Ch 32 - USA

Question 1

What are the main factors which influence climate in California?

Answer 1

Exceptionally cold California Ocean Current. Mountains north of LA shield a lot of the state from this but in affected areas it has a marked effect. Lack of rain during ripening season is also a factor and can cause real concern so drip irrigation is common. Scarcity of autumn rain allows grapes to stay on vine longer into the season which results in very ripe grapes - concentrated flavours and high sugar.

Question 2

How does the ocean current impact on climate and weather in Claifornia?

Answer 2

Cold air and fogs are drawn from the ocean in the evening, lowering night temps. Time it takes the sun to burn off the fog in the morning means the cooling influence extends well into the day. Can mean grapes near coast struggle to ripen. Where mountains have gaps it can reach inland. Valleys at right angles to oceans like in Monterey and Santa Barbara act as funnel for the air.

Question 3

What are the most common black grapes in California?

Answer 3

Cab Sav is the most widely planted. Zinfandel, merlot, pinot noir.

Question 4

What style of Cab Sav is produced in California?

Answer 4

Extremely expressive wines from prime sites which rival the best in the world. Full bodied wines with concentrated flavours of concentrated cassis and prominent spice from new oak. Some make it in less rich style with fresher blackcurrant flavours.

Question 5

What factors influence the style of Zinfandel in California?

Answer 5

Has a tendency to ripen unevenly so harvested fruit may include both raisined and underripe grapes. Raising results in concentrated full bodied wines with high alcohol and some residual sugar. Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice. The underripe grapes can give subtle herbaceous qualities.

Question 6

What else is Zinfandel used for in California other than red wine? What style is this wine?

Answer 6

Used to produce high volumes of rosé from early picked grapes. These are fruity, pale in colour and medium sweet, low in alcohol.

Question 7

What style of wines does Merlot make?

Answer 7

Merlot is used to make approachable wines with soft tannins and ripe black fruit.

Question 8

What style is a red Zinfandel from California?

Answer 8

full bodied, concentrated red wine with high alcohol and small amounts of residual sugar. Flavours include red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice, sometimes herbaceous notes.

Question 9

Where would you find high volume Merlot in California?

Answer 9

San Joaquin in Central Valley - wimple inexpensive wines.

Question 10

Where do better quality Californian Merlots come from? What is the style?

Answer 10

Cooler sites like Monterey, North Coast like Napa and Sonoma. Deeply coloured wines with soft, velvety tannins, luscious body, high alcohol and classic flavours of blackberry and plum.

Question 11

Where would you find Premium Pinot Noir in California? What is their style?

Answer 11

Moderate regions like Russian River Valley, Los Carneros and Santa Maria Valley. Varies according to site and winemaking practices. Some are light in colour with gamey and vegetal notes though most show rich layers of ripe red fruit (red cherry, strawberry) and notes of sweet spice from oak maturation.

Question 12

What is the most planted white grape in California? What style is it made in?

Answer 12

Chardonnay. A wide variation in styles from inexpensive high volume Central Valley wines which are fruity with low-medium acidity and a toasty note from oak staves/chips to high quality which is very full bodied high in alcohol and low in acidity with obvious oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning peach and banana flavours. There is a wide variety of premium chardonnay being made now though including more restrained examples with less oak from cooler regions like Los Carneros and Russian River Valley.

Question 13

What is the other dominant white grape and what is the style?

Answer 13

Sav Blanc - best from the coastal regions giving high acidity and ripe citrus. Affordable, fruity everyday wines from warmer regions liek Central Valley. Fumé blanc indicates an oaked Sav Blanc but some use it for unoaked as well.

Question 14

What are the vineyard and climactic characteristics in Central valley and how do these impact production in California?

Answer 14

Central Valley has very fertile soil and irrigation is used to increase yield - therefore production of high volume, inexpensive wines with ripe fruit driven style. Climate is hot and dry and because of the valley being surrounded by mountains it does not get the cooling influences of the ocean current and breezes. Cab Sav, Merlot and Chardonnay widely planted.

Question 15

What is the general climate of North Coast California?

Answer 15

Strongly influenced by the ocean bringing fog and cool breezes that flow through the gaps in the coastal rangers and river valleys. Affects average temps and diurnal temps and determine grape plantings.

Question 16

What is the layout of Napa Valley AVA?

Answer 16

to the west the Mayacamas Mountains form a boundary with Sonoma County and on the east the Vacas separate it from Central Valley. VIneyards are found on both valley floor and on each valley side, divided into smaller AVAs.

Question 17

What is the main climatic influence in Napa Valley AVA?

Answer 17

Subject to cooling influence providing range of diverse climates and leading to different styles throughout the area. Most significant are the morning fogs and cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay - moderate temps to the south of the Valley.

Question 18

What is the climate of Los Carneros and what are the main wines made here?

Answer 18

Most southerly vineyard on the Valley foor in Napa and extends into Sonoma - cool enough to be a source of high-quality PN and Chardonnay - make both still and sparkling traditional method wines.

Question 19

What is the climate as you move north from Los Carneros in Napa Valley through Stags Leap, Oakville and Rutherford? What wines are made here?

Answer 19

As you move north on the valley floor the climate becomes warmer and can ripen Cab Sav. Stags Leap District, Oakville and Rutherford known for premium Cab Sav. Merlot also widely planted as are Chardonnay and Sav Blanc. The show ripe tropical fruit in the whites.

Question 20

Comment on the climatic factors in Rutherford and how this impacts the wines made here?

Answer 20

Has the least influence from San Pablo Bay - warmest during day so reds are considered to have most power and structure.

Question 21

What are the factors in Saint Helena and Calistoga AVAs and what wines are produced? What are the moderating factors here?

Answer 21

Receive the warmest daytime temps and can produce the most full bodied, concentrated wines in the valley. Cold air through gaps in the mountains give some relief from oppressive afternoon temps and much cooler night temps to retain acidity. Cab Sav, Zinfandel and Syrah.

Question 22

Comment on the vineyards on the valley sides in Napa County and the wines produced compared to the valley floor.

Answer 22

They lie above the fog layer and are therefore cooled by altitude rather than the fogs. Aspect is very important here. West facing such as those in Howell Mountain AVA get full exposure to hot afternoon sun - warmer than East Facing ones like Mount Veeder AVA. Those west facing are fuller bodied with higher alcohol. Valley sides tend to give red wines with greater tannin, less richness on the palate than valley floor. Chardonnay = displays citrus and stone fruit with higher acidity than valley floor.

Question 23

What are the differences between Howell Mountain AVA and Veeder AVA?

Answer 23

Howell is West facing so it gets more exposure to hot afternoon sun than Veeder and will therefore produce riper grapes with potentially higher sugar levels at harvest and therefore higher resulting alcohol once fermented dry.

Question 24

What are the principal grapes on the valley sides in Napa County?

Answer 24

Cab Sav, Merlot, Zinfandel. Chardonnay = displays citrus and stone fruit with higher acidity than valley floor.

Question 25

Comment on the climatic influences in Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County.

Answer 25

Due to a gap in the coastal ranges (Petaluma Gap), Russian River Valley AVA has very cool, foggy conditions and is known for high quality elegant PNs and Chardonnays as well as sparkling.

Question 26

What is the temperature to the north of Russian River Valley?

Answer 26

Noticeably warmer.

Question 27

Describe Dry Creek Valley and the wines it produces.

Answer 27

Planted densely on both hillsides and floor - hillsides above fog layer are home to high quality old vine Zinfandel. Valley floor better for Sav Blanc. Rhone varieties and Cab Sav popular.

Question 28

Describe the Sonoma Coast AVA’s climate and sites.

Answer 28

Climate greatly influenced by cold Pacific Ocean and vineyards planted on south facing slopes to maximise ripening.

Question 29

What is the climate in Mendocino county, what is one of the dominant AVAs and what wines are produced in this AVA and Mendocino AVA? What factors make these very different AVAs?

Answer 29

Very large and diverse. Anderson Valley AVA is very cool and produces whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer as well as sparklings. Mendocino AVA is larger and much warmer, drier and is protected behind coastal hills. WInes are full bodied with soft tannins - cab sav, zinfandel and syrah.

Question 30

Describe the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. What wines are produced here.

Answer 30

Diverse region in the north of Central Coast. Includes hillsides with infertile soils. Some of the most elegant Cab Savs produced - moderate climate. As well as high quality chardonnays and PNs.

Question 31

Describe the influences in Monterey and the wines made here.

Answer 31

Strongly influenced by cold Pacific Ocean. Chardonnay and PN heavily planted on coast - strong cool winds blow. Further along valley the cool winds less evident and we see Merlot, Cab Sav and Syrah. Number of AVAS on the slopes - source of high quality Chardonnay with citrus and tropical fruit and balanced acidity.

Question 32

Describe Paso Robles (in San Luis Obispo County) and its wines.

Answer 32

Has Cab Sav, Merlot and Syrah. 2 distinct zones - East =hot, sunny, deep fertile soils and supple fruity wines for high volume. West = cooled b marine air, reputation for high quality Zinfandel and Rhone varieties.

Question 33

Describe the climatic in Santa Maria Valley AVA (in Santa Barbara County) and its wines.

Answer 33

Significantly cooler, well suited to premium PN and Chardonnay. Low lying areas have fog which covers during the day encouraging slow ripening, yielding wines with concentrated fruit balanced by high acidity.

Question 34

What factors influence growing in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

Answer 34

In south of Central Coast. Mountains lie east-west rather than north-south, so encourage flow of cool ocean breezes into the mainland which produce cooling.

Question 35

Describe Lodi AVA and the grapes grown.

Answer 35

Straddles Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys in Central Valley. Lies east of the Sacramento Delta so even though it is in Central Valley it gets cooling breezes from San Fran Bay. Most varieties grown here but its home to some of the oldest and best Zinfandel in the state.