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California Wine Regions

North Coast: Napa and Sonoma

  • 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.