23. North America Flashcards
(32 cards)
1
Q
Briefly outline USA Wine Labelling Law
Indicates “what is inside the bottle” (and where it comes from)
A
USA Wine labelling Laws (Oregon differences mentioned)
Federal laws specify the min % grapes for various labelling terms
- Many states also have own laws, that may differ from federal limits.
- Single var ~ 75% of that var (Oregon 90%)
- Named county ~ 75% grapes > that county
- Named AVA ~ 85% grapes > that AVA (Oregon 95%)
- Named VY ~ 95% grapes > that VY
- ‘California’ ~ 100% grapes > California (Same Oregon)
Oregon - Shared AVA - 100% grapes from the 2, either state on label.
Vintage style: If label includes
- AVA label 95% grapes > that year
- County or State 85% > that year
Estate Bottled:
- VY & Winery mb in same AVA
- ~ the reason why XL AVA’s and also overlapping AVA’s created – many huge prod want to legit label prem wines as “Estate”
2
Q
Briefly describe the US Wine Markets / Industry Profile
A
Market
- CA largest prod stat in USA
- Prod vol 26mhl (2018)
- Export 3.3 mhl ~12%
- 5900 Growers, 4800 bonded wineries
- The system is flexible:
- Prod (winery) may own VY, and buy or sell fruit outside his AVA/county to make the style he wants to attract customers ~cellar door or wine club.
- Growers – very nb in system.
- High quality – prem price (Napa 10x price of Lodi)
- Prized var e.g. CS – dem premium prices
- Estate wineries exist, but are small / few
- Prod size varies
- few hundred cases
- huge prod e.g. E&J Gallo (Barefoot) – largest in the world with 70m cases sold (2018)
- very exclusive small prod (Screaming Eagle, Harlan Est) ~ wines hard to obtain / among most exp in the world
Wine Institute of California represents the industry
25% prod are members (?)
Many counties/AVA’s have own trade assoc.
Napa 90’% of prod and dom wine industry
Washington
New York
Oregon
Other states also grow but minor volumes
3
Q
Describe California’s Growing Environment and Grape Growing
A
Growing Environment
- Mediterranean – (no marked diff in seasonal temps)
- Growing season dry
- Dry autumn extends growing – helpful in coolest areas.
- Low rainfall ~ drip irrigation very NB
- Most nb factors infl vineyards climate = Ocean & Topography. (not latititude!)
Ocean –
- California current fm north + upwelling ~ coastal water is very cold ~ significant cooling influence on exposed VY
Topography
- More influential than latitude, some coolest areas found in south.
- Coast Ranges prov shelter fm ocean but gaps from river valleys act as funnels for cool air drawn inland as warm inland air rises ~ results in diurnal range
- Air movement cools vy, red risk of fung dis / frost.
- Fog can form pm, last till morning, reducing exp to sunlight – when fog burns off sunlight is intense (32 – 42 N)
- high wind can cause vine stomata to close slowing ripening (not good for methoxypyrazines in CS
- At Altitude -cooling influences
- Most vy above the fog layer
- Means long & intense sunlight hours,~ good dev tann & col
Rainfall - low
- Drought is a prob, groundwater decreasing
- Water sustain agencies created to enforce water mgt schemes – monitoring & regulation water use
Pests Hazards
- Pierce’s disease (leafhopper vector) esp Central Valley, Sonoma, Napa
- Spring frost – mgd with sprinklers & wind machines
- Warm+dry ~ wildfires = risk of physical dam and smoke taint
4
Q
Describe California Vineyard Management
A
Grape Growing - Vineyard Management
- Post phylloxera planting focussed on matching rootstock to growing environment and growers needs:
- Attention to site (match to environment)and vine esp precision viticulture
- Different densities, training, trellising
- Variety of planting materials
- Benefit of skilled labour (Mexico) work permits and illegal immig probs have led to reduction
- Where topography allows, mech used.
- irrigation widely installed
Sustainability– 85% of wine is from certified sust wineries:
- Progs supported by Cali Sust Winegrowing Alliance
- Napa Green Winery
- Sonoma County Winegrowers
- Lodi Rules
Organic / Biodynamic Certification
- Organic wine cert less common (demands 0 SO2)
- Wine from cert organic grapes… more common
- Some growers adopt org practice, but find the cost to certify prohibitive/not of value
- Smaller prop of growers are cert biodyn.
5
Q
What are the most common varieties grown in California and what styles are produced?
A
Varieties
CS & CH are 20% ea of total plantings (i.e. 40%)
Chardonnay
- Made in range of styles, depending on site, climate, wm, price
- Increasingly grown at alt, or on the coast
- Prem: m+/f body, pron peach, pineapple, 2nd frm oak/malo
- Also, fresher, leaner, less ripe, less oak. Some lees contact for aroma of struck match (from volatile sulfur compounds)
- Inexp – soft, easy drinking m acid, slight RS, unoaked or chip/stave
Cabernet Sauv – most prestigious and expensive
- Site variations ~herbal, less body, lower alc.
- VY mgt/harvest – green harvest & hang times nb for ripe, conc, f body, h alc wines
- All but inexp mat in oak – hi % new FR oak, sometimes shorter time for bal of fruit-oak
- Often blended with Bordeaux var
Pinot Noir
- Prem & S Prem from relatively cool sites (coast/alt). Range of style
- M bdy, m alc, fresh red cherry, raspberry
- F body, h alc, m/m+ acid, riper black fruit or jam
- Trend to pick earlier & all/part whole bunch press (or include stems) for complexity & tann structure
- Mat in oak, some new & FR common
Zinfandel – signature of CA
- Considerable plantings of old (some 100 yrs+)
- Prone to uneven ripening ~ m+ acid, fresh combined with jam flav
- Prem: m+ acid, m/f body, ripe m+ tann, rasp-/blue-/black- berry; vanilla from US oak
- Inexp : soft, ripe, jammy, oak alts, for spice
- From Central Valley – rose style called “White Zinfandel”
- Short maceration ~ med pink col, SS cool temps, ferm stopped for med dry RS, lo alc, m acidity, m body, strawberry fruit candy
- Usually hi-vol brands, inexp /mid price A/G
Columbard / French Columbard
- Neutral white – Central Valley, Inexp
- Rarely single var, blended and sold as “Fruity White” / “Dry White”
Syrah
- Best wines (mod infl) m/m+ body, m+ acid, m+ tann, fresh plum, blackberry, spice
- Some prod make a “Rhone” blend incl Grenache, and Cinsaut & whites with Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Merlot
- Much inexp/mid price, m acid, m tann, fruity plummy char
- Prem (mod climates) m+/h acid, m tann, fresh, complex aromas, may be “Bordeaux Blended”
Pinot Gris, Sauv Blanc;
- Dry, Fruity , SB sometimes in oak for Fume style
Petit Sirah
- Notable, from FR now more in US: prov col, tann, body, acid to blend
6
Q
Describe Mendocino County, / Anderson Valley
Grow Env specifics, Key Varieties grown here?
A
North Coast – Mendocino County
- Mendocino County – 7000ha under vine; 13 AVA’s
- Cooler AVAs near coast, inland planted at alt
- Coastal (Anderson Valley) – specialise in PN CH and aromatic whites
- Inland (Redwood Valley) Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, CS.
- Inland + alt (Potter Valley) aromatic whies -SB, Riesling
- Grapes less exp than Sonoma and Napa, used for multi -eg blends
_Anderson Valley AVA (_PN)
- Climate: Hi rain 900 – 2000mm pa, most winter, spring, NW wettest
- VY planted on sloped sides of valley
- Warm day temps, cold air + fog funnelled in along Navarra valley – night + am cool. Diurnal range / Frost risk for low lying
- PN, CH (early/early) most grown – spw, still wine
- Also aromatics – Gewurz, Riesling, PG, PB
-
PN highly reputed
- Style (varies with climate, clone, harvesting times
- Fresh raspberry, cherry, plum m body, m+ acid
- G/OS, prem price, some s-prem
Notable producers Littorai, Williams Selyem
- 85 wineries, cellar doors > tourist trade
- Hi reput fruit bought by wineries to prod AVA specific or VY specific wines
7
Q
What are the mountain ranges to the West and East of Lake County
A
Mayacamas to the West.
Vaca mountains to the East
8
Q
Rules relating to North Coast Sonoma county and the overlapping AVAs?
What about Norther Sonoma - basic location facts and sub AVA’s?
A
North Coast – Sonoma County
- Borders Pacific Ocean, includes 18 AVA’s
-
3 overarching AVAs: Northern Sonoma; Sonoma Coast; Sonoma Valley ~
- overlap/encomp smaller AVA’s ~ specific climates and geog features
-
Law…Overarching AVA’s enable
- Label term “estate bottled” even if VY and Win are far apart
- If wine from AVA tot within Sonoma County, “Sonoma County” must appear on label, with AVA name
Northern Sonoma AVA
- Mayacamas Mnts east, Sonoma AVA to west
- Russian River flows through, filling underground aquifers, prov water
- Incorp several smaller AVAs – SIX are detailed below
- Alexander Valley; Knights Valley; Dry Creek Valley; Rockpile; Russian River Valley (+Green Valley); Chalk Hill
9
Q
Describe the North Coast AVA for CS clim / top conditions
A
Alexander Valley AVA - CS
- Climate: Warm, cooled by Pacific air through Petaluma Gap & Russion River Valley.
- VY on valley floor, W/SW slopes, benchlands of Mayac mntns 100 – 750m
- ~long sunshine hours, > grapes hi tann and col
- Alt ~ cool ~ acidity
- Valley floor fertile; slopes free draining, gravel, ~less vigour, lower yields
- Rain 800mm pa most in winter
-
CS most planted
- Style: f body, ripe blackberry, black currant, herb, choc. Valley – less tann, slopes more struct & conc
- G/OS mid – prem price, some s-prem
- Also planted CH, MER, ZINF; PV; MAL;
- Notable Producers : Kendall-Jackson (Stonestreet Estate) Seghesi
Sonoma Mountain AVA (CS)
- West side of valley, most face east, steep slopes on Sonoma mnts
- VY up to 730m above fog – int sun, warm temps, > ripe flav, tann, deep col
- Cold air off mntn – cool night – diurnal – acid
- Soils – volc, free-drain, lo nut – cont vig & yield >> conc fruit
- most planted CS; also MER, ZINF, Syrah
10
Q
NC Sonoma AVA’s for ZINF (why is it good….)
A
Dry Creek Valley AVA ~ known for Zinfandell
- 2x16mile valley, vy on valley floor, slopes, benchlands either side of the Dry Creek river (trib of Russ Riv)
- Climate: Warm days, ocean air + fog funneled long valley from San Pablo Bay afternoon, nights – diurnal rance – acidity
- Coastal infl – south part of valley cooler
- West face vy (east side of river) exp to afternoon sun, warmer
-
Soils : Valley floor sandy loam; slopes, benches gravel red clay – gravel helps cont vig and yield
- Style – ZINF (some vines 100yr+)
- M+/f body, m+ acid, ripe blackberry, black plum cherry (w-f slopes – riper and jammier & opp is fresher); spice from prop new US oak
- G/OS mid – prem price.
- Also: CS, MER, CF; PV; Rhone var-GSM, Cinsault, Carignan)
Rockpile AVA (north, overlaps with Dry Creek) ZINF
- VY on steep rocky slopes, must be at 800f (244m) to be in AVA
- Aspect + Alt ~range of grow conditions
- Sonoma lake sign influence
- creates inversion layer – vy stay warm at night
- vy above the fog layer – long sunshine hours
- Shallow hillside soil – retain little water, wind – hi evapotranspiration ~ low yields, conc ripe fruit.
- Grown: ZINF, P Sirah; Syrah; CS; CF; MAL, PV; Douro varieties
11
Q
Name and describe Sonoma AVA sfor PN / CH?
A
Russian River Valley AVA (PN & CH)
- Shared by Northern Sonoma AVA; Sonoma County AVA, and part is in Sonoma Coast AVA
- Incl flat and hilly topography
Climate ranges: S & W are coolest – fog, wind through Petaluma Gap
- Fog red temps night and early morn, diurnal range – sugar, acid, ripen
Soils range…
- Yellow sandstone – rocky sandy clay loam~ all are free draining, low nut, cont vig & yield
Varieties: CH and PN are most planted (early/early)
- Fruit quality result in ext of AVA boundaries 2x
- PN Style: m/m+ body, m tann, m+ acid, ripe strawberry, red cherry flavours, vanilla (oak)
- CH Style: m/m+ body, m+ acid, ripe peach, pineapple; cream/spice fm malo, oak
- Both above – VG / OS; mid – s-prem price
Notable Producers: Rochioli, La Crema
- Also in warmer conditions in north-east, CS, MER, ZINF, & riper CH, PN
Sonoma Coast AVA (PN,CH)
- From Mendocino (N) to San Pablo Bay (S), includes
- Sonoma side of Carneros
- Part of Sonoma Valley,
- West part of Chalk Hill
- Most of RRValley
- ~wide var climates, wide range grape var
- Sub AVAs: Pet Gap, Ross Seaview
- VY to west close to coast
- exp to cold wind/fog – risk to fruitset ~ lo yield
- fog red sunlight hours – early rip PN,CH l body, and h acid with m alc.
Notable Producers: Aubert ; Occidental
Carneros AVA (PN CH)
- Between San Pablo Bay (S) and Sonoma/Napa counties (N)
- Prox of SP Bay ~ fog+cold wind am & pm /daytime warm, sunny
- Lo elev rising from sea level to inland hills 200m
- Best known for PN/CH – portion for spw
- Styles (both var) m body,, m alc, m+acid, fresh fruit
- OR… f body, ripe, hi alc
- G/OS mid – s-prem price
- Also: MER, Syrah, CS
Notable Producer Kistler; Tor
- Either labelled “Carneros” or “Los Carneros”
- AVA overlaps Napa & Sonoma
- Sonoma side can label “Sonoma County” /Napa side “Napa Valley”
- Fruit from both“Carneros” only.
12
Q
Chalk Hill AVA is located within which larger AVA?
A
Russian River Valley AVA (Sonoma County)
13
Q
Describe
Napa Valley AVA
Grow Env, Grape Growing
A
Napa Valley AVA
- Globally recog hi Q wine esp CS;
- 4% of CA Prod vol; 27% of Val
- Covers whole valley, incl 16 smaller AVAs
- Conjunctive labelling laws ~ wines that qualify to be labelled with single specific AVA must have Napa Valley on label
Growing Env & Grape Growing
- 30mile x 5mile, 18200ha under vine
- Topography:
- Napa River runs through, Mayacamas mnts (W, N) shelter from cold Pac Ocean
- Vaca mnts (E) protect from hot Central Valley
- Open to San Pablo (S)
- Warming air (day) rises, pulls in cold air from ocean afternoon
14
Q
Describe the Vineyard mgt in Napa and winemaking incl significant vineyards
A
Vineyard Management
- “Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve” means 90% of Napa County is highly protected from commercial/resid dev – no threat.
- However, most viable, permi VY land has been planted
- Legisl prevents land >30deg slope from being conv to VY
- These areas forested – helps red erosion
- Pop and prestige of Napa Valley wine, + inability to exp prod > incred high grape and land prices (thus wine price)
- Vines trained, pruned to cordon/replacement spur + VSP
- Mech can be used on valley floor
- Mntn sides often only option – by hand
- Grow season is dry ~ drip irrigation widely installed
- Cool night temps – frost risk on valley floor / air movement + warmer nights reduce risk in mountain AVA’s
- Napa has own sustainability cert programme – both VY and Winery 60% land = “Napa Green” cert
Winemaking
- CS 40% prod, 55% crop val
- Smaller plantings MER, PN, ZINF, PV, MAL, CF; Syrah; Petite Sirah
- CH most planted white, also SB, PG
- WM changed
- Past full body, intense, hi alc, lo acid from long hang time
- Today general – pick earlier, high prop new oak for reds, but shorter time
-
Wineries well-resourced,
- Optical sorters, concrete eggs for diff blend components
- (most reds have blend even if single var lable)
- CS + (MER, CF, Petite Sirah)
- Also blend fm diff VY (cross AVA, riper from warmer, fresher from cooler
Single VY notable: To Kalon (Rutherford Bench); Martha’s VY
Styles vary per site/var choice/VY tech/wm.
- Tend to range G/OS – Prem to S-prem price
- Notable producers Screaming Eagle, Harland Estate; Stag’s Leap Cellars
- CH& SB dom whites in Napa
- Mountain AVA’s less pron fruit
- CH usually ferm & mat in oak - less new oak than in the past
15
Q
Describe climate and style of CS at
Yountville, Stags Leap; Rutherford
Special soils at Rutherford bench? Where?
Why is this where the BEST CS in the world is produced???
A
Yountville AVA, Stags Leap District AVA; Rutherford AVA (CS)
- Further north on valley floor
- Warm climate, nights cool from wind/fog from the bay most in Yountville, least in Rutherford
- Most planted CS
- Style: conc ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, m+/f body, h ripe tann, spice, liqourice, cloves (oak) or herbs. Rounder+fruitier in youth than those from higher sites
- SB most planted white
- Style ripe, juicy peach, trop aromas, m+ acid
- Small qty MER, CF and ZINF fm Rutherford
Notable VY area Rutherford Bench ~3mile sloping alluvial fan, bottom of Mayacamas mnts.
Bench Soil = deep, rocky, mod fertility
Carneros AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll AVA
- AVA’s valley floor ~sit under fog ~ hi diurnal range esp in South
- In AVAs Carneros, Coombsville, Oak Knoll fog does not burn off till well into morning – limits sunlight hrs, warmth
- Coombsville, Oak Knoll better known for CS
- Also MER, CH (lighter body, fresher fruit ~ cool cond)
16
Q
Describe the Mountainside AVA’s in Napa and describe soils
A
Mount Veeder AVA, Atlast Peak AVA; Howell Mountain aVA; Spring Mountain District AVA;** **Diamond Mountain District AVA (CS)
AVA’s on Mountain Sides:
- VY in mntns generally above fog layer
- Rec long sunlight hrs, cool infl from alt – sites up to 800m
- Overall, less temp ext and lower diurnal range
- General comb of clim /soil ~wines from mountain AVAs oft have higher tann, acid than those from valley floor
- West-facing (east side) exp to int pm sun, > warmer than opp side, higher alc, riper fruit
- Temp differs n vs s. Most southerly get some coastal cooling infl. e-g- Mount Veeder AVA (SW) coolest – CS struggles to ripen some yrs
- Atlas Peak (SE) rel cool, gets pm sun
- Howell Mountain (NE) one of the warmest - int conc, ripe CS, hi, firm tann.
- Spring Mountain District; Diamond Mountain District (NW) slightly cooler
Soils – vary incl volcanic
- Change over areas, sometimes in a sing VY
- Broadly:
- On the mountains thin, poor nut, cont vig, reduced yields – small berries, conc
- In the middle (most valley floor) silt, clay, high fert & water retention – wines less structured
-
Alluvial fans – bottom of mountains
- rocky, deep, mod ferility (called benches)
- Wines between fert valley, and mntn.
17
Q
Macro level - describe Central Coast
A
Central Coast AVA 280 x 60 miles
- Parallels Pacific Ocean coastline S Francisco – Santa Barbara
- Marine air funnels through gaps in coastal hills
- Multiple counties, each own AVA’s
- Southern Coast ranges run N-S shelter VY to the east from cool, wet fog
- Santa Barbara Transverse Range – E-W funnels cool marine air, cools growing areas.
18
Q
Describe Livermore Valley and its special heritage
And its neighbour, Santa Cruz Mountains
A
Livermore Valley AVA (CH, CS, SB, ZINF)
- East of SF Bay, Alameda County
- Afternoon wind, hot air rising pm, pulls cool air from SF Bay
- Soils – stony, free-drain cont vigour
- Var: CH, CS, SB, ZINF
- Style – conc, ripe flav, tann, fresh acidity
- Old region, planted by Spanish missionaries 1760
- CH cuttings from Meursault,
- Concannon VY ~ CS cuttings from Margaux
- Oldest cont running wineries (made sacramental wine during Prohibition)
- 80% of CA CS (Clone 7,8,11) and CH (Wente clone) are related to these original cuttings.
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA (CS; CH; PN)
- Part of range running down the coast
- VY planted hi – up to 800m along a ridge line
- Alt – mod infl on day temps
- Night cool air slips down, forces warm air up – ripens fruit, avoids frost, nights are warm.
- CS, CH, PN most planted
- Style: Overall G/OS mid – s-prem price
Notable Producers Ridge Vineyards; Mount Eden Vineyards
19
Q
Describe Monterey AVA, climate, topography varieties
A
Monterey AVA (Most CH but also PN & RIES)
- Large, maj follows the Salinas R valley, mod by cool marine air funnelled from Monterey Bay
- Salinas Valley opens to Monterey Bay in the North
- Bay is a cold zone (sea canyon) ~ afternoon/eve partic cool, windy
- Coolest areas planted PN, Riesling
- Warmer sites CS, MER, Syrah, ZINF
- *CH grown in both cooler & warmer – main var 50% of plantings**
- Soils: sandy loam, grave, free-draining.
-
Rainfall – lo in grow season,
- Irrig is essential, water rom Salinas river
- Irrig + ease of mech of large flat valley floor > grapes go to inexp, mid price, hi vol wines
- Either from Monterey or cross-regional
20
Q
Describe the AVA in this County that produces mostly CS
Climate, Topography
Two smallter AVA’s for CH and PN?
A
Paso Robles AVA (CS)
- 250 000 ha, until 2014 undivided – now 11 sub-AVA’s
- Each reflects distinct features in grow env. rather than political boundaries
- Incl valley floor, rolling hills, mountains with alt up to 670m ~cooling influence
- East – warmer climate, f body wines, conc, ripe fruit
- West – nearer Pacific Ocean, cooler, prod wins with higher acid, fresher flavours
- Templeton Gap (W) low point in Coastal Range – allows Pacific Ocean air to reach inland – moderates temps of westerly sub-AVA’s
- Calcareous soils not common in CA are a feature through the AVA
- In areas with clay (good retaining water) and annual rainfall is mod, producers can dry farm.
- Var: vast maj black varieites, 40% = CS. Also common: MER, Syrah, ZINF. Area known for Rhone var.
- Much prod is G, inexp – mid price
- Some prod VG/OS mid – prem prices
- Notable producers Saxum Vineyards; Tablas Creek
Edna Valley AVA – one of the coolest AVAs (CH & PN)
- Cool fog/wind from Morro Bay
- Hi Q CH and PN (still, spw)
- Also Syrah, SB; Albarino; Viognier
Arroyo Grande Valley AVA – also cool (CH & PN)
- Warm, sunny days, NE-SW loc funnels in Pacific fog, wind into the vale from SW, cools temps at night ~ hi acid grapes
- PN, CH dom (still & Spw); some ZINF, Syrah in the warmer areas inland.
21
Q
Macro level describe St Barbara
climatic features, varieties, styles
A
Santa Barbara County – most southern** **(CH & PN)
- Located in the transverse Ranges E-W oriented West faces Pacific Ocean, funnels cool breeze and fog eastward into VY, lowering temps significantly
- Air circ helps red risk of frost/fungal disease > grapes cb kept on the vine into the autumn months – needed in the coolest sites
-
CH, PN most common in cooler areas
- Style PN: red cherry, plum, m+/h acid, m/m+ body, m tann, hi alc
- Style CH: lemon, grapefruit, peach, m+/hi acid, m/m+ body
- Style Syrah (warmer sites): fresh blackberry, plum, m/m+ body, m+ tann, m+ acid.
- Also: SB, CS; Rhone var esp Grenache, Viognier
- Overall wines are G/OS mid – s-prem price
- Notable Producers: Mail Road Wines; Sine Qua Non
- Legislation in Santa Barbara County
- Prev wineries from setting up cellar door at winery MUST be in town/city.
22
Q
Two notable EW running AVA’s for PN
What other var?
A
Santa Maria Valley AVA** **(CH & PN)
- North. Valley runs E-W, constantly funneling cool Pac Ocean air east to VY – temps cool
- VY planted 100 – 250m, slopes,
- Soil sandy clay shale loam
- PN, CH most planted, also Syrah, Viognier
Sta Rita Hills AVA (CH & PN)
- Distinquished by cool temps, calcium rich soil
- EW orientation framed by Purisima Hills to north, Santa Rosa Hills to south.
- West edge of Santa Ynez AVA, close to Pac Ocean – first to receive fog, breezes
- Hilly terrain, diverse soils ~ variety of site conditions
- PN, CH, SB; Viognier, Syrah
-
Part known for PN Style:
- Black cherry, black plum, tea leaf, savoury notes, m+/h acid, m+ tannins
- Small supply, hi demand ~ prem – s-prem prices
23
Q
Describe Lodi in the ? Valley
A
Lodi AVA (ZINF)
- North end of Central Valley
- 100 miles inland from San Fran Bay.
- 45000 ha,
- Mediterranean climate, mod by cool pm winds from San Fran Bay, and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
- Flat land in area with breaks between North and South Coast Ranges ~ breezes off the Bay travel far inland
- Soil – free-draining sand, clay, loam
- Low rainfall ~ irrigation widely used (Mokelumne River)
- Wind red risk of fung disease/frost
- Vines usually trained cordon + VSP trellis. (Replacement cane – hi labour)
- Oldest vines – bush vines
- Wealth of var can ripen and maintain some freshness: Bordeaux; Rhone; Spain, Italy, Germany.
- Lodi well known for ZINF with some vines 100 yrs +
- Style: ripe cherry, blueberry, blackberry; m/f body, m/m+ acid, ripe tann,
Grapes from Lodi
- Either inexp “California” blend made by a large producer or
- Used in wines made from grapes entirely from the AVA
- G/ VG, some OS; inex – prem (single VY, or old dry-farmed bush vines)
- Notable Producers Michael David; Ravenswood
Sustainability: Lodi Rules – 1st in CA founded in this area.
- 1000 wineries currently certified
- (CA and elsewhere in the world)
- 20% Lodi VY certified sustainable
24
Q
Describe the 2 sub-AVA’s of Lodi
A
Mokelumne River AVA
- Contains maj of Lodi’s wineries & old ZINF vines.
- Wines must state “Lodi” on the label + the sub AVA name
Clarksburg AVA (CHENIN)
- SW of Sacramento, similar climate to Lodi, hot days mod by afternoon breeze
- Known for CB, Petite Sira, and large plantings CH, PG, SB, Viognier
- Relatively few wines labelled Clarksburg AVA – most fruit > California blends
25
Describe Sierra Foothills
**_Sierra Foothills Region and AVA_**
* 100m east of San Franciso – west foothills of Sierra Nevada Mtn Range
* Vast – 1m ha, multiple counties, a few smaller AVA's
Maj plantings are in
* Amador County – California Shenandoah Valley AVA and Fiddletown AVA
* El Dorado County : El Dorado AVA
* Daytime temp 35 – 40 C cool air descends from mntns at night – hi diurnal range
* Plantings at alt help to manage sugar ~ up to 600m in Amador County
* 1000m El Dorado AVA
* Soils predom sandy clay loam from decomposed granite
* Retains sufficient water to allow dry-farming
**Sierra Foothills most known for old vine ZINF** (some 100yrs+)
* Also
* **Rhone** (Viognier, Rossanne, Marsanne, Grenache, Mourvedre; Syrah);
* **Italian** (Barbera, Sangiovese, PG, Aglinico);
* **Spanish** (Verdelho, Tempranillo
26
When Central Valley is so hot how can Lodi produce quality wines?
Which wine is Lodi specifically known for?
Because it is cooled by breezes from San Fransisco Bay
Old vine Zinfandel.
27
What minimum percentage of grapes in Oregon Pinot Gris must come from the AVA stated on the label?
95%
28
Despite being so far south, why is California's Santa Barbara County well-suited for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production?
- Pacific Ocean breezes, bring the maritime influence up the valley along the Transverse Ranges.
Cool the region and extend the growing season which is necessary since it is also very cool.
Air circ reduces risk of fungal disease and frost.
29
Name 5 California AVAs where you could get premium quality Chardonnay
Los Carneros AVA
Russian River AVA
Sonoma Valley AVA
Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
Santa Maria Valley AVA
30
Name 5 AVAs that are above the fog line in Napa
How are these AVAs cooled?
What is the impact of being above the fog line
Howell Mountain AVA
Atlas Peak AVA
Diamond Mountain District AVA
Spring Mountain District AVA
Mount Veeder AVA
-They are cooled by altitude
31
Name 4 US AVAs where you would expect quality Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley AVA
Russian River Valley AVA
Carneros AVA
Edna Valley and Santa Maria Valley AVA
Wilamette Valley AVA
32
In the USA, what are the minimum requirements for labeling a wine by:
## Footnote
Vintage?
Variety?
Location (AVA / Vineyard)?
Vintage: 85% (95% for Oregon)
Variety: 75% (90% for Oregon)
**Location**
AVA: 85% (95% for Oregon, or Washington is grapes are coming from a shared AVA)
Vineyard: 95%
