Napa Valley Flashcards

1
Q

What two vineyards date back to the creation of the Rutherford AVA?

A

Flora Spring in the North

Beaulieu Vineyard’s BV Ranch #2

Grandfathered in to avoid breaking up the estates land holdings

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2
Q

What yearw as the Napa AVA established?

A

1981

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3
Q

Where is the fog line in Napa?

A

Approx. 1,400 feet

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4
Q

Notable vineyards of Oak Knoll

A

Aldo’s

Blackbird

Hendry Ranch

Trefethen

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5
Q

What is the name of the school on Howell Mountain?

A

Pacific Union College

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6
Q

Notable vineyards of Spring Mountain District

A

1993

Barnett
Behrens
Cain
Marston
Newton
Pride
Ritchie Creek
School House
Smith-Madrone
Spring Mountain
Stony Hill
Togni

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7
Q

What type of climate is Napa classified as?

A

Mediterranean - long, dry, hot summers and cooler, wet winters

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8
Q

What are Napa’s three basic bedrocks?

A

Great Valley sequence

Franciscan Assemblage (or Franciscan complex)

Napa Volcanics (also known as Sonoma Volcanics)

Great Valley and Franciscan are the oldest

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9
Q

What was allowed during Prohibition?

A

Sacramental and Medicinal wine

200 gallons of fruit juice each year

Home wine making became such a commonplace during the Prohibition that vine acreage actually increased during the 1920s

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10
Q

Napa Valley AVAs and years established

A

Napa Valley (1981)

Los Carneros (1983)

Howell Mountain (1983)

Wild Horse Valley (1988)

Stags Leap District (1989)

Mount Veeder (1990)

Atlas Peak (1992)

Rutherford (1993)

Oakville (1993)

Spring Mountain District (1993)

St. Helena (1995)

Yountville (1999)

Chiles Valley (1999)

Diamond Mountain District (2001)

Oak Knoll (2004)

Calistoga (2010)

Coombsville (2011)

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11
Q

What is precipitation like in Napa? What are the wettest/driest months?

A

Summer is driest

Most rainfall occuring between October and April

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12
Q

What estate revitalized Calistoga in the 1990s?

A

Larkmead

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13
Q

Who is Rutherford named after?

A

Thomas Rutherford who married George Yount’s granddaughter in 1864 and was given over 1,000 acres as part of her dowry.

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14
Q

Who is Yountville named after?

A

George C. Yount - planted Napa’s first vinifera vines inside the appellation in 1838 and 1839

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15
Q

Notable vineyards on Howell Mountain

A

Bancroft Ranch

Beatty Ranch

Black Sears

Cade

Dragon

Dunn

Hershey

Ink Grade

La JOta

Los Posadas

Rattlesnake Ridge

Stenhauer Ranch

True

W.S. Keyes

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16
Q

When was the Judgement of Paris? What were the wines?

A

1976

1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon

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17
Q

When was Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars established and by who?

A

1973

Warren Winiarski

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18
Q

What is considered to be the first Napa cult winery? Where is it located? Who established it and when?

A

Diamond Creek

Diamond Mountain District

Al Brounstein - 1968

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19
Q

What body of water mitigates the climate in Napa?

A

San Pablo Bay

It is responsible for the reverse temperature gradient - the hottest areas are in the north toward Calistoga, the coolest areas are in the south

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20
Q

What appellations get fog cover?

A

In the south - Oak Knoll and Yountville get the most. Considerably thinner by the time it reaches Oakville, wispy at best by the time it reaches St. Helena

In the north - a smaller amount of fog makes its way into Calistoga via the Chalk Hill Gap near Diamond Mountain, but it burns off quickly and only has a modest effect on daytime temperatures

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21
Q

Which mountain is closest to the bay? What does this do?

A

Mount Veeder - it is the coolest mountain in the valley

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22
Q

What are the top two varietals on Howell Mountain?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

Zinfandel

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23
Q

Who created the Winkler Index?

A

UC Davis

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24
Q

What percentage of wine does Napa make for the world? For California? Revenue for California wine?

A

0.5% of the world

4% California output, 25% of the revenue for the state $$$$$

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25
Q

Who coined the term “Rutherford Dust?” What winery were they working for?

A

Andre Tchelistcheff

Beaulieu Vineyard

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26
Q

Who established the Oak Knoll Ranch and when?

A

John Osbourne, 1850s

He was one of the first in Napa to import an extensive collection of varieties and he personally sourced the material for many of the area’s pioneering vintners.

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27
Q

What is the geographical criteria for Howell Mountain?

A

A vineyard must be located at or above 1,400 feet above sea level to claim Howell Mountain AVA.

This is where the fog line is.

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28
Q

What is the name of the town on Howell Mountain?

A

Angwin

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29
Q

Notable vineyards of Stags Leap District

A

Fay

Futo 5500

Hartwell

Pine Ridge

Poetry

Regusci

S.L.V.

Shafer

Silverado

Sinskey

Steltzner

Wappo Hill

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30
Q

What is Sauvignon Blanc’s clone that is found in Napa Valley and occasionally blended with the grape?

A

Sauvignon Musque

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31
Q

What were the first non-native vines to arrive in the New World and where from?

A

Listan Prieto (Palomino Negro) via the Canary Islands

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32
Q

Notable vineyards of St. Helena

A

Aida
Beckstoffer Bourn
Beckstoffer Las Piedras
Beringer
Capella
Charles Krug
Corison

Crocker
Edge Hill
Forman
Grace
Hayne
Heitz
Hourglass
Kayli Morgan
Kronos
Lewelling
Library
Mandrone
Phelps
Quella
Spotswoode
Turley
Tychson Hill
Vineyard 29

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33
Q

Who was Goerges de Latour?

A

A Frenchman who worked for Beaulieu Vineyard during the period of poor quality wine post-prohibition. He brought Andre Tchelistcheff back from France

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34
Q

What wines finished 2nd overall in the Judgement of Paris?

A

1973 Domaine Roulot Meursault-Charmes

1970 Chateau Mouton Rothschild

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35
Q

Notable vineyards of Diamond Mountain District

A

Constant
Dyer
Gravelly Meadow
Jasud
Lake
Red Rock Terrace
Schramsberg
Volcanic Hill

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36
Q

Notable vineyards in Los Carneros

A

Hudson

Hyde

Poseidon

Sangiacoma (Sonoma)

Stanly Ranch

Truchard

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37
Q

Notable vineyards of Oakville

A

Backus
Beckstoffer To-Kalon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Dalla Valle
Detert
Far Niente
Gamble Ranch
Groth
Harlan
MacDonald
Martha’s Vineyard
Martin Stelling
Oakville Ranch
Opus One
Rudd

Silver Oak
St. Eden
Tench
To-Kalon
Vine Hill Ranch
Weitz

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38
Q

What is legally unique about Pritchard Hill?

A

The Chapellet family took over Pritchard Hill in 1967, they have trademarked the name

They are the only ones that are allowed to put Pritchard Hill on the label of their wines, even if other estates founded on the hill use fruit from the hill.

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39
Q

What is Oak Knoll best known for?

A

Merlot - fruitful and supple.

Then, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

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40
Q

Where is the biggest diurnal shift in Napa?

A

North around Calistoga - up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit

South - typically 20

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41
Q

When did dry wine take over sweet?

A

1967

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42
Q

What are the two main roads of Napa Valley?

A

Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail

43
Q

Soils of Yountville

A

More gravel, clay and alluvial deposits in the west

Volcanic and sediment in the east

Rich deep loam and clay in the center

44
Q

What is the smallest Napa AVA?

A

Diamond Mountain District

45
Q

What are some estates on Pritchard Hill?

A

Chapellet

Colgin

David Arthut

Ovid
Continuum

Bryant

46
Q

Soils of Stags Leap District

A

1989

Soils are complex - combination of sandstone and shale, with volcanic material concentrated along the eastern edge of the appellation.

More clay and loam to the west.

Toward the south, one of the Vaca’s biggest alluvial fans, which is currently split between Stags Leap Wine Cellars vineyards, Fay and S.L.V.

47
Q

What was the most influential vintage in the 90s?

A

1997

Warm year, overly abundant

Too much fruit to process - one batch was processed at “normal ripeness” and the rest left out to be processed after, not expecting it to make good wine.

Resulting wines were concentrated with lower acid and smoother tannins. This led to extended hangtime being common in Napa.

48
Q

What is Pritchard Hill’s body of water that helps mitigate the climate?

A

Lake Hennessey

49
Q

When did Vertical Shoot Positioning come into play in Napa?

A

1980s and 1990s

50
Q

Notable vineyards of Calistoga

A

Chateau Montelena
Eisele
Frediani
Jericho Canyon
Lamb
Larkmead
Luvisi
Three Palms
Tofanelli

51
Q

Who did Winiarski get into a legal battle with?

A

Carl Doumani

52
Q

What is the steepest a vineyard can be in Napa Valley? Which AVA does this affect the most?

A

30 degrees or less

Mount Veeder - steep slopes, underdeveloped AVA

53
Q

When was the Wine Advocate launched?

Wine Spectator?

A

Wine Advocate - 1978

Wine Spectator - 1979

54
Q

Depending on where the grapes come from, what can Los Carneros wines be labeled as?

A

Carneros

Napa Valley

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma Coast

55
Q

When was the introduction of drip irrigation?

A

The 1970s

56
Q

Which Champagne houses saw Carneros fit for sparkling wine production?

A

Taittinger - Domaine Carneros

Moet & Chandon - Domaine Chandon

57
Q

What did Diamond Creek do before anyone else?

A

Focus solely on Cabernet Sauvignon

First to give primacy to terroir. subdividing its limited production according to soil type

58
Q

Where is To-Kalon? Who established it? Who acquired it after?

A

Oakville

H.W. Crabb

Martin Stelling

59
Q

Notable vineyards of Chiles Valley

A

Brown
Green & Red
Nichelini
Volker Eisele

60
Q

Soil on Atlas Peak

A

Shallow, rocky, and low in fertility - lots of iron-stained volcanic material throughout

61
Q

When was the initial decline in Napa; why did it happen?

A

Phylloxera hit in the late 1880s through the 1890s, dropping the planted area down to 3,000 acres.

A recession crippled the economy.

World War I broke out

Temperance movement gained significant velocity

Prohibition was ratified in 1919

62
Q

What is different about Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

This region was designated a Region I on the Winkler Index

Tom Farella and John Caldwell made the case for Cabernet Sauvignon. Here, the grape shows more restraint than typical Napa

63
Q

When did drip irrigation come into play?

A

late 1970s

64
Q

When was Prohibition ratified? Repealed?

A

1919

Repealed in 1933

65
Q

What was the first major winery in Coombsville?

A

Cedar Knoll (now Palmaz) established by Henry Hagen in the 1870s

66
Q

Where is the largest diurnal swing in Napa?

A

Calistoga, the furthest north AVA

Quite warm - makes deeply colored, ultra-rich wines

67
Q

When were the following estates founded?

Clos Du Val, Domaine Chandon, Opus One, Domaine Carneros?

A

Clos du Val - 1972

Domaine Chandon - 1973

Opus One - 1979

Domaine Carneros - 1987

68
Q

Notable vineyards of Mount Veeder

A

Abel 1833

Hess

Lagier Meredith

Mayacamas

Progeny

Skaggs

Sky

69
Q

What varietal dominates Mount Veeder? What other varietals thrive?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

Then:

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Syrah

70
Q

What did Fisher & Sons winery become? Where is it located?

A

Mayacamas

Mount Veeder

71
Q

When was Napa deemed an AVA?

A

1981

72
Q

Notable vineyards of Coombsville

A

Arcadia
Caldwell
Dead Fred
Haynes
Judge
Meteor
Moore
Palmaz

73
Q

When was the great flood in Napa? What did it do? What did this lead to?

A

1986

It spread phylloxera across the valley

Majority of the valley had to be replanted and Cabernet Sauvignon surpassed Chardonnay in 1992

74
Q

What is the soil like on Howell Mountain?

Climate?

A

Mostly volcanic - poor, thin and rocky

Northwest - rich in iron and clay

Southeast - grey and white volcanic ash (tuff)

Temperature sare cooler than on the valley floor, but the diurnal swing is smaller.

Growing conditions make for thick-skinned, small-berried fruit that tends to be quite tannic

75
Q

What is most of the acreage devoted to in Los Carneros? Why? What other variety does well?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - proximity to San Pablo Bay and regular fog, cooler temperatures

Merlot is on the rise, thrives in the clay soil of Los Carneros

76
Q

Who developed Antica? When? Who owns it now?

A

William Hill

1981

Antinori

77
Q

Wild Horse Valley

A

1988

Not very significant viticulturally

Rocky and red-tinged soils with iron-rich volcanic material

Mostly Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Spans two counties - Solano/Napa

Notable vineyard - Heron Lake

78
Q

What is Fume Blanc?

A

Sauvignon Blanc with oak aging, term created by Robert Mondavi in the 60s.

79
Q

Notable vineyards of Atlas Peak

A

Antica

Au Sommet (Heidi Barrett)

Kongsgaard

Stage Coach

Water Ranch

80
Q

What is Schramsberg famous for?

A

Cultivating Napa’s first hillside vineyard

81
Q

Where is Stagecoach vineyard located? Who purchased it? When?

A

Atlas Peak
Gallo

2017

82
Q

Soil type on Mount Veeder

A

Craggy - soil is rocky and shallow

Very little volcanic material; shale, sandstone, clay and sandy loam

83
Q

What were the first three vineyard deisgnated wines in Napa?

A

Martha’s Vineyard (1971)

Monte Bello (1971)

Eisele Vineyard (?)

84
Q

Notable vinyeards of Rutherford

A

Beckstoffer Georges III
Beckstoffer Melrose
Booth Bella Oaks
Bosche
BV Ranch #1
BV Ranch #2
Cakebread
J.J. Cohn
Inglenook
Frog’s Leap
Long Meadow Ranch
Quintessa
Raymond
Round Pond
St. Supery

Stagelin
Star
Sycamore
Trailside

85
Q

What hindered production in the 2000s?

A

Market crash in 2008

86
Q

How were the Vaca Mountains were formed? Mayacamas?

A

Vaca - crust cracked and stacked on top of itself

Mayacamas - formed from a crustal wrinkle

87
Q

In the south of the AVA, what three mountains surround Calistoga?

A

Howell Mountain to the east

Diamond Mountain District to the west

St. Helena to the north

88
Q

Who are considered the architects of Howell Mountain?

A

Randy Dunn

Bill Smith

Bob Lamborn

Bob Brakesman

Mike Beatty

89
Q

Who spearheaded the early development of Napa? What were some of their names? What did they do?

A

Europeans and people of European descent.

Agoston Haraszthy

Joseph W. Osbourne

George Belden Crane

H.W. Crabb

Gustave Niebaum

Thomas Rutherford

They imported dozens of European varieties

90
Q

How much wine does Harlan and Screaming Eagle produce?

A

2,000 and 1,000 cases respectively.

Compared to Latour and Margaux who make 18,000 and 11,000 cases of their grand vins

91
Q

Where does the fog enter Napa Valley? What do the Mayacamas Mountains do in regards to fog?

A

San Pablo Bay to the South

Chalk Hill Gap to the North

The mountains block the fog, only allowing it to enter from the two locations.

92
Q

St. Helena climate, soil, style

A

Hot - Morning fogs are rare, as are ocean breezes.

Soil to the south is gravelly loam

Soil to the north is more volcanic

Wines are powerful, even gentler producers such as Corison and Spottswoode produce wines of significant intensity

93
Q

What famous producer built their estate on To-Kalon?

A

Robert Mondavi

94
Q

When were stainless steel vats introduced to Napa Valley? What was the choice elevage vessel prior to this?

A

1966.

Giant redwood vats

95
Q

Who was the major contributor to the Wine Advocate?

Who was for the Wine Spectator?

A

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

James Laube - Wine Spectator

96
Q

Notable vineyards of Yountville

A

Gemstone
Ghost Block
Grgich
Kapcsandy
Napanook
Paradise Hills
Sleeping Lady

97
Q

Who are considered the top two producers on Atlas Peak?

A

John Kongsgaard

Heidi Barrett

98
Q

During the replanting of the 90s, what farming practices did American’s adopt from the French in Napa Valley?

A

High density planting

Vertical shoot positioning

Low-fruiting zones to maximize the fleeting warmth and sunlight of a marginal climate

99
Q

Who was Charles Krug? When did he create the winery?

A

A German native who would go on to start Napa’s first commercial winery.

1861

100
Q

What wines is Yountville known for?

A

Merlot due to the clay and cooler temperatures

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for whites

101
Q
A
102
Q

Soils in Calistoga

A

Varied, but a lot of volcanic soil due to the surrounding mountains.

Good amount of loam and gravel

Home to one of Napa’s rare eastern alluvail fans upon which the famous Eisele Vineyard was established

103
Q

Who is Pritchard Hill named after?

A

Charles Pritchard - the first man to establish a vineyard on the land mass in the 1880s