United States

Question 1

United States - Wine Labeling Law

Answer 1

*AVA: American Viticultural Areas

• Variety
  
  • 75% minimum varietal composition if from a county or state
  • 85% minimum varietal compsition if from an AVA
  • 90% minimum in Oregon for most varieties
• Vintage
  
  • 85% minimum from the vintage stated if from state or county
  • 95% minimum from the vintage stated if from an AVA
• Appellation or AVA
  
  • 75% minimum for country, state or county
  • 85% minimum from stated AVA
  • 95% minimum from stated single vineyard
• Estate Bottling
  
  • 100% of the wine must come from grapes grown on land owned or controlled by the winery which must be located in an AVA

Question 2

United States - California North Coast - Napa Valley

Answer 2

• Climate: maritime and varies depending on altitude and the influence of cool air and fog rolling off the San Pablo Bay. This morning and evening cool air and fog creates large diurnal shifts in temperatures throughout the day.
• Soil: very diverse
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir
• Vinification
  
  • Extensive use of new French and American oak barrels
  • Malolactic fermentation is often employed when making white wines
• Important AVAs
  
  • Carneros AVA
  • Stags Leap District AVA
  • Oakville AVA
  • Rutherford AVA
  • Howell Mountain AVA

Question 3

United States - California North Coast - Sonoma County

Answer 3

• Climate: cooler coastal area, with warmer zones moving inland. The fog and cool air create large diurnal shifts from night to day.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Red: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Zinfandel, Syrah
• Important Sonoma County AVAs
  
  • Carneros AVA
  • Sonoma Vally AVA
  • Sonoma Coast AVA
  • Alexander Valley AVA
  • Russian River Vally AVA
  • Dry Creek Valley AVA

Question 4

United States - California North Coast - Mendocino County

Answer 4

• Anderson Valley AVA
• Climate: Cool coastal
• Grape varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay
  • Red: Pinot Noir
• Vinification: Well-known for traditional method sparkling wine

Question 5

United States - California Central Coast - Monterey AVA

Answer 5

• Climate: Cool maritiem with fog and intense wind near the coast. Very warm to hot further south and inland.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay
  • Red: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel
• Viticulture
  
  • Vineyards site selection is important to protect from severe harsh winds funneled in from the Pacific

Question 6

United States - California Central Coast - Paso Robles AVA

Answer 6

• Climate: Generally, a very warm AVA with hot days and cool nights.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay
  • Red: Carbernet Sauvignon, Rhone Varieties (Granache, Syrah), Zinfandel

Question 7

United States - California Central Coast - Santa Barbara County

Answer 7

• Climate: Maritime, with a dramatic change in climate from the cool, wet and windy coast tot he warm and dry areas inland.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Red: Pino Noir, Rhone varieties (Grenache, Syrah), Bordeaux varieties (Carvernet Sauvignon, Merlot)
• Important AVAs
  
  • Santa Maria Valley AVA
  • Santa Ynez Valley AVA
  • Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Question 8

United States - Oregon

Answer 8

• Climate: Cool and maritime-influenced. The Coastal Range provides a rain shadow offering partial protection against storms headed eastward from the Pacific Ocean.
• Soil: Mix of volcanic, alluvial and clay
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling
  • Red: Pinot Noir (70% of plantings)
• Regional Wine Law
  
  • Oregon wine law is unique in that it requires a minimum of 90% of the grape variety stated ont he label. An exception is made for Cabernet Sauvignon which is allowed the standard 75%
  • A wine labeled by reference to an AVA within Oregon must contain a minimum 95% of grapes grown in that appellation.

Question 9

United States - Wahington State

Answer 9

• Climate: The Cascade Mt create a rain shadow protecting the entire eastern portion of the state from the rainy and cool weather from the Pacific. This protection creates a continental, high-desert climate with jot summers, very cold winters and little precipitation.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Chardonnay, Riesling
  • Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
• Viticulture
  
  • The desert-like conditions offer a dramatic diurnal differences of up to 40 degrees between day and night. Low temperatures allow the vines to rest and help preserve acidity and freshness int he wine.
  • Irrigation is essential. The Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers are the primary sources of water
• Important AVAs
  
  • Columbia Valley AVA
    
    • Yakima Valley AVA
    • Walla Walla Valley AVA

Question 10

United States - New York State

Answer 10

• Climate: Continental, with moderating influences of lakes and rivers for inland areas the Atlantic Ocean for coastal regions.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay
  • Red: Pino Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
  • Hybrid: Concord, Vidal
• Vitidulture: important to protect vines from deep freezes during the harsh winters and from mold in the warm, humid summer months.
• Important AVAs
  
  • Finger Lakes AVA
  • Hudson Valley AVA
  • Long Island AVA
  • Lake Erie AVA

Question 11

United States - Which governmental body controls the production and sale of beverage alcohol?

Answer 11

• TTB
  
  • FDA
  • IRS
  • FAA

Question 12

United States - For Rutherford AVA Merlot, what is the minimum percentage of Merlot that must be in the wine?

Answer 12

• 85%

Question 13

United States - Which of the following best describes the climate of the Anderson Valley along with its most well-known style of wine?

Answer 13

• Cool climate / sparkling wines
  
  • Cool climate / sweet wines
  • Warm climate / fortified wines
  • Warm climate / red wines

Question 14

United States - Which of the following is an AVA in SOnoma County?

Answer 14

• Russian River Valley
  
  • Rutherford
  • Stags Leap
  • Monterey

Question 15

United States - Who is credited with importing European vinifera vines to California?

Answer 15

• Agoston Haraszthy
  
  • Dr. Konstantin Frank
  • Robert Mondavi
  • David Lett

Question 16

United States - The Willamette Valley is best known for which grape variety?

Answer 16

• Pinot Noir
  
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Grenache
  • Merlot

Question 17

United States - What has the most dramatic influence on the climate of Columbia Valley AVAs?

Answer 17

• Rain shadow from the Cascade Mountains
  
  • Hail
  • Fog from the Pacific Ocean
  • Moderation fron the lakes and rivers