USA - North Coast; Mendocino, Lake Counties & Sonoma Flashcards
Where is the North Coast AVA located? What is a key natural factor influencing climate?
A large AVA running about 160km down the Pacific Ocean coastline and reaching 80km inland. It encompasses substantial proportions of Napa County, Sonoma County, Mendocino County and Lake County.
The Mayacamas Mountains run through the N Coast AVA, dividing Mendocino and Lake County, and extends S for over 80km into Napa and Sonoma, down to San Pablo Bay.
Where is Mendocino located? What’s the size and key areas for vines?
Runs along the Pacific Ocean to the W, Lake County to the E, and Sonoma County to the S.
1m ha in size, with around 7000 ha planted to vine.
Vineyards are either grouped in cooler AVAs closer to the Pacific Ocean or further inland in warmer areas, some of which are planted at altitude.
Which varieties are planted where in Mendocino? What price do they fetch and what’s their use case?
Coastal AVAs, eg, Anderson Valley tend to be planted with PN, Chardonnay and aromatic whites.
Inland AVAs, eg, Redwood Valley, are able to ripen Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Cab Sauv.
Vineyards at altitudes, eg, Potter Valley, and produce aromatic whites, eg, Riesling and Sauv B.
Priced lower than Sonoma and Napa, and often used for multi-regional blends.
How many AVAs are in Mendocino County?
- Mendocino AVA starts at Russian River headwaters, covers 6 of the county’s AVAs (Anderson Valley, Yorkville Highlands, McDowell Valley, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley and Cole Ranch) and can be used for blends between these AVAs.
Which AVA is the most well known of Mendocino? What’s the climate and topography?
Anderson Valley AVA. The Valley runs from NW, only a few km from the Pacific, to SE, further inland.
Day time temperatures can be warm but cold air and fog are funnelled inland along the Navarro River, giving cold evenings and mornings.
Further inland, the Valley becomes narrower and reduces the flow of ocean breezes and fog, and conditions become warmer.
What is rainfall like in Anderson Valley? What are other climatic hazards?
Relatively high, 900-2000mm per annum, mostly falling in Winter and Spring, with the NW side of the valley being the wettest.
Cold nights mean frost can be an issue in Spring, especially in low lying areas. , meaning the majority of vineyards are planted on the sloped sides of the valleys.
What key styles are produced from Anderson Valley? How many ha under vine?
Just over 1000 ha.
The early ripening PN and Chard are most planted, and used for both still and spk.
For still wines, PN is especially reputed.
Styles vary depending on climate, clones and clipping (harvest), but the wines generally have fresh raspberry, cherry and plum, medium body and medium (+) acidity. Generally good to outstanding and premium, with some super. Key P are Littorai and Williams Selyem.
Aromatic Alsace style wines from Gewurz, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Blanc are also successfully produced.
How many wineries are in Anderson Valley AVA? What does their reputation lead to?
Approx 85, many of which have cellar doors to take advantage of tourist trade around Mendocino Coast.
The reputation for the AVA for high quality fruit means a number of wineries from other areas of the state buy Anderson Valley fruit to make appellation specific or even vineyard specific wines.
What’s the climate of Lake County?
In the rain shadow of the Mayacamas to the W and the Vaca Range to the E, giving a warm climate.
Most vineyards are in the S part of the county around Clear Lake, the states largest natural Lake.
How many AVAs are in Lake County?
- The largest of Clear Lake AVA, and has four sub-AVAs.
What is the climate of Clear Lake AVA?
The Lake, which takes up about half the area of the AVA, provides afternoon breezes.
Where and what are the main bulk of plantings in Clear Lake AVA? How many ha under vine?
The slopes and ridges around the lake and, at 400-450m altitude, benefit from the cooling effects of altitude.
Black grapes make up the majority of plantings and Cab Sauv and Sauv B are the two most planted varieties.
Just over 200 ha.
What quality of wine is produced in Clear Lake AVA?
A small number of prestigious vineyards and wineries.
Much of the inexpensive Lake County grapes are used for multi regional blends.
Where does Sonoma County border? What is the breakdown of key AVAs within? What is the purpose of them?
Borders the Pacific Ocean and Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Marin Counties.
Encompasses 18 AVAs.
3 overarching AVAs, Northern Sonoma AVA, Sonoma Coast AVA and Sonoma Valley AVA, so large they overlap each other and encompass various smaller AVAs with specific climates and geographical features.
These allow P to use the term ‘estate bottled’ when vineyard and winery are spread far apart, whilst still permitting the word ‘Sonoma’ on the label (rather than North Coast).
What other legal definition applies to wines that come entirely from an AVA that sits within Sonoma County?
The words ‘Sonoma County’ must appear on the label.
Where does Northern Sonoma AVA lie?
It covers a large area, from the Mendocino border to the north, the Mayacamas to the E, down to Santa’s Rosa, situated in the middle of Sonoma County.
It’s vineyards are separated from the Pacific Ocean bythe Sonoma Coast AVA.
What key factor influences water availability in Northern Sonoma AVA?
The Russian River, which starts north in Mendocino County and flows through Northern Sonoma AVA where it fills underground aquifers and provides water for vineyards, before flowing into the Pacific.
Which key AVAs are within Northern Sonoma AVA?
Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley (plus Green Valley of RRV) and Dry Creek Valley.
Where does Alexander Valley AVA lie? What’s the climate and vineyard area?
The NE corner of Sonoma County.
Warm climate, cooled in the evenings by the Pacific air funnelled in from the Petaluma Gap and Russian River Valley to the S.
Vineyards are planted on the valley floor and on the W and SW facing slopes and bench lands of the Mayacamas mountains, at elevations of 100-750m. The aspect and altitude gives long hours of sunshine, leading to grapes high in colour and tannins. Altitude helps retain acidity.
Soils are a mixture, with greater fertility on the valley floor, and low nutrient free draining sand and gravel at higher altitudes, generally leading to less vigour and lower yields.
Rainfall is over 800mm a year, but mainly falls in winter.
What is the key variety of Alexander Valley AVA? Characteristics?
Cab Sauv, most planted.
Full bodied with ripe flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant, dried herbs and chocolate.
Plantings on the valley floor tend to have less tannin, whereas grapes from the slopes and benchlands are more structured and concentrated.
Good to outstanding and mid to premium, with some super premium.
What other varieties are grown in Alexander Valley AVA? Significant P?
Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Kendall-Jackson (Stonestreet Estate) and Seghesio
Where does Knights Valley AVA lie? What’s the climate?
The furthest-inland AVA, separated from the northern end of Napa County by the Mayacamas mountains.
One of the warmest areas of Sonoma County, surrounded by hills and sheltered from any cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean.
Where are the best sites of Knights Valley AVA? What’s the key wine? (And other wines)?
Cooler sites found by planting at higher altitudes (450m) in the foothills of the Mayacamas.
The warm temps and warm, free draining volcanic soils help to produce ripe, full bodied Cab Sauv (most planted).
Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel and some Chard and Sauv B are also grown.
Where does Dry Creek Valley AVA lie? What natural factors influence climate?
It’s a narrow valley 3 by 26km with vineyards planted on both the valley floor and on slopes and benchlands either side of the Dry Creek river, a tributary of Russian River.
Sheltered by coastal mountains to the W, Dry Creek Valley has warm days.
However, mountains on either side of the valley funnel cool ocean air and fogs from San Pablo Bay (a tidal estuary, the northern extension of San Francisco Bay). This occurs during the afternoons and evenings, giving much cooler nights and helping retain acidity.
There’s slight climatic differences throughout the valley. Coastal influence means the S of the valley is cooler. W facing vineyards on the E side of the valley, exposed to the afternoon sun are warmer than those on the W slopes.
What soils are found in Dry Creek Valley?
Mixed, but tend to be gravel sandy loam on the valley floor and gravel red clay loam on the slopes and benches.
These gravelly free-draining soils help reduce vigour and yields.
What wines are Dry Creek Valley AVA known for? Profile?
Zinfandel, and gome to some old vines of over 100 years.
Medium (+) to full bodied, medium (+) acidity and ripe blackberry, black plum and cherry.
Those from W facing sites and the N of the appellation are often riper, with more jammy and dried fruit flavours compared to fresher styles from the E facing or southerly vineyards.
Maturation in oak is typical, usually with a proportion of new to lend spice; American oak is common.
Good to outstanding and mid to premium.
What are other styles of wine from Dry Creek Valley? Who are significant P?
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Rhone varieties (GSMCC) are also produced.
Key white variety is Sauv B.
Kinnell Estates and Ridge.
Where is Rockpile AVA located? What natural factors influence growing conditions?
The N part of Sonoma County, overlapping with Dry Creek Valley AVA and extending up to Mendocino County.
Vineyards are planted on steep rocky slopes and must be above 800 ft (~244 m) to be within the AVA.
A variety of aspects and altitudes (up to 650m leads to a diverse range of growing conditions.
Vineyards are heavily influences by the snake-lile Lake Sonoma which surrounds the bottom of the AVA on 3 sides. The lake helps create an inversion layer, which keeps Vineyards relatively warm at night (compared to Dry Creek, which has warmer days and cooler nights).
The vineyards sit above the fog layer, which stays close to the lake, meaning they’re exposed to long hours of sunshine.
Why are wines from Rockpile AVA low yielding and concentrated?
Shallow hillside soils hold little water, while windy conditions lead to high evapotranspiration rates.
What are key varieties of Rockpile AVA? Significant P?
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Douro varieties.
Segheise Family and Devil Proof.
Where is Russian River Valley AVA located? What’s the general climate?
The middle of Sonoma County.
It’s included in the Northern Sonoma AVA, and part of it is in Sonoma Coast AVA.
Covers a range of hilly and flat topography which influences the climate, generally ranging from moderate to warm.
The S and W parts of the AVA are coolest as they receive fog and wind through the Petaluma Gap, a break in the Northern Coast Range.
Fog usually arrived in the evening and is gone by morning. During this period it significantly reduces temperature, leading to a slow accumulation of sugar and greater retention of acidity as aroma and flavour compounds ripen.
What are the most planted varieties in the cool parts of RRV AVA?
Chard and Pinot Noir as early ripening.
What are the general soils of RRV AVA?
They vary, ranging from yellow sandstone to rocky sandy clay loam, but are generally free-draining and low in nutrients.
What has happened to the size of RRV AVA? What caused this?
The quality of the fruit and rising popularity of PN has meant the boundaries of the AVA have been extended twice to include neighbouring areas affected by fog, and plantings have increased from 1600 ha in the late 1990s to over 7200 ha in 2013.
What is the profile of the key varieties from RRV AVA? Significant P?
PN: medium to (+) bodied, medium tannins and medium (+) acidity, with ripe strawberry and red cherry flavours, with vanilla spice from oak maturation.
Chards have medium to (+) body, medium (+) acidity with ripe peach and pineapple, often with creamy and spice flavours from MLC and oak.
For both, wines range from good to outstanding and mid to super premium.
Rochioli and La Crema.
Which part of RRV AVA is warmer? What does this result in?
Inland and up to the NE corner, where vineyards are sheltered by hills from the fog and breezes, giving warmer conditions, best suited for Cab Sauv, Merlot, Zinfandel, and riper styles of Chard and PN.
What are the two important sub-AVAs of RRV AVA?
Green Valley of RRV AVA, and Chalk Hill AVA.
What is significant about Green Valley of RRV AVA?
Located next to the Petaluma Gap where it gains the first fogs in the afternoon and is the last area to have fog burn off in the mornings, this leads to some of the coolest growing conditions in northern California.
The majority of vineyards are on free-draining, low-nutrient sandstone soils, limiting vigour and creating small, concentrated grapes.
PN and Chard are most planted, used for still and spk.
Wine style similar to the wider RRV, but can have higher acidity and taste fresher.
What is significant about Chalk Hill AVA?
Located in the NE corner of RRV AVA and just south of Alexander Valley AVA. It is a hilly area, which blocks some of the Pacific breezes, and is relatively far inland, so creating a warmer climate than found in the surrounding areas.
The soil is white volcanic Ash (not chalk) and vineyards are planted from the valley floor up to 500 m.
Chard, Cab Sauv and Sauvignon Blanc are most notable.
Where does Sonoma Coast AVA lie? What does it encompass?
Runs from Mendocino in the N, along the Pacific Ocean, down to Marin County and San Pablo Bay in the S.
It includes the Sonoma side of Carneros, part of Sonoma Valley, the W part of Chalk Hill, and most of the RRV AVA; a wide variety of climates and varieties.
It also includes the Petaluma Gap AVA and Fort Ross Seaview AVA.
What are general growing conditions in the W of Sonoma Coast AVA? Significant P?
Vineyards in the W can be within a few km of the coast, and so are extremely exposed to cold winds and fog. Here, cool windy conditions in spring mean fruit set is often disrupted, and yields are low. The growing season is cool, with limited sunshine hours due to fog; early ripening PN and Chard dominate: light bodied, high acidity, medium acidity.
Aubert and Occidental.
What is significant about Fort Ross Seaview AVA?
Located in the NW corner of Sonoma Coast AVA.
To be labelled as such, wines must be made from vineyards within the AVA boundaries and above 280m, sitting above the fog level and gaining long hours of sunshine and warmth compared to the surrounding coast.
Coastal winds still moderate temperatures.
Wines can have riper fruit than below the fog line, but still have fresh, high acidity.
Chardonnay, PN and Syrah are most planted.
What is significant about the Petaluma Gap AVA?
Defined by its windy conditions and is one of the newest AVAs, located in southern Sonoma County and northern Marin County.
Extends from the eponymous gap in the Northern Coast Range to San Pablo Bay.
Open to the coast at both ends, high-speed coastal winds flow throughout the AVA.
The boundaries were defined according to an area that maintains a persistent wind of at least 12km per hour throughout the growing season. The winds lower temperatures but also are strong enough to cause the vines stomata to close, slowing respiration and photosynthesis.
PN comprises 75% of all plantings followed by Chard and Syrah. Wines tend to have high acidity, fresh fruit and often lower alcohol compared to sheltered, inland AVAs.
What is significant about Sonoma Mountain AVA?
Located on the W side of Sonoma Valley. Most vineyards are E facing, steep slopes within the Sonoma Mountain range.
Vineyards are planted up to 730 m, above the fog line, exposing the grapes to intense sun and warm daytime temperatures, giving ripe flavours and tannins and deep colour.
However, cold air coming down from the mountains gives cool nights, helping to retain acidity. Soils are volcanic in origin, free draining and low in nutrients.
This all leads to concentrated, ripe Cab Sauv (most planted), Merlot, Zinfandel and Syrah. Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc and Semillom are generally planted on cooler sites, generally the W side of the AVA which still has some influence from the coast.
What is significant about Sonoma Valley AVA?
Located in the SE part of Sonoma County, bordered on the E by the Mayacamas and the W by the Sonoma Mountain range, which shelter it from cool Pacific breezes.
The S part of the AVA is the coolest, as it opens onto San Pablo Bay. Cold winds flow N moderate temps and lead to slower ripening.
Smaller sub-AVAs include Sonoma Mountain AVA and Bennett Valley AVA towards the N, and Carneros AVA to the S.
What is significant about Bennett Valley AVA?
This sub-AVA is one of the smallest in Sonoma County. The areas surrounded by hills giving warm, sheltered conditions in the day, but cool air and fog flows into the valley through a break in the hills at night.
Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are key.
Other Rhone varieties eg Grenache and Viognier are grown.
Where is Carneros AVA located? What natural factors influence climate?
Between San Pablo Bay to the S and Sonoma and Napa counties to the N.
Proximity to SPB means the AVA is affected by fog and cold winds in eve, though days are usually warm and sunny.
A relatively low lying AVA rising from sea level to inland hills of 200m
What wines is Carneros AVA best known for?
PN and Chard, with a proportion used for spk.
Wine styles from both grapes can range from medium bodied, medium alcohol, medium (+) acidity and fresher fruit, to fuller, riper and higher.
Good to outstanding and mid to super premium.
It also produces Merlot, Syrah and Cab Sauv.
Significant P include Kistler and Tor.
What labelling restrictions apply for Carneros AVA?
Wine from the AVA can either be ‘Los Carneros’ or ‘Carneros’.
The AVA overlaps the border of the two counties, Napa and Sonoma. Grape and wine from the Sonoma side may use ‘Sonoma County’ on the label, similarly if from the Napa side it may use ‘Napa Valley’ on the label.
If grapes and wine come from both counties, it can only be called ‘Carneros’.
When did Carneros get recognised? What’s its real-world use case?
In the 1980s for its cool to moderate climate (before many other areas with similar climates were recognised).
Many large companies based elsewhere in Sonoma or Napa own vineyards in the area (and have done for decades) or buy in fruit either to bottle as ‘Carneros’ or to provide a higher acid, fresh fruit component in a blend with fruit grown in warmer conditions.
Some wineries specialise in the wines from the AVA.
Significant P include Kistler Vineyards and Ramey.
