California: Napa County Flashcards
(39 cards)
What percentage of California wine production by volume is from Napa County?
What percentage of California wine production by value is from Napa County?
4% by volume
27% by value
Napa Valley AVA encompasses the whole valley, but how many smaller AVAs are included?
18
What type of wine is Napa Valley famous for?
Very high quality Cabernet Sauvignon
How many hectares under vine in Napa County?
18,200ha
Napa Valley is formed by the ____ river, the ____ mountains to the west and north and the ____ mountains to the east.
Napa River
Mayacamas mountains to the west and north
Vaca mountains to the east.
Describe the climatic influences experienced by Napa Valley AVAs on the valley floor
- Vineyards sit below the fog line
- Afternoon fog comes in from San Pablo Bay, giving cooler temperatures into the night (high diurnal range)
- Vineyards in the south on the valley floor are more effected
Name 3 valley floor AVAs in Napa that are most effected by the fogs.
Why are these most effected? What effect does the fog have on temperatures here?
Carneros AVA
Coombesville AVA
Oak Knoll AVA
These are southerly AVAs - The valley is open to the San Pablo Bay in the south, where the fog comes in from.
The fog here does not burn off until well into the morning, limiting warmth and sunlight.
What is the most southerly Napa AVA?
Is on the valley floor or mountainside?
What grapes are grown here?
Carneros AVA
Valley floor
Known for early ripening Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
What are the main grapes grown in Coombesville AVA and Oak Knoll AVA?
Describe the expected style of wine from these AVAs, explaining why.
Cab Sauvignon, but Merlot and Chardonnay are widely planted
Due to relatively cool conditions, Cab and Merlot from these southerly AVAs tend to be lighter in body with fresher fruit and acidity than the warmer AVAs
From north to south, name the 9 Napa Valley AVAS that are located on the valley floor
Calistoga AVA St Helena AVA Rutherford AVA Oakville AVA Stag's Leap AVA Yountville AVA Oak Knoll AVA Coombesville AVA Carneros AVA
Describe the climate in Rutherford AVA, Oakville AVA, Stag’s Leap AVA and Yountville AVA
Warm climates with some cooling influence from winds and fogs coming in from the south (the effect decreases in the more northerly AVAs)
Describe the style of Cabernet Sauvignon expected from Rutherford AVA, Oakville AVA, Stag’s Leap AVA and Yountville AVA
Concentrated ripe fruit
Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, liquorice, clove and herbs
Medium (+) to full body
High, ripe tannin
Rounder and more fruity than wines from the mountains
What is the most planted white grape in Rutherford AVA, Oakville AVA, Stag’s Leap AVA and Yountville AVA?
Describe the style of wine from this grape
Sauvignon Blanc
Juicy ripe fruit
Peach and tropical flavours
Medium (+) acidity
Other than Cabernet Sauvignon, name other black grapes that are grown in Rutherford AVA, Oakville AVA, Stag’s Leap AVA and Yountville AVA.
Merlot and Cabernet Franc (much smaller quantities than Cab Sauv)
Some Zinfandel is found in Rutherford
Where is the Rutherford Bench?
The most famous vineyard area in Rutherford and Oakville
3 mile stretch of vineyards on a sloping alluvial fan at the bottom of the Mayacamas range
Name the two most northerly valley floor AVAs in Napa?
Describe the growing conditions here
Calistoga AVA and St Helena AVA
Warm and hot
Barely any cooling influence from San Pablo Bay
Calistoga gains some relief through the Chalk Hill Gap in the Mayacamas
Describe the climatic influences experienced by Napa Valley AVAs on the mountainsides
- Vineyards are generally above the fog layer, receiving more sunlight hours
- Cooling influence comes from altitude
- Less extreme temperatures and less diurnal range than valley floor sites
- More tannin and acidity from mountainside wines
- AVAs with a more southerly latitude gain some costal influence
Describe how exposition of vineyards in Napa Valley AVAs on the mountainsides can effect the final wine produced
West facing vineyards are exposed to intense afternoon sun - warmer than east facing vineyards with riper fruit character and higher alcohol
Name the most southerly mountainside AVA in Napa Valley
Mount Veeder AVA on the south west
Cab Sauvignon can struggle to ripen some years
Which mountainside AVA is located in the south east of Napa Valley? Describe the growing conditions here
Atlas Peak AVA
Relatively cool but gains warmth from the afternoon sun
Which mountainside AVA is located in the north east of Napa Valley? Describe the growing conditions here
Howell Mountain AVA
One of the warmest AVAs in Napa Valley, producing intensely concentrated and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with firm tannins
Name the two mountainside AVAs located in the north west of Napa Valley
Spring Mountain District AVA
Diamond Mountain District AVA
Describe the soils found on the mountains in Napa Valley.
How does this affect the grapes that are grown here?
Tend to be thin and poor in nutrients
Vigour is restricted
Yields are smaller
Grapes are more concentrated
Describe the soils found in the middle and the east of the valley floor in Napa Valley.
How does this affect the grapes that are grown here?
Typically clay and silt formed by the Napa Valley flooding and shrinking over time.
Soils are fertile with good water retention.
Wines are less structured than those from mountains or fans
