CSW Chapter 16- California

149

How many AVAs are in California?

North Coast, Sierra Foothills, San Francisco Bay, Central Coast, South Coast

5 super AVAs defined loosely by climate and geology. Primary purpose is to allow grapes from several distant regions to be blended and still qualify for AVA and estate bottled status

500+

How many wineries are in Napa county?

Morning fog from San Pablo Bay

Distinct weather phenomenon that makes Napa unique

Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Top grapes of Napa

17

How many AVAs are within Napa County?

Calistoga AVA

• AVA of Napa

• One of the warmest and most northern

• Cab, Zin, Syrah, Petite Syrah

St Helena AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Less fog, less wind, more heat retention due to narrowing of the valley floor

• Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Zin

Rutherford AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Known for “dust”, unique soil type and climate resulting in firm tannins

• Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Sauv Blanc

Oakville AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Moderating influence from night and early morning fog, warm area

• Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, SB

Yountville AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Moderate climate, influenced by morning fog and strong breezes off San Pablo Bay

• Cool afternoons

Stags Leap District AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Warm area cooled by afternoon winds

• Bare rocks that radiate warmth

Chiles Valley AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Extends into the hillside of the Vaca Mountains

Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA

• Napa AVA

• Cool climate with marine influence and fog that stay until late morning

• Chardonnay, Merlot, Cab, Pinot Noir, Riesling

Coombsville AVA

• AVA of Napa

• Close to San Pablo Bay

• Cooler area with morning fog, good for development of botrytis

Carneros/Los Carneros AVA

• Napa AVA, shared with Sonoma

• One of the coolest regions of Napa

• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

• Sparkling wines

Wild Horse Valley AVA

• Napa AVA

• Shared with Sonoma

• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Mount Veeder AVA

• Napa AVA

• Cool-moderate climate

• Border of Sonoma

• Most vineyards are above the fog line

Diamond Mountain District AVA

• Napa AVA

• Border of Sonoma

• Less temperature fluctuation

Spring Mountain District AVA

• Napa AVA

• On the border on Sonoma

• Cool-moderate climate

Howell Mountain AVA

• Napa AVA

• Above the fog line

• Only elevation specific AVA, must be above 1400 ft

• Cab, Merlot, Zin, Viognier

Atlas Peak AVA

• Napa AVA

• In Vaca Mountains

• 760-2600 ft elevation

• Cab and Chard

1/8

How much of Californias acreage under vine is in Sonoma?

2/3

How much of Sonoma’s wines are red?

80%

What % of the white wines grown in Sonoma are Chardonnay?

Sonoma Coast AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Heavily influenced by the ocean, cool climate and high rainfall

• Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah

• Has 3 sub appellations

Fort Ross-Seaview AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Sonoma Coast AVA

• Created in 2011

• Vineyards are typically 800-1800 ft above sea level

West Sonoma Coast AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Sonoma Coast AVA

• Hugs the coastline of Sonoma county

• Cool, maritime climate

• Defined by steep mountains and ridgelines

Russian River Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Has 2 sub-appellations

• Influenced by maritime air and morning fogs

• Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both still and sparkling

Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Russian River

• Most consistent in terms of cool, foggy climate and sandy soils

Chalk Hill AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Russian River

• Named for chalky appearance of the area’s volcanic white soils

• Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc

Sonoma Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Covers a stretch of land between the Sonoma Mountains and the Mayacamas Mountains, in the watershed of Sonoma Creek

• Has 4 sub-appellations

Sonoma Mountain AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley AVA

• Vineyards mainly above the fog line ad on east-facing slopes

• Wide range of grape varieties

Bennett Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma, sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley AVA

• North of Sonoma Mountain AVA

• Cool and surrounded by hills

Moon Mountain District Sonoma County AVA

• Sonoma AVA, sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley AVA

• Western slopes of Mayacamas Mountains

• On the border between Napa and Sonoma

• Red, rocky, and iron-rich volcanic soils

Carneros/Los Carneros AVA

• sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley AVA, shared by Napa and Sonoma

• Cool climate influenced by San Pablo Bay and Petaluma Gap, coastal breezes moving inland

• Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling

Dry Creek Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Top area for Zinfandel

• On southern edge of Lake Sonoma and follows Dry Creek

• Other grapes are Merlot, Cab, Sauv Blanc

Rockpile AVA

• Sonoma AVA

• On high ridge above Lake Sonoma, up to 1900 ft elevation

• Sunny and mountainous

• known for Zinfandel

Alexander Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Alongside the Russian River, into the Mayacamas mountains

• Known for vibrant, fruit-driven Cabs

Knights Valley AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Along the border with Napa and Lake counties

• Mainly Cab

• Warm, mountainous terrain, well drained soil, abundant sunshine

Fountaingrove District AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Approved in 2015

• North of Sonoma Valley AVA, between Sonoma Coast AVA and Napa Valley AVA

• Foothills of Mayacamas Mountains, 2000ft elevation

Northern Sonoma AVA

• AVA of Sonoma

• Large AVA that allowed much of wine grown and produced in the boundaries of Sonoma County to qualify for an AVA and often use the term “estate bottled”

Mendocino County

• county north of Sonoma

• 25% organic grapes

• Anderson Valley AVA

  • Cool region, known for Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, but also grows Riesling/Gewurz/PG

• Mendocino Ridge AVA

  • Noncontiguous, only regions above 1200ft

  • Aka “Islands in the Sky”

  • Pinot Noir and old vine Zinfandel

• Cole Ranch AVA

  • Smallest AVA in CA, named for John Cole

  • Cab, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling

Lake County

• borders Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa counties

• Intersection of the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains

• Home of Clear Lake, which permits grape growing, along with volcanic soils

• Average vineyard elevation is 1500ft

• Grapes have higher level of anthocyanins, polyphenols, and tannins, along with thicker skins

• Cab, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay

• Contains 8 AVAs

Central Coast AVA

Very large AVA that runs from San Francisco to Santa Barbara known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Monterey County

• grows 20% of CA Chardonnay

• Cool-climate AVAs

  • Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, and Chaone

  • Known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio

• Warm-climate AVAs

  • San Lucas Valley, Hames Valley

  • Cab and Rhine varieties

San Luis Obispo County

• Paso Robles AVA

  • 11 AVAs within

  • Cab, Zin, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

• York Mountain AVA

  • Mountainous region on the edge of the Templeton Gap

• San Luis Opisbo Coast AVA

  • 60 miles from Ragged Point to Grover Beach

  • Includes Edna Valley AVA and Arroyo Grande Valley AVA

• Arroyo Grande Valley AVA

  • South of Edna Valley, known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Santa Barbara County

• Santa Maria Valley AVA

  • Foggy, windswept, northernmost. Known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

• Santa Ynez Valley AVA

  • East-West corridor, largest sub AVA

• Ballard Canyon AVA

  • Within Santa Ynez valley

  • Spicy reds from Syrah and Grenache

• Los Olivos District AVA

  • Subregion of Santa Ynez

• Sta Rita Hills AVA

  • Within Santa Ynez, cooler climate

• The Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA

  • Subregion of Santa Ynez

  • Name comes from Prohibition

• The Alisos Canyon AVA

  • Made in 2020

  • Between Santa Maria and Santa Ynez

  • Goldilocks Rhine zone- great for Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier

Lodi

• Mediterranean climate with “delta breezes”

• Rich fruit flavors and bright, crisp acids

• 7 sub-appellations

• Known for old vine Zin, Petite Sirah, Cab, and Viognier

• Bechthold Vineyard- oldest plantings of Cinsault

Sierra Foothills AVA

• covers high elevation vineyards on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range

• 1% of CA total wine acreage

• Mainly red and Zin

• 5 sub-AVAs- North Yuba, Fiddletown, El Dorado, California Shenandoah Valley, and Fair Play

South Coast AVA

• over 3000 acres

• Zin, cab, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Viognier

• Includes the Temecula Valley AVA, the Ramona Valley AVA, and the San Pasqual Valley AVA