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WSET 4 D4 by Sarp Sarac > D4.C17. United States of America > Flashcards

D4.C17. United States of America Flashcards

(42 cards)

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1
Q

Sparkling wine production in the USA dates back to..

A

19th century

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2
Q

When did the modern period for sparkling wine production begin USA?

A

In 1965, when Schramsberg produced a Blanc de Blancs Brut sparkling wine that was also the first commercial use of Chardonnay in an American sparkling wine

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3
Q

Which methods are being used to produce sparkling wines in USA?

A
  • Traditional
  • Tank
  • PetNat (small amount)
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4
Q

Which states are the leaders for sparkling wine production in USA?

A
  • California (most)
  • Oregon
  • Washington State
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5
Q

Tasting notes for an American traditional method sparkling wine.

A
  • Medium intensity aromas of ripe apple and lemon
  • Brioche and/or biscuit autolytic notes
  • Medium (+) acidity
  • Typically made in a Brut style
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6
Q

Is Meunier used for traditional method sparkling wines in USA?

A

Yes, but much less commonly than in Champagne

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7
Q

What is the quality/price range for American traditional method sparkling wines?

A
  • Good to outstanding in quality
  • Mid to super-premium in price
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8
Q

What is the distinctive property of American tank method sparkling wines?

A

They are often in an Extra Dry style, with noticeable residual sugar

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9
Q

What is the price range for American tank method sparkling wines?

A

Inexpensive to mid-priced

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10
Q

Grapes for premium sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are grown in which areas of California?

A

Predominantly in the coastal regions cooled by the cold Pacific Ocean

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11
Q

How is cool air and/or fog carried to the areas where grapes for premium sparkling wines are grown?

A

Along river valleys and gaps in the coastal mountains

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12
Q

Which varieties are used for tank method sparkling wines in California?

A
  • Pinot Gris
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Viognier
  • Syrah
  • Tempranillo
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13
Q

What are the common vineyard and winery practices for the grapes grown in warm regions in the production of sparkling wines?

A
  • Early harvest
  • Residual sugar to compensate for under-ripe flavours
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14
Q

What are the most important areas in California for sparkling wine production?

A
  • Anderson Valley
  • Russian River Valley
  • Carneros
  • Napa Valley
  • Monterey
  • Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande
  • Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills
  • Lodi
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15
Q

Which properties of Anderson Valley (Mendocino Country) make it ideal for sparkling wine production?

A
  • Close to Pacific
  • Cool ocean breezes and fog conveyed along the Navarro river valley
  • Wide diurnal temperature ranges
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16
Q

What is the name of the significant sparkling wine producer in Anderson Valley?

A

Roederer Estate

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17
Q

What is the importance of Anderson Valley for sparkling wine production other than the wineries producing wines in this AVA?

Study These Flashcards
A

Many wineries from outside the region also buy Anderson Valley grapes for their sparkling wines

18
Q

How is the climate in Russian River Valley moderated?

Study These Flashcards
A

Cool breezes and fog provide cooling influences both via the river and through the Petaluma Gap

19
Q

What is the name of the significant sparkling wine producer in Russian River Valley?

20
Q

How is the climate in Carneros moderated?

Study These Flashcards
A

While not on the coast, Carneros gets significant cooling from the San Pablo Bay

21
Q

What is the significant sparkling wine producers in Carneros?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Gloria Ferrer (Freixenet)
  • Domaine Carneros (Taittinger)
22
Q

How do the wineries in Napa Valley source the grapes for sparkling wines?

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A
  • Since most of Napa is too hot for growing grapes for sparkling wine, some source their grapes from cooler areas and blend it with Napa fruit
  • Some producers continue to grow or source all their fruit from within the Napa Valley (including Carneros)
23
Q

How is the climate in Monterey moderated?

Study These Flashcards
A

The main influence is the wide Salinas valley that is open to the ocean (which is particularly cold due to a deep canyon in the ocean floor near this part of the coast). This creates cool areas in the northern parts of Monterey with high diurnal temperature ranges

24
Q

How is the climate in Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande moderated?

Study These Flashcards
A

Proximity to the coast and the cold ocean

25
How is the climate in Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills moderated?
The east–west running Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley form channels to allow cool breezes and fog to seep into Santa Barbara County
26
What kind of sparkling wines are produced in Lodi?
- Lodi is too warm for grape growing for premium sparkling wine - Companies such as Weibel produce large volumes of tank method and flavoured sparkling wines here
27
Which properties of Washington State make it ideal for sparkling wine production?
- Northerly latitude - High diurnal range
28
Which are grapes are used to produce sparkling wines in Washington State?
- Chardonnay - Pinot Noir - Meunier
29
Which styles of sparkling wines are produced in Washington State?
- Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs wines - Single varietal wines from other varieties (including Müller Thurgau, Riesling and Gewurztraminer)
30
What is the price range for sparkling wines produced in Washington State?
Mid-priced
31
Which region of Oregon is ideal for sparkling wine production? Why?
- Willamette Valley - The cool climate of the Willamette Valley allows fruit to ripen slowly and to retain naturally high acidity
32
What is the pioneer and largest specialist producer in Willamette Valley?
Argyle
33
What is the function of Radiant Sparkling Wine?
For wineries that do not specialise in sparkling wine, the technically demanding processes required for traditional method wines can be supplied by a specialist company such as Radiant Sparkling Wine
34
Which methods are used in USA to produce sparkling wines?
- Traditional: For premium wines - Tank: Inexpensive wines
35
What are the common winemaking choices for premium sparkling wines in USA?
- Often made by blending a range of base wines - Made with extended periods on the lees in bottle (e.g. three years) which adds to the intensity of autolytic notes and to the cost of production, and therefore price
36
What is unique about Blanc de Noirs sparkling wines of USA?
- It is a more common style in the USA than in other countries - However, unlike in the EU, there are no specific regulations regarding the Blanc de Noirs term. - Often, producers use mainly black skinned fruit, but complement it with some small percentage of white grapes - Schramsberg is a good example of this technique, where its Blanc de Noirs includes 10% Chardonnay
37
What are the functions of specialist custom crush facilities provide these services, like Rack & Riddle in Sonoma and Brut Custom Crush in Napa?
For small wineries, it is not financially feasible to invest in the equipment needed to perform riddling, disgorgement and dosage, nor do they necessarily have the expertise so these wineries use special custom crush facilities
38
Is it possible to write "Champagne" on the labels of US sparkling wines?
- Yes, if the brand was established before 2006 if the geographic origin accompanies the Champagne term on the label (typically California Champagne) - New US brands after this date are not allowed
39
What are the different types of companies producing sparkling wine in USA?
- Specialist sparkling wine companies + Often founded by Champagne and Cava houses + They have distribution across the USA and export small qualities of sparkling wine + Examples include Roederer Estate - Wine companies that produce small batch, premium sparkling wines + Sold at the cellar door, direct to consumers, in the winery’s own restaurant or locally + Examples include Schramsberg - Large wine companies that produce inexpensive sparkling wines + Companies with national and international distribution +Examples include Barefoot and Cupcake
40
How many cases of sparkling wine were produced in USA in 2020? How much percent of it was produced in California?
- 12,500,000 cases - 83%
41
Domestic production supply how many percent of total consumption of sparkling wines in USA?
45%
42
Despite an increase in sparkling wine consumption, why has Californian sparkling wine lost significant market share to imported sparkling wines, especially Prosecco?
Millennials are less bound to American brands and perceive foreign wines as more authentic, offering an open door to foreign sparkling wine

WSET 4 D4 by Sarp Sarac (22 decks)

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