Alexander Valley - Northeast traditionally made high acid whites for blending with lower acids wines by Gallo
Chalk Hill - No chalk, but white volcanic ash with high quartz content.
Dry Creek Valley - wetter and warmer than a surrounding areas, later harvest.
Knights Valley - rocky gravelly, low fertility, ideal for Cab Sauv
Los Carneros - or Carneros, straddles napa and sonoma valleys. breezes from San Pablo bay make for ideal PN and Chard growing.
Northern Sonoma - Catch all northern region, includes Alexander valley, chalk hill, dry creek, knights valley, RRV, and sonoma green valley. City of santa rosa is the limiting line.
Russian River Valley - early morning coastal fog makes for cooler growing season and perfect for PN
Sonoma Coast - the western boarder of the Sonoma AVA, right along the pacific coast, lots of fog and significantly cooler.
Sonoma County-Green Valley - in the RRV, sandy loam, ideal for Sparkling wine. so named to avoid confusion with Green Valley in Solano County
Sonoma Mountain - thermal belt drains the fog and cold air, resulting in more moderate temperatures.
Sonoma Valley - lowest rainfall in the county, and fog rarely penetrates. Red wine country. Cab Sauv and Zin.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Napa Valley AVA s
Floor AVAs
Calistoga is not an actual AVA
St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap
Oak Knoll
Wild Horse Valley
Mountian AVAs
Diamond Mountain
Spring Mountain
Mount Veeder
Howell Mountain +++ Napa's first AVA 1984
Atlas Peak
Calistoga is not an actual AVA
St Helena
Rutherford
Oakville
Yountville
Stags Leap
Oak Knoll
Wild Horse Valley
Mountian AVAs
Diamond Mountain
Spring Mountain
Mount Veeder
Howell Mountain +++ Napa's first AVA 1984
Atlas Peak
American Viticultral Area
In 1978 the BATF designated AVA as a "delimited grape growing region distinguished by geographic features, the boundaries of which have been recognized and defined"
augusta, missouri became the first AVA in 1980
TTB labeling laws
varietal labled wine must contain 75%o of the named variety
estate bottled must be made by wineries that own or control all the vineyards where the grapes are grown
ava designated wines must be made from 85% of the ava indicated
vineyard designated must be 95% from vineyard listed
augusta, missouri became the first AVA in 1980
TTB labeling laws
varietal labled wine must contain 75%o of the named variety
estate bottled must be made by wineries that own or control all the vineyards where the grapes are grown
ava designated wines must be made from 85% of the ava indicated
vineyard designated must be 95% from vineyard listed
UC Davis discoveries / mistakes
AXR-1 is a root stock that was promoted, mainly due to its higher yields, but it proved to be less resistant to phylloxera, especially Biotype B resulting in many damaged vineyards, especially since the majority of vineyards followed their advice
UC Davis also erred on the side of over production, making wines with less finesse.
UC Davis also erred on the side of over production, making wines with less finesse.
Important Californians
Father Junipero Serra 18th century jesuit monk. planted criolla, or mission all along the coast of what is now CA
Jean Loius Vignes frenchman who brought vitis vinifera cuttings from his native bordeaux in 1830s
Count Agoston Haraszthy hungarian who traveled to france and brought back 100,000 vines.
Maynard Amarine and Albert Winkler are scientists at UC Davis who created the heat degrees map
Jean Loius Vignes frenchman who brought vitis vinifera cuttings from his native bordeaux in 1830s
Count Agoston Haraszthy hungarian who traveled to france and brought back 100,000 vines.
Maynard Amarine and Albert Winkler are scientists at UC Davis who created the heat degrees map
California Heat Degree Days
Degree days are the measure of the number of days from april 1 to oct 31, that the mean temperature is above 50. This was determined by Winkler
this is used to divide california into climate regions.
region I is 2500 degree days or lower
region II is 2501 to 3000
region III is 3001 to 3500
region IV is 3501 to 4000
region V is 4001 or more
this is used to divide california into climate regions.
region I is 2500 degree days or lower
region II is 2501 to 3000
region III is 3001 to 3500
region IV is 3501 to 4000
region V is 4001 or more
Sunday, February 14, 2010
South America / Uruguay
Uruguay was settled by the Basque people and a legacy of this heritage is the wide spread planting of Tannat.
Catelones is the largest wine producing region with 90%
The Tannat in Uruguay has softer tannins than Tannat in the Pais Vasco. Juicier, and softer fruit.
it is grown in high altitude, but in more fertile soil so vines are trained into a lyre trestle to compensate.
Even though Tannat is not as intense in Uruguay, it is still sometimes softened with merlot, syrah, and even pinot noir at times.
Catelones is the largest wine producing region with 90%
The Tannat in Uruguay has softer tannins than Tannat in the Pais Vasco. Juicier, and softer fruit.
it is grown in high altitude, but in more fertile soil so vines are trained into a lyre trestle to compensate.
Even though Tannat is not as intense in Uruguay, it is still sometimes softened with merlot, syrah, and even pinot noir at times.
South America / Argentina
Argentina too suffered under the global economy until the later parts of the twentieth century, but still grew lots of wine for local consumption.
Malbec, another transplanted noble grape has taken off. Where it is a blending grape in Bordeaux, it is the king of Argentina.
70% of wine comes from Mendoza, and the majority of that is Malbec.
Maipu and Lujan are other important red regions. La Rioja grows Torrentes and in San Juan they make a style of wine similar to Sherry
Salta - is one of the highest regions, approaching 10,000 feet in a high desert climate on 150 year old vines.
Since Argentina doesn't have the temperature moderating effect of being near water, growers moderate the climate by planting at altitude. While Chile for example plants under 1000ft/sea level, Argentina plants at 4000ft plus, and in some places up to 10,000ft.
Problems with altitude include lots of hail in the spring at bud break which can wipe out the harvest.
La Zonda is a strong wind that comes up in late spring when the flowers are blooming and can wipe out fruit set. The wind comes from the Andes in the NW
Flood irrigation is often used to kill phylloxera at bud break.
Malbec, another transplanted noble grape has taken off. Where it is a blending grape in Bordeaux, it is the king of Argentina.
70% of wine comes from Mendoza, and the majority of that is Malbec.
Maipu and Lujan are other important red regions. La Rioja grows Torrentes and in San Juan they make a style of wine similar to Sherry
Salta - is one of the highest regions, approaching 10,000 feet in a high desert climate on 150 year old vines.
Since Argentina doesn't have the temperature moderating effect of being near water, growers moderate the climate by planting at altitude. While Chile for example plants under 1000ft/sea level, Argentina plants at 4000ft plus, and in some places up to 10,000ft.
Problems with altitude include lots of hail in the spring at bud break which can wipe out the harvest.
La Zonda is a strong wind that comes up in late spring when the flowers are blooming and can wipe out fruit set. The wind comes from the Andes in the NW
Flood irrigation is often used to kill phylloxera at bud break.
South America / Chile
Chile
When Chile gained independence from Spain, they were free to choose their varietals and in 1830 they imported a full array of Bordeaux vines. Before this they were forced to grow local grapes such as Pais.
Chile has natural borders, Desert in the north, Andes in the east, Pacific ocean and the Humboldt current to the west, and Patagonia in the south
Because of Chile's remote location, and due to their closed borders due the majority of the twentieth century Chile is both phylloxera free, and has noble varieties planted on original root stock.
These varieties include now extinct in Bordeaux varieties of Carmenere and Torrontes.
Carmemere in Chile was thought to be Merlot of a long time, Looks very similar. With the growth of the local wine industry in the 90's more vines were identified. With proper planting and maintenance, it can be much more successful than in Bordeaux.
Merlot likes clay and shade, where Carmenere prefers sandy soil and more light. So with these steps the wines are less vegetal, with more dark tannins, red pepper spice and it ages well.
The white grape of Chile is Torrontes, a grape thought to be in the same family as Malvasia. It is perfumed, with bright fruit and spicy skin tannins.
Torrontes can be used to make Pisco, a distilled alcohol made from grape must. Moscatel is also used in making Pisco. Pisco is the national drink of Chile and Peru.
There are regions in Chile that resemble the climate of Napa. Lots of East-West running valleys, but very little rainfall in the summer, so irrigation is used. Plenty of water from the Andes run off.
Chile also grows other Noble varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
Notable regions
Rapel - Ocean exposure, hot days and cool nights growing sauv blanc and semillion.
Casablanca - newer region, 25 years pioneered for cold costal sauvignon blanc, but its been determined that Chardonnay succeeds. Damp and foggy, high acid and lots of tropical fruit. Usually oaked and without too much malolactic present.
Colchagua - "Napa of Chile", Old vines, Malbec dark fruit and violet.
When Chile gained independence from Spain, they were free to choose their varietals and in 1830 they imported a full array of Bordeaux vines. Before this they were forced to grow local grapes such as Pais.
Chile has natural borders, Desert in the north, Andes in the east, Pacific ocean and the Humboldt current to the west, and Patagonia in the south
Because of Chile's remote location, and due to their closed borders due the majority of the twentieth century Chile is both phylloxera free, and has noble varieties planted on original root stock.
These varieties include now extinct in Bordeaux varieties of Carmenere and Torrontes.
Carmemere in Chile was thought to be Merlot of a long time, Looks very similar. With the growth of the local wine industry in the 90's more vines were identified. With proper planting and maintenance, it can be much more successful than in Bordeaux.
Merlot likes clay and shade, where Carmenere prefers sandy soil and more light. So with these steps the wines are less vegetal, with more dark tannins, red pepper spice and it ages well.
The white grape of Chile is Torrontes, a grape thought to be in the same family as Malvasia. It is perfumed, with bright fruit and spicy skin tannins.
Torrontes can be used to make Pisco, a distilled alcohol made from grape must. Moscatel is also used in making Pisco. Pisco is the national drink of Chile and Peru.
There are regions in Chile that resemble the climate of Napa. Lots of East-West running valleys, but very little rainfall in the summer, so irrigation is used. Plenty of water from the Andes run off.
Chile also grows other Noble varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.
Notable regions
Rapel - Ocean exposure, hot days and cool nights growing sauv blanc and semillion.
Casablanca - newer region, 25 years pioneered for cold costal sauvignon blanc, but its been determined that Chardonnay succeeds. Damp and foggy, high acid and lots of tropical fruit. Usually oaked and without too much malolactic present.
Colchagua - "Napa of Chile", Old vines, Malbec dark fruit and violet.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Languedoc-Roussillon
Traditionally the largest wine growing region in the world, but mainly focused on quantity. history of co-op production. Yields have lowered over the past 20 years. Lots of new thinking, and 410 biodynamic wineries.
The area is influenced by two distinct wind patterns, the Mistral, cold and drying from inland, and the Marin, warm and damp from the sea.
As of May 3, 2007 the name has changed to Languedoc AOC
The Languedoc has four departments
Gard, Herault, Aude, and Pyrenees-Orientales
Fitou was the first AOC -1948
Corbieres and Minervois were added in 1985
The Classic red grapes are
Carignan
Syrah
Mourvedre
Grenache
and with the modern additions of
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Petite Verdot
The white grapes
Grenache Blanc
Clairette
Bourboulenc
Picpoul
The area is influenced by two distinct wind patterns, the Mistral, cold and drying from inland, and the Marin, warm and damp from the sea.
As of May 3, 2007 the name has changed to Languedoc AOC
The Languedoc has four departments
Gard, Herault, Aude, and Pyrenees-Orientales
Fitou was the first AOC -1948
Corbieres and Minervois were added in 1985
The Classic red grapes are
Carignan
Syrah
Mourvedre
Grenache
and with the modern additions of
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Petite Verdot
The white grapes
Grenache Blanc
Clairette
Bourboulenc
Picpoul
Monday, February 1, 2010
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