Prof Karen Goodlad HMGT 2402 WINES OF CALIFORNIA

Prof. Karen Goodlad, HMGT 2402 WINES OF CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA q An Extensive Array of Wine for the World to Enjoy q Ranges form jug wine to super premium q 85% of all vineyards and about 90% of all wine produced in the USA is produced in CA q 2 of every 3 bottles of wine sold in the US are from California

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

WINE IN CALIFORNIA AFTER PROHIBITION 1933 Prohibition Repealed, Laws limiting monopolies and restricting distribution are still in effect today � 1965: Mechanical harvesting introduced � 1966: Robert Mondavi Winery Opens �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

WINE LAWS: AN OVERVIEW � Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) � American Viticultural Area (AVA) � Label information: � 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

WINE REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA � North Coast � San Francisco Bay � Central Coast � South Coast � Sierra Foothills � Central Valley

NORTH COAST, ~15% OF TOTAL CA WINE PRODUCTION � Notable AVAs � 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 � Soil: Varies � Notable Grape Varieties � Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Blends, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhone Varietals

NAPA VALLEY � High Quality, Limited Quantity 4 -5% of total production � Valley Floor � Fog in AM and HOT in PM � Clay soils with alluvial deposits, fertile � Mayacamas the East � Volcanic � Cabernet Mountains to West Vaca Hills to soils, drain well 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

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

SAN FRANCISCO BAY � Notable AVAs � Livermore and Santa Cruz � Climate � Soil � Grapes � Note: Significant Urban Sprawl Has Limited Vineyard Acreage

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 1850 s.

CENTRAL VALLEY � Notable AVAs: Lodi � Climate � Soil: Varies � Grapes: 60% of total CA Production � 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