CLIMATE

cold California ocean currant

coast line mountainous, shielding state from cooling
effects of ocean
cold air, with fogs, drawn in from the ocean in evening,
lowering night-time T°
- sometimes too dramatic to ripen grapes
in Central Valley, climate is hot: no exposure to ocean
lack of rain during ripening season — drip irrigation
widely practiced
- extra "hang time" of grapes concentrated flavors, high
sugar

BLACK
• Cabernet Sauvignon
- full-bodied, cassis, prominant spices from new oak
- some less rich, fresher blackcurrant
• Zinfandel
- range of styles — ripens unevenly — bunch include
raisins and unripe grapes
- results in concentrated, f body reds h alcohol, some
residual sugar
- black and red fruits, dried berries, liquorice
- some herbaceaus from underripe grapes
- white Zin: rosé
- early picked grapes — fruity, low alcohol, pale, m-
sweet
• Merlot
- approachable, soft tannins, ripe black fruit
- San Joaquin in Central Velley has lots, cheap
- better come from Monterey, North Coast, like Napa,
Sonoma
- soft, velvery tannins, luscious body, high alcohol,
blackberry/plum
• Pinot Noir
- Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Santa Maria Valley
- styles range widely
- some light, gamey, vegetal
- most ripe red (cherry, strawberry) sweet oak spice
• Syrah
- full bodied, rich, sometimes leaner and pepery —
planted everywhere

WHITE
• Chardonnay
- everywhere, some cheap, high v with fruity, l-m acid,
toasty from oak staves/chips
- nice full bodied, high alcohol, low acid, oak, hazelnut,
butter, peach, banana
• Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc
- best from coastal regions
- high acid, ripe citrus
- cheap fruity stuff comes from warmer regions
- Fumé sometimes implies oaked style

REGIONS
most produced in central valley

• North Coast
north of San Francisco Bay
cool from ocean, fog
- Napa Valley
- Mayacamas Mountains to west form boundary with
Sonoma
- Vaca Mountains to east form boundary with central
vineyards
- morning fogs, cool afternoon breezes from San Pablo
Bay
- Los Carneros most S VY, cool enough for high Q Pinot
Noir, Chardonnay
- Stags Leap Distrcit, Oak Ville, Rutherford, all good
Cabernet Sauvignon
- also Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, lots of
tropical fruit flavors
- N of valley Saint Helena and Calistoga warmest, most
concentrated full bodied
- Howell Mountain hot
- Mount Veeder hot

• Sonoma and Mendocino

- Russian River Velley cool, foggy
- elegant Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, sparkling wines
- Dry Creek Valley
- densely planted
- old vine Zins, Rhône varieties
- Alexander Valley warmer, wines more fleshy, full
bodied
- Sonoma Coast: Q chardonnays, also old vine Zins
- Mendocino: very large and diverse—some German
stuff, and normal stuff

• Central Coast
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- diverse region, most elegant Cabernet Sauvignons,
high Q Pinot/Chardonnay
- Monterey
- big influence from Pacific
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noire, then Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Syrah when cold falls
- San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
- Paso Robles
 - two distinct zones: east hot, sunny, fertile, west cool,
zin/Rhône
- Santa Maria Valley
- Cooler, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

• Central Valley
- high volumne cheap
- Lodi: coolest, best Zinfandel