United States & Canada Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the major climatic influences on US/Canada wine regions?
- Pacific Ocean: Cool breezes & fog (esp. California, Oregon)
- Mountain ranges: Cascade, Sierra Nevada, Coastal ranges create rain shadows (e.g., Columbia Valley)
- Continental climate inland (e.g., Eastern Washington, Okanagan)
- Great Lakes: Moderate temperature in parts of Canada (e.g., Niagara)
What is an AVA and what does it designate?
- American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a legally defined grape-growing region in the USA
- Managed by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau)
- Wines labeled with an AVA must have at least 85% of grapes from that AVA
- No quality standards or varietal restrictions
Describe the climatic conditions of the West Coast wine regions.
- California: Mediterranean (hot inland, cool maritime in coastal zones)
- Oregon: Cool and wet, especially Willamette Valley; maritime to continental
- Washington: Eastern part is dry, continental with irrigation needed
- British Columbia (Canada): Continental with mountain influence and lakes
What are the principal varietals of Napa Valley AVA?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Also Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
- Known for structured, age-worthy reds
What are the principal varietals of Sonoma County AVAs?
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (esp. in Russian River & Sonoma Coast)
- Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek, Alexander Valley)
What are key subregions and grapes of the San Francisco Bay Area AVAs?
- Livermore Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Known for high-elevation, coastal-influenced vineyards
What grape varietals are common in Monterey AVA?
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (cool-climate south)
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot in warmer northern areas
- Strong ocean and wind influence from Monterey Bay
What grapes are associated with Santa Barbara County AVAs?
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay – Santa Maria & Sta. Rita Hills
- Syrah, Grenache – Happy Canyon & warmer inland zones
- Strong transverse valleys bring ocean fog inland
What grapes and conditions are key in Paso Robles AVA?
- Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre)
- Warm days, cool nights due to Templeton Gap wind corridor
What is the leading varietal in Willamette Valley AVA, Oregon?
- Pinot Noir – elegant, high acid, often whole-cluster fermented
- Also: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling
What grapes and conditions define the Columbia Valley AVA (OR/WA)?
- Large, dry, continental AVA (mostly in Washington, partly in Oregon)
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Riesling
- Irrigated from Columbia River; high diurnal shift
What is notable about the Walla Walla Valley AVA?
- Subregion of Columbia Valley, straddles Washington & Oregon
- Known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot
- Warm, continental climate with low rainfall
What are the principal wine districts of Washington State?
- Columbia Valley AVA – overarching AVA, covers ~99% of vineyards
- Walla Walla Valley AVA – east, shared with Oregon
- Yakima Valley AVA – first AVA in WA, within Columbia Valley
- Puget Sound AVA – only maritime AVA, western WA, cooler/wetter
How does topography influence climate in Washington wine regions?
- Cascade Mountains create a rain shadow, resulting in dry, sunny conditions in eastern Washington
- Requires irrigation from the Columbia River system
- High diurnal range (hot days, cool nights) preserves acidity
- Western Washington (e.g., Puget Sound AVA) = cooler, wetter, maritime climate
What are key AVAs within or associated with Sonoma County?
- Russian River Valley AVA – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Sonoma Coast AVA – Cool, ocean-influenced, Pinot Noir
- Dry Creek Valley AVA – Zinfandel
- Alexander Valley AVA – Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carneros AVA – Shared with Napa, cool-climate Chard & Pinot
What are key AVAs within or associated with Napa Valley?
- Oakville, Rutherford, Stags Leap District – Cabernet Sauvignon
- Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder – mountain-grown structured reds
- Carneros – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (shared with Sonoma)
- Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain, Calistoga
What are key AVAs within or associated with Monterey County?
- Santa Lucia Highlands – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Arroyo Seco – Chardonnay
- Monterey AVA – broad appellation, cool wind from Monterey Bay
- San Bernabe, San Lucas – warmer, inland AVAs
What are key AVAs within or associated with Santa Barbara County?
- Sta. Rita Hills – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (coolest area)
- Santa Maria Valley – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Ballard Canyon – Syrah
- Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara – Bordeaux varietals
What are the principal wine districts of Oregon & Washington?
Washington:
- Columbia Valley
- Walla Walla Valley
- Yakima Valley
- Puget Sound
Oregon:
- Willamette Valley
- Columbia Valley (shared)
- Walla Walla Valley (shared)
- Umpqua Valley
- Rogue Valley
