United States of America

Question 1

How far back do sparkling wine production go for USA?

Answer 1

19th C

Question 2

What companies were around for sparkling wine production in USA in the beginning

Answer 2

Haraszthy
F. Korbel & Bros

Question 3

What sparkling wine company became relevant in the modern period beginning in 1965 in USA?

Answer 3

Schramsberg when they produced a Blanc de Blancs brut which was also the first commercial use of Chardonnay in USA sparkling wine

Question 4

What happened in 1970s in regards to Sparkling wine production in USA

Answer 4

there was an establishment of a number of companies owned by Champagne and Cava producers that set up to make traditional method sparkling wines spearheaded by Moet & Chandon

Question 5

What style sparkling wines are made in USA

Answer 5

a range of styles: traditional, tank, and a small amount of Pet Nat

Question 6

Where does most production of sparkling wine occur in USA?

Answer 6

CA - but also found in Washington and Oregon

Question 7

What quality levels are traditional method Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend made in USA? pirces?

Answer 7

good to outstanding
prices are med to super premium

Question 8

General SAT for USA sparkling wines made in traditional style

Answer 8

med intensity aromas of ripe apple and lemon with brioche/ biscuit autolytic notes
med + acidity
typically made in Brut style

Question 9

what additional flavors do tank sparkling wines in USA have?

Answer 9

raspberry, peach, etc

Question 10

Besides Tank and traditional method what other method is used for sparkling in USA?

Answer 10

Pet Nat

Question 11

What style are tank fermented wines in USA made in?

Answer 11

Extra Dry with noticable residual sugar

Question 12

What is the price point for tank fermented wines in USA?

Answer 12

inexpensive to mid price

Question 13

Where are grapes grown in CA for Chardonnay and Pinot noir sparkling wines?

Answer 13

in coastal regions cooled by cold pacific ocean; cool air is drawn towards the hotter central valley brining cool breezes and/or fog to areas close to the coast along river valleys and gaps in coastal mountains

Question 14

What makes coastal parts of CA ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir? why?

Answer 14

cooling influences - helps to produce grapes with ripe flavors and high levels of acidity with moderate alcohol, producing a premium priced wine

Question 15

In addition to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir what other varietals are used for mainly tank methods of wines in USA

Answer 15

PInot gris, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Syrah, and Tempranillo

Question 16

When grapes are grown in warm regions when are they harvested

Answer 16

early

Question 17

what might wines require to underripe flavors in USA sparkling?

Answer 17

residual sugar

Question 18

What are the most important areas for sparkling wines in CA?

Answer 18

Anderson Valley (Mendocino County)*
Russian River Valley (Sonoma County)*
Carneros (Sonoma and Napa counties)*
Napa Valley (Napa County)
Monterey (Monterey County)
Edna and Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo County)
Santa Maria Valley and Sta Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County)
Lodi (San Joaquin County)

Question 19

Where is Anderson Valley located in CA?

Answer 19

northwestern part of this AVA is close to Pacific

Question 20

What is the climate of Anderson Valley AVA

Answer 20

moderate temps cool ocean breezes and fog are conveyed along the Navarro river valley reduced sunshine hours further up the valley

wide diurnal temps ranges are common and enable growers maintain higher levels of acidity in the fruit

Question 21

What estate is Anderson Valley home to for sparkling wines?

Answer 21

Roederer Estate founded by champagne house of same name

Question 22

Who buys grapes from Anderson Valley

Answer 22

wineries outside of the region for their own sparkling wines

Question 23

What sparkling wine producer is housed in Russian River AVA

Answer 23

Korbel

Question 24

How is the Russian River valley suitable for sparkling wine?

Answer 24

cool breezes and fog provide cooling influences via the river and through the Petaluma Gap in the coastal mountain range

Question 25

Even though Carneros is not on the coast how does it still produce good sparkling wines?

Answer 25

has a significant cooling from the San Pablo Bay

Question 26

Who is Carneros home to in terms of sparkling wine producer

Answer 26

Gloria Ferrer (founded by Freixenet) and DOmaine Carneros (founded by taittinger)

Question 27

How does Napa help supply sparkling wines in US?

Answer 27

it is too hot to grow grapes for sparkling wines, but important wineries that produce it were founded in Napa. now they source their grapes to cooler areas some producers choose to blend Napa fruit with that sourced from other regions

Question 28

What happened in Monterrey County in 1940s in regards to sparkling wine

Answer 28

professors Winkler and Amerine of UC Davies devised the Heat Summation Scale and id'ed large portions of Monterey as cool zones (1-2) which are suitable for chardonnay and pinot noir - resulting in many new vineyards

Question 29

What is the main cooling influence in Monterrey

Answer 29

the wide Salinas valley that is open to the open which is particularly cold due to a deep canyon in the ocean floor near this part of the coast - creating cool areas in northern parts of Monterey with high diurnal temps creating sites suitable for grapes of sparkling wines

Question 30

What two AVAs are the coolest part of San Luis Obispo? why

Answer 30

Enda Valley and Arroyo Grande due to its proximity to the coast and the cold ocean

Question 31

besides Monterey where else did Winkler and Amerine also identify as cool zones 1-2

Answer 31

Santa Barbara County - east-west running Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley form channels to allow cool breezes and fog to seep into Santa Barbara County

Question 32

Which two areas in CA are too warm for growing premium grapes for sparkling wines but produce high vol tank method and flavored sparkling wines?

Answer 32

Central Valley and Lodi

Question 33

Where is the second largest producer of sparkling wine in USA?

Answer 33

Washington State

Question 34

Who is the largest producer by far from Washington state

Answer 34

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Question 35

what contributes to the grapes high acidity in Washington State?

Answer 35

northernly latitude and high diurnal temp range

Question 36

What varietals are used to make sparkling in Washington State?

Answer 36

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier blends

Question 37

What styles of sparkling wines are made in Washington State?

Answer 37

Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs single varietal wines from other varieties such as Muller Thurgau, riesling, and Gewurztraminer

Question 38

What is the pirce point for sparkling wines made in Washington State

Answer 38

mid priced

Question 39

What dose Willamette Valley in Orgeon have to offer sparkling wines?

Answer 39

cool climate to allow fruit to ripen slowly and retain naturally high acidity

Question 40

Who is the pioneer and largest producer of sparkling wine in Oregon

Answer 40

Argyle

Question 41

Who is Radiant Sparkling Wine

Answer 41

a specialist company who can supply wineries who do not specialize in sparkling wines the technically demanding process of traditional method

Question 42

What method is typically used to make sparkling wines in USA?

Answer 42

traditional for premium sparkling wines and tank for inexpensive wines

Question 43

How are premium sparkling wines typically made in USA

Answer 43

by blending a range of base wines - ex blending higher acidity wines with wines with ripe fruit notes but lower acidity

Question 44

How long are sparkling wines left on the lees in USA

Answer 44

many are left for extended periods (3 yrs) to add intensity of autolytic notes

Question 45

What is a more common style in US than in other countries for sparkling wine?

Answer 45

Blanc de Noirs (white wine made from black grapes)

Question 46

10What are the regulations around Blanc de Noirs in US

Answer 46

unlike the EU there aren't any - often producers will use mainly black skinned fruit but complement it with some small percentage of white grapes

Question 47

What producer is a good example of how mainly black skinned fruit is used for Blanc de Noirs but complement it with some small percentage of white grapes

Answer 47

Schramsberg 10% of chardonnay is included

Question 48

What are many wineries doing for sparkling wines in US? why?

Answer 48

making small batches of wines only sold through the tasting room or direct to consumers it is not financially feasible to invest in the equipment needed to perform riddling, disgorgement and dosage, nor do they have the expertise

Question 49

What kind of facilities provide riddling, disgorgement and dosage for wineries who do not have the expertise in US

Answer 49

Specialist custom crush facilities such as rack and Riddle in Sonoma or Brut Custom crush in Napa

Question 50

How do some historical producers label their sparkling wine "Champagne" in the US?

Answer 50

The US government allows it on brands established prior to 2006 if the Geographic origin accompanies the Champagne term on the label

Question 51

What are the three different types of companies producing sparkling wines in US?

Answer 51

specialist sparkling wine companies often founded by Champagne and Cava houses Wine companies that produce small batch premium wines large companies that produce inexpensive sparkling wines as part of a larger range (both national and international distribution)

Question 52

Where do specialist sparkling wine companies founded by Cava and Champagne houses in CA distribute to?

Answer 52

across the US and export small quantities

Question 53

What is an example of a specialist sparkling wine company in US

Answer 53

Roederer Estate

Question 54

Where are wines from companies producing small batch premium wines seeling the wine?

Answer 54

cellar door, direct to consumer, in winery's own restaurant, or locally

Question 55

Give an example of a wine company producing small batch premium sparkling wines in US

Answer 55

Schramsberg

Question 56

Give an example of a large wine company that produce inexpensive sparkling wines as a part of a larger range

Answer 56

Barefoot and Cupcake

Question 57

How many cases of sparkling wine were produced in USA in 2020? how much did this supply to the total shipments of sparkling wine in US that year?

Answer 57

12,500,000 cases (83% in CA) 45%

Question 58

What has CA sparkling wine lost significant market share to in that last 15 years

Answer 58

imported sparkling esp Prosecco