California

Question 1

California produces approximately ____% of all American Wine.

Answer 1

90%

Question 2

Who is Count Agoston Haraszthy?

Answer 2

A Hungarian-born Count who arrived in Sonoma in 1849, and founded Buena Vista, one of California’s oldest commercial wineries. He was dubbed the “father of California wine,” and introduced more than 300 varieties to the state.

Question 3

What is Napa’s oldest continuously operating winery?

Answer 3

Beringer, est. in 1876

Question 4

Who was the founder of Inglenook Winery in 1880?

Answer 4

The Finnish immigrant Gustav Niebaum.

Question 5

What famous winery survived and actually thrives during the Prohibition? How?

Answer 5

Beaulieu Vineyards! The Frenchman Georges de Latour claimed that his estate was the “House of Altar Wine,” and continued to produce still-legal Christian sacramental wines.

Question 6

Who was dubbed “the dean of American winemakers” and radically enhanced the hygiene and technical standards of California winemaking?

Answer 6

Andre Tchelistcheff, the Russian winemaker who was trained in France. He was hired at Beaulieu Vineyards, and introduced temp. controlled fermentations and malo.

Question 7

In 1968, how did Robert Mondavi make Sauvignon Blanc sellable?

Answer 7

He renamed it “Fume Blanc” and aged it in oak.

Question 8

What were the two California wines that ranked first place in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris”?

Answer 8

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon & Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

Question 9

In 1978, what was the first Napa Valley wine to be released and sold over $100?

Answer 9

A Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 10

When did Napa Valley gain AVA status?

Answer 10

1981

Question 11

Who oversees the California AVA system today?

Answer 11

The Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)

Question 12

Percentage of Grapes Required for Labeling by Appellation:

• If labeled by country, state, or county: ___%
• If labeled by AVA: ____%
• If labeled with a single vineyard: ____%

Answer 12

75%

85%

95%

Question 13

What is the southernmost AVA within Napa, and what styles of wine is it known for making?

Answer 13

Carneros, which is suitable for the production of sparkling wines.

Question 14

What is the northernmost AVA within Napa, and what styles of wine is it known for making?

Answer 14

Calistoga, which is more suited to growing warmer climate Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Question 15

What two mountain ranges make up the valley in Napa?

Answer 15

The Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains to the east.

Question 16

What was the first sub-appellation wholly within Napa Valley to receive its own AVA?

Answer 16

Howell Mountain AVA

Question 17

Describe the difference in Napa’s mountain wines and its valley wines. What is the best AVA example of each?

Answer 17

Howell Mountain AVA is an excellent example of high-altitude, west-facing mountain wines. It has density, dark fruit, concentration, and maintains structure and ripeness.

Rutherford AVA is a key example of a valley floor style of Napa wine, producing a more elegant and supple style of Cabernet.

Question 18

Who were the founding winemakers at Diamond Creek?

Answer 18

Al Brounstein and his wife Boots

Question 19

Describe the three different soil types of Diamond Creek’s three different single vineyard sites.

Answer 19

1) Gravelly Meadow- Deep gravel soils on the narrowly pinched flatter land between hills by the Diamond Creek itself.
2) Red Rock Terrace- Steep slope of amazingly red-tinged soil called Andesite, that from a distance look like a sloping terra cotta roof.
3) Volcanic Hill- White volcanic ash that drifted south from the last great eruption of Mt Konocti in Lake County, found across the valley on the opposite hillside as Red Rock Terrace.