Transcript Document
Wines of California 1 PROF. ADRIAN MURCIA FALL 2013 Slides courtesy:Prof. Karen Goodlad 7/17/2015 Introduction: Prohibition 2 7/17/2015 Introduction: Prohibition 3 Alcohol production and distribution was illegal in the United States from 1920-1933 The Eighteenth Amendment & Volstead Act Repeal in 1933: Twenty-first Amendment Exceptions Personal Consumption Home Production of Wine & Cider Sacramental Wine Prescriptions 7/17/2015 Prohibition-Era Liquor Prescription 4 7/17/2015 Prohibition: Affect on Wine Industry 5 Wineries closed Vineyards changed grape varieties & shipped to end users Farmers sold Wine Bricks or Wine Blocks Non-alcoholic grape concentrate Sold with a warning: "After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine." Paradoxically, this demand led California grape growers to increase their land under cultivation by about 700% in the first five years of prohibition. 7/17/2015 Prohibition: Affect on Wine Industry Industry thrown in disarray at a time when European countries were beginning to codify and regulate quality within their respective industries Not until the 1970’s did wine consumption reach pre- prohibition levels ~1.5 gallons per capita Today: 3 gallons per capita 7/17/2015 Wine Production & Consumption 7 U.S. is worlds 4th largest wine-producing country 1, Italy; 2, France; 3, Spain; 4, USA; 5, Argentina Within the US: 1, California; 2, Washington ; 3, NY; 4, Oregon America is Ranked 56th worldwide in per capita wine consumption (3.08 gallons in 2012) First in overall consumption 90% of wine in U.S. is consumed by 10% of the population 7/17/2015 Labeling/Naming Wines Proprietary Labels Trademarked/Copy Write 8 Opus One, Dominus, Thunderbird Winery Name Stags Leap, Robert Mondavi Winery, Cakebread Grape Varieties Chardonnay, Merlot… Generic Labels Meritage, Chablis, Burgundy… Other Estate Bottled, Reserve, Late Harvest, Botrytis For More Info: US Government Guide & Professional Friends of Wine 7/17/2015 Wine Laws 9 Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) Formerly known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) American Viticultural Area (AVA) Geographically defined growing area Petition BATF Describe what makes the region different Soil, climate, microclimate, history, water table, elevation… 1st AVA Augusta, Missouri, 1980 As of October 2010 197 AVAs recorded in 35 different states 7/17/2015 Wine Laws 10 Varietal Name Wine must be 75% from the named variety In Oregon it is 90% (Cabernet Sauvignon is 75%) Place Name State 75% Exception: CA, WA, OR = 100% County 75% AVA 85% (Washington State 100%) Vintage 95% from that harvest Health Warning Sulfite Warning 7/17/2015 California From jug wine to super-premium (Two Buck Chuck to Opus One) 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 1 3 7/17/2015 Pantheon of California Winemakers Ernest and Julio Gallo Established 1933; important for its jug wines Robert Mondavi Persuaded his family to purchase Charles Krug in 1943 Broke away from Charles Krug & established own estate in 1966 Became the Godfather of Napa Randall Graham of Bonny Doon Vineyards First of the so-called Rhône Rangers – a group of wine makers in Central Coast using traditional Rhône varieties. The Judgment of Paris, 1976 Major event in the world of California wine (and U.S. wine in general) Blind tasting of French and American wines (red & white) coordinated by Steven Spurrier in Paris Judges were all French Five red Bordeaux vs. five California Cabernets; five white Burgundies vs. five California Chardonnays In both categories, American wines came out on top Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973 (Napa) Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 1973 (Napa) North Coast, ~15% of total CA Wine Production Notable AVAs Includes Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Los 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 ‘Mountain Fruit’: Mayacamas Mountains to West & Vaca Hills to the East Volcanic soils, drain well, cooler nights (higher acidity) Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Heitz Cellars, St. Helena, Napa 2 0 7/17/2015 Sonoma County (A Rural Napa) An umbrella AVA that includes 14 smaller AVAs and sub-AVAs Most important AVAs include Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Los Carneros (shared with Napa Valley) Generally speaking more terror-driven than Napa Many AVAs in Sonoma County are varietally specific Russian River Valley (Pinot Noir/Chardonnay) Alexander Valley (Cabernet Sauvignon/single-vineyard Chardonnay) Dry Creek Valley (Zinfandel) 2 4 7/17/2015 2 5 7/17/2015 Central Coast: Notable AVAs Santa Cruz Mountains - Cool, maritime climate Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel Bonny Doon and Ridge are notable producers Santa Lucia Highlands - Cool climate; high elevations Some of the finest Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in California Paso Robles – High concentration of Rhone Rangers Sta. Rita Mountains (subzone of Santa Ynez Valley) – “Sideways” country Maritime climate; Santa Barbara County; known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay 2 7 7/17/2015 Central Valley ~60% of total CA Production Vast & Fertile Agricultural Center of U.S. Hot Climate and State-subsidized Irrigation Table grapes – Thompson Seedless Modesto: Home of Gallo Notable AVA: Lodi Vinifera Grapes: Zinfandel Chardonnay 2 9 7/17/2015 AVA Zones Terms to Know 31 Prohibition Central Coast TTB Central Valley AVA Pierce’s Disease Judgement of Paris Rhône Rangers Meritage North Coast Napa Valley Sonoma County 7/17/2015