California Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
Name the most important climatic influences on California
A
- Pacific Ocean
- Sonoma Mountain Range
- Mayacamas Mountains
- San Pablo Bay
- Vaca Mountains
- Napa River
- Petaluma Wind Gap
2
Q
Explain the AVA Principles
A
- AVA designation based on geology and climate
3
Q
What counties are included in the North Coast AVA?
A
- Napa
- Sonoma
- Mendocino
- Lake
- Solano
- Marin
4
Q
Name principal wine districts of California and their typical varietals
A
- Napa Valley: CS, Merlot, Chard, SB, PN
- Sonoma County: PN, Chard, Zin, CS, Merlot
- Central Coast: Chard, PN, Zin, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
- Paso Robles: Zin, CS, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Merlot
- Sierre Foothills: Zin, Chard, PN, CS
- Santa Barbara County: PN, Chardy, Syrah, SB
- North Coast: CS, Chardy, Merlot, Zin
5
Q
Name the AVA’s in Napa
Certified
A
- Calistoga AVA
- Howell Mountain AVA
- Rutherford AVA
- Oakville AVA
- Stags Leap District AVA
- Mt Vedeer AVA
- Yountville AVA
- Carneros AVA
6
Q
Name the AVA’s in Sonoma
A
- Dry Creek Valley AVA
- Knights Valley AVA
- Alexander Valley AVA
- Russian River Valley AVA
- Sonoma Coast AVA
- Carneros AVA
7
Q
Calistoga AVA
A
- Grapes: CS, Merlot, Zinfandel
- Climate: warm to hot with high diurnal shift
- Soil: Volcanic
- Producers: Aubert & Château Montelena
8
Q
Howell Mountain AVA
A
- Climate: warm, sunny, dry, above the fog line
- Grapes: CS, Merlot
- Soil: Volcanic, shallow and infertile
- Producers: Rattlesnake Ridge, Dunn
9
Q
Rutherford AVA
A
- Climate: warm, little fog influence
- Grapes: CS, SB
- Soil: Volcanic, alluvial and sand
- Producers: Caymus, Grigich Hills
10
Q
Oakville AVA
A
- Climate: warm, little fog influence
- Grape: CS
- Soil: Volcanic, Alluvial, Gravel
- Producers: Martha’s Vineyard, Dalla Valle, Opus One, Rudd, Screaming Eagle
11
Q
Stag’s Leap AVA
A
- Climate: warm, morning fog, afternoon wind
- Grape: CS, Merlot
- Soil: Volcanic
- Producers: Clos du Val, Stag’s Leap Winery
12
Q
Mt Vedeer AVA
A
- Climate: Moderate with cool influence, mostly above fog line
- Grape: CS
- Soil: Shale and sandstone
- Producers: Mayacamas, Mt Vedeer
13
Q
Yountville AVA
A
- Climate: moderate, morning fog
- Grape: CS, Merlot, Chardonnay
- Soil West to East: gravelly alluvial, fluvial rich, volcanic
- Producers: Domaine Chandon, Ghost Block
14
Q
Los Carneros AVA
A
- Climate: cool, foggy, windy
- Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Soil: shallow clay, loam
- Producers: Truchard, Domaine Carneros
- Sparkling Wine Producers
15
Q
Dry Creek Valley AVA
A
- Grape: Zinfandel, CS
- Soil: Gravelly and sandy loam
- Producers: Ridge-Lytton Springs Estate
16
Q
Russian River Valley AVA
A
- Climate: Mediterrenean
- Grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Soil: Goldridge and Altamonte - sandy loam
- Producer: Joseph Swan, Williams-Seylem
17
Q
Sonoma Coast AVA
A
- Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Soil: Franciscan and sandstone
- Producers: Maracassin Vineyards, Coastland Vineyards
18
Q
Alexander Valley AVA
A
- Grape: CS, Merlot
- Soil: Alluvial gravelly
- Producer: Silveroak, Stonestreet
19
Q
Anderson Valley AVA
A
20
Q
Kinghts Valley AVA
A
- Grape: CS
- Soil: Volcanic on alluvial gravel
- Producers: Berginger, Peter Michael
21
Q
Opus One
A
- Robert Mondavi & Baron Philippe de Rothschild
- First release: 1979
22
Q
Mondavi
A
- first to employ new french oak
- rebranded Fumé Blanc
- ## released first Reserve Wine
23
Q
Beringer
A
- oldest operating winery in Napa
- since 1876
- sacramental wine during prohibition
24
Q
Spottswoode
A
- St Helena
- ripe and rich Cabernet
- true expression of Napa Valley Floor Cab
25
Far Niente
- Napa Valley
- also very old
-
26
Groth
- Oakville AVA
- First 100 Point Wine
27
Cakebread
- Rutherford AVA
- family owned
- Iconic Chardonnay
28
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
- Stag's Leap District AVA
- Warren Winiarski
- Winner in Judgement of Paris in 1976
-
29
Silver Oak
- Napa and Sonoma
- exlusive focus on CabS
- American Oak Aging
30
Chappellet
- Pritchard Hill
- established Bordeaux Varieties
31
Caymus
- Rutherford AVA
- Former Winemaker Randy Dunn
- very full and rich CAb
32
Etude
- Carneros AVA
- Pinot Noir focused
- terroir driven expressions
- founded by Tony Soter in 1982
33
Iron Horse
- Russian River Valley AVA / Green Valley
- Sparkling Wine of Chard and PN
- Méthode traditionelle
- presidential champagne for Reagan and Gorbatschov
34
Domaine Carneros
- Los Carneros
- Sparkling Wine: Brut and Rosé
- Methode traditionelle
- used to be part of Taittinger
35
Roederer Estate
- Anderson Valley AVA
- est. 1982
- Counterpart to Louis Roederer
- Chardy, PN
- first for highend sparkling in California
36
Quintessa
- Rutherford AVA
- focus on Bordeaux VArietals
- artisanal wine making
- arcitechture by david baker
37
Merryvale
- Napa Valley Floor
- Bordeaux Varietals
-
38
Larkmead
- Calistoga
- oldest family owned winery
- since 1895
39
William Seylem
- Russian River Valley
- known for single vineyard Pinot Noir
- extreme vintage library
40
Kistler
- Sonoma and Napa
- ten single vineyards
41
What are the best vintages since 2018
- 2018
- 2019
42
Heitz Cellars
- St. Helena
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Martha's Vineyard: 1966, first single-vineyard in California
43
Law Percentages in California
- 75% for Grape Variety
- 85% for AVA
- 95% for Vintage
- 95% for Single Vineyard
- 100% for Estate Botteling
44
Name the Countys on the Central Coast
- Monterey County (northwest to southwest Mountain = cooling wind tunnel)
- Santa Barbara County (east to west mmountains = wind tunnel and fog)
- San Louis Obispo
45
Name the AVA in Monterey
- Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
46
Name the AVA in San Luis Obispo
- Paso Robles AVA
47
Name the AVA's in Santa Barbara County AVA
- Sta. Rita Hills AVA
- Santa Maria Valley AVA
- Santa Ynez Valley AVA
- Happy Canyon AVA
48
Santa Lucia Highland AVA
- 1992
- cool climate
- Pinot Noir
49
Paso Robles AVA
- Zinfandel
- warm climate
- old vines
50
St Rita Hill AVA
- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay
51
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
- SB
52
Santa Maria Valley AVA
- shared with San Luis Obispo County
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah
53
Happy Canyon AVA
- Cabernet Sauvginon, Sauvignon Blanc
- warm climate
54
Iconic Producers of the Central Coast
- Santa Maria Valley: Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido
- Sta Rita Hill: Sandford and Benedict Vineyards, Sea Smoke
- Happy Canyon AVA: Star Lane, Vogelzang
