Download California Wine Notes

Prof. Karen Goodlad, HMGT 2402
WINES OF CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
An Extensive Array of Wine for the World to Enjoy
 Ranges form jug wine to super premium
 85% of all vineyards and about 90% of all wine
produced in the USA is produced in CA
 2 of every 3 bottles of wine sold in the US are
from California
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HISTORY OF WINE IN CA BEFORE PROHIBITION
1769’s Franciscan Monks settle in what is now
San Diego, plant vines in 1779
 1850’s Gold Rush
 1890’s Phylloxera
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WINE IN CALIFORNIA AFTER PROHIBITION
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1933 Prohibition Repealed, Laws limiting monopolies
and restricting distribution are still in effect today
1965: Mechanical harvesting introduced
1966: Robert Mondavi Winery Opens
1968: Table wine consumption surpasses dessert wine
1976: Judgment of Paris
1978: Opus One Opens
1983: Phylloxera
1991: 60 Minutes, The French Paradox
2000’s: California Sustainable Grape Growers Alliance
IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE CA WINE WORLD
Charles Krug
 Frank Schoonmaker
 Ernest and Julio Gallo
 Andre Tchelisticheff
 Warren Winiarski and Mike Grgich
 Robert Mondavi
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WINE LAWS: AN OVERVIEW
Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
 American Viticultural Area (AVA)
 Label information:
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 Grape
Variety
 State
 County
 AVA
 Vineyard
GENERAL CALIFORNIA CLIMATE
Unique as it changes as much from East to
West as it does North to South
 Coast
 Central Valley
 Sierra Foothills
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WINE REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA
North Coast
 San Francisco Bay
 Central Coast
 South Coast
 Sierra Foothills
 Central Valley
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NORTH COAST, ~15% OF TOTAL CA WINE PRODUCTION
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Notable AVAs
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Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Carneros, Oakville, Russian
River Valley plus many more
Climate: Varies dramatically
Coastal regions have influence of fog
 Very warm interiors/valleys
 Microclimates on mountains
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Soil: Varies
 Notable Grape Varieties
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Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Blends,
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone Varietals
NAPA VALLEY
High Quality, Limited Quantity 4-5% of total
production
 Valley Floor
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 Fog
in AM and HOT in PM
 Clay soils with alluvial deposits, fertile
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Mayacamas Mountains to West Vaca Hills to
the East
 Volcanic
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soils, drain well
Cabernet Sauvignon Dominates
CARNEROS (SUB AVA OF NAPA VALLEY)
South of Napa Valley
 Dense fog cools the climate significantly
 Flat terrain, varied soils
 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
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SONOMA VALLEY (A RURAL NAPA)
Mayacamas Mountains to the East and
Sonoma Mountains on the West
 Wide variety of styles of wine produced
 Planted on valley floor and rolling hills
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SAN FRANCISCO BAY
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Notable AVAs
 Livermore
and Santa Cruz
Climate
 Soil
 Grapes
 Note: Significant Urban Sprawl Has Limited
Vineyard Acreage
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CENTRAL COAST
 Notable
 Paso
AVAs
Robles, Santa Ynez Valley
 Climate:
Varies
 Coastal
Influences
 Can be cool and windy in the north and warm and
arid in the south
 Soil:
Varies
 Grapes: Rhône Valley Varietals
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
No significant AVAs
 Climate
 Soil
 Grapes
 Note: Grapes first planted here during Gold
Rush of the 1850s.
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CENTRAL VALLEY
Notable AVAs: Lodi
 Climate
 Soil: Varies
 Grapes: 60% of total CA Production
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 Zinfandel,
Sauvignon Blanc and Rhone Valley
Varietals
 Bulk, non varietal significant grapes
TERMS TO REMEMBER
Note: Wines of The Times has great articles on
many different aspects of California wine
 Note: Wine Spectator offers many videos of
winemakers from CA and around the world
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