first AVA wholly in Napa Valley?
Howell Mountain AVA 1983
Regardless of whether or not a label from Sonoma lists an AVA, what must be listed on the label from the 2011 vintage forward?
“Sonoma County”
Essentially Cole Ranch AVA and McDowell Valley AVA are monopoles. Who controls them?
Cole Ranch = Esterlina
McDowell Valley = McDowell Valley Winery
What are the restrictions for Mendocino Ridge AVA?
Vineyards must be at least 1,200 ft above sea level
What is Tablas Creek? Where is it located?
A project owned in part by Chateau Beaucastel that provides clonal material rom the Rhone Valley. It is located in Paso Robles.
Mendocino County viticulture is centered on the confluence of what two rivers
Russian and Navarro Rivers
The Bonny Doon Estate Vineyard as located where? What happened to the parcel?
- Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
- It was a eventual victim to Pierce’s Disease
The Sierra Foothills AVA is located on the western edge of what mountain range?
Sierra Nevada Mountains
What county is the Mount Harlan AVA located in? What famous producers makes wines from here?
- San Benito County
- Calera
Who owns the Garys’ vineyard? Where is it located?
- Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni
- Santa Lucia Highlands
Who pioneered sparkling wines in Carneros? What two sparkling wine producers followed suit?
- Gloria Ferrer in the 1980s (Gloria Ferrer Winery)
- Tattinger and Cordorniu
Who was the first to plant commercial Syrah in Paso Robles?
Gary Erberle
Who founded Buena Vista?
Count Agoston Haraszthy
Who established Schramsberg and in which year?
Jacob Schram in 1862
Where is Buena Vista?
Carneros, Sonoma County
Which winery did the Mondavi family purchase in the 1950’s?
Charles Krug
Who founded Inglenook Winery?
Gustav Niebaum in 1880
Who is Charles Valentine Riley and what major contribution did he provide for not only the California wine world, but the rest of the world’s wine regions as well?
Missouri enologist who is credited as the first to understand the innate resistance of American grape species/rootstock to Phylloxera
Where is Tablas Creek winery? Who owns it? What kind of wines are produced here?
Paso Robles AVA
Owned by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel
Wines from a wide range of Rhône varietals
In what county is Livermore Valley located? What is the most famous grape here and what famous winery did the cuttings come from that would become the progenitor of this grape? When was this?
- Alameda County and Contra Costa County
- Sauvignon Blanc is the most famous for being the most individual style of the grape in the state.
Cuttings for the vines here came from Château d’Yquem in 1869
Arroyo Seco AVA is known for wines from what grapes? Styles?
White wines that are dry and off-dry made from Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
Name the years in which the following wineries were founded.
Buena Vista Charles Krug Schramberg Beringer Inglenook Beaulieu Vineyards Robert Mondavi
Buena Vista (1857) Charles Krug (1861) Schramsberg (1862) Beringer (1876) Inglenook (1879) Beaulieu Vineyards (1900) Robert Mondavi (1966)
Who makes Les Pavots, where is it located, and what is the style?
Peter Michael in Knights Valley AVA
Style is massive and extracted, super-ripe with volcanic minerality. (Cab Sav)
What is the Rutherford Bench?
Famous deposit of alluvial gravels at the foot of the Mayacamas
Which valley in Monterey County is known for having one of the longest growing seasons in the world? how does the growing season here compare to that in Napa Valley?
- Salinas Valley
Budbreak occurs two weeks earlier than in Napa Valley and the harvest is two weeks later
Who is the name of the “rhone ranger” whose original estate in Santa Cruz was overtaken by Pierce’s Disease? What is the name of his winery?
Randal Graham
Bonny Doon Winery
Where is Chalk Hill, what’s the climate like there, who is the main producer, and what is the greatest wine from there?
In Sonoma, east, northeast and adjacent to Russian River Valley near the town of Windsor.
Climate is much warmer than Russian River Valley however.
Main Producer is Chalk Hill Winery
Particular and direct Chardonnay is the greatest wine here.
Sauvignon Blanc also does well here.
The vineyards of Monterey roughly follow what valley and what bay, and are also planted in the hills of what two mountain ranges?
Salinas Valley and the Monterey Bay
Santa Lucia Mountains and Gabilan Mountains
Which AVA has been called California’s treasure chest of old-vine Zinfandel? Why are there so many old-vine Zinfandel plantings there?
Sierra Foothills AVA
During prohibition, much of the vineyard was abandoned, but because the land was so low-value the vines weren’t ripped out. After Prohibition, the vines were reclaimed and thus the area has some of the oldest zinfandel plantings in the state.
Who owns the Two Rock Vineyard and what impact did it have on Russian River Valley as recently as 5 years ago?
Gallo
It is responsible for the expansion of the Russian River Valley in 2011
What is the dominant grape variety of Bennett Valley AVA (Sonoma)? Why is this?
Merlot is the dominant grape because the AVA is too cool to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon properly
Which AVA in Central Coast is known for its thin, free-draining soils of granite and pockets of limestone that has been closely compared to the soils of Burgundy? What vineyard gave name to this AVA which placed third at the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting and who was the original owner?
Chalone AVA
“Chalone Vineyard”
Richard Graff
Where is the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA and what grapes is it known for? Producer? Where is the Arroyo Secco AVA and what are the most significant grapes there?
South of Edna Valley in the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo County
Known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of high quality, good fruit, and pleasant freshness. Talley is a good producer here.
Arroyo Secco AVA is in Monterey County. Known for Riesling and Gewürztraminer
In what county is Mt. Harlan AVA located? What mountains are located here? Who is responsible for its founding and what is the name of the winery?
San Benito County
Gabilan Mountains
Founded by Josh Jensen who owns Calera winery there.
Where are a majority of Napa Valley’s Pinot Noir vineyards located and what styles can be found there?
Planted heavily in Carneros and used there for premium sparkling wine and still production.
What two types of natural features greatly influence the climate in any given area of California?
Proximity to the cool Pacific Ocean and various mountain ranges in the state determine the climate for any one region.
What AVA is home to the famous Eisele vineyard site? What was the first vintage of it produced, by whom and what winery? Name two other producers than Araujo that have produced Eisele Vineyard bottlings.
Calistoga AVA
1971
Ridge was the first commercially produced vintage of Eisele. Produced by Paul Draper
Over the years a few others have produced wine from the vineyard including Conn Creek (1974) and Joseph Phelps (1975-1991) before Araujo took over in 1991
Monterey County is home to which two productive valleys one of which is known as the “lettuce capitol of the world”?
- Carmel Valley
- Salinas Valley
What is Fetzer famous for? When was it founded? Who owns it now?
Famous for representing a strong voice in the Organic movement in California. Founded by John Fetzer. Now owned by Concha y Toro.
Who is the Livermore Valley producer famous for being the first in California to produce varietally-labeled Chardonnay and also the name of the famous clone of Chardonnay that is found all over the state today?
Wente
Describe the style of Cabernet Sauvignon produced in the following AVAs. St. Helena Rutherford Oakville Yountville Howell Mountain Atlas Peak
St. Helena
Meaty, luscious style often with minty notes
Rutherford
rich, structured, and elegant
Oakville
just as structured and lengthy as Rutherford, but slightly less rich with hints of herbs and spices
Yountville
More delicate fruit profile due to the cooler climate with firmer, more structured tannins
Howell Mountain
Reputed for muscular, yet complex and refined style
Atlas Peak
Climat creates a Cabernet that is much more European in style with lighter body and higher acidity.
Which Central Valley AVA is known for its particularly good, honeyed Chenin Blanc?
Clarksburg AVA
