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WSET Level 4 - D3 > USA - Washington State > Flashcards

USA - Washington State Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two major AVAs, where are they located and what are the climatic influences?

A
  • Columbia Valley AVA
  • Eastern part
  • Cascade Mountains block the wet Pacific weather
  • Dry and warm conditions
  • Puget Sound AVA
  • West of the Cascade Mountains
  • Smaller number of vineyards and wineries
  • -> cooler and wetter conditions
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2
Q

Name three important producers

A
  • Chateau Ste. Michelle (>50% of production)
  • Quilceda Creek
  • Cayuse Vineyards
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3
Q

How is it possible to farm the sunny, arid Columbia Valley?

A

Large-scale irrigation, from meltwater off the Cascade Mountains

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4
Q

Roughly, how many different varieties are planted and what are the top 5 (incl. %)?

A
  • About 70
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
  • Merlot (18%)
  • Chardonnay (17%)
  • Riesling (17%)
  • Syrah (8%)
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5
Q

What are grape growing conditions and what is the resulting typical style of wine? (aromas, acidity, alcohol, oak)

A
  • Warm, sunny, dry conditions
  • Cold nights
  • Ripe fruit flavors
  • Medium(+) to high acidity
  • Sometimes high alcohol
  • Often high proportions of new oak
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6
Q

Comment on the trends with Riesling wines

A
  • Riesling was the most planted variety
  • Gradually decreasing
  • General style is off dry
  • In recent years, more experiment with drier and sweeter styles (botrytised or ice wine)
  • Mostly stainless steel, but additional techniques are used
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7
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
How much of Washington State’s vineyard area is planted here?

A

99%

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8
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What wines use this AVA for labeling?

A
  • Producers with vineyards outside of a sub-AVA
  • For blends across different sub-AVAs
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9
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What are the five sub-AVAs with the largest plantings?

A
  • Yakima Valley AVA
  • Red Mountain AVA
  • Horse Heaven Hills AVA
  • Wahluke Slope AVA
  • Rattlesnake Hills AVA
  • Walla Walla Valley AVA
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10
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What is the climate, climatic influences, latitude and what is the effect on grape growing?

A
  • Shelter through Cascade Range -> desert-like area
  • Rainfall of 150-250mm
  • Continental climate
  • Latitude of 45-48°N -> long daylight hours
  • Rapid sugar accumulation that slows down with lower autumn temps -> flavors and tannins develop
  • High diurnal -> retains acidity
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11
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What is a growing concern?

A

Climate change, as it is already very hot in summer

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12
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What are the soils and what does that mean regarding irrigation?

A
  • Complex soils: basalt bedrock with sandy, silty loess and alluvial topsoils (from Missoula flood events, volcanic activity, and glacial movement)
  • Free draining and low in nutrients
  • -> irrigation essential for most sites (mostly drip irrigation)
  • -> Water from Columbia River and its tributaries
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13
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What diseases and hazards have low and high risk?

A
  • Low risk:
  • Phylloxera due to sandy soils -> potentially vines with own roots
  • Disease and pest pressure due to arid conditions and very cold winters
  • High risk:
  • Frosts and winter freeze (lower risk on slopes)
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14
Q

Columbia Valley AVA
What are the most planted varieties?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted)
  • Merlot
  • Chardonnay
  • Riesling
  • Syrah
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15
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
How large is it? What is its area under vine and production?

A
  • Largest sub-appellation in Columbia Valley AVA
  • 7,600 ha under vine
  • 1/3 of state’s production
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16
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
How does the climate compare to the overall climate in Columbia Valley?

A
  • Mostly similar
  • Some cooler sites that are well suited to white varieties
  • Some warmer sites more suited to black varieties
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17
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
What are the 3 sub-AVAs?

A
  • Red Mountain AVA
  • Rattlesnake Hills AVA
  • Snipes Mountain AVA
18
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA
What are the top varieties in descending order?

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
  • Riesling
19
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Red Mountain AVA
Where are vineyards located, what is the soil, and what are the effects on grape growing?

A
  • South-west facing slope
  • One of the warmest climates in Washington
  • Soils have low fertility
  • Irrigation is carefully controlled
  • -> low yields of concentrated fruit
20
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Red Mountain AVA
What type of varieties dominate, which is the most important variety and what is the typical style? (aromas, acidity, body, alcohol)

A
  • Black grapes
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Ripe fruit
  • Retained acidity (diurnal range)
  • Full body
  • High alcohol
21
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Rattlesnake Hills AVA
Where are the vineyards located and what is the rough climate?

A
  • South-facing slopes
  • Higher altitudes (than surrounding land in Yakima)
  • More moderate temperatures
22
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Yakima Valley AVA - Rattlesnake Hills AVA
What are the most important varieties?

A
  • Riesling (most planted)
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
23
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Where is it located?

A
  • Yakima Valley AVA to the north
  • Columbia River and Washington-Oregon border to the south
24
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
How much is planted to wine and what is the production?

A
  • 6,500 ha
  • 25% of Washington’s total production
25
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
What is the black/white grape ratio and what are the most planted varieties?

A
  • Black (66%)
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
  • White (34%)
  • Chardonnay
  • Riesling
26
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the effect on the finale wine? (aromas, body, alcohol)

A
  • South facing slopes
  • Warm and sunny conditions
  • Ripe fruit (white wines)
  • Full body and high alcohol (red wines)
27
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Comment on diseases and hazards

A
  • Strong winds through sloped topography and Columbia River
  • Protect from spring and autumn frosts
  • Extend growing season
  • Reduce disease pressure
28
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
Where is it located and what is the climate?

A
  • Center of Columbia Valley AVA
  • Some of the warmest and driest conditions in the state
29
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What is the area under vine?

A

3,600 ha

30
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the influence on grape growing?

A
  • Gentle south-facing slopes
  • Maximizing sun exposure
  • Warm conditions
31
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What are the main varieties?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
32
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What is the soil and what about irrigation?

A
  • Sandy soils
  • Free-draining
  • Water availability almost entirely through irrigation
33
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Wahluke Slope AVA
What about frost and winter freeze?

A
  • Low frost and winter freeze risk
  • Due to sloped landscape and proximity to the Columbia River (adequate air flow)
34
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
Where are vineyards located and what is the climate based on location of vineyards?

A
  • Many vineyards located in northeast corner
  • Altitudes up to 600m
  • Eastern side: cooler and wetter
  • Western side: warmer and drier
35
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
What can be a risk and why?

A
  • Spring and autumn frosts
  • Topography does not permit cool air to drain properly from the Blue Mountain foothills
36
Q

Columbia Valley AVA - Walla Walla Valley AVA
What are the main varieties grown?

A
  • Wide range: Italian, Spanish, and Rhône varieties
  • Most grown black
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Syrah
  • Cabernet Franc
  • Malbec
  • Most grown white
  • Chardonnay
  • Viognier
  • Semillon
37
Q

Puget Sound AVA
How much is planted to vine?

A

ONLY 42 ha

38
Q

Puget Sound AVA
What is the climate and rainfall?

A
  • Warm and dry in summer
  • Mild and wet winters
  • Up to 1,500 mm of rain
39
Q

Puget Sound AVA
What are the main varieties?

A
  • Crosses created for cool climates predominate (Madeleine Angevine, Müller-Thurgau, Siegerrebe)
  • But also
  • Pinot Gris
  • Pinot Noir
40
Q

What is the trend regarding number of wineries and area under vine?

A
  • Rapid growth in both from 2000 to today
  • Wineries: from 200 to 1,000
  • Area under vine: now over 23,000 ha
41
Q

How much is exported and what are main export markets?

A
  • Very small amount
  • Canada, UK, Japan

WSET Level 4 - D3 (56 decks)

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