California Flashcards
Who planted V. Vinifera vines in California?
Thomas Jefferson in 1787 in his Virginia Estate in Philadelphia
Who planted the first vineyard in Napa and when?
By 1839, George Yount had arrived in Napa as the first American settler to set foot in the valley and had planted its first vineyard.
Which is California’s oldest commercial winery and who was responsible about it?
The Hungarian-born, self-styled “Count” Agoston Haraszthy arrived in Sonoma in 1849, where he founded Buena Vista, one of California’s oldest commercial wineries. Dubbed the father of California wine, the colorful Haraszthy introduced more than 300 varieties to the state, collected as vine cuttings during his European travels. He is often credited with introducing Zinfandel in California, though this claim has been disproven
Name some of the oldest wineries in Napa
After working for Haraszthy, Charles Krug moved in 1861 to St. Helena in Napa Valley and founded his eponymous winery—the oldest in the valley. Jacob Schram built Schramsberg in 1862. Beringer, Napa’s oldest continuously operating winery, was established in 1876, and the Finnish immigrant Gustav Niebaum founded the legendary Inglenook Winery in 1880
Who shaped Napa industry?
In 1938, Georges de Latour hired André Tchelistcheff, a Russian winemaker trained in France, to oversee the production at Beaulieu. He introduced the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a new benchmark in quality for American wine, and brought updated standards of hygiene and techniques to California, including temperature-controlled fermentations and controlled malolactic fermentation. Tchelistcheff mentored many of California’s young talents—including Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, Joe Heitz, and Mike Grgich—who became industry giants and helped reshape the image of Napa and California wines in general.
If a label lists an AVA?
a minimum 85% of grapes used to produce the wine must have originated in the stated region
If producers choose to label their wines by county, state, or country?
the minimum is lowered to 75%
Wines labeled by single vineyard contain a minimum of?
95% of grapes grown in the stated vineyard
If vintage is stated?
For wines labeled with an AVA, a minimum 95% must come from the stated vintage; for wines labeled with a state or county, the minimum is relaxed to 85%
wines with varietal designation?
Wine with a varietal designation must contain a minimum 75% of the stated variety—Vitis labrusca grapes, like Concord, are an exception, and need only comprise a minimum 51% of a varietal wine
The major winegrowing regions of California are divided into five large AVAs
North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, San Francisco Bay, and the Sierra Foothills.
for example, Napa Valley AVA and Sonoma Valley AVA are both located within the North Coast AVA
How many AVAs has Mendocino?
15
Name the AVAs of Mendocino
Anderson Valley
Cole Ranch
Covelo
Dos Rios
Eagle Peak
McDowell Valley
Mendocino
Mendocino County
Mendocino Ridge
North Coast
Potter Valley
Redwood Valley
Talmage Region
Ukiah Valley
Yorkville Highlands
North Coast includes six counties
Lake County
Mendocino
Napa
Sonoma
Solano
Marin
Viticulture in Mendocino came by?
vinifera vines were not introduced to Mendocino via the Spanish. Spain’s missionaries only made it as far north as Sonoma before losing California to Mexico in 1821. Because of this, vinifera didn’t really arrive until the Gold Rush, when a population of predominantly Italian settlers began cultivating the various valleys of Mendocino.
Mendocino is split into coastal and inland AVAs
Anderson Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Yorkville Highlands, and Cole Ranch belong to the former category, as they are very much defined by their relationship to the coast. The remaining AVAs, including Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, and Eagle Peak, are mostly out of reach of the ocean’s influence. This imparts the two areas with dramatically different climates, and dissimilar varietal needs. Burgundian grapes and aromatic whites thrive in the chilly west, while hearty reds and Bordeaux varieties soak up the sun of the eastern district.
Name the main grapes of Mendocino
Chardonnay leads the pack, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are effectively tied for second. Zinfandel and Merlot are similarly matched, with Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Petite Sirah coming next
Anderson Valley’s climate, topography, soils and grapes?
It is close to the ocean. Pacific fog and breezes to penetrate further inland, making for an overall cooler microclimate.
The Navarro River runs along the lower length of the valley, acting as a cooling influence, while gently undulating hills rise on either side. Vineyards are seen at elevations approaching 2,000 feet, but most vines are planted in the low-lying foothills.
soils vary but tend to be rich in loam, with differing amounts of rock and gravel.
nearly 70% (1,700) were Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay (559) second, followed by Gewürztraminer (103), Merlot (73), Pinot Gris (41), and Riesling (22)
Name some top producers from Anderson Valley
Navarro, Handley, and Husch
Littorai and Williams Seylem
In the 1980s, Anderson Valley developed a strong reputation for sparkling wine, with Scharffenberger and Roederer Estate founded in 1981 and 1982, respectively. Pinot Noir-based brut was the dominant style, a tradition that persists today. In the 1990s, still Pinot Noir rose to prominence, largely through the vineyard designations of Littorai and Williams Selyem.
Yorkville Highland’s climate, topography and grapes?
The little fog that creeps this far east burns off considerably earlier in the morning. The average daily temperatures are higher than those seen in Anderson Valley, and the vineyards tend to occupy more lofty elevations, from around 500 to 2,500 feet. Because of all this, Yorkville Highlands is planted to an entirely different cast of characters. Of the near 400 acres of grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant. This is followed by Syrah, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Ripeness is not an issue here, and the wines tend to be quite muscular in build.
Which is America’s smallest AVA?
Cole Ranch
Then as now, the AVA encompassed only a single estate, owned by Esterlina Vineyards
Cole Ranch is highly regarded for its white wines made from Riesling, as well as reds produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir.
Pine Mountain – Cloverdale Peak spans between?
both Sonoma and Mendocino counties
is hot, high, and dry. It sits just north of Sonoma’s Alexander Valley and contains some of the most elevated vineyards in all of California, ranging from 1,600 to 3,000 feet above sea level. Temperatures vary significantly based on elevation, with a unique inverted diurnal temperature switch in which cold air drops into the valley, displacing warm air into higher altitude areas. Marine fog also pushes warmer air up. As a result, the valley floor is cooler than the hillside vineyards. The soils are mainly gravel-rich loam overlain with considerable volcanic material. Most of the vines are Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), with Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay, and a handful of others composing the balance
Which is Mendocino’s newest AVA?
Eagle Peak
Mendocino’s Ridge topography, climate, soils and grapes?
Vineyards can be found as high as 2,600 feet, but only sites located at or above 1,200 feet in elevation can claim the AVA. That said, anything planted below 1,200 feet is unlikely to ripen, as the area is so chilly that fruit needs to be grown above the fog line and in full sun to thrive.
It is covered in what is known colloquially as “timber soils”—effectively, well-draining sandstone and loam dominated by fractured stone.
Pinot Noir brings a much greater return on value. Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, and Riesling are also present in scant amounts
Redwood Valley’s grapes?
highest concentration of old-vine vineyards. Zinfandel and Carignan dominate the ancient plots, but French Colombard, Charbono, Grenache, and Petite Sirah can also be found. There is even a parcel of old-vine Sauvignon Blanc in the Lolonis Vineyard that is potentially the same age as To-Kalon’s famous I-Block (both are thought to have been planted in 1945 with cuttings from Château d’Yquem). Among the more modern plantings, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most important and currently covers 757 acres of ground. Other significant varieties include Chardonnay (555 acres), Zinfandel (521), Merlot (295), Petite Sirah (206), and Sauvignon Blanc (155).
Redwood and Potter Valley’s soils?
share similar soils, mainly alluvial in nature with fluvial corridors that follow the course of the Russian River, which has branches in both valleys.
Potter Valley’s grapes and topography?
Potter’s valley floor is considerably higher than Redwood’s, starting at around 1,000 feet, so the vineyards are at different elevations
is planted to predominately white varieties. Its 1,700 acres of vines are committed to Chardonnay (729), Pinot Noir (392), Merlot (264), Sauvignon Blanc (149), Pinot Gris (99), and Gewürztraminer
Eagle Peak’s soils, topography, main grapes and producers?
divided between five producers: Masút Vineyards and Winery, Golden Vineyards, Linholme Vineyards, Sea Biscuit South Vineyards and Turan Vineyards.
Pinot Noir is the king
The hilly terrain, with vineyards reaching as high as 3,200 feet (975m) in elevation, is the AVA’s main point of difference. Sunny south- and east-facing sites benefit from a cool, marine-influenced climate that ensures a long growing season and a balance of flavor and acidity in the grapes. The steep slopes help with air movement, greatly reducing the risk of frost.
Eagle Peak Mendocino County also benefits from the thin, gravelly soils that help to drain water rapidly
Name the leading winery of McDowell Valley
Vintage Wine Estates
Ukiah, Hopland, and Talmage grapes?
Like Redwood Valley, these regions contain a good number of old-vine vineyards, mainly Zinfandel and Carignan, though over time the total acreage has swung to favor Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
Ukiah Valley top producers and grapes?
Testa and Seebass
Chardonnay
