WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes Flashcards
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Californian missionaries planted in
1769 in San Diego
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
First commercial Californian wine
1824
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Wine Laws
Federal - AVAs since 1978. Guarantee source not quality or production methods
State - Varies state to state
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Federal wine laws
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Oregon State Law
- 95% of variety on label
- 100% of fruit from stated AVA
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Washington State Law
85% stated variety (same as federal)
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
California and all other states (except Oregon and Washington)
75% of stated AVA, variety and vintage
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
New York Wine Laws (state)
Up to 35% addition of sugar and water allowed (due to climate)
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Californian regions
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
California Climate
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
North Coast Region
- North of SF
- Warm mediterranean through to cool with Spring frosts
- Napa, Carneros, Sonoma, Mendocino
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Napa Valley AVA
- Prestigious
- Morning mists from Bay cool climate
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Carneros AVA
- Bottom of Napa and Sonoma
- Specialises in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Sonoma County
- With Russian River Valley for quality Pinot Noir
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Russian River Valley
- With Sonoma County for quality Pinot Noir
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Pinot Noir in California
- Sonoma
- Russian River Valley
- Carneros
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Dry Creek Valley
- North Coast Region
- Noted for Zinfandel
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Mendocino County
- North of North Coast Region
- Includes Anderson Valley for quality PN, Riesling and Gewurztraminer
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Anderson Valley
- Cool climate subregion of Mendocino County
- Quality PN and aromatic whites (Riesling & Gewürztraminer)
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
North Central Coast
- Monterey County
- Santa Cruz Mountains