Wine AVAs of the Central Coast Flashcards

1
Q

Name the outlined AVA.

A

Monterey

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2
Q

Name the outlined AVA.

A

Santa Cruz Mountains

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3
Q

Named the outlined AVA.

A

Livermore Valley

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4
Q

Name the outlined AVA.

A

Paso Robles

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5
Q

Name the outlined county

A

Santa Barbra County

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6
Q

Name the outlined AVA.

A

Santa Maria Valley

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7
Q

Name the outlined AVA.

A

Santa Ynez Valley

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8
Q

What are the sub appellations in Monterey?

A

Santa Lucia Highlands

Chalone

San Antonio Valley

Arroyo Seco

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9
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Monterey?

A

Pinot Noir

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10
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of the Santa Lucia Highlands?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

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11
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Chalone?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

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12
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of the San Antonio Valley?

A

Cabernet

Syrah

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13
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Arroyo Seco?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

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14
Q

Monterey received its AVA designation in what year?

A

1984

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15
Q

Monterey is home to what wineries?

A

Talbot

Mer Soleil

Hahn

Morgan

Scheid (Mina Mesa)

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16
Q

Name some notable vineyards in Monterey.

A

Sleepy Hollow

Diamond T

Riva Ranch

Rosella’s

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17
Q

Describe the climate of Monterey.

A

Temperature variations of 40 degrees from the Bay to the southern end of the county, Monterey can be mapped by a Thermal Rainbow, a trademarked term.

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18
Q

Describe the soil of Monterey.

A

Varied

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19
Q

What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Monterey?

A

Crisp Chardonnay and elegant Pinot Noir are expected from Monterey County but as a large diverse AVA, pockets of warmer climates help grower riper versions of these mainstay grapes as well as Cabernet and Syrah.

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20
Q

Describe the general wine growing area of Monterey.

A

Monterey Wine County boasts over 175 unique vineyards. Most wine growing takes place in a 90 mile long valley, with only eight primary viticulture soil types. The northernmost areas of Monterey, deemed as on the edge of being too cold to grow wine grapes are held in high esteem for their exceptional production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

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21
Q

Santa Lucia Highlands received their designation in what year?

A

1990

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22
Q

Chalone received its designation in what year?

A

1982

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23
Q

San Antonio Valley received its designation in what year?

A

2006

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24
Q

Arroyo Seco received its designation in what year?

A

1983

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25
Q

Describe the climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands?

A

Elevated sites take full advantage of the morning sunshine before the stiff, afternoon maritime winds slow down photosynthesis, making for long, gentle ripening.

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26
Q

Describe the climate of Chalone.

A

With less than 300 acres under vine, appellation enjoys high daytime summer temperatures, but low nighttime readings, preserving grape acidity and balance.

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27
Q

Describe the climate of Arroyo Seco.

A

Blasted with maritime influences- wind and fog- the Salinas Valley is an “open throat” which funnels maritime influences from the cold, Pacific Ocean waters at Monterey Bay through the Arroyo Seco AVA.

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28
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of the Santa Cruz Mountains?

A

Pinot Noir

Cabernet

Chardonnay

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29
Q

Santa Cruz Mountains received its AVA designation in what year? What other counties does this include?

A

1981

Santa Clara

Santa Cruz

San Mateo

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30
Q

The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to what wineries?

A

Ridge

Mt Eden

David Bruce

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31
Q

Describe the climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

A

Varies due to proximity to the Pacific and elevation which ranges from 400 feet to over 3,000 feet.

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32
Q

Describe the soil of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

A

Varies

33
Q

What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains?

A

Rich, age worthy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are found in cooler microclimates near the foggy coast and well- structured Cabernet in warmer, more sunny locations.

34
Q

The Santa Cruz Mountains roots go back how many years? What are some legendary winemakers to come from this area?

A

Over 100 years

Paul Masson

Martin Ray

David Bennion (Ridge)

David Bruce

35
Q

Describe the microclimates of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

A

Broad region is marked by diverse microclimates: Warm on the eastern (inland) side where Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Merlot predominate. On the coastal side and ridge tops, cooled by the ocean breezes and fog cooler climate varietals like Pinot Noir are grown.

36
Q

How many acres of planted grapes are grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains? How many vineyards? How many wineries? What is the division of main varietal grapes grown in the area?

A

Approximately 1,300 acres of planted grapes

Over 200 small vineyards

60+ wineries

Divided about 1/4 equally among Pinot Nior, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and “other” varietals (most notably Merlot and Zinfandel).

37
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Livermore Valley?

A

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Petite Sirah

38
Q

Livermore Valley received its AVA designation in what year?

A

1982

39
Q

Livermore Valley is home to what wineries?

A

Wente (Beyer Ranch)

Concannon (The Wine Group)

40
Q

Describe the climate of Livermore Valley.

A

Warmer than most coastal AVAs, the bay still provides for cooler nights.

41
Q

Describe the soil of Livermore Valley.

A

Varying amounts of of loam and sand with gravel as a key component of prime vineyard sights.

42
Q

What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Livermore Valley?

A

Generally simple, consumer friendly wines from mainline varieties.

43
Q

Who planted the first grapes in Livermore Valley and in what year were they planted?

A

Robert Livermore

1840s

44
Q

Who founded the first wineries in Livermore Valley and in what year?

A

Carl H. Wente & James Concannon

1883

45
Q

What are the sub appellations in Paso Robles?

A

Adelaida District

Creston District

EL Pomar District

Estrella District

Geneseo District

Highlands District

Willow Creek District

San Jaun Creek

San Miguel District

Santa Margarita Ranch

Templeton Gap District

46
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Paso Robles?

A

Rhone varietals

Zinfandel

Cabernet

47
Q

Paso Robles received its AVA designation in what year?

A

1983 (amended in 1996)

48
Q

Paso Robles is home to what wineries?

A

Justin

Hope Family (Austin Hope, Harvester)

Saxum

J Lohr

Sextant

Castoro Cellars (Carson Ridge, Double Black)

Tablas Creek

Ancient Peaks (Truth & Valor)

49
Q

Describe the climate of Paso Robles.

A

Benefits from the largest swing between high daytime and low nighttime temperatures of any region in California as a result of the cool marine air that flows east through the Templeton Gap and south along the Salinas River Valley from the Monterey Bay. The flow of cool air through the Templeton Gap keeps the west side of Paso Robles cooler than the larger eastern areas.

50
Q

Describe the soil of Paso Robles.

A

Primarily bedrock derived soils from weathered granite, older marine sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and younger marine sedimentary rocks of the Miocene age Monterey Formation featuring calcareous shales, sandstone, or mudstone.

51
Q

What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Paso Robles?

A

Cabernet, the principle grape is noted for intense full fruit with balanced tannin and acidity. Zinfandel and Rhone varietals also deliver the same balanced intensity.

52
Q

Paso Robles modern history started with whose commercial plantings and in what year? Who followed soon after?

A

Eberle in the 1970s

Followed by; Jerry Johr, the Hope family, and Castoro Cellars

53
Q

Members of an independent AVA committee submitted the single largest AVA petition to TTB proposing to add how many districts to the Paso Robles AVA? When was this effective?

A

11 districts, effective November 2014.

54
Q

Paso Robles vineyards tend to have __________ growing seasons compared to other wine regions because of what?

A

Longer growing seasons becasue of cool nights, warm days and late rains.

55
Q

Santa Barbra County is home to what AVAs?

A

Santa Maria Valley

Santa Ynez Valley

Alisos Canyon

56
Q

Santa Ynez is home to what sub appellations?

A

Santa Rita Hills

Happy Cannon

Ballard Canyon

Los Olivos District

57
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Barbara?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

58
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Maria Valley?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

Syrah

59
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Ynez Valley?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

60
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Rita Hills?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

61
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Happy Canyon?

A

Cabernet Franc

Other Bordeaux and Rhone Varietals

62
Q

What are the main varietal(s) of Ballard Canyon?

A

Syrah

63
Q

Santa Barbara is generally referred to as what? Despite what?

A

An overarching region

Despite no one AVA to cover the whole region

64
Q

Santa Barbara County is home to what wineries?

A

Au Bon Climat

Foxen

Tensley

Melville

Jonata

Brewer- Clifton

Cambria

65
Q

What is a notable vineyard in Santa Barbara?

A

Bien Nacido

66
Q

Describe the climate of Santa Barbara County.

A

Generally cool due to the influence of the Pacific pulled in through the valleys that run east- west instead of north south. Warmer temperatures are found in the more inland AVAs Happy Canyon and Ballard Canyon.

67
Q

Describe the soil in Santa Barbara County.

A

Varies

68
Q

What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Santa Barbara County?

A

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate the region delivering food- friendly, elegant styles with more Syrah and Rhone varietals in the warmer inland vineyard.

69
Q

Santa Maria Valley received its AVA designation in what year?

A

1983

70
Q

Describe Santa Maria Valley.

A

The northernmost AVA in Santa Barbara County, the vineyards are mainly planted on slopes with elevations ranging from 200- 800 feet and dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production.

71
Q

Santa Ynez Valley received its AVA designation in what year?

A

1983

72
Q

Describe Santa Ynez Valley.

A

Long east- west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland.

73
Q

Santa Rita Hills received its designation in what year?

A

2001

74
Q

Describe Santa Rita Hills.

A

Appellation includes about 1,700 planted acres within a 10 square mile area just a few miles from the Pacific. This maritime influence, combined with the sedimentary soils with patches of limestone is the perfect place to grow the appellations hallmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

75
Q

Happy Canyon received its designation in what year?

A

2009

76
Q

Describe Happy Canyon.

A

Located at the eastern end of Santa Ynez Valley, the warmer temperatures are more suited to Bordeaux and Rhone varietals than the Burgundian varietals that Santa Barbara County is most known for.

77
Q

Ballard Canyon received its designation in what year?

A

2013

78
Q

Describe Ballard Canyon.

A

Ballard Canyon is Syrah Country, where the cool maritime influence of the Santa Rita Hills meets the warmer climate of Happy Canyon to create the perfect condition for Rhone varietals.