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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Monterey County
- Cool dry climate
- Chardonay with crisp citrus character
- Merlot, rich and dark with firm tannins
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
South Central Coast
- East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes
- Much recent planting as potential recognised
- Santa Ynez Valley & Paso Robles for fine Zinfandel
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Santa Ynez Valley
- fine Zinfandel
- East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes
- Much recent planting as potential recognised
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Central Valley
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Lodi
Sub region in north of Central Valley producing better wines in a cooler climate
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
UC Davis varieties created to deal with Central Valley heat
- Ruby Cabernet
- Rubired
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Sierra Foothills
- Rockies foothills
- Hot days and cool nights
- Good fruit concentration
- Old vine zinfandel
- Italian varieties inc Sangiovese
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
California disease problems
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Pierce’s Disease
- Carried by sharp shooters
- Fatal and incurable
- Problem in Southern California
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Problem Californian rootstock
- ARX1
- Not phylloxera tolerant
- Half of Napa needed replanting
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Oregon
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Willamette Valley
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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Umpqua Valley
Oregon sub region
- south of Willamette
- warmer climate,
- boutique pineraies
- Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Rogue Valley
Oregon sub region
- south of Willamette
- warmer climate,
- boutique pineraies
- Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Washington State
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Walla Walla
Sub region of Washington State’s Colombia Valley
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Yakima Valley
Sub region of Washington State’s Colombia Valley
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
New York State
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Central Valley Varieties
High yield irrigated blends of:
- Colombard
- Chenin Blanc
- Carignan
- Barbera
- Ruby Cabernet
- Thompson seedless
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Zinfandel (Primitivo)
- Californian blends, varietals and blush rose (and bulk blends)
- Old vine = rich, full bodied wine
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Zinfandel problems
- Uneven ripening leads to some raisining at full ripeness
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Zinfandel wine description
- concentrated red berry flavours
- High alcohol
- some level of residual sugar
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon Regions
- from Central Valley = soft, juicy black cherry with light tannins
- Napa top quality
- Washington State also high quality
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
- Fruit left until complete phenolic ripeness creating expressive wine
- Poweful toasty flavours from American oak
- Sometimes unbalanced with high alcohol
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Merlot
- 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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Pinot Noir
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
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Chardonnay
- full bodied
- High alcohol
- obvious oak
- hazelnut, butter and exotic fruits
- More restrained in cooler regions
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc
- Bordeaux style of partial or full oak fermentation and ageing
- Fume Blanc indicated oak ageing
- Cheap SB shows little varietal fruit
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Oak aged Sauvignon from California
Fume Blanc
WSET Diploma United States Wine Regions and Grapes
Rhone Varieties
- Recent plantings of Syrah, Viognier and Marsanne
- Market led fashion for Rhone style wines
