USA-California

Question 1

The united States’ GI system is based on the__________1____________.

Answer 1

1=American Viticultural Area(AVA)

Question 2

Latitude plays a relatively small role in determining a vineyard’s climate in much of California. The influence of the exceptionally cold ______1_____________is much more crucial.

Answer 2

1= California Ocean Current

Question 3

North of Los Angeles (where most of the vineyards are located) the coast line of California is ______1________.

Answer 3

1= mountainous

(These mountains shield much of the state from the cooling effect of the ocean; however, in areas that are affected, the cooling effect can be marked.)

Question 4

Cold air, often accompanied by ____1____, is drawn in from the ocean ________2_______, lowering ______3________.
The cooling effect can be so dramatic in vineyards near the coast that, in some years, grapes can struggle to fully ripen.

Answer 4

1= fogs
2= in the evening
3= night-time temperatures

(In addition, the time it takes for the sun to burn off the fog in the morning means that the cooling influence extends well into the day.)

Question 5

Where there are gaps in the mountains, the cooling effect can reach well inland. Valleys that lie at right angles to the ocean, such as those in Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties, _______1______ for the cold air.

Answer 5

1= act as funnels

Question 6

Where there is no exposure to the ocean, such as in the Central Valley, the climate is ____1____.

Answer 6

1= hot

Question 7

The other factor that links all of California’s wine regions is a _____1_____ during the ripening season. Water shortages are a real concern and drip irrigation is widely practiced.

Answer 7

1= lack of rain

Question 8

______1______________ has always allowed growers to leave the grapes on the vine long into the season. This extra ‘hang time’ results in very ripe grapes with very concentrated flavours and very high sugar levels.

Answer 8

1= The scarcity of autumn rain

Question 9

_______1_________ is the most widely planted black grape in California. Many of the wines are ___2_______, with very concentrated ______3______ flavours and prominent ______4_____ aromas from new oak barrels. Some producers choose to make their 1 in a less rich style, with fresher blackcurrant flavours.

Answer 9

1= Cabernet Sauvignon
2= full-bodie
3= ripe cassis
4= spice

Question 10

_______1_______ is regarded as California’s ‘own’ grape variety and it is made in a range of styles. It has a tendency to ripen unevenly, with the consequence that the harvested fruit can sometimes include both raisined and underripe grapes.

Answer 10

1= Zinfandel

Question 11

(Zinfandel)
The raisining can result in concentrated, full-bodied red wines with ______alcohol levels, sometimes with small amounts of residual sugar. Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries, and ____1______. Some can display a subtle _______2______ quality from underripe grapes.

Answer 11

high

1= liquorice
2= herbaceous

Question 12

Large volumes of rose Zinfandel are made from early-picked grapes. These wines, commonly referred to as White Zinfandel, are typically fruity, pale in colour, ______1_____, _____2____.

Answer 12

1= medium-sweet
2= low in alcohol

Question 13

(Black Varieties)
______1_______ is also widely planted, generally making approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit. San Joaquin in Central Valley has the largest plantings, making simple, inexpensive wines.

Answer 13

1= Merlot

Question 14

Better-quality Merlots now come from cooler sites such as Monterey and the North Coast regions, especially _____1____ and _____2____. These deeply coloured wines have soft, velvety tannins, a luscious body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum.

Answer 14

1= Napa 
2= Sonoma

Question 15

(Black Varieties)
Premium ______1_____ can come from moderate regions such as Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley. Styles range widely, according to the vineyard site and winemaking practices.

Answer 15

1= Pinot Noir

Question 16

(Premium Pinot Noir)
Some are light in colour, with classic gamay and vegetal notes, although most show rich layers of ripe red fruit flavours (_______,________) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.

Answer 16

red cherry, strawberry

Question 17

What are the 4 principal red grape varieties in USA?

Answer 17

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel

Question 18

What are the 2 principal white grape varieties and one other grape?

Answer 18

Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc

Riesling

Question 19

(White varieties)
_______1________ is the most planted grape variety of either colour. Throughout the state, there is a wide variation of production styles: the inexpensive, high-volume wines from the Central Valley tend to be fruity with low to medium acidity and sometimes a toasty note from oak staves or chips.

Answer 19

1=Chardonnay

Question 20

In the past, high-quality California Chardonnay had a reputation for being very full-bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity, with obvious flavours of ______,_______ and _______ underpinning the ________ and _________ fruit flavours.

Answer 20

oak, hazelnut and butter

Peach and banana

Question 21

Today, there is a wide variety of premium Chardonnay being produced in the state, including restrained examples with less oak from cooler regions such as _________ and ________________.

Answer 21

Los Carneros

Russian River Valley

Question 22

The best _______1_______ comes from California’s coastal regions, giving wines with high acidity and ripe citrus flavours. Affordable, fruity, everyday wines come from warmer regions such as the Central Valley.

Answer 22

1= Sauvignon Blanc

Question 23

The principal vineyards of California are grouped into five regions, three of which contain the majority of the well-known County Appellations and AVAs. These three regions,__________,__________ and ____________, will be covered below.

Answer 23

North Coast
Central Coast
Central Valley

Question 24

California’s ______1______ comprises the vineyards to the north of San Francisco Bay. The climate of the vineyards here is strongly influenced by the ocean, bringing fog and cool breezes that flow through the gaps in the coastal ranges and river valleys. This affects the average temperatures and diurnal temperature ranges that determine grape plantings.

Answer 24

North Coast

Question 25

List 3 counties in North Coast

Answer 25

Nappa Valley

Sonoma and Mendocino Counties

Question 26

To the west, Mayacamas Mountains from the boundary with Sonoma County. On its eastern side, the Vaca Mountains. Vineyards are found on both the valley floor and on each valley side. Which AVA?

Answer 26

Napa valley AVA

Question 27

(Napa County)
The most significant influences are the morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay(the northern extension of the San Francisco Bay) that moderate the temperatures of the vineyards to the south of the valley. _______1______AVA is the most southerly vineyard area on the valley floor and extends into Sonoma County.

Answer 27

1= Los Carneros

Question 28

(Napa county)
It is cool enough to be a source of high-quality _____1______ and ______2______, which are used to make still wines as well as traditional method sparkling wines.

Answer 28

1= Pinot Noir
2= Chardonnay

Question 29

(Napa county)
Moving north along the valley floor the climate becomes warm enough to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon and the AVAs of ___________,___________ and___________are all principally renowned for making premium wines from this grape.

Answer 29

Stags Leap District
Oakville
Rutherford

Question 30

(Napa Valley)
In the north of the valley _________1_______AVA and _______2_______AVA often receive the warmest daytime temperatures and can produce some of the most concentrated, full-bodied wines in the valley.

Answer 30

1= Saint Helena
2= Calistoga

Question 31

(Napa county)
Many of the vineyards on the valley sides lie above the fog layer, and are instead cooled by their altitude. Aspect also has an important effect on vineyard climate. West facing vineyards such as those of ________1________AVA get full exposure to the hot afternoon sun, and therefore tend to be warmer than those facing east(______2_______AVA), giving fuller-bodied wines with higher alcohol levels.

Answer 31

1= Howell Mountain
2= Mount Veeder

Question 32

(Napa county)
Howell Mountains AVA
Mount Veeder AVA
Overall the red wines of the ________ tend to have greater levels of tannin, and less richness on the palate than those of the ________.

Answer 32

Valley sides

Valley floor

Question 33

(Sonoma County)
Due to a break in the coastal ranges( known as the Petaluma Gap) the _____1________ AVA has very cool, foggy conditions and is best known for high-quality, elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, as well as sparkling wines from the same grape varieties.

Answer 33

1= Russian River Valley

Question 34

(Sonoma County)
The AVAs to the north of Russian River Valley are perceptibly warmer. _______1______AVA is planted densely both on its hillsides and its floor. The hillsides above the fog layer are home to high-quality old vine Zinfandels, whereas the valley floor vineyards are better suited to Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 34

1= Dry Creek Velley

Question 35

(Sonoma County)
______1_______AVA is warmer still and its wines tend to be more fleshy and full-bodied than those of the other Sonoma AVAs. In particular, it has built a reputation for soft-textured, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons.

Answer 35

1= Alexander Valley

Question 36

(Sonoma county)
To the west of these AVAs is the extensive ______1______AVA. The climate here is greatly influenced by the cold Pacific Ocean and the vineyards are often planted on south facing slopes to help maximise ripening.

Answer 36

1= Sonoma Coast

Question 37

North of Sonoma County the large and very diverse region of _______1______ includes the very cool Anderson Valley AVA, a source of grapes for aromatic white wines such as Riesling.

Answer 37

1= Mendocino County

Question 38

(Central Coast)
The __________1________AVA is a diverse region in the north of the Central Coast that includes hillside locations with infertile soils. Some of California’s most elegant Cabernet Sauvignons are produced in this moderate climate, as well as some high-quality Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Answer 38

1= Santa Cruz Mountains

Question 39

(Central Coast)
_______1_______AVA, which follows the path of the Salinas Valley, is strongly influenced by the cold Pacific Ocean. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been heavily planted closer to the coast where strong cool winds blow in on a daily basis.

Answer 39

1= Monterey

Question 40

(Central Coast)
________1______ and ______2______ counties are located in the southern part of Central Coast. Here, the mountains lie east-west, rather than north-south, thus encouraging the flow of cool ocean breezes onto the mainland.

Answer 40

1= San Luis Obispo
2= Santa Barbara

Question 41

(Central Coast)
______1______AVA in San Luis Obispo County has notable plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. It has two distinct zones. The east experiences hot, sunny weather and has deep fertile soils producing supple fruity wines for high-volume brands. The west is cooled by marine air, and has gained a reputation for high-quality Zinfandel.

Answer 41

1= Paso Robles

Question 42

(Central Coast)
_______1________AVA of Santa Barbara County is significantly cooler, and well suited to growing premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. In low-lying areas fog can cover the vineyards during the day, encouraging a slow ripening process, and yielding wines with concentrated fruit flavours balanced by high acidity.

Answer 42

1= Santa Maria Valley

Question 43

(Central Valley)
The _____1____AVA, in the middle of the Central Valley, benefits each day from the cooling breezes from San Francisco Bay, home to some of the oldest and best Zinfandel vineyards in the state.

Answer 43

1= Lodi