USA: California Flashcards

1
Q

USA rules for “estate bottled”

A

For all US AVAs: 100% from estate or controlled vineyards, 100% from the same AVA

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2
Q

% of wine from stated vintage (for all US wine)

A

85% if labelling by county, state
95% if labelling by AVA

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3
Q

% of wine from California if labelled California? By county? AVA? Single vyd?

A

75% for county
85% for AVA
95% for single vineyard
100% for state of Cali

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4
Q

1st vines in the Napa Valley

A

1838: George C Yount

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5
Q

Napa’s oldest continually operating winery

A

Beringer, 1876

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6
Q

America’s 1st bonded winery

A

Pleasant Valley Wine Co. 1860

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7
Q

Prohibition years

A

1919 - 1933 (21st Amendment)

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8
Q

Andre Tchelistcheff in Napa Valley

A

Hired by Georges de Latour for Beaulieu Vineyard, 1938
* created Private Reserve Cab Sauv - a benchmark
* updated hygiene, technique standards
* coined the term “Rutherford Dust”
* mentees included Martini, Grgich, Mondavi, Heitz

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9
Q

1st $100 Californian wine

A

1978 Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard Cabernet

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10
Q

AVAs in the Mayacamas

A

Mt. Veeder
Diamond Mountain District
Spring Mountain District

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11
Q

AVAs in the Vaca Mountains

A

Howell Mountain
Atlas Peak

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12
Q

Napa Valley climate

A

Mediterranean
* fogs through San Pablo Bay, Chalk Hill Gap. San Pablo fogs peter out around Oakville
* north/mountain areas see most rain. Rainfall Oct - April
* diurnal is key. 20º in south, 40º near Calistoga

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13
Q

Napa’s benches

A

Alluvial fans - the transition between rocky hillsides and valley floor. Gently sloping well-drained earth.
* mostly in the western foothills

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14
Q

Max degree slope for new Napa plantings

A

30º

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15
Q

Los Carneros AVA

A

Napa/Sonoma
* Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
* clay dominant sandy soils
* Stanly Ranch, Dom. Carneros (Taittinger), Dom. Chandon
* Hudson, Hyde, Poseidon, Truchard

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16
Q

Howell Mountain AVA

A

min. 1400ft elevation (fog line)
* 40 - 50in rain - wettest mtn AVA
* varying volcanic soils

Dunn, Dana Estate, Outpost
Black Sears, Cade, Dragon
Ink Grade, La Jota, Rattlesnake Ridge

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17
Q

Wild Horse Valley AVA

A

Napa Valley - shared with Solano County
Heron Lake Vineyard

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18
Q

Stags Leap District

A

Ancient Vaca Mtn landslides = defining feature with the smooth knolls, east-facing slopes

Fay, Futo 5500, Pine Ridge
Shafer, Silverado, Wappo Hill

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19
Q

Mount Veeder

A

Hess, Lagier Meredith, Mayacamas (Fisher & Sons), Sky

  • SOILS: NOT volcanic. Sandstone, shale, clay, sandy loam. Mayacamas Mtns are sedimentary at this end.
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20
Q

Atlas Peak AVA

A

Vaca Mountains
* Stagecoach and Antinori’s Antica dominate plantings

John Kongsgaard, Heidi Barrett’s Au Sommet

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21
Q

Chiles Valley AVA

A

sits between Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill
* Volker Eisele, Green & Red, Brown Estate

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22
Q

Rutherford AVA - important producers, vineyards

A

Inglenook
Beaulieu Vineyard
Frog’s Leap
St Supery
Quintessa
Cakebread
Trailside Vyd

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23
Q

Oakville AVA

A

The “Greatest Hits”: Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Dalla Valle, Rudd, Silver Oak, Groth, Opus One

Home to To-Kalon

Soil variation: west is more sedimentary, fertile in the center, volcanics in the east

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24
Q

To-Kalon Vineyard

A

Oakville AVA
* sits on an extension of the Rutherford Bench’s alluvial fan

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25
Q

Spring Mountain District AVA

A

Soils transition from sedimentary south to northern volcanics of the Mayacamas
* Ritchie Creek, Sulfur Creek define boundaries
* Cain, Smith Madrone, Philip Togni, Pride
* Barnett, Newton, Schoolhouse, Stony Hill

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26
Q

St. Helena AVA
- top producers/vineyards

A

Napa Valley floor
* Hot, very little to no fog influence

Corison, Heitz, Spottswoode
Hourglass, Tychson Hill, Quella, Kronos Vyd

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27
Q

Yountville

A

More restaurants than vineyards
Good place for Merlot
* Gemstone, Ghost Block, Napanook, Sleeping Lady
* Dominus, Kapcsándy, Blanket

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28
Q

Diamond Mountain

A

Site of Napa’s 1st hillside vineyard - Schramsberg, planted in 1862
* Chalk Hill Gap keeps this area cool and foggy

Diamond Creek: Lake, Gravelly Meadow, Lae, Red Rock Terrace, Volcanic Hill

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29
Q

Oak Knoll AVA

A

Dry, cool foggy. Merlot, Chardonnay
Blackbird Vineyards, Hendry, Trefethen

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30
Q

Calistoga AVA

A

Northernmost; biggest diurnal shift in the valley
* volcanic soils
* Eisele Vineyard sits on an eastern alluvial fan
* a little fog influence from the Chalk Hill Gap but not much

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31
Q

Coombsville AVA

A

Vaca Mountains
Winkler 1
Farella

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32
Q

Pritchard Hill

A

Chappellet holds the trademark
* sits between Atlas Peak and Howell Mountain
* Lake Hennessy influence

Colgin, David Arthur, Continuum, Bryant

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33
Q

Conn Valley

A

Unofficial Napa Valley AVA
* sits across Lake Hennessy from Pritchard Hill

Seavey, Neyers, BOND’s Melbury, Buehler

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34
Q

Worst Napa vintages since 2010

A

2011: rain
2017: challenging year, ended with early October wildfires
2020: wildfires
2021: GOOD but low yields due to season before… vines didn’t devote energy to nascent buds

35
Q

Best Napa Vintages since 2010

A

2012 to 2016 were all good back-to-back vintages, defined by drought

2018** standout vintage.
2019 also good, rated just a bit lower.

2023 is predicted to be a vintage of a lifetime. Great yields AND quality.

36
Q

San Pablo Bay-influenced Napa vineyards

A

Carneros
Oak Knoll District
Coombsville
Yountville

37
Q

AVAs nested within the Russian River Valley

A

Chalk Hill AVA
Green Valley of RRV AVA

38
Q

Green Valley of RRV AVA

A

Defined by maritime climate + fog from the Petaluma Gap
* Goldridge Sandy Loam soils/sandstone
* Dutton Est, Dutton-Goldfield, Keefer Ranch, Iron Horse

39
Q

Chalk Hill AVA

A

Nest in RRV’s warm NE corner. Hills increase, less fog/coastal influence
* Zin, Cab, Merlot

Chalk Hill Estate, Rodney Strong

40
Q

2 main soil types of the RRV

A
  1. Goldridge Series: loose crumbly sandstone/sandy loam
  2. Franciscan Assemblage: greywacke sandstones, limestones, shales
41
Q

Alexander Valley AVA producers

A

Jordan
Silver Oak
Stonestreet

42
Q

Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA elevation

A

min. 1600ft elevation

43
Q

Bennett Valley

A

Cooler area with volcanic soils. Great for Merlot
* Matanzas Creek, Bevan, Flanagan
* Cab doesn’t ripen regularly here

44
Q

Dry Creek Valley AVA

A
  • Key sites: Lytton Springs, Teldeschi Vineyard
  • Zinfandel, Cab Sauv

Rafanelli, Gallo headquarters

45
Q

Fort-Ross Seaview AVA

A

Nested in Sonoma Coast AVA
* ridges and hillsides above the fog line
* (min) 920ft - 1800ft elevation

Flowers, Marcassin Vineyards, Fort Ross Vineyards
(RAEN, Failla, Red Car bottle from here)

46
Q

Fountaingrove District

A

located in the Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma

47
Q

Knights Valley AVA

A

Sonoma’s warmest AVA
* Cab most planted.. 2/3rd of vineyard
* Mount St Helena dominates the landscape (volcanic terroir)
* Beringer is a significant producer but not based there

Anakota, Peter Michael

48
Q

Moon Mountain District AVA
- characteristics
- top 2 vineyards

A

AVA creation defined by soils - iron-rich volcanics, distinct from sedimentary of surrounding areas

Monte Rosso Vyd, Montecillo Vyd

49
Q

Rockpile AVA

A

Zinfandel
* high land overlooking Lake Sonoma- which moderates the temps here. Limits fog.
* min elevation = 800ft
* sandstone, shale over clay base

Mauritson

50
Q

AVA’s within Sonoma Coast AVA

A

West Sonoma Coast AVA
Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Petaluma Gap AVA

51
Q

AVA’s within Sonoma Mountain AVA

A

Bennett Valley
Moon Mountain

52
Q

Sonoma Mountain AVA

A

Volcanic soils

Beringer, Pickberry Vineyard, Laurel Glen

53
Q

Producers in the new West Sonoma Coast AVA

A

Hirsch
Peay
Littorai

54
Q

Sonoma Valley AVA

A

Birthplace of California wine - Buena Vista, Gundlach Bundschu
* Bennett Valley, Moon Mountain AVA are nested within
* driest Sonoma Mountain AVA, sits between Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains

Pagani Ranch (Ridge, Carlisle)

55
Q

Mendocino County - main rivers

A

Navarro River
Russian River

56
Q

Anderson Valley AVA producers/vineyards

A
  • Littoral Wendling Block E, Les Larmes
  • Savoy Vineyard
  • Roederer Estate
  • Goldeneye
57
Q

Cole Ranch AVA

A

Mendocino
* smallest AVA in America
* know for Riesling (mostly), Pinot, Merlot, Cab

58
Q

Mendocino Ridge AVA

A

Only non-contiguous AVA in America
* min elevation 1200ft - 1st American AVA defined by elevation (?)

59
Q

Yorkville Highlands AVA

A

Mendocino
* borders Sonoma’s Alexander Valley AVA
* 800M+; more sunshine and diurnal shift than Anderson Valley. Climate is very transitional … neither Med nor continental entirely

60
Q

Lake County’s most important AVA

A

Clear Lake AVA

61
Q

Gabilan Mountains AVA

A

Est 2022; Chalone & Mount Harlan AVAs are both within this zone.
* San Benito, Monterey Counties
* Coastview Vineyard was the instigator
* min 1500ft elevation, weathered granite with limestone

62
Q

Monterey County important mountain ranges

A
  • 2 mountains: Santa Lucia Mtns (west, Pacific edge) + Gabilan Mtns
63
Q

Arroyo Seco AVA

A

Salinas Valley, Monterey
* cool climate, one of Cali’s longest growing seasons. Gravel, sandy earth from old riverbeds. Large stones = “Greenfield potatoes”
* warmer areas in the west are better for Cab, Merlot

64
Q

Chalone AVA

A

Gabilan Mountains, Monterey
* granite + pockets of limestone
* dry, windy, intense sunlight

65
Q

Santa Lucia Highlands AVA

A

Foothills of the Santa Lucia Range, up to 1200ft. S & E-facing. Pacific influence and coastal breezes are key. Long long growing season, harvesting up to 6 weeks after the rest of the state.
- Pisoni Vineyard
- Gary’s Vineyard

66
Q

Mount Harlan AVA

A

Gabilan Mountains, San Benito County
* Josh Jensen’s Calera is the main producer here
* Calera = lime kiln. Limestone is a key soil type
* ~600M

67
Q

AVAs of San Benito County

A
  1. Lime Kiln Valley
  2. Cienega Valley
  3. Mount Harlan
  4. Paicines
  5. San Benito
68
Q

San Luis Obispo County AVAs

A
  1. Edna Valley
  2. Paso Robles
  3. San Luis Obispo Coast
  4. Arroyo Grande Valley
  5. York Mountain
69
Q

Templeton Gap District AVA

A

Paso Robles
* westerly location, position below passes in the Santa Lucia Mountains = strongest maritime influence/coolest AVA. 700 - 1800ft. Typically harvests 10 - 14 days later than other Paso AVAs
* alluvial soils, sandy silty loam, calcareous in places

Austin Hope, J. Dusi, Peachy Canyon

70
Q

Paso Robles AVAs with limestone

A
  • Adelaide District (high concentrations)
  • Willow Creek
  • Templeton Gap, El Pomar in places
71
Q

Adelaida District AVA

A

Paso Robles
* distinct for high concentrations of calcareous soils with high volume calcium carbonate from chalk, limestone
* Pacific influence.. cooler subzone

Tablas Creek, Justin

72
Q

Where does California’s coastline start to bend?

A

Point Conception in Santa Barbara

73
Q

1st Syrah in California

A

1975, Gary Eberle in Steinbeck Vineyard
Estrella District AVA, Paso Robles

74
Q

Santa Barbara’s 2 main mountain ranges

A

San Rafael Mountains (east)
Santa Ynez Mountains (south and west)

75
Q

Alisos Canyon AVA

A

Santa Barbara; est 2020
* sandstone, shale soils
* “Goldilocks Rhone Zone” - Syrah is the most planted. Climate is transitional, neither too hot nor too cold

Andrew Murray, Martian Vineyard, Thompson Vineyard

76
Q

Happy Canyon AVA

A

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
* warmest AVA in the Santa Ynez Valley
* BDX, Rhone varietals

Star Lane, Vogelzang

77
Q

Santa Maria Valley AVA

A
  • exceptionally long growing season - mild ocean-influenced climate
  • Loamy soils with sand, clay and patches of limestone
  • crosses the Cuyama River into SLO

Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido, Qupé, Ojai Vineyard

78
Q

Santa Ynez Valley’s nested AVA

A

Los Olivos Disrict
Ballard Canyon
Happy Canyon
Sta Rita Hills

79
Q

Ballard Canyon AVA

A

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
* Syrah #1 - over 50% of plantings
* north-south orientation mitigates ocean effect

Beckmen, Jonata, Stolpman

80
Q

Los Olivos District AVA

A

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
* broad alluvial terrace above the Santa Ynez River
* newer AVA, est 2016

Brander Vineyard, Beckmen Vineyards

81
Q

Sta Rita Hills AVA

A

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara
* est 2001, abbreviated in 2006
* 34ºN; strong maritime influence, Winkler1

Sea Smoke, Eleven Confessions, Sanford & Benedict, Bloom’s Field

82
Q

What keeps Northern Sonoma cool

A

Petaluma Gap: break in the Coast Ranges. Vineyards in the south are the coolest, with morning and later afternoon fog

83
Q

Carneros - important vineyards on Napa side vs Sonoma side

A

Sonoma: Las Brisas, Sangiacomo
Napa: Truchard, Hyde, Hudson

84
Q

Three Palms Vineyard

A