US Wine Laws+California Flashcards
(73 cards)
What is the name of the governing body that oversees the beverage alcohol industry in the United States?
TTB–Tax and Trade Bureau
What does the TTB do?
–defines and approves the boundaries of AVAs
–defines AVAs based on unique geographical, physical and climatic features
What were the first 2 AVAs in the US?
–Augusta, Missouri (1980)
–Napa Valley, (1981)
What are AVAs?
American Viticulture Areas
–whether refer to geographic location only (not political designations)
What are the US labeling laws by variety?
(if a wine has a variety printed on the label, what must be the minimum percentage of the grapes must be in the bottle)
75% minimum if from
American
State
County
AVA
There is one US state that has a higher minimum percentages if the wine is labeled by varietal.
What is that state and what is the percentage?
Oregon
90% minimum if the grape is listed on the bottle
In the US, if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label and the wine’s appellation is a state or country, how much of the stated vintage must be in the bottle?
85% must come from the stated vintage.
In the US, if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label and the wine’s appellation is an AVA, how much of the stated vintage must be in the bottle?
95% must come from that vintage
If a US bottle of wine whose stated appellation on the label is from Country, state or country, what minimum percent must the wine from that state, county or country?
75%
In the US, if a bottle of wine is labeled with a specific AVA, what minimum percent must the wine be from that AVA?
85%
If a US bottle of wine states that the wine comes from a specific, single vineyard, what minimum percent of the wine must come from that vineyard?
95%
What does it mean when a US bottle of wine states that it is “Estate Bottled”?
100% of the grapes must be grown on land owned or controlled by the producer (winery) and that land must be in an AVA
In what century was US viticulture started on the East Coast?
By whom?
mid 1500s–French Huguenots are credited with starting wine production in Florida
–1600s – vines planted in Jamestown and in the Northeast by settlers.
In what century was US viticulture started on the west coast and who planted the first grapevines?
16th century–Franciscan Monks planted vines in what is now Texas and New Mexico
17th century–Franciscan Monks plated vines in California
–Grapes were used for sacrament
Who was Agoston Haraszthy?
(hair-az-tee)
–originally from Hungary
—“father of modern viticulture in CA”
–considered the patriarch of California wine industry
–DOP of Buena Vista winery in 1857
What were some setbacks the US wine industry suffered in the late 1800s–early 20th century?
–phylloxera arrived, decimating vineyards
–prohibition (1920-1933)
–great depression (1929-1939)
–world war II (US involvement 1941-1945)
Who were two influential winemakers in California following Prohibition?
Andre Tchelistcheff
Robert Mondavi
Today, the US is the worlds ___th largest producer of wine.
4th
How do the climates of coastal California differ from inland California?
Coast–cool
Inland–warm to hot
Mountain ranges in California can either block or funnel in cool Pacific Ocean breezes, depending on their _____.
Orientation
If a range runs north-south it blocks cool air.
If a range runs west-east it funnels cool air.
What are California’s 4 major wine growing areas?
North Coast
Central Coast
Central Valley
Sierra Foothills
What 4 counties make up the North Coast?
- Mendocino
- Lake
- Napa
- Sonoma
What are California’s major grape varietals, both red and white?
White grapes
–chardonnay
–sauv blanc
Red grapes
–cab sauv
–pinot noir
–merlot
–zinfandel
In which county is the Napa Valley?
Napa County
