USA - New York State Flashcards
How many AVAs are there and what are the three most important ones (in descending order)?
- 10 AVAs
- Finger Lakes AVA
- Hudson River Region AVA
- Long Island AVA
Finger Lakes AVA
Where is it located and what’s the climate?
- Below Lake Ontario and the Canadian border
- One of the coldest AVAs in the USA
Finger Lakes AVA
What is the area under vine?
3,800 ha
Finger Lakes AVA
What is the climate and major climatic influence?
- Continental climate, warm summers and cold winters
- 11 finger-shaped lakes, without which winters would be too cold for V. vinifera grapes
Finger Lakes AVA
Describe the lakes and the detailed effects they have
- Not particularly large, but extremely deep and can fail to freeze during the winter
- Effects:
- Slopes enable cold air to drain towards the water, warms up, rises, and, hence, draws more air off the land
- Lake-effect snow can help insulate vines during the winter
- Warming influence in autumn -> long ripening season and low risk of autumn frosts
- In spring, cool air from the lake delays budburst -> reduced spring frost risk
Finger Lakes AVA
Where are vineyards located, what is the soil and what does it mean?
- Most vineyards on the steeper slopes so cold air flows towards the lake
- Fertile soils and sufficient rainfall
- -> low densities of large vines
Finger Lakes AVA
How are vines trained and protected from winter freeze?
- Systems such as Scott Henry, where canopy is split either vertically or horizontally to allow greater air circulation
- Snow can help insulate vines
- Many growers additionally hill up soil to cover the graft
Finger Lakes AVA
What are the main varieties and why?
- Riesling
- Cabernet Franc
- -> withstand cold winters
Finger Lakes AVA
What are the different levels of sweetness of Riesling wines and how is it achieved?
- Dry to sweet
- Late-harvesting, botrytis and/or stopping fermentation early
Finger Lakes AVA
Describe the typical style of Riesling (aromas, sweetness, acidity, body, alcohol, quality, price)
- Fresh apple, lemon and peach
- Dry to medium-dry
- High acidity
- Medium(-) to medium body
- Low to medium alcohol (depending on sweetness)
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Mid- to premium priced
Finger Lakes AVA
How are Riesling wines typically produced? (technique, fermentation, skin contact, lees)
- Protective techniques
- Fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel
- Some producers use skin contact
- Some keep the wines on the lees
Finger Lakes AVA
What other white variety besides Riesling is widely planted? (variety, styles, aromas, acidity, body, oak)
- Chardonnay
- Used for still and sparkling wines
- Citrus flavors (toasty notes from oak)
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Medium body
- Often fermented and matured in oak
Finger Lakes AVA
What is the most planted black grape variety and what is the typical style? (variety, aromas, body, tannins, quality, price)
- Cabernet Franc
- Red cherry, cranberry and black plum, sometimes herbaceous notes
- Medium(-) to medium body
- Medium(-) to medium tannins
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced
Finger Lakes AVA
How and what type of oak is used in production of wines from Cabernet Franc?
- Less new oak is used than in the past
- Sometimes no oak at all
- Mostly French or Hungarian oak -> more subtle flavors
Finger Lakes AVA
What are other popular varieties?
Pinot Noir
Gewurztraminer
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Pinot Gris
Finger Lakes AVA
Name two significant producers
- Hermann J. Wiemer
- Forge Cellars
Finger Lakes AVA
Why are many hybrids grown and what are they used for?
- More resistant to frost and easier to grow
- Grape juice and jellies/jams, some are used for (inexpensive) wines
- Lower quality
Finger Lakes AVA
What are some hybrids that are used for good quality wines?
- Traminette (Gerwurztraminer-like aromas, with higher acidity and lower alcohol)
- Vignoles (susceptible to noble rot, high acid, used for non-dry styles)
- Vidal (ice wine)
Long Island AVA
How much is planted to vines?
1,000 ha
Long Island AVA
Where is it located, what is the climate and climatic influences?
- Surrounded by water
- Maritime climate
- Long growing season
Long Island AVA
What varieties does the climate allow to ripen and what is the most important variety?
- Able to ripen black Bordeaux varieties
- Merlot (signature variety)
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Long Island AVA
Are diseases a problem? If yes, which and how are they mitigated?
- High risk of fungal diseases due to high humidity
- Windy weather mitigates the risk a bit
- Management options: spraying, leaf removal and sorting grapes in the vineyard or winery
Long Island AVA
What are the two sub-AVAs?
- North Fork AVA
- Hamptons AVA
Long Island AVA
Describe the climate and soil in the two sub-AVAs
- North Fork AVA
- Climate: slightly warmer and more protected from Atlantic
- Sandy soils
- Hamptons AVA
- Silt loam soils
- Both soil types are free-draining and low in fertility
Long Island AVA
How are red wines produced? (varieties, oak, blending)
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc
- Majority matured in oak (mostly French) with some proportion of new oak
- Single varietal wines or as blends
Long Island AVA
How are white wines (other than Chardonnay) produced? (varieties, fermentation, general style)
- Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris (made in a dry, light-bodied style)
- Fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel
- Fruity, unoaked style for early consumption
Long Island AVA
How are wines from Chardonnay produced? (oak, malo, lees, acidity, body)
- Unoaked style or fermented and matured in oak
- Often malo and lees ageing -> creamy, toasty style
- Medium(+) acidity balances the best examples
- Fuller-bodied
Long Island AVA
What is the typical quality and price of wines?
- Good to very good quality
- Mid- to premium priced
Long Island AVA
Name two significant producers
- Wölffer Estate
- Channing Daughters
Finger Lakes AVA & Long Island AVA
What is the key route to market?
Cellar door
Hudson River Region AVA
What is the area under vine?
- Small plantings
- 64 ha
Hudson River Region AVA
What is the climate and what risks does it bring? How are the risks mitigated?
- Continental climate, warm summers and cold winters
- Spring frosts and winter freeze are problems (piling soils around trunk in winter)
Hudson River Region AVA
What varieties are planted?
- Hybrids
- Seyval Blanc
- Vidal
- Cool climate V. vinifera
- Riesling
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Franc
What changed the industry?
- The state’s Farm Winery Act of 1976
- -> Grape growers allowed to open wineries and sell directly to the public
What is the trend of the industry?
- Increasingly smaller wineries
- Greater quality and diversity
