California Flashcards
California produces approximately (blank) of all American wine, followed by Washington, New York, and Oregon.
85%
Name 3 species of wild grapevine that awaited the first colonists of North America
Vitis labrusca (the Concord grape)
Vitis rotundifolia (the Scuppernong grape)
Vitis aestivalis (the Norton grape)
Who planted the first vineyard in North America?
George Yount in 1839
Who founded Buena Vista?
Agoston Haraszthy
What is the oldest winery in the Napa Valley?
Charles Krug in 1861
Who established Schramsberg?
Jacob Schram in 1862
What is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley?
Beringer. Established in 1876
When did phylloxera wreak havoc in North America?
1880’s
When did prohibition end?
1933
When did phyloxera recurr in California’s vineyards?
1980’s
When was America’s first AVA established?
Augusta in Missouri in 1980
What percentage of grapes are required in a wine labelled by AVA?
85%
What percentage of grapes are required in a wine labelled by single vineyard in the USA?
95%
Which major mountain range of the Napa Valley is located closest to the coast?
Mayacamas
Where is Buena Vista?
Carneros, Sonoma County
What are the large AVA’s of California?
North Coast
San Francisco Bay
the Sierra Foothills
Central Coast
South Coast
What is the range of the South Coast AVA?
which covers land in the counties stretching from Los Angeles to San Diego, has made little impact in terms of fine wine production.
What is the main white and red grape of California?
Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
What does Meritage mean and who trademarked it?
Meritage, a term trademarked by the Meritage Alliance, is used by producers to indicate a premium blend in which no grape accounts for more than 90% of the wine. Meritage wines may be red or white, but must be produced from Bordeaux varieties.
What 6 AVA’s does the North Coast AVA include?
Mendoncino
Lake
Sonoma
Napa
Marin
Solano
What are the 16 subregions of Napa Valley AVA?
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District
Mount Veeder
Los Carneros
Calistoga
St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap District
Oak Knoll
Coombsville
Wild Horse Valley
Howell Mountain
Chiles Valley
Atlas Peak
What are the 4 unofficial subregions of Napa Valley AVA?
Pritchard Hill, Conn Valley, Deer Park, Rutherford Bench
What are the main whites grapes of Napa Valley AVA?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the main grapes of Napa Valley AVA?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel
Cabernet Franc
What are the soil types of Napa Valley AVA?
Hillside: Shallow and rocky with alluvial fans at the base of the Mayacamas
Valley floor: Deeper, richer soils with gravel and cobble deposits and more water-holding capacity
When was the Napa Valley AVA established?
1981
Where does the cool ocean air funnel through the valley in Napa?
the Petaluma Gap into the San Pablo Bay
What is the elevation range in Napa Valley?
0 - 2,000 ft above sea level
What are the mountain ranges to the west and to the east?
Mayacamas mountains - west
Vaca mountains - east
What are mountain appellations on the west and east sides of Napa?
West
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District
Mount Veeder
East
Howell Mountain
Atlas Peak
What is the wettest and coolest of the mountain appellations in Napa Valley?
Howell Mountain
Which way do the vineyards face on Howell Mountain?
West
Where does the elevation on Howell Mountain begin?
1,400 ft
What is a viticultural threat to mountain wines?
Erosion from heavy winter rains
could wash away the entire top soil and just leave bedrock
What are the valley floor appellations of Napa?
Calistoga
St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap District
What red grape is planted heavily in Carneros and what for?
Pinot Noir
for still and sparkling wine
Name some key producers out of Oak Knoll District?
Key Producers & Important Vineyards: Blackbird, Hendry Ranch, Laird, Matthiasson, Monticello, Robert Biale, Trefethen
Name some key producers from Rutherford?
Key Producers & Important Vineyards: Beaulieu Vineyard,Cakebread, Caymus, Frog’s Leap, Grgich Hills, Inglenook, Quintessa, Round Pond
Name some key producers from Oakville?
Key Producers & Important Vineyards:Beckstoffer To-Kalon, Harlan, MacDonald, Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Rudd, Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak
Name some key producers from St Helena?
Key Producers & Important Vineyards: Charles Krug, Corison, Freemark Abbey, Heitz, Hourglass, Joseph Phelps, Rombauer Vineyard, Spottswoode
Name some key producers in Calistoga AVA.
Key Producers & Important Vineyards: Chateau Montelena, Hundred Acre, Larkmead, Schrader Cellars
Name some key producers of Stags Leap District AVA.
Key Producers & Important Vineyards: Clos du Val, Realm, Robert Sinskey, Shafer, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery
Where is Sonoma?
to the west of Napa
What is the most planted grape variety in Sonoma?
Chardonnay
What are the 18 AVA’s of Sonoma?
Sonoma Coast
Fort Ross Seaview - within Sonoma Coast
Petaluma Gap
Rockpile
Dry Creek Valley
Northern Sonoma
Green Valley - within Russian River Valley
Russian River Valley
Pine Mountain Colverdale Peal
Alexander Valley
Knights Valley
Chalk Hill
Fountain Grove
Bennet Valley
Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Mountain
Moon Mountain
Los Carneros
Which AVA is both in Sonoma and Napa Valley?
Los Carneros AVA
Where can the coolest temperatures in Sonoma be found?
northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA, where altitude, cold ocean air, and persistent coastal fog combine to keep temperatures down.
What is the soil of Russian River Valley?
Fertile alluvial soils, such as Goldridge sandy loam, characterize the valley
Name some key coastal producers of Sonoma.
Coastal producers of note include Hirsch, Marcassin, and Peay.
Name some key producers of Russian River Valley?
Dehlinger, Joseph Swan, Rochioli, and Williams-Selyem are prominent names in Russian River Valley.
Name some key producers in Green Valley in Sonoma.
Kosta Browne, Freeman, and sparkling wine producer Iron Horse are all Green Valley-based estates.
What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma?
Knights Valley
What is the soil type for Alexander Valley and Knights Valley?
gravel