The North Coast region, particularly Napa and Sonoma, is renowned for producing prestigious and expensive wines.
Napa Valley is considered the most prestigious wine area in the United States and potentially one of the best globally.
San Pablo Bay Influence
The San Pablo Bay, an extension of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, significantly influences Napa and Sonoma.
Cooling Influence: The bay introduces wind, cool weather, and moisture, leading to a diurnal range or shift.
Carnaris Region: The cooling influence primarily affects the southern parts of both Napa and Sonoma, especially the Carnaris area, which overlaps both counties.
Benefits:
Lowers temperatures.
Slows down the rate of ripeness and the loss of acidity.
Lengthens the ripening season, promoting complexity and nuanced flavors in the grapes.
Prevents a quick surge of heat, which is detrimental to developing complexity.
Sonoma County
Sonoma County is a large and diverse wine-growing area containing 19 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Temperature Regulation: The climate is moderated by the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay, providing cooling influences from the west and south.
Ideal Varietals: The cooling influences make Sonoma suitable for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cool climate Syrah
Leading Varietals:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading red varietal.
Pinot Noir is the second.
Merlot is third.
Zinfandel is fourth.
Quality Varietals: Cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah are recognized as significant quality varietals from Sonoma County.
Other Grapes: While less prominent, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Merlot are grown more inland, away from the cooling influences.
Field Blends
History: In the 1840s and 1850s, during the Gold Rush, Italian immigrants planted mixed grape varietals, creating field blends.
Varietals: These blends often included Italian, Southern France, and Spanish varietals planted together.
Ridge Winery: Ridge is noted for producing high-quality field blends where grapes are grown, harvested, and fermented together.
Key Grape Varietals in Sonoma
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah thrive in the cooler climate, retaining acidity.
Zinfandel:
Grown further inland, away from cooling influences.
Historically considered an American grape until its Italian origin was discovered.
Characteristics: Fruit-forward, jammy, high in alcohol (14%+), requires hang time, warmth, and heat.
Petite Syrah
Notable in Sonoma, but also found in Napa and Lake County.
Not Syrah, but a crossing of Syrah and Peloursin.
Small berry with a thick skin.
Characteristics: Concentrated aromas and flavors, tannic.
Peloursin:
Rarely found as a single varietal.
Associated with Southern France.
Areas of Distinction: Sonoma AVAs
Alexander Valley:
Hottest AVA in Sonoma, farthest from the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay influences.
Climate: Warm and dry.
Grapes: Thrives with Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, warmer climate Chardonnay, and Zinfandel.
Dry Creek Valley:
Inland, slightly west of Alexander Valley.
Italian Immigrant Influence: Significant due to the area's history.
Grapes: Thrives with Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc.
Russian River Valley:
Inland area in central Sonoma County, but a slight cooling influence on the western side.
Grapes: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, produced in more voluptuous, richer styles with concentrated flavors, higher ripeness, sugar, and alcohol.
Flavor profile: Spicier compared to Sonoma Coast and Carneros.
Carneros:
Southernmost point of both Napa and Sonoma, shared by both regions.
Climate: Cool due to influences from San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Grapes: Historically Merlot (due to clay soils), but now primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay known for crisp, lean styles.
Sparkling Wine: Source of grapes for sparkling wine production due to its cool climate; Domaine Carneros is a notable sparkling wine house.
Sonoma Coast:
Extensive AVA stretching 80 miles north to south along the Pacific coast.
Diversity: Significant diversity within the AVA.
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and cool-climate Syrah.
Sub-AVAs: High-quality producers have carved out smaller sub-AVAs within Sonoma Coast, such as Fort Ross-Seaview (high-elevation area above the fog line).
Napa Valley
Contrasts with Sonoma: Napa is more high-profile, concentrated, and less agricultural compared to Sonoma's rural and spread-out character.
Geography: Napa Valley is located between the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains to the east.
Diversity: The terrain offers diverse growing areas, including valley floor, foothills, and mountains, providing varied elevations and sites.
Protection: The mountain ranges protect the valley from cooling influences from the south and west.
AVAs: Napa has 17 sub-AVAs; including Napa Valley itself, there are 18 AVAs.
History:
Significant historical events include the Judgment of Paris in 1976.
Mondavi: Robert Mondavi opened the first new commercial winery after Prohibition.
Andre Tchelistcheff: A Russian émigré who worked in France, became an influential figure at Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) and was considered the grandfather of Napa winemaking.
Key Varietals and Wine Styles of Napa
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay are the most important.
Bordeaux Blends: A critical style that defines Napa's character.
Proprietary Blends:
Offer the most freedom and fewest legal constraints.
Can be Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style, or any mix of varietals.
Famous examples include Opus One, Orin Swift's Papillon, and Chapalais Mountain Cuvee.
Climate:
Mediterranean: Warm, dry, and sunny conditions characterize Napa.
Southern Influence: The southern part of Napa, closest to San Pablo Bay, has the most cooling influence.
Temperature Gradient: The northern areas are warmer due to being farther from San Pablo Bay.
Vintage Consistency: Napa is known for its consistent growing seasons, minimizing vintage variation.
Optimal Conditions: Long growing seasons, warm days, cool nights, and very little rainfall during the summer.
Benefits: These conditions reduce issues with mold, mildew, and insects, making it an easier place to grow grapes.
Napa's Growing Environments
Valley Floor: Requires mimicry of stressed conditions through crop reduction, foliage trimming, and crop dropping.
Benchlands (Foothills): Naturally creates a more stressed vine.
Mountains: Naturally creates a more stressed vine.
Mountain Vineyards
Elevation: Vineyards located upwards of 2,000 feet in elevation.
UV Light: Higher UV light intensity causes grapes to develop thicker skins for protection.
Results: This leads to more color pigment, greater tannin, greater structure, better acid retention, and longer aging potential.
Napa's Areas of Distinction
Spring Mountain (Mayacamas Mountains):
Mountain AVA in the Mayacamas Mountains (middle mountain range between Napa and Sonoma).
Cabernet Sauvignon ripens slowly, leading to structured wines.
Oakville:
Prominent: Home to established wineries like Robert Mondavi Winery and Opus One.
Tokelon Vineyard: Source of grapes for the collaboration between Mondavi and Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Rutherford:
Adjacent to Oakville, with similar varietals and characteristics.
Hot climate, volcanic soil, and high regard.
Stag's Leap District:
Known for Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and its winning Cabernet Sauvignon at the Judgment of Paris.
Benchlands: Quality grapes often come from the benchlands.
Location: Eastern side of Napa, thriving with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Carneros:
Coolest Growing Area: Coolest in Napa and arguably in Sonoma.
Consistent Temperatures: Less diurnal range, with consistently cool temperatures.
Grapes: Initially Merlot, but now primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Sparkling Wine: A source of grapes for sparkling wine due to its acidity and lack of overripe flavors.
Conjunctive Labeling in Napa
Definition: If a sub-AVA within Napa (of which there are 17) is mentioned on a wine label, Napa Valley must also be mentioned.
First AVA: Napa Valley was the first designated AVA in California.
Central Coast
Geography: A long, expansive region stretching from San Francisco down to Santa Barbara, approximately 250-360 miles of coastline.
Vineyards: Wineries are located within a 5-10 mile stretch inland from the coast.
AVAs: Contains 44+ AVAs; Central Coast itself is the largest AVA.
Coastal Mountain Ranges: Block some of the extreme weather, but cooling influences from the coast are still dramatic.
Climate: Generally Mediterranean, similar to Napa Valley.
Focus on Rhone Varietals
Unorthodox Approach: Central Coast differentiates itself from Napa by focusing on Rhône varietals.
Promoters: Key producers include Beckman, Tablas Creek, Alban, Climet, Qupé, and Bonny Doon.
Varietals include: GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre), Solo Grenache, Solo Syrah, Solo Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc.
Paso Robles: The area most representative of Rhône varietals, though many areas, especially towards Santa Barbara, feature them.
Important AVAs in Central Coast
Limited Number: Focus on a few key AVAs rather than an extensive list.
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Rita Hills:
All three begin with the word "Santa," associating them with cooler weather and cooling influences.
Varietals: Suitable for cool-climate Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
Mountain Range: The coastal mountain range changes direction in these areas, becoming a cross-section and reducing protection from the coastal weather.