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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Californian missionaries planted in
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1769 in San Diego
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First commercial Californian wine
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1824
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Wine Laws
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Federal - AVAs since 1978. Guarantee source not quality or production methods
State - Varies state to state |
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Federal wine laws
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- American Viticultural Areas set up in 1978
- Still evolving - AVA's guarantee source nots quality or production method - Anyone can petition to create an AVA of any size (some cover just one winery) - 85% of grapes must come from within the AVA - |
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Oregon State Law
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- 95% of variety on label
- 100% of fruit from stated AVA |
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Washington State Law
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85% stated variety (same as federal)
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California and all other states (except Oregon and Washington)
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75% of stated AVA, variety and vintage
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New York Wine Laws (state)
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Up to 35% addition of sugar and water allowed (due to climate)
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Californian regions
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- North Coast (Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino)
- North Central Coast (Monterey & Santa Cruz Mountains) - South Central Coast (Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley - Central Valley (Lodi and bulk wines) - Sierra Foothills - Southern California |
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California Climate
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- 1,100km long so huge climate range
- UC Davis climate zones based on degree days - Irrigated to counter lack of rain - Cooling Pacific mists and fog provide temp contrast and humidity - Where no fog influence often planted at altitude |
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North Coast Region
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- North of SF
- Warm mediterranean through to cool with Spring frosts - Napa, Carneros, Sonoma, Mendocino |
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Napa Valley AVA
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- Prestigious
- Morning mists from Bay cool climate |
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Carneros AVA
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- Bottom of Napa and Sonoma
- Specialises in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling |
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Sonoma County
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- With Russian River Valley for quality Pinot Noir
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Russian River Valley
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- With Sonoma County for quality Pinot Noir
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Pinot Noir in California
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- Sonoma
- Russian River Valley - Carneros |
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Dry Creek Valley
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- North Coast Region
- Noted for Zinfandel |
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Mendocino County
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- North of North Coast Region
- Includes Anderson Valley for quality PN, Riesling and Gewurztraminer |
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Anderson Valley
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- Cool climate subregion of Mendocino County
- Quality PN and aromatic whites (Riesling & Gewürztraminer) |
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North Central Coast
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- Monterey County
- Santa Cruz Mountains |
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Monterey County
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- Cool dry climate
- Chardonay with crisp citrus character - Merlot, rich and dark with firm tannins |
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South Central Coast
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- East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes
- Much recent planting as potential recognised - Santa Ynez Valley & Paso Robles for fine Zinfandel |
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Santa Ynez Valley
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- fine Zinfandel
- - East/West mountains facilitate flow of cool ocean breezes - Much recent planting as potential recognised |
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Central Valley
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- 80% of total production
- Zones 4 & 5 (hot) - Quantity not quality - UC Davis created varieties to deal with heat - Wine coolers and brandies produced to use excess - Lodi in north produces better wines in cooler climate |
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Lodi
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Sub region in north of Central Valley producing better wines in a cooler climate
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UC Davis varieties created to deal with Central Valley heat
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- Ruby Cabernet
- Rubired |
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Sierra Foothills
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- Rockies foothills
- Hot days and cool nights - Good fruit concentration - Old vine zinfandel - Italian varieties inc Sangiovese |
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California disease problems
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- UC Davis poor research advised ARX1 rootstock (not phylloxera tolerant)
- Half of Napa had to be replanted - Pierce's Disease, carried by sharp shooters is fatal in Southern California |
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Pierce's Disease
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- Carried by sharp shooters
- Fatal and incurable - Problem in Southern California |
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Problem Californian rootstock
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- ARX1
- Not phylloxera tolerant - Half of Napa needed replanting |
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Oregon
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- Maritime climate from warm North Pacific Drift
- Willamette Valley sub region south of Portland = warm summers mild winters high quality Pinot Noirs also Pinot Gris and Chardonnay - Umpqua Valley & Rogue Valley (south of Willamette) = warmer climate, boutique Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot |
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Willamette Valley
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Oregon
- sub region south of Portland - warm summers mild winters - high quality Pinot Noirs - Pinot Gris and Chardonnay Sauvignon and Merlot - Constantly improving with clonal selection |
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Umpqua Valley
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Oregon sub region
- south of Willamette - warmer climate, - boutique pineraies - Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot |
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Rogue Valley
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Oregon sub region
- south of Willamette - warmer climate, - boutique pineraies - Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot |
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Washington State
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- 2nd biggest vinifera producing state
- Bordeaux varieties, especially Merlot - Also Chardonnay and Syrah - Extreme dry continental climate - Colombia Valley (and Yakima Valley and Walla Walla subregions) - Canoe Ridge (boutique) and Chateau St Michelle (large) producer examples - River water irrigation is essential |
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Walla Walla
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Sub region of Washington State's Colombia Valley
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Yakima Valley
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Sub region of Washington State's Colombia Valley
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New York State
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- 3rd most important grape growing state
- Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and Long Island vineyard areas - Lakes and ocean moderate and warm the climate - Finger Lakes has frost risk |
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Central Valley Varieties
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High yield irrigated blends of:
- Colombard - Chenin Blanc - Carignan - Barbera - Ruby Cabernet - Thompson seedless |
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Zinfandel (Primitivo)
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- Californian blends, varietals and blush rose (and bulk blends)
- Old vine = rich, full bodied wine |
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Zinfandel problems
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- Uneven ripening leads to some raisining at full ripeness
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Zinfandel wine description
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- concentrated red berry flavours
- High alcohol - some level of residual sugar |
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Cabernet Sauvignon Regions
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- from Central Valley = soft, juicy black cherry with light tannins
- Napa top quality - Washington State also high quality |
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Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
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- Fruit left until complete phenolic ripeness creating expressive wine
- Poweful toasty flavours from American oak - Sometimes unbalanced with high alcohol |
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Merlot
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- Often cheap with soft tannins and little character
- Monterey and Napa high quality with blackberry and plum, velvet tannins and high abv - High quality potential in Washington State |
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Pinot Noir
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High quality from:
- Russian River (south of Sonoma County) - Carneros (North of Napa) - Santa Barbara (south of Paso Robles) - Willamette Valley (Oregon) Styles from rich, full and fruity to elegant and gamey |
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Chardonnay
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- full bodied
- High alcohol - obvious oak - hazelnut, butter and exotic fruits - More restrained in cooler regions |
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Sauvignon Blanc
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- Bordeaux style of partial or full oak fermentation and ageing
- Fume Blanc indicated oak ageing - Cheap SB shows little varietal fruit |
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Oak aged Sauvignon from California
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Fume Blanc
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Rhone Varieties
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- Recent plantings of Syrah, Viognier and Marsanne
- Market led fashion for Rhone style wines |