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CMS Certified Exam > California - North Coast > Flashcards

California - North Coast Flashcards

1
Q

What are the five ‘Super AVAs’ of California

A

1) North Coast
2) San Fransisco Bay
3) Central Coast
4) South Coast
5) Sierra Foothills

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2
Q

As of December 2022, how many AVAs does California have?

A

147

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3
Q

What is the best known U.S. wine region

A

Napa Valley AVA and it’s sub-appelations

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4
Q

What are the most popular wines made in Napa Valley?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet-led Bordeaux style blends.

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5
Q

What are the three largest California counties as far as wine grape acreage goes?

A

1) San Joaquin
2) Sonoma
3) Napa

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6
Q

How much wine production in California does Napa contribute to?

A

4%

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7
Q

What mountain ranges flank Napa Valley

A

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

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8
Q

What geographical influences allows Napa Valley to stay warm and sunny?

A

The mountains on either side of the valley that protects it from the cool air coming off of the Pacific Ocean.

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9
Q

3/4 of Napa County’s total grape acreage is devoted to red or white varieties?

A

Red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Petit Syrah, and Malbec

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10
Q

What are the leading white varieties in Napa County?

A

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

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11
Q

What body of water provides cool foggy air to the southern part of Napa
county?

A

San Pablo Bay

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12
Q

How many AVAs are in Napa County?

A

17 including Napa Valley AVA.
The majority of these appellations are in the western part of the county

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13
Q

What counties does the North Coast AVA include?

A

Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano, and Marin

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14
Q

What is the gap that funnels the cool air from the San Pablo Bay into Napa Valley?

A

Petaluma Gap

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15
Q

What does Napa Valley’s elevation range from?

A

0 to 2000ft above sea level.

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16
Q

What kind of style does Cabernet Sauvignon from the mountains of Napa Valley produce?

A

The mountain fruit from the sundrenched hillside vineyards of Napa produces Cab that is prized for its density, dark fruit, and concentration.

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17
Q

What kind of fruit does the hillside vineyards of Napa produce?

A

Smaller berries with higher acidity due to the cooler temps from the higher elevation.

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18
Q

What are the appellations that are considered mountainside AVAs?

A

To the West:
-Mount Veeder
-Diamond Mountain District
-Spring Mountain District

To the East:
-Atlas Peak
-Howell Mountain District

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19
Q

What is the only AVA on in the North Coast AVA that is elevation specific?

A

Howell Mountain, starting at 1400ft of elevation

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20
Q

What AVA is the coolest and wettest of the mountain AVAs?

A

Howell Mountain

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21
Q

What is a viticulture concern for Napa’s hillside growers?

A

Erosion.
Heavy winter rains can wash away a vineyards entire topsoil.

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22
Q

What kind of Cabernet Sauvignon tends to be produced in the valley floor appellations of Napa?

A

Valley fruit tends to make more elegant and supple style of wines with less color and intensity.

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23
Q

What appellations are considered valley floor AVAs in Napa?

A

Yountville, Oakville, Stags Leap District, Calistoga, St. Helena, and Rutherford.

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24
Q

What is Rutherford AVA known for?

A

‘Rutherford Dust’
It produces wine with a firm tannic structure.

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25
Q

What grape is planted in Carneros for both still and sparkling wine?

A

Pinot Noir

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26
Q

How many miles of coastline does Sonoma have?

A

Over 50 miles

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27
Q

How much of California’s wine production is Sonoma responsible for?

A

6%

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28
Q

What is the most planted variety overall in Sonoma?

A

Chardonnay

29
Q

How many AVAs are in Sonoma?

A

19

30
Q

Where are the coolest temps found in Sonoma County?

A

In the northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA

31
Q

What keeps the northern stretches of the Sonoma Coast AVA cool?

A

Altitude, cold ocean air from the Pacific, and persistent coastal fog

32
Q

What grapes and style of wine is the Russian River Valley known for?

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in fruity, forward styles.

33
Q

What is the climate in the Russian River Valley described as?

A

Moderate Ma

34
Q

Is the Russian River Valley north or south of Heldsburg?

A

South

35
Q

What kind of soil is the Russian River Valley known for?

A

Fertile, alluvial soils like Goldridge sandy loam

36
Q

What AVA is nestled in the Russian River Valley AVA?

A

Green Valley AVA

37
Q

What climate and soil is Green Valley known for?

A

Green Valley has a very cool climate, morning fog, and Goldridge soil.

38
Q

What are some popular producers from the Russian River Valley?

A

Joseph Swan, Rochioli, & Williams-Selyem

39
Q

What are some popular producers from the Green Valley AVA?

A

Kosta Browne
Freeman
Iron Horse (sparkling)

40
Q

What region in Sonoma has the warmest climate?

A

Knights Valley

41
Q

What AVAs are located north of Heldsburg and are region III climates in Sonoma?

A

Alexander Valley
Knights Valley
Dry Creek Valley
Rockpile

42
Q

What is the soil type and dominant grape in Alexander and Knights Valley?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon grown in gravel soils.

43
Q

Is the Cabernet Sauvignon from Knights Valley or Alexander Valley more similar to the style produced in Napa?

A

Knights Valley Cabernet is more similar to Napa Valley’s - Alexander Valley produces Cabernet that is more herbaceous and has less body.

44
Q

What is a famous producer from Knight’s Valley?

A

Peter Michaels Les Pavots

45
Q

What variety is Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile AVA known for?

A

Ripe, powerful Zinfandel aged in either French or American oak.

46
Q

What is Sonoma County’s most established AVA?

A

Sonoma Valley AVA

47
Q

What mountain ranges is Sonoma Valley AVA in between?

A

The Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains

48
Q

What grape varieties are successful in Sonoma Valley AVA?

A

Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon

49
Q

What happens to the climate in Sonoma Valley AVA as you travel north?

A

The climate gets warmer

50
Q

Which nested AVA in Sonoma Valley favors Merlot due to its cool temperatures?

A

Bennett Valley AVA - it’s too cool to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon routinely

51
Q

What is the only AVA that Sonoma County shares with Napa County?

A

Carneros

52
Q

What style of wine is Carneros known for?

A

Sparkling

53
Q

What Champagne house and Cava producer set up estates in Carneros?

A

The Champagne house Taittinger, and the Cava producer Codorniu.

54
Q

What grapes are dominant in the Petaluma Gap AVA?

A

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and cool climate Syrah

55
Q

What are climactic influences in the Petaluma Gap AVA?

A

Wind and fog

56
Q

Where is Mendocino located?

A

North of Sonoma at the confluence of the Russian river and Navarro river

57
Q

What AVAs are included in Mendocino?

A

Anderson Valley
Potter Valley
Redwood Valley
McDowell Valley
Yorkville Highlands
Cole Ranch
A portion of Mendocino Ridge

58
Q

Which is the smallest AVA in America?

A

Cole Ranch AVA located in Mendocino

59
Q

Which AVA in Mendocino is one of the coolest climates in California?

A

Anderson Valley AVA

60
Q

What are some influences that create a cool climate in Anderson Valley?

A

Ocean air and fog that trail inland along the Navarro River and the steep hills that frame the valley.

61
Q

What Champagne house established itself in Anderson Valley rather than Carneros?

A

Louis Roderer

62
Q

In addition to classic sparkling varieties, what other grapes do well in Anderson Valley?

A

Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

63
Q

What elevation are the vineyards of Mendocino Ridge AVA restricted to?

A

At least 1200ft above sea level

64
Q

What grape variety thrives in Mendocino Ridge AVA?

A

Pinot Noir & Zinfandel - it does well above the fog line where it can get plenty of cool climate sun.

65
Q

What is the smallest wine producing county in the North Coast?

A

Lake County

66
Q

How many AVAs are in Lake County? Name them

A

8 AVAs
Clear Lake
Benmore Valley
Red Hills-Lake County AVA
Big Valley District-Lake County
Kelsey Bench-Lake County
Guenoc Valley
Upper Lake Valley

67
Q

What does Clear Lake do for the climate in Lake County?

A

It acts as a buffer for hot temperatures permitting grape growing

68
Q

What does the high elevation, low humidity, and large diurnal swings do for the grapes in LAke County?

A

It promotes grapes with good acid retention.

CMS Certified Exam (18 decks)

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