WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes Flashcards

1
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Californian missionaries planted in

A

1769 in San Diego

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2
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

First commercial Californian wine

A

1824

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3
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Wine Laws

A

Federal - AVAs since 1978. Guarantee source not quality or production methods
State - Varies state to state

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4
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Federal wine laws

A
  • American Viticultural Areas set up in 1978
  • Still evolving
  • AVA’s guarantee source nots quality or production method
  • Anyone can petition to create an AVA of any size (some cover just one winery)
  • ## 85% of grapes must come from within the AVA
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5
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Oregon State Law

A
  • 95% of variety on label

- 100% of fruit from stated AVA

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6
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Washington State Law

A

85% stated variety (same as federal)

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7
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

California and all other states (except Oregon and Washington)

A

75% of stated AVA, variety and vintage

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8
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

New York Wine Laws (state)

A

Up to 35% addition of sugar and water allowed (due to climate)

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9
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Californian regions

A
  • North Coast (Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino)
  • North Central Coast (Monterey & Santa Cruz Mountains)
  • South Central Coast (Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley
  • Central Valley (Lodi and bulk wines)
  • Sierra Foothills
  • Southern California
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10
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

California Climate

A
  • 1,100km long so huge climate range
  • UC Davis climate zones based on degree days
  • Irrigated to counter lack of rain
  • Cooling Pacific mists and fog provide temp contrast and humidity
  • Where no fog influence often planted at altitude
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11
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

North Coast Region

A
  • North of SF
  • Warm mediterranean through to cool with Spring frosts
  • Napa, Carneros, Sonoma, Mendocino
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12
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Napa Valley AVA

A
  • Prestigious

- Morning mists from Bay cool climate

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13
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Carneros AVA

A
  • Bottom of Napa and Sonoma

- Specialises in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling

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14
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Sonoma County

A
  • With Russian River Valley for quality Pinot Noir
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15
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Russian River Valley

A
  • With Sonoma County for quality Pinot Noir
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16
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Pinot Noir in California

A
  • Sonoma
  • Russian River Valley
  • Carneros
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17
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Dry Creek Valley

A
  • North Coast Region

- Noted for Zinfandel

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18
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Mendocino County

A
  • North of North Coast Region

- Includes Anderson Valley for quality PN, Riesling and Gewurztraminer

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19
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Anderson Valley

A
  • Cool climate subregion of Mendocino County

- Quality PN and aromatic whites (Riesling & Gewürztraminer)

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20
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

North Central Coast

A
  • Monterey County

- Santa Cruz Mountains

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21
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Monterey County

A
  • Cool dry climate
  • Chardonay with crisp citrus character
  • Merlot, rich and dark with firm tannins
22
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

South Central Coast

A
  • East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes
  • Much recent planting as potential recognised
  • Santa Ynez Valley & Paso Robles for fine Zinfandel
23
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Santa Ynez Valley

A
  • fine Zinfandel
    • East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes
  • Much recent planting as potential recognised
24
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Central Valley

A
  • 80% of total production
  • Zones 4 & 5 (hot)
  • Quantity not quality
  • UC Davis created varieties to deal with heat
  • Wine coolers and brandies produced to use excess
  • Lodi in north produces better wines in cooler climate
25
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Lodi

A

Sub region in north of Central Valley producing better wines in a cooler climate

26
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

UC Davis varieties created to deal with Central Valley heat

A
  • Ruby Cabernet

- Rubired

27
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Sierra Foothills

A
  • Rockies foothills
  • Hot days and cool nights
  • Good fruit concentration
  • Old vine zinfandel
  • Italian varieties inc Sangiovese
28
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

California disease problems

A
  • UC Davis poor research advised ARX1 rootstock (not phylloxera tolerant)
  • Half of Napa had to be replanted
  • Pierce’s Disease, carried by sharp shooters is fatal in Southern California
29
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Pierce’s Disease

A
  • Carried by sharp shooters
  • Fatal and incurable
  • Problem in Southern California
30
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Problem Californian rootstock

A
  • ARX1
  • Not phylloxera tolerant
  • Half of Napa needed replanting
31
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Oregon

A
  • Maritime climate from warm North Pacific Drift
  • Willamette Valley sub region south of Portland = warm summers mild winters high quality Pinot Noirs also Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
  • Umpqua Valley & Rogue Valley (south of Willamette) = warmer climate, boutique Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
32
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Willamette Valley

A
Oregon
-  sub region south of Portland 
- warm summers mild winters
- high quality Pinot Noirs 
- Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
Sauvignon and Merlot
- Constantly improving with clonal selection
33
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Umpqua Valley

A

Oregon sub region

  • south of Willamette
  • warmer climate,
  • boutique pineraies
  • Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
34
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Rogue Valley

A

Oregon sub region

  • south of Willamette
  • warmer climate,
  • boutique pineraies
  • Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
35
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Washington State

A
  • 2nd biggest vinifera producing state
  • Bordeaux varieties, especially Merlot
  • Also Chardonnay and Syrah
  • Extreme dry continental climate
  • Colombia Valley (and Yakima Valley and Walla Walla subregions)
  • Canoe Ridge (boutique) and Chateau St Michelle (large) producer examples
  • River water irrigation is essential
36
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Walla Walla

A

Sub region of Washington State’s Colombia Valley

37
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Yakima Valley

A

Sub region of Washington State’s Colombia Valley

38
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

New York State

A
  • 3rd most important grape growing state
  • Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and Long Island vineyard areas
  • Lakes and ocean moderate and warm the climate
  • Finger Lakes has frost risk
39
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Central Valley Varieties

A

High yield irrigated blends of:

  • Colombard
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Carignan
  • Barbera
  • Ruby Cabernet
  • Thompson seedless
40
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Zinfandel (Primitivo)

A
  • Californian blends, varietals and blush rose (and bulk blends)
  • Old vine = rich, full bodied wine
41
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Zinfandel problems

A
  • Uneven ripening leads to some raisining at full ripeness
42
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Zinfandel wine description

A
  • concentrated red berry flavours
  • High alcohol
  • some level of residual sugar
43
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon Regions

A
  • from Central Valley = soft, juicy black cherry with light tannins
  • Napa top quality
  • Washington State also high quality
44
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

A
  • Fruit left until complete phenolic ripeness creating expressive wine
  • Poweful toasty flavours from American oak
  • Sometimes unbalanced with high alcohol
45
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Merlot

A
  • Often cheap with soft tannins and little character
  • Monterey and Napa high quality with blackberry and plum, velvet tannins and high abv
  • High quality potential in Washington State
46
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Pinot Noir

A
High quality from:
- Russian River (south of Sonoma County)
- Carneros (North of Napa)
- Santa Barbara (south of Paso Robles)
- Willamette Valley (Oregon)
Styles from rich, full and fruity to elegant and gamey
47
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Chardonnay

A
  • full bodied
  • High alcohol
  • obvious oak
  • hazelnut, butter and exotic fruits
  • More restrained in cooler regions
48
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Sauvignon Blanc

A
  • Bordeaux style of partial or full oak fermentation and ageing
  • Fume Blanc indicated oak ageing
  • Cheap SB shows little varietal fruit
49
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Oak aged Sauvignon from California

A

Fume Blanc

50
Q

WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes

Rhone Varieties

A
  • Recent plantings of Syrah, Viognier and Marsanne

- Market led fashion for Rhone style wines