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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is 'Meritage'? |
A Bordeaux-style blend |
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What is the common climatic factor throughout California? |
Lack of rain during growing season |
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How is the drought in California countered? |
By drip or sprinkler irrigation |
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Who classified the climates in California? |
Amerine and Winkler |
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What is Amerine & Winkler's climate classification based on? |
Degree days - regional climates are classified from I (coolest) - V (hottest) |
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Which climate zones are most suitable for the production of premium wines? |
I - III |
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What contribution does the Pacific Ocean make to the climate in California? |
Cooling mists and fogs that come in during the morning to provide temperature contrasts and humidity |
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When does the fog become more prevalent in California and why? |
During the growing season as the Central valley mass warms up and pulls in fog from the pacific Ocean through any gap in the coastal ranges. |
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How high can California temperatures get without ocean influence? |
40 |
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What is California's main grape variety? |
Chardonnay |
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How does Chardonnay from the Central Valley tend to be? |
Inexpensive, high volume, fruit focused and low acidity |
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What was California Chardonnay's previous reputation? |
Full bodied, high in alcohol and low in acidity with obvious flavours of oak, hazelnut and butter underpinning the exotic peach and banana fruit flavours |
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Give two examples of California regions producing restrained Chardonnay |
Carneros and Russian River |
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What is regarded as California's 'own' grape variety? |
Zinfandel |
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What is the tendency of Zinfandel as regards ripening? |
Uneven |
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What is the result of the uneven ripening of Zinfandel? |
By the time the whole bunch has ripened, many grapes have started to raisin |
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How can California Zinfandel be characterised? |
Intense red berry flavours and extreme alcohol levels, sometimes with small amounts of residual sugar |
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How is rose Zinfandel known? |
White Zinfandel |
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How can white Zinfandel be characterised? |
Fruity, pale in colour, low in alcohol and with medium sweetness |
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What is the most widely planted black grape variety in California? |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
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What are the two main influences on premium California wines? |
Long hang time of the fruit and no-expense spared winemaking |
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Where do the better quality Californian Merlots come from? |
Cooler sites such as Monterey and the north coast regions, especially Napa |
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How can a classic California Merlot be characterised? |
Deeply coloured, soft velvety tannins, full body, high alcohol and classic varietal flavours of blackberry and plum |
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What was the problem with California Pinot Noir in the past? |
Planted on sites that are too hot, resulting in baked and jammy wines, also little flavour as sugar ripeness was reached before phenolic ripeness |
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Give three regions which make good Pinot Noir in California? |
Russian River Valley, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands |
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What is Fume Blanc? |
Oaked Sauvignon Blanc, usually from California |
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Which are the main varieties used for cheaper blends in California? |
Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Carignan, Ruby Cabernet, Barbera |
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Where in California do the inexpensive blends mainly originate? |
The Central Valley |
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Why is the Central valley particularly suited to producing large volumes of wine? |
Hot temperatures, fertile soils and irrigation |
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Which are the three famous regions in the north coast region of California? |
Napa Sonoma Mendocino |
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What are the main viticultural areas of California? |
North Coast Central Coast Central Valley Sierra Nevada South Coast |
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What are the dimensions of Napa? |
Around 50km long but only 5km wide |
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What geographical feature lies to the west of Napa? |
The Mayacamas Mountains |
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Which border do the Mayacamas Mountains run along? |
The border of Napa and Sonoma |
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When does rainfall usually occur in Napa? And why is the rainfall average so low? |
Usually occurs in the winter, and the region is protected by the Mayacamas Mountains |
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What geographical feature separates Napa and the northern part of the Central Valley? |
The Vaca Mountains |
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Which climate zone is the south of Napa in? |
Zone II |
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What cools the south of Napa? |
Morning fogs rolling in from San Pablo Bay |
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What climate is the south of Napa? |
Warm Mediterranean |
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Does Napa suffer from Spring Frost? |
Yes |
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Name three Valley floor AVAs |
Rutherford, Oakville and Yountville |
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Describe the soils on the valley floor of Napa |
Volcanic, relatively fertile and free draining |
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Which grape variety dominates the valley floor in Napa? |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
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Which is the most famous AVA in the hills surrounding the valleys in Napa? |
Mount Veeder AVA |
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Where is Mount Veeder AVA located? |
At the southern end of the Mayacamas Mountains |
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Which Davis Zone is Carneros in? |
Zone I |
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Which grape varieties does Carneros specialise in? |
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay |
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Which two counties does Carneros straddle? |
Napa nad Sonoma |
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What is Russian River AVA best known for? |
High-quality, elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay |
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What does Alexander Valley have a reputation? |
Soft textured, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon |
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What is Dry Creek AVA famous for? |
High quality old vine Zinfandel |
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Which valley is located in Mendocino county? |
Anderson Valley |
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Which category of grape varieties is Anderson Valley famous for? |
Aromatic varieties |
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Which Davis Zone are the Santa Cruz Mountains hillside locations in? |
Zone I |
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Which wines are produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains? |
Elegant Cabernet Sauvignons and good Chardonnay and Pinot Noir |
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Where is Monterey County located? |
In the northern part of the Central Coast |
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Where are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir particularly planted in Monterey County? |
On the coast where cool winds blow |
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Which Davis Zones are apparent in Monterey County? |
Zones 1-3 |
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Why are cool ocean breezes encouraged in the southern part of the Central Coast? |
The mountains run east-west rather than north-south |
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How does the climate change as you move inland in the southern part of the Central coast? |
From Zone 1-3 |
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Which are the two distinct regions in the southern part of the Central Coast? |
Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County |
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Where in the Central coast is Pinot Noir the focus? |
Santa Barbara county |
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Where is 80% of California wine produced? |
The Central Valley |
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What Davis Zone is the Central Valley in? |
4-5 |
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Name a grape variety that has been developed to deal with hot climate in the Central Valley? |
Ruby Cabernet |
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Which counties does Lodi straddle? |
Sacramento and San Joaquin |
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Why is Lodi cooler than the rest of the Central Valley? |
It is cooled by the breezes from San Francisco Bay |
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What is the largest quality production area in California? |
Lodi |
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Which variety is Lodi famous for? |
Zinfandel |
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What is a big viticultural threat to California? |
Pierce's disease |
