Wine of California

Question 1

What is an AVA?

Answer 1

American Viticultural Area

Question 2

The years of prohibition, what it is/was and legacy it left behind

Answer 2

Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933 where alcohol was banned in the US. Th elegacy it left was that alcohol was bad and it was hard to rebuild and educate the public about wines or alcohol

Question 3

Wine labeling regulations and how to read a wine label

Answer 3

Generic labels means reflect a name of wine. All the generic names are european place names borrowed by American wines makers. These are affordable wines

Propriety labels is often trademarks or copyrighted, reserved for the sole used of one company

Variety labels- The wine is named for the grape variety used to make the wine

Estate labeled meaning from growing the grapes, making the wines, and labelin gthe wines were made by one company

Reserve - beware of this as it maybe lesser quality wines even though it may appear to be great wines

Late harvest- the grape were left on the vine to ripen for a longer time than usual to develop hight sugar content

Botrytis- the grapes have been affected by the fungus botytis

varietal names- 51 percent of the wine labaled in the bottle must be made from that grape

place names- if a place is used on the label, that place must be a state name, a country name, an appelation or AVA

Question 4

Identify who the following people are and their legacy :

Robert Mondavi, Brother Timothy. Dr. Konstantin Frank, Gustave Niebaum

Answer 4

Brother Timothy: was a winemaker for Christian brothers, the religious order to which he dedicated his life. He became one of the most famous, most respected, and legendary winemakers in the Nappa Valley

Robert Mondavi: was a wine maker who slpit from his family run wine business, Krug Winnery to open his own successful winery in 1966

Dr. Konstatin Frank: was a Ukranian help poineered the use of Vinifera grape varieties in New York State Gustave Niebaum: Was a Finnish sea captain and fur trader, he founded Inglenook in the Napa Valley town of Rutherford. The wineries today are known as Rubicon Estate

Question 5

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: North

Answer 5

COAST:

Notable AVAs

Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Carneros, Oakville, Russian River Valley plus many more

Climate: North Varies dramatically

Coastal regions have influence of fog
Very warm interiors/valleys
Microclimates on mountains

Soil: Varies
Notable Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Blends, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone Varietals

Question 6

California,

Climate (can vary within the state)

Answer 6

Unique as it changes as much from East to West as it does North to South
Coast
Central Valley
Sierra Foothills

Question 7

Washington, Oregon, New York

Climate (can vary within the state)
dominant grape varieties

Question 8

Oregon

Climate (can vary within the state)
dominant grape varieties

Question 9

New York

Climate (can vary within the state)
dominant grape varieties

Question 10

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Nappa Valley

Answer 10

High Quality, Limited Quantity 4-5% of total production
Valley Floor

Fog in AM and HOT in PM
Clay soils with alluvial deposits, fertile

Mayacamas Mountains to West Vaca Hills to the East

Volcanic soils, drain well

Cabernet Sauvignon Dominates

Question 11

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Carneros

Answer 11

South of Napa Valley
Dense fog cools the climate significantly
Flat terrain, varied soils

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Question 13

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Sonoma Valley

Answer 13

Mayacamas Mountains to the East and Sonoma Mountains on the West
Wide variety of styles of wine produced

Planted on valley floor and rolling hills

Question 14

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: San Fransisco Bay

Answer 14

Notable AVAs

Livermore and Santa Cruz

Climate
Soil

Grapes

Note: Significant Urban Sprawl Has Limited Vineyard Acreage

Question 15

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Central coast

Answer 15

Notable AVAs

Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley

Climate: Varies

Coastal Influences
Can be cool and windy in the north and warm and arid in the south

Soil: Varies
Grapes
Rhône Valley Varietals

Question 16

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Sierra Foothills

Answer 16

No significant AVAs
Climate
Soil
Grapes

Note: Grapes first planted here during Gold Rush of the 1850s

Question 17

Identify geographical regions where fermented and distilled beverages are produced: Central Valley

Answer 17

Notable AVAs: Lodi
Climate
Soil: Varies
Grapes: 60% of total CA Production

Zinfandel Sauvignon Blanc and Rhone Valley Varietals
Bulk, non varietal significant grapes