California

Front 1

What is a climatical influence of most of the Californian coast?

Back 1

Mountain ranges, which help shield vineyards from the cooling effect of the ocean.

Front 2

What effects temperature conditions in the vineyard?

Back 2

Fog and cold air from the ocean. This can last well into the morning, influencing day time temperatures too.

Front 3

What is a particular problem during the ripening season? What is used to combat this?

Back 3

Lack of rainfall, this is combated by the wide use of drip irrigation.

Front 4

What does the scarcity of autumn rain allow for?

Back 4

Grapes to stay on the vine longer, resulting in a more concentrated, ripe wine.

Front 5

What are the prominent black varieties of California?

Back 5

Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Front 6

Why style of wine would we expect form Cabernet grown here?

Back 6

Full bodied, ripe cassis flavours and spice aromas from new oak.

Front 7

Why style of wine would we expect form Zinfandel grown here?

Back 7

Concentrated, full-bodied reds with high alcohol and sometimes a small amount of RS. Red and black fruits, dried berries and liquorice.

Front 8

What’s White Zinfandel?

Back 8

Zinfandel made as a rosé. Usually in a fruity, pale, medium-sweet style.

Front 9

Why style of wine would we expect form Merlot grown here?

Back 9

Approachable wines with soft tannins, and ripe black fruits.

Front 10

What’s the most planted variety of either colour?

Back 10

Chardonnay

Front 11

Why style of wine would we expect form Chardonnay grown here?

Back 11

Chardonnay is produced in a range of style from fruity, low acid, oak stave/chip influenced to high quality more restrained styles.

Front 12

What other white variety is commonly planted?

Back 12

Sauvignon Blanc.

Front 13

Why style of wine would we expect form Sauvignon Blanc grown here?

Back 13

A range of styles from fruity, simple everyday wines in the warmer sites, to high-acid citrus flavoured more premium examples in the cooler, more costal sites.

Front 14

Where does the region’s vast majority of wine production happen?

Back 14

In the Central Valley, where the soil is fertile, and irrigation is used to increase yield.

Front 15

Where’s Napa Valley located?

Back 15

On the north coast.

Front 16

What’re the climatical influences here?

Back 16

Cooling influences from the morning fog and afternoon breezes from San Pablo bay.

Front 17

Within the Napa Valley what AVA has the coolest vineyard sites and what varieties are grown here?

Back 17

Los Carneros AVA with planting of high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the production of both still and sparkling wines.

Front 18

Moving north what are the AVAs know for Cabernet production in Napa?

Back 18

Stage Leap District, Oakville and Rutherford.

Front 19

What’s the climate like further north in Saint Helena AVA and Calistoga AVA?

Back 19

Here experiences the warmest day time temperatures of the valley. Cool air from the Chalk Hill gap, and much cooler night time temporaries help train acidity.

Front 20

Differ the valley floor site to those on the valley sides

Back 20

The sites on the valley sides are cooled by their altitude, rather than the fog layer. Aspect also plays are role, with west-facing sites receiving the effect of afternoon sun.

Front 21

Which AVAs does Sonoma County include?

Back 21

Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Coast and Mendocino County.

Front 22

What is Russian River Valley AVA known for producing?

Back 22

High-quality elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Front 23

What climate does the Russian River Valley expirence that makes it suitable for these varieties?

Back 23

Very cool, foggy conditions due to a break in ten costal ranges known as the Petaluma Gap.

Front 24

What varieties are planted and in which sites in Dry Creek AVA?

Back 24

Zinfandel is planted on the valley sides, with the floor being planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and other Rhône varieties.

Front 25

What style of wine is Alexander Valley AVA known for producing?

Back 25

Fleshy, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. This is thanks to its very warm positioning.

Front 26

Talk about the Sonoma Coast AVA

Back 26

Here we see more influence from the Pacific Ocean, with sites often planted on south-facing aspects to maximise sun.

Front 27

Talk about Mendocino County

Back 27

Mendocino County is a varied AVA climactically. Notably including Anderson Valley AVA which is very cool and home to some aromatic varieties such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The rest of the AVA is warmer and drier, protected by its coastal hills.

Front 28

Into the central coast; what is Santa Cruz Mountains AVA know for?

Back 28

Hillside locations with infertile soils produce some of Californian’s best Cabernet Sauvignons.

Front 29

What is Monterey AVA know for producing and why?

Back 29

High quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These plantings are close to the coast where sting cool winds blow.

Front 30

Which AVAs are in the southern part of the central coast?

Back 30

San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

Front 31

Geographically what is different in this part of the central coast?

Back 31

The mountains lie east to west, rather than north to south, thus encouraging cool ocean breezes onto the mainland.

Front 32

Talk about Paso Robles AVA

Back 32

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel are planted here in two distinct zones.

The east experiencing hot, sunny weather, with fertile soils producing high volume wines.

The west is cooler by the sea and has noted plantings of high-quality Zinfandel.

Front 33

What’s the Santa Maria Valley AVA know for and why?

Back 33

Significantly cooler and more exposed here we see high quality plantings of Syrah and Chardonnay.

Front 34

What is the Central Valley’s role in production scales?

Back 34

The Central Valley produces for vast majority of Californian wine. Much of which is used for high-volume inexpensive brands.

Front 35

What influenes this production scale?

Back 35

The hot and dry climate, with the use of irrigation makes this production possible.

Front 36

What varies might we see here gang aren’t widely planted in the rest of California?

Back 36

Rubired and Ruby Cabernet, which are Californian bred varieties that make the most of this climate.

Front 37

Where is Lodi located? What is different about the climate here?

Back 37

Within the Central Valley, however it’s location on the Sacramento Delta River provides cooling effects from the San Francisco Bay.