United States & Canada Flashcards
What AVA is shared by Napa & Sonoma?
Los Carneros
What AVA is the Champoux vineyard in?
Horse Heaven Hills
Name three sub AVAs of the Yakima Valley?
Rattlesnake Hills, Snipes Mountain, Red Mountain
Where is the Three Sisters Vineyard? What is grown there and who makes wine from it?
Sonoma Coast; Chardonnay & Pinot Noir; Marcassin, Martinelli
Name a valley floor sub AVA of Napa.
Rutherford
What is the name of the mountain range that separates Napa & Sonoma? What is the name of the mountain range to the east of Napa?
Mayacamas; Vaca
What is the largest sub-AVA of the Columbia Valley?
Yakima Valley
What is the Winkler Scale? What end would a “Region 1” area be on? Name an example.
Heat summation system in wine growing areas. During the growing season, each day points are assigned for every degree higher than 50’ F. Carneros is a Region 1, the coolest, with 2500 degree points or less.
What counties are part of the North Coast?
Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Solano & Marin
Where is the Sanford & Benedict vineyard?
Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County
Who makes “Monte Bello”? Where? What are the grapes?
Ridge, Santa Cruz Mountains; Bordeaux blend, Cab-heavy with Merlot & Franc
Name the two mountain ranges that run east/west in California. What valleys do they create?
San Rafael & Santa Ynez Mountains; Santa Maria Valley & Santa Ynez Valley
What county is Mt. Harlan in?
San Benito County
What is the eastern most AVA in Washington?
Walla Walla Valley
What three AVAs are shared by Washington & Oregon?
Columbia Valley, Walla Walla, & Columbia Gorge
What AVA in Washington draws comparison to Chateauneuf-du-Pape for its “rocks” – basalt cobblestones reminiscent of galets?
Walla Walla Valley
Where is Cayuse located?
Walla Walla
What is the name of the mountain range that separates Puget Sound from the Columbia Valley?
The Cascades
Who makes “L’Apres Midi”? Where from and what grapes? Name two other wines from this producers.
Peter Michael, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County (Knight’s Valley). Other PM wines: Belle Cote (Chard), Cuvee Indigene (Chard), La Carriere (Chard), Mon Plaisir (Chard)
What was the first sub AVA of the Napa Valley?
Howell Mountain
How many sub AVAs of the Napa Valley are there in total? Name them.
16:
Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Yountville, Carneros, Atlas Peak, Rutherford, Spring Mountain, Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Diamond Mountain, St. Helena, Stags Leap, Wild Horse Valley, Oak Knoll District, Chiles Valley, & Coombsville (added 2011)
Ciel du Cheval & Klipsun are vineyards in what AVA?
Red Mountain AVA (Yakima, Columbia Valley)
DuBrol & 2 Blondes vineyards lie in what AVA?
Rattlesnake Hills (Yakima, Columbia Valley)
Name the 11 sub AVAs of the Columbia Valley.
Yakima Valley - Rattlesnake Hills - Red Mountain - Snipes Mountain Wahluke Slope Walla Walla Valley Horse Heaven Hills Lake Chelan Columbia Gorge Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley Naches Heights
Where is California’s Hyde Vineyard?
Carneros
Where is Les Pavots vineyard?
Knight’s Valley, Sonoma
Where is Hudson Vineyard? What is grown there and who makes wine from it?
Carneros; Chard, Syrah & Bordeaux varietals
Marcassin, Arietta, Kistler
Who is the proprietor of Diatom? What are the two other projects he’s involved in?
Greg Brewer; Brewer-Clifton & Melville
Anderson Valley is one of 11 Mendocino AVAs. The other 10 are: ______________
Mendocino AVA Mendocino Ridge AVA Yorkville Highlands AVA Redwood Valley AVA Potter Valley AVA McDowell Valley AVA Cole Ranch AVA Dos Rios AVA Covelo AVA Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA (added 2011, mostly in Sonoma)
What is Coro Mendocino?
Coro Mendocino is an association of producers AND a wine bottling that is made in Mendocino under strict regulations. Similar to Champagne’s Special Club or Napa Valley’s Meritage.
What sort of regulations must producers of Coro Mendocino follow?
- Made only with Mendocino Fruit
- Produced entirely at a bonded Mendocino winery
- regulations: submission timetable, blind tasting panel, package in uniform bottle and packaging
- must be minimum 95% vintage
- Must follow chemistry, cooperage, and aging requirements
- 40-70% Zinfandel, a percentage of any one other permitted grape without exceeding percentage of Zinfandel (Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Sangiovese, Grenache, Dolcetto, Charbono, Barbera, Primitivo), and up to 10% blend or single combination of any vinifera source.
Permitted cepage of Coro Mendocino
- 40-70% Zinfandel
- a percentage of any one other permitted grape without exceeding percentage of Zinfandel (Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Sangiovese, Grenache, Dolcetto, Charbono, Barbera, Primitivo)
- up to 10% blend or single combination of any vinifera source.
What was the major natural event which influenced the 2008 Mendocino vintage? What happened to production?
2008 saw multiple forest fires, many producers did not make a vintage, some wines have smoke taint, and many vineyards suffered 50%+ loss.
Smalled AVAs in Mendocino (by acres under vine)
Cole Ranch - 60 acres under vine
Dos Rios - 6 acres under vine
Covelo - 2 acres under vine
Which Mendocino AVA has NO wineries and only 2 of 38,000 acres under vine?
Covelo AVA (granted AVA status in 2006, before regulations of ‘no wineries = no AVA law’)
Mendocino AVA covers which Mendocino County AVAs (7)?
Mendocino AVA is 275,200 acres and covers: Anderson Valley Yorkville Highlands Redwood Valley Potter Valley McDowell Valley Cole Ranch some Mendocino Ridge
Where is Redwood Valley AVA and what grapes are grown there?
Mendocino. Warm area with gaps in coastal range allowing influence of Pacific air. Red soils abound. Earliest vineyards of Mendocino were planted here by Italians.
Grapes: Cab Sauv, Zin, Barbera, Petite Sirah
Mendocino Ridge AVA applies only to what elevation and above?
1,200 Ft.
USA’s only non-contiguous AVA.
(Eagle Peak is a proposed sub-AVA).
Which Mendocino AVA is a haven for Rhône varietals?
McDowell Valley AVA.
540 acres, high sloping benchland that is 1,000ft above sea level.
Over looks Russian River.
known for Rhône reds & whites, old vine zinfandel.
Tiniest AVA in USA in total area (refers to area covered, not area under vine). What winery encompasses the entire AVA?
Cole Ranch, Mendocino. 150 acres total (less than 1/4 sq mile), 60 acres planted. One vineyard here controlled by Esterlina Winery (good Riesling here).
Where is Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA?
Shared between southern Mendocino and Sonoma. Added in 2011.
Top white and red varietals by acreage in Mendocino.
W) Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Geurztraminer
R) Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel
(Cabernet Sauvignon in Mendocino often falls into blends or in North Coast AVA wines)
California’s 4 Regional AVAs
North Coast Central Coast South Coast Sierra Foothills [Central Valley/San Joaquin Valley is NOT an AVA, but simply a growing region]
Buena Vista was founded by: ________
Inglenook was founded by: _______
Beaulieu Vineyards was founded by: _________
Buena Vista: Agostin Haraszthy
Inglenook: Gustave Neibaum
Beaulieu: George de Latour
Longest continuously running winery in California
Buena Vista, founded in 1857 by Agostin Haraszthy
First planting of Vines in California was where and by whom?
San Diego della Calla, the first of the 21 California Missions, by Junipero Serra and his parish.
“Estate Bottled” requirements for the United States.
- Winery and Vineyards must be in same AVA
- Winery must own and control all vineyards
- Winery does all production from start to finish.
What was the first vintage of BV’s Georges de Latour Private Reserve?
1936
Who was the most famous winemaker of Beaulieu, and when was he hired?
Andre Tchelistcheff, 1938
What genus do these native American grape vines belong to:
- Concord
- Catawba
- Scuppernong
- Norton
- Vitis Labrusca
- Vitis Labrusca
- Vitis Rotundifolia
- Vitis Aestivalis
What American rootstock is responsible for alleviating phylloxera in California in the 1880s and 1890s?
Vitis Rupestris/St. George
What was the first US bonded winery? When and where was it established?
Pleasant Valley Wine Co, 1860 in the Fingerlakes
When did prohibition start and end and what amendments were responsible for each?
1919 (18th Amendment); 1933 (21st Amendment)
Name two wineries that continued to produce through prohibition under the guise of sacramental wine?
Buena Vista, Beaulieu
What winery is responsible for the term “Rutherford Dust”?
Beaulieu
What winery is responsible for the creation of “Fumé Blanc” in California?
Robert Mondavi
What was the first vintage of Robert Mondavi? What was the first vintage of Opus one, and who is it a collaboration between?
1966; 1979, Robert Mondavi & Philippe de Rothschild
What California wines won in the Paris tasting of 1976?
1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and 1973 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
Where is Martha’s Vineyard?
Oakville
What is the oldest commercial winery in Monterey?
Chalone Vineyard
Who planted the first Pinot Noir in Oregon and in what year?
David Lett, Eyrie Vineyards, 1966
Who planted the first Vitis Vinifera in the Fingerlakes and in what year?
Dr. Konstantin Frank, 1962
Who was the original proprietor of Chateau Montelena, and when did he acquire the estate?
Jim Barrett, 1972
Who was the original proprietor of Stag’s Leap, and when was it established?
Warren Winiarski, 1970
Who makes Cask 23?
Stags Leap, a blend of their estate SLV and FAY vineyards
Who makes “Arcadia” Chardonnay? From what AVA?
Stags Leap, Coombsville AVA (Napa)
What was the first vintage of Screaming Eagle, and who was the original winemaker?
1992, released 1995, Heidi Peterson Barret
Name 5 winemaking projects that Andy Erickson has been involved in.
Screaming Eagle (2006-2011), Favia (own project, current), consultant for Dalle Valle, Ovid, Arietta, Dancing Hares
What government institution was the first to demarcate AVAs in the United States? In what year? Who oversees the AVA system today?
ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm Bureau) first demarcated AVAs in the late 1970s (first AVA was 1980). Today, the TTB (Tax & Trade Bureau) oversees the AVA system.
What were the first and second AVAs and in what years?
1980 – Augusta AVA in Missouri
1981 – Napa AVA
Describe the controversy surrounding the approval of Calistoga for AVA status in 2009?
The AVA was approved despite the fact that Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates would not meet the labeling requirements to have “Calistoga” on their labels, and were not grandfathered in.
What are the percentage of grapes are required to label an American wine by:
- Country, State, or County
- AVA
- Single Vineyard
- 75%
- 85%
- 95%
What are the exceptions to the regional labeling laws for American wineries?
If a wine is labeled California or Oregon, it must come 100% from that state. For Washington, 95%
What are the requirements for vintage dating in the US?
If a wine is vintage dated, it must come from an appellation smaller than country. If labeled by AVA, must be 95% from that vintage. If labeled by state or county, only 85%
What are the requirements for varietal labeling in the United States?
75% (except Vitis Labrusca, which is 51%)
What is the margin of “error” for alcohol labeling on a bottle of US wine?
+/- 1.5%
What winery is located at the IX Estate in the Pritchard Hill area of St. Helena?
Colgin Estate
Who makes “Cariad”?
Colgin Estate, means “love” in Welsh, Cab, Merlot, and Cab Franc
Who was the first winemaker for Harlan?
Bob Levy
What is the second wine of Harlan?
“The Maiden”
What winery was founded by Boots & Al Brounstein in 1968?
Diamond Creek
Who makes Red Rock Terrace and Volcanic Hill?
Diamond Creek
Who is the proprietor of the Eisele Vineyard and in what year was it planted to Cabernet? Where is it located?
Araujo; 1964; just east of Calistoga
What are the requirements for a wine to be labeled “Meritage”?
Only Bordeaux varietals (red or white), and no grape accounts for more than 90% of the blend
What geographic feature borders Napa on the south?
San Pablo Bay
Who makes “Maya”?
Dalle Valle
Who owns Bond and why was it started?
Bill Harlan; Single vineyard sites did not fit into the philosophy of Harlan, and Bob Levy was pushing to do single vineyard wines.
What is the second label of Bond?
Matriarch
Name the wines of Bond and where they come from? Which was Bond’s inaugural release?
Melbury (hills east of Rutherford) Pluribus (Spring Mountain) Quella (eastern Napa hills) St. Eden (just north of Oakville) Vecina (Oakville -- 1999 vintage was Bond's inaugural release)
Who owns the oldest continually producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in the US?
Hanzell, in Sonoma Valley
Who was the original proprietor of Hanzell, and in what year was it established?
Ambassador Zellerbach, 1948
Who makes Sebella?
Hanzell – their less expensive Chardonnay, with less oak and younger vines
Name a Region I AVA in Sonoma? Region III?
Region I - Carneros
Region III - Dry Creek, Rockpile, Knight’s Valley
Name the two sub AVAs of the Russian River Valley?
Chalk Hill & Green Valley
What is the warmest AVA in Sonoma?
Knight’s Valley
What are the two most recent AVAs of Sonoma?
Fort Ross-Sea View and Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak
How many AVAs are there in Sonoma? Name five.
15: Carneros, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Bennett Valley, Sonoma Coast, Northern Sonoma, Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak, Russian River Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile, Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Fort Ross-Sea View
Name two wineries that Helen Turley is the winemaker or consulting winemaker for?
Marcassin, Martinelli
Who makes l’Ermitage? From where?
Roederer, Anderson Valley
Where is the Livermore Valley AVA?
Central Coast, just south of San Francisco. In Alameda County.
Where is Ben Lomond Mountain AVA?
Central Coast, just south of San Francisco. Within Santa Cruz County, and sits on the western edge within Santa Cruz Mtns AVA.
Where is the Santa Clara Valley AVA?
Central Coast, just south of San Francisco
Where is the San Ysidro District AVA?
Central Coast, just south of San Francisco. Fully within Santa Clara Valley AVA. ZERO WINERIES but 2 vineyards: Mistral & San Ysidro.
What are the 9 AVAs of Monterey County?
Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands, Chalone (shared with San Benito Co.), Hames Valley, Arroyo Seco, Carmel Valley, San Antonio Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas
Where is the Salinas Valley?
Monterey
What mountain range defines the Mt. Harlan AVA?
Gabilan Mountains
What county is Paso Robles in?
San Luis Obispo
Where is the Templeton Gap a proposed AVA?
Paso Robles
What are the four AVAs of San Luis Obispo County?
Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, York Mountain, Edna Valley
Where does California’s coastline sharply bend, trending east/west instead of north/south?
At Point Conception, in Santa Barbara County
What mountain ranges in Santa Barbara run east/west and what valleys do they create?
San Rafael & Santa Ynez Mountains; Santa Maria Valley AVA and Santa Ynez Valley AVA
What two AVAs lie within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA?
Sta. Rita Hills and Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Where is the Bien Nacido vineyard located?
Santa Maria Valley
Where is the Sanford & Benedict vineyard located?
Sta. Rita Hills AVA, in the Santa Ynez Valley
Where does Santa Barbara fall on the Winkler Scale?
Region I
What county has the longest growing season in California?
Santa Barbara
Name the 4 AVAs of Santa Barbara County.
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Ynez Valley
- Sta. Rita Hills
- Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
What is the most important quality wine growing region of the Central Valley?
Lodi
What heat summation zones does the Central Valley fall under?
IV and V
What geographic feature does Lodi lie on the eastern edge of?
Sacramento River Delta
Why is Lodi cooler than the rest of the Central Valley?
There is a gap in the coastal ranges that lets the coastal air in.
Approximately what percent of California’s total production comes from Lodi?
20%
What are the seven sub-apps of Lodi?
Mokelumne River Cosumnes River Jahant Borden Ranch Alta Mesa Clement Hills Sloughhouse
What are the sub AVAs of the Sierra Foothills?
California Shenandoah Valley El Dorado Fair Play Fiddletown North Yuba
What are the sub AVAs of the Willamette Valley?
Dundee Hills Eola-Amity Hills Ribbon Ridge McMinnville Yamhill-Carlton District Chehalem Mountains
What AVA of the Willamette Valley has the highest elevation vineyards?
Chehalem Mountains
What AVA of the Willamette Valley is known for Willakenzie soil, and what defines this soil type?
Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill Carlton; loam and ash (sedimentary vs. volcanic), making for denser, richer, more dark-fruited wines
What AVA of the Willamette Valley is known for Jory soil, and what defines this soil type?
Dundee Hills, well-drained volcanic top-soil, making for more elegant, red-fruited wines
How did the Missoula Floods affect the soils of the Willamette Valley? What were the Missoula Floods?
The Missoula Floods erupted periodically over thousands of years at the end of the last ice age, as glacial dams melted and refroze. Now, a wealth of alluvial soils, known as Willamette Silt, sit over older, volcanic & sedimentary bedrock
How does the climate of Southern Oregon compare to that of the Willamette Valley?
It is warmer and drier in Southern Oregon
What are the AVAs of Southern Oregon?
Red Hills Douglas County Umpqua Valley - Elkton Oregon Applegate Valley Rogue Valley
What appellation does Oregon share with Idaho?
Snake River Valley
What is the varietal requirements for labeling Oregon wine?
With the exception of Bordeaux grapes, Rhone grapes, Zin, Sangiovese, Tannat & Tempranillo, varietally labeled Oregon wines must contain a minimumm 90% of the grape rather than the federally mandated 75%
What is the exception to the federally mandated law for percentage of grapes that must come from an AVA to be labeled as such?
Oregon; wines labeled by AVA must contain 95% of grapes from that AVA rather than the federally mandated 85%
What geographic feature helps define the climate of the Columbia Valley?
The rainshadow effect caused by the Cascade Mountains – less than ten inches of rain/year
What was Washington State’s first AVA? In what year?
Yakima Valley, 1983
What sub AVA of the Yakima Valley is known for Cabernet Sauvignon?
Red Mountain AVA
What is the most planted grape in the Yakima Valley?
Chardonnay
What is the only AVA of Washington that lies west of the Cascades?
Puget Sound
What state is the second largest producer of wine in the US?
New York
How does the climate of Long Island compare to that of the Finger Lakes?
Long Island is warmer, more maritime, with a three week longer growing season. Bordeaux varietals do well here.
What helps mitigate the cold climate of the Finger Lakes?
The Lake Effect – lowers the chance of freezes and promotes late bud break, lessening the dangers of spring frost.
What are the three AVAs of Long Island?
Long Island
- North Fork of Long Island
- The Hamptons, Long Island
What are the three AVAs of the Finger Lakes?
Finger Lakes
- Cayuga Lake
- Seneca Lake
Besides Long Island and Finger Lakes AVAs, name the three other AVAs of New York State? What, if any, are they shared with?
- Hudson River Region
- Lake Erie (shared with PA & OH)
- Niagara Escarpment
What is the world’s largest demarcated region?
Mississippi River Valley AVA – over 30,000 square miles in MN, WI, IA, and IL
How many AVAs are there in Texas? What is the largest?
8; Texas Hill Country (9 million acres!)
What are the sub regions of the Baja Peninsula?
Valle de Guadalupe, Valle de Santo Tomas, Valle de San Antonio de las Minas, Valle de San Vincente
Where is the home to America’s oldest winery?
Casa Madero in Coahuila, 1597
In what year was Inniskillin founded and in what appellation? What style of wine did they pioneer?
1974, Niagara on the Lake; Ice Wine (made from Riesling and Cab Franc)
What is the most common grape used to make Canadian ice wine?
Vidal
What is the regulatory body for wine in Canada?
Vitners Quality Alliance (VQA)
What are the only two Canadian regions with VQA status? Which one’s standards are legally enforced and which are voluntary?
Ontario & British Columbia. VQA standards are legally enforced in Ontario, but voluntary in British Columbia
What percentage of grapes must be grown in Ontario or British Columbia to be labeled as such?
100%
What are the percentage requirements for labeling by appellation in British Columbia and Ontario?
Ontario: 85% for appellations and regional appellations. 100% for sub-appellations (in the Niagara Peninsula)
BC: 95% for appellations
Both: Single vineyard, 100%
What are the percentage requirements for labeling by vintage in Ontario and British Columbia?
Both must contain 85% of grapes from that year (Ontario must be vintage dated, except for sparkling, but BC does not have to be).
In what year was the moratorium that started after prohibition lifted on new winery licenses in Canada?
1974
What are the percentage requirements for labeling by varietal in Ontario and British Columbia?
85%
In VQA standards, is chaptalization authorized?
Not for the production of late harvest or ice wine.
What are the four main appellations/viticultural areas of Ontario?
Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore, Pelee Island, Prince Edward County
What is Canada’s southernmost viticultural region?
Pelee Island
With the exception of Pelee Island, all of Ontario’s viticultural areas are located on what geographic features? How does this affect the climate of the region?
Lake Erie & Lake Ontario; the cool climate is mitigated by the Lake Effect
When must intent to produce icewine be declared to the VQA? How are grapes harvested for icewine?
November; grapes are harvested at night when temps reach at least -8* C.
What are the sub-appellations of the Niagara Peninsula not found in a regional appellation?
Vinemount Ridge
Creek Shores
Lincoln Lakeshore
What are the two regional appellations of the Niagara Peninsula?
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara Escarpment
What are the sub-appellations of Niagara-on-the-Lake?
Niagara River
Niagara Lakeshore
Four Mile Creek
St. David’s Bench
What are the sub-appellations of Niagara Escarpment?
Short Hills Bench
Beamsville Bench
Twenty Mile Bench
What are the five designated viticultural areas of British Columbia?
Okanagan Valley Vancouver Island Gulf Islands Fraser Valley Simikameen Valley
In what designated viticultural area is 82% of British Columbia’s wine made? What two geographic features define the climate? What style of wine is made there?
Okanagan Valley; the continental climate is mitigated by Lake Okanagan and the valley has little rain due to the rainshadow effect produced by the Monashee Mountains; dry wines from PN, Chard, PG, Merlot, and PB, very little dessert wine
What is the largest AVA in California?
Central Coast AVA. 100,000 acres under vine (4million acres total). 360+ wineries.
What is the sole winery of Mt Harlan, when was it planted, and who runs it?
Calera. 1975. Josh Jensen.
What’s the largest nondivided AVA in California?
Paso Robles. This will change as the TTB has approved 11 sub AVAs.
Which winery in The Central Coast is co-owned by Perrin family of the Rhone? Where is it located?
Tablas Creek. Paso Robles.
Tablas Creek’s top cuvée “Espirit de Beaucastle” will be known as what from 2011 vintage on? Where is it located?
Espirit de Tablas. Paso Robles AVA.
In what AVA is Morro Bay the dominant cooling influence?
Edna Valley AVA in San Luis Obispo county.
Name the AVA that overlaps SLO & Santa Barbara counties.
Santa Maria Valley (mostly in Santa Barbara)
State the Winkler Scale range for Arroyo Grande and the dominant varieties found in western and eastern Arroyo Grande.
Winkler scale I to III. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to the west in low, mid valley sections; Zinfandel, petite Sirah & Rhone varieties near warm higher elevation inland Lake Lopez
What is the most widely planted grape in Paso Robles?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Who is the consulting winemaker for Epoch, and what other project is he responsible for, and where is it located?
Justin Smith of Saxum. Paso Robles.
What was the first US winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties, and where is it located? What major event did the founder establish to promote the region and the grapes?
Alban Vineyards in Edna Valley. Mr Alban help found Hospice du Rhone.
Name the first AVA defined by altitude?
Santa Cruz Mountains, 1981.
Nearly 80% of California Chardonnay can trace roots back to which clone from which Central Coast AVA?
Livermore/Wente clone from Livermore Valley.
Where did James Concannon and CH Wente launch their wineries in 1883?
Livermore Valley.
What is the name Native Americans and author Jack London has for Sonoma Valley.
Valley of the moon.
Name 2 Sonoma AVAs known for Zinfandel.
Alexander Valley, Rockpile, Dry Creek
Name 2 Sonoma AVAs known for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alexander Valle, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley
What vintage did James Laube refer to as the vintage that “put California Cabernet on the map”?
1974
Name 3 of the 5 Lake County AVAs
Clear Lake Red Hills High Valley Benmore Valley Guenoc
Name the first single winery AVA in the USA
Guenoc (1981) controlled by a single winery, the Langtry Estate/Guenoc Winery. This is the first winery that became both a brand and an AVA. Usually bottled under Guenoc Valley AVA, Lake County AVA, or California AVA.
Name the primary soil type of Red Hills AVA in Lake County.
Red Hills AVA is dominated by deep red volcanic soils, and is located at the base of Mount Konocti. Warm climate and volcanic soils nourish 3000 acres of Zin, Syrah, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petite Sirah.
What are the most widely planted grapes in Lake County?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Name four of the 8 counties of the Sierra Foothills AVA
(north to south:) Yuba Nevada Placer El Dorado Amador Calaveras Tuolumne Mariposa
Name 3 of the 5 Sierra Foothills sub-AVAs, and their county
North Yuba, El Dorado, Fair Play, California Shenandoah Valley, Fiddletown
Yuba Co: North Yuba AVA
El Dorado Co: El Dorado, Fair Play, California Shenandoah (w/Amador)
Amador Co: Fiddletown, California Shenandoah Valley (w/ ElDorado)
Calaveras, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, and Tuolumne Counties do not have any AVAs within them. However, all of these counties are within WHICH AVA? What counties with sub-AVAs are not listed here?
Sierra Foothills AVA.
Yuba Co, El Dorado Co, and Amador Co have sub-AVAs.
State the rough number of wineries in Sierra Foothills, and the predominate grapes?
140+ wineries.
90% red grapes (Zinfandel 40%, Cabernet Sauv, Syrah, Chardonnay 5%)
Which AVA in the Sierra Foothills is known for having the highest elevation and unique granite soils?
Fair Play AVA (El Dorado Co).
21,120 acres, sandy loam over massive granite monolith, Highest elevation in Sierras (2-3,000 ft). Syrah (loves granite), Zin, Barbera, Petite Sirah
What are the only Sonoma AVAs that are NOT included in Gallo’s Northern Sonoma AVA?
Sonoma Valley, Carneros, Sonoma Mountain, and Bennett Valley (too far south for inclusion). (must check on Fort-Ross and Pine Mountain)
Name the three sub AVAs of Solano County.
Solano County Green Valley, Suisun Valley, Wild Horse Valley (shared with Napa). North Coast AVA also includes Solano Co.
Name the counties of the Central Coast from North to South (10)
Contra Costa, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, MOnterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
What AVAs are in Santa Clara County? What AVAs are grapes grown in Santa Clara Co also able to be labeled as?
Santa Clara Valley, San Ysidro, Pacheco Pass. Grapes from within the county can also be labeled: Central Coast AVA, San Francisco Bay AVA
In what County is Livermore Valley AVA located?
Alameda County
From which sub-AVA was the San Francisco Bay AVA submitted? Who submitted the AVA?
Livermore Valley. Submitted by Carolyn Wente and granted in 1999. Meant to be a quality-driven AVA to distinguish the terroir of the ‘north central coast’.
Carmel Valley is in what county, and what red wine grapes does it specialize in?
Carmel Valley is in Monterey County and it specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (comprising 70% of plantings).
This Sub-AVA within Monterey AVA was created for which major winery’s vineyards?
San Bernabe AVA was carved out from San Lucas AVA for Delicato winery. San Bernabe vineyard is the largest contiguous vineyard site in California
Where is Arroyo Grande AVA? Where is Arroyo Seco AVA?
Arroyo Grande: San Luis Obispo
Arroyo Seco: Monterey
What two grapes were widely planted during the gold rush in the Sierra Foothills?
Zinfandel & Carignan
What is the Volstead Act?
The act that implemented prohibition in 1920 (18th ammendment was passed in 1919)
Name three producers of sweet jug wine (often labeled “Burgundy” or “Chablis”) in the 1930s in California.
Gallo, Almaden, Masson
Who invented white zin?
Sutter Home
Name three Champagne producers who opened up wineries in California in the 1970s.
Moet & Chandon, G.H. Mumm, Louis Roederer
Name five native American grape varieties and their genus name.
Concord (Vitis Labrusca), Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia), Scuppernong (a white variety of Muscadine, Vitis Rotundifolia), Niagara (Vitis Labrusca), Norton (Vitis Aestivalis), and Catawba (Vitis Labrusca)
Name five white hybrid grapes planted in America.
Brianna, La Crescent, Seyval, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Blanc du Bois, Cayuga White, Chardonel, Valvin Muscat
Name three red hybrid grapes planted in America.
Chambourcin, Frontenac, Marechal Foch, Marquette, Baco Noir, Black Spanish (aka Lenoir)
What is Cynthiana a synonym for?
Norton
Descibe two benefits of cover crops.
Prevents soil erosion and hosts beneficial insects.
What are the two biggest vine diseases that have plagued vines in the US?
Phylloxera and Pierce’s Disease
Name three labeling requirements for American wine.
Alcohol, government health warning, “contains sulfites” (if present in 100ppm or more)
Name five producers/brands that Gallo owns.
Louis Martini, Bridlewood, Martin Codax, Carlo Rossi, Boone’s Farm, Andre, Barefoot, Ecco Domani
Where is La Jota based?
Howell Mountain
What mountain range does Spring Mountain sit on?
Mayacamas
What mountain range does Diamond Mountain sit on?
Mayacamas
What winery is Martin Ray associated with?
Mt. Eden in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Stags Leap District AVA is carved out of the east side of what other AVA? What makes it unique?
Yountville; soil composition – unique geological outcroppings from the Vaca mountains; more volcanic and alluvial than Yountville – called “Rhyolite” soils– clay/loam.
Who owns Silverado Vineyards?
Disney
Where is the To-Kalon vineyard and name two producers who make wine from it?
Oakville, Cab, Beckstoffer and Mondavi
Who owns Robert Mondavi? When was it sold?
Constellation; 2004
Who owns Louis Martini? When was it sold?
E&J Gallo; 2002
What is Angelica?
A historic style of wine made by the early missionaries (c. 1830s) in California. The Mission grape was typically used, but with no skin contact to make white juice. Brandy (also made from the Mission grape) was added before or during fermentation.
When did the secularization of the California missions occur?
1833; previously planted vineyards were privatized and large “rancheros” blossomed where missions had been.
When did California come in possession of the United States?
Between 1846-1848, with the official admission of it as the 31st state in the union in 1850.
Where does Yountville take its name from?
George Calvert Yount, a pioneer of the Napa Valley originally from North Carolina. Thought to have planted some of the first vines in the Napa Valley from Sonoma cuttings in 1838-39. Charles Krug managed his estate in the 1860s.
What is the more common name for these early California grown grapes? Golden Chasselas Black Malvoisie White Pinot Durif
Golden Chasselas – Palomino
Black Malvoisie – Cinsault
White Pinot – Pinot Blanc
Durif – Petite Sirah
6. In what decade did the following begin production in Napa? Schramsberg Diamond Creek Robert Mondavi Larkmead Freemark Abbey Chappellet Sutter Home Stag's Leap Caymus Far Niente Heitz Cellar Spring Mountain Dominus Domaine Chandon Beaulieu Dunn Beringer Sterling Charles Krug Grgich Hills Inglenook Rubicon Chateau Montelena Joseph Phelps Mayacamas Clos Pegase
Schramsberg -- 1860s Diamond Creek -- 1970s Robert Mondavi -- 1960s Larkmead -- 1890s Freemark Abbey -- 1940s Chappellet -- 1960s Sutter Home -- 1900s Stag's Leap -- 1970s Caymus -- 1970s Far Niente -- 1870s Heitz Cellar -- 1960s Spring Mountain -- 1960s Dominus -- 1980s Domaine Chandon -- 1970s Beaulieu -- 1900s Dunn -- 1980s Beringer -- 1870s Sterling -- 1960s Charles Krug -- 1860s Grgich Hills -- 1970s Inglenook -- 1880s Rubicon -- 1970s Chateau Montelena -- 1960s Joseph Phelps -- 1970s Mayacamas -- 1940s Clos Pegase -- 1980
In what decades did phylloxera present the biggest problem to Napa vitners and when was it remedied?
1870s-1890s with vines finally being planted onto native American rootstock (mainly St. George, a vitis rupestris) at the turn of the century. Research continued throughout the 20th century for other resistant root stocks, especially those that would produce higher yields. One called AxR#1 was latched onto, though it’s resistance to phylloxera was refuted by many. Sure enough, Phylloxera hit again in the 1980s, and to many vineyards planted on AxR#1.
What is the Volstead Act?
The 1920 act that implemented prohibition (the 18th amendment was passed in 1919)
What Napa producers had the greatest winemaking/growing continuity during Prohibition?
Georges de Latour at Beaulieu had the greatest success, hands down, with their sacramental license. Beringer also fared well. Though they didn’t have a sacramental license, they refused to graft over their better vines, and instead sold these more expensive grapes under bond to others, particularly Beaulieu. Larkmead also did well, gaining a reputation for their bulk grapes.
