California Flashcards
(28 cards)
Major winegrowing regions of California are divided into five large AVAs:
North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, San Francisco Bay, and the Sierra Foothills
What is Meritage wines?
Bordeaux blends with no grape accounting more than 90% of the wine
In Napa it gets warmer as one travels north. True or false?
True
What is the northernmost AVA in Napa?
Calistoga AVA. It’s super hot so producers focus on sturdier grapes like Cab Sauv
What is the southernmost AVA in Napa?
Carneros AVA. Suitable for sparkling wines
What are the two mountains surrounding Napa?
Mayacamas Mountains to the west and Vaca Mountains to the east
Why are Napa’s mountainside AVA prized?
For its density, dark fruit, and concentrations because these regions yield smaller berries with higher acid due to cool temperatures
What are the mountainside AVAs in Napa?
Mount Veeder, Diamond Mountain District, Spring Mountain District, Atlas Peak, Crystal Springs, Howell Mountain
What was the first sub AVA in Napa Valley?
Howell Mountain. This is the only appellation that is elevation specific, beginning at 1,400 feet.
Sonoma County contains 19 AVAs:
Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Rockphille, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, Moon Mountain District Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma Coast, West Sonoma Coast, Northern Sonoma, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, Fort Ross-Seaview, Fountaingrove District, Petaluma Gap, and most of the Carneros AVA
In Sonoma County which AVAs are warmer and considered Region III on the Winkler Index?
Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, and Dry Creek Valley
Sonoma Coast AVA is considered cool but because it is so big they established a smaller AVA that is truly coastal and produces elegant wines.
The West Sonoma Coast AVA
What soils characterizes The Russian River Valley AVA?
Alluvial soil and Goldridge sandy loam
What is the cooler subregion of Russian River Valley?
Green Valley
What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma County?
Knights Valley
Which Sonoma County are suitable for Bordeaux varietals?
Gravelly soils of Alexander Valley and Knights Valley are suitable for Bordeaux varietals
Which Sonoma AVA runs nearly parallel to Napa?
Sonoma Valley AVA
Which AVAs in Sonoma are suitable for Zinfandel?
Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile AVA
Mendonico is _____ of Sonoma
North
California’s Central Coast AVA spans from _____ to the north to _____ in the south.
San Francisco Bay, Santa Barbara County
What are Santa Cruz Mountain AVA’s most celebrated vineyards?
Ridge’s Monte Bello Vineyard and Bonny Doon Estate Vineyard (eventual victim of Pierce’s disease)
Paso Robles makes mostly what?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Rhône varietals
Hospice du Rhône is the world’s largest Rhône wine celebration and it is held annually where in North America?
Paso Robles
Santa Barbara’s valleys includes?
Santa Maria Valley AVA and the Santa Ynez Valley AVA
