Wine AVAs of the Central Coast Flashcards
1
Q
Name the outlined AVA.
A
Monterey
2
Q
Name the outlined AVA.
A
Santa Cruz Mountains
3
Q
Named the outlined AVA.
A
Livermore Valley
4
Q
Name the outlined AVA.
A
Paso Robles
5
Q
Name the outlined county
A
Santa Barbra County
6
Q
Name the outlined AVA.
A
Santa Maria Valley
7
Q
Name the outlined AVA.
A
Santa Ynez Valley
8
Q
What are the sub appellations in Monterey?
A
Santa Lucia Highlands
Chalone
San Antonio Valley
Arroyo Seco
9
Q
What are the main varietal(s) of Monterey?
A
Pinot Noir
10
Q
What are the main varietal(s) of the Santa Lucia Highlands?
A
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
11
Q
What are the main varietal(s) of Chalone?
A
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
12
Q
What are the main varietal(s) of the San Antonio Valley?
A
Cabernet
Syrah
13
Q
What are the main varietal(s) of Arroyo Seco?
A
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
14
Q
Monterey received its AVA designation in what year?
A
1984
15
Q
Monterey is home to what wineries?
A
Talbot
Mer Soleil
Hahn
Morgan
Scheid (Mina Mesa)
16
Q
Name some notable vineyards in Monterey.
A
Sleepy Hollow
Diamond T
Riva Ranch
Rosella’s
17
Q
Describe the climate of Monterey.
A
Temperature variations of 40 degrees from the Bay to the southern end of the county, Monterey can be mapped by a Thermal Rainbow, a trademarked term.
18
Q
Describe the soil of Monterey.
A
Varied
19
Q
What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Monterey?
A
Crisp Chardonnay and elegant Pinot Noir are expected from Monterey County but as a large diverse AVA, pockets of warmer climates help grower riper versions of these mainstay grapes as well as Cabernet and Syrah.
20
Q
Describe the general wine growing area of Monterey.
A
Monterey Wine County boasts over 175 unique vineyards. Most wine growing takes place in a 90 mile long valley, with only eight primary viticulture soil types. The northernmost areas of Monterey, deemed as on the edge of being too cold to grow wine grapes are held in high esteem for their exceptional production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
21
Q
Santa Lucia Highlands received their designation in what year?
A
1990
22
Q
Chalone received its designation in what year?
A
1982
23
Q
San Antonio Valley received its designation in what year?
A
2006
24
Q
Arroyo Seco received its designation in what year?
A
1983
25
Describe the climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands?
Elevated sites take full advantage of the morning sunshine before the stiff, afternoon maritime winds slow down photosynthesis, making for long, gentle ripening.
26
Describe the climate of Chalone.
With less than 300 acres under vine, appellation enjoys high daytime summer temperatures, but low nighttime readings, preserving grape acidity and balance.
27
Describe the climate of Arroyo Seco.
Blasted with maritime influences- wind and fog- the Salinas Valley is an “open throat” which funnels maritime influences from the cold, Pacific Ocean waters at Monterey Bay through the Arroyo Seco AVA.
28
What are the main varietal(s) of the Santa Cruz Mountains?
Pinot Noir
Cabernet
Chardonnay
29
Santa Cruz Mountains received its AVA designation in what year? What other counties does this include?
1981
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
San Mateo
30
The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to what wineries?
Ridge
Mt Eden
David Bruce
31
Describe the climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Varies due to proximity to the Pacific and elevation which ranges from 400 feet to over 3,000 feet.
32
Describe the soil of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Varies
33
What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains?
Rich, age worthy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are found in cooler microclimates near the foggy coast and well- structured Cabernet in warmer, more sunny locations.
34
The Santa Cruz Mountains roots go back how many years? What are some legendary winemakers to come from this area?
Over 100 years
Paul Masson
Martin Ray
David Bennion (Ridge)
David Bruce
35
Describe the microclimates of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Broad region is marked by diverse microclimates: Warm on the eastern (inland) side where Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Merlot predominate. On the coastal side and ridge tops, cooled by the ocean breezes and fog cooler climate varietals like Pinot Noir are grown.
36
How many acres of planted grapes are grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains? How many vineyards? How many wineries? What is the division of main varietal grapes grown in the area?
Approximately 1,300 acres of planted grapes
Over 200 small vineyards
60+ wineries
Divided about 1/4 equally among Pinot Nior, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and “other” varietals (most notably Merlot and Zinfandel).
37
What are the main varietal(s) of Livermore Valley?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Petite Sirah
38
Livermore Valley received its AVA designation in what year?
1982
39
Livermore Valley is home to what wineries?
Wente (Beyer Ranch)
Concannon (The Wine Group)
40
Describe the climate of Livermore Valley.
Warmer than most coastal AVAs, the bay still provides for cooler nights.
41
Describe the soil of Livermore Valley.
Varying amounts of of loam and sand with gravel as a key component of prime vineyard sights.
42
What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Livermore Valley?
Generally simple, consumer friendly wines from mainline varieties.
43
Who planted the first grapes in Livermore Valley and in what year were they planted?
Robert Livermore
1840s
44
Who founded the first wineries in Livermore Valley and in what year?
Carl H. Wente & James Concannon
1883
45
What are the sub appellations in Paso Robles?
Adelaida District
Creston District
EL Pomar District
Estrella District
Geneseo District
Highlands District
Willow Creek District
San Jaun Creek
San Miguel District
Santa Margarita Ranch
Templeton Gap District
46
What are the main varietal(s) of Paso Robles?
Rhone varietals
Zinfandel
Cabernet
47
Paso Robles received its AVA designation in what year?
1983 (amended in 1996)
48
Paso Robles is home to what wineries?
Justin
Hope Family (Austin Hope, Harvester)
Saxum
J Lohr
Sextant
Castoro Cellars (Carson Ridge, Double Black)
Tablas Creek
Ancient Peaks (Truth & Valor)
49
Describe the climate of Paso Robles.
Benefits from the largest swing between high daytime and low nighttime temperatures of any region in California as a result of the cool marine air that flows east through the Templeton Gap and south along the Salinas River Valley from the Monterey Bay. The flow of cool air through the Templeton Gap keeps the west side of Paso Robles cooler than the larger eastern areas.
50
Describe the soil of Paso Robles.
Primarily bedrock derived soils from weathered granite, older marine sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and younger marine sedimentary rocks of the Miocene age Monterey Formation featuring calcareous shales, sandstone, or mudstone.
51
What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Paso Robles?
Cabernet, the principle grape is noted for intense full fruit with balanced tannin and acidity. Zinfandel and Rhone varietals also deliver the same balanced intensity.
52
Paso Robles modern history started with whose commercial plantings and in what year? Who followed soon after?
Eberle in the 1970s
Followed by; Jerry Johr, the Hope family, and Castoro Cellars
53
Members of an independent AVA committee submitted the single largest AVA petition to TTB proposing to add how many districts to the Paso Robles AVA? When was this effective?
11 districts, effective November 2014.
54
Paso Robles vineyards tend to have __________ growing seasons compared to other wine regions because of what?
Longer growing seasons becasue of cool nights, warm days and late rains.
55
Santa Barbra County is home to what AVAs?
Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Alisos Canyon
56
Santa Ynez is home to what sub appellations?
Santa Rita Hills
Happy Cannon
Ballard Canyon
Los Olivos District
57
What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Barbara?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
58
What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Maria Valley?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Syrah
59
What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Ynez Valley?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
60
What are the main varietal(s) of Santa Rita Hills?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
61
What are the main varietal(s) of Happy Canyon?
Cabernet Franc
Other Bordeaux and Rhone Varietals
62
What are the main varietal(s) of Ballard Canyon?
Syrah
63
Santa Barbara is generally referred to as what? Despite what?
An overarching region
Despite no one AVA to cover the whole region
64
Santa Barbara County is home to what wineries?
Au Bon Climat
Foxen
Tensley
Melville
Jonata
Brewer- Clifton
Cambria
65
What is a notable vineyard in Santa Barbara?
Bien Nacido
66
Describe the climate of Santa Barbara County.
Generally cool due to the influence of the Pacific pulled in through the valleys that run east- west instead of north south. Warmer temperatures are found in the more inland AVAs Happy Canyon and Ballard Canyon.
67
Describe the soil in Santa Barbara County.
Varies
68
What are the principle varietals and characteristics of the grapes in Santa Barbara County?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate the region delivering food- friendly, elegant styles with more Syrah and Rhone varietals in the warmer inland vineyard.
69
Santa Maria Valley received its AVA designation in what year?
1983
70
Describe Santa Maria Valley.
The northernmost AVA in Santa Barbara County, the vineyards are mainly planted on slopes with elevations ranging from 200- 800 feet and dominated by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production.
71
Santa Ynez Valley received its AVA designation in what year?
1983
72
Describe Santa Ynez Valley.
Long east- west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland.
73
Santa Rita Hills received its designation in what year?
2001
74
Describe Santa Rita Hills.
Appellation includes about 1,700 planted acres within a 10 square mile area just a few miles from the Pacific. This maritime influence, combined with the sedimentary soils with patches of limestone is the perfect place to grow the appellations hallmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
75
Happy Canyon received its designation in what year?
2009
76
Describe Happy Canyon.
Located at the eastern end of Santa Ynez Valley, the warmer temperatures are more suited to Bordeaux and Rhone varietals than the Burgundian varietals that Santa Barbara County is most known for.
77
Ballard Canyon received its designation in what year?
2013
78
Describe Ballard Canyon.
Ballard Canyon is Syrah Country, where the cool maritime influence of the Santa Rita Hills meets the warmer climate of Happy Canyon to create the perfect condition for Rhone varietals.
