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Home , Anderson Valley AVA, Atlas Peak AVA, Bennett Valley AVA, Calistoga AVA, Chalone AVA, Edna Valley AVA

Central Valley

Central Valley Lodi AVA (est 1986) Clarksburg AVA Sierra Foothills (est 1987) (no longer part of Specification)

H 150,000 acres 69,000 acres. 42,000 ha. 5,700 acres planted. A

Southern half of Central Valley. Northern edge of San Joaquin Valley. NW Central Valley. Amador County. L O 300 miles long by 60 miles wide. East of San Fran Bay. Just SW of Sacramento. East of Sacramento. C South of Sacramento. West of the northern part of Lodi. Western border runs along Lodi. A West side of Sierra Nevada Mnts. T I 1200’-2000’ elevation. O N

C Winkler Zone V - Very warm to hot. Hot, dry summers. Mediterranean. Close to Bay = fog and cool UC Davis Region 3. L I 10 month growing season. Cold, rainy winters. Warm day, cool night. breezes. Breezes from mtns drop 30-35 deg temps in M the evenings. A T E

S Several feet of topsoil. Soil varies within AVA. Dense clay and loam. Sandy loam. O I Mostly deep loam occasionally covers with Granite. L large rocks similar to CdP.

V French - 28,000 acres. Best known for old vine Zin. Zin 2,300 acres. A - 16,000 acres. , Chardonnay, Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc. Cab Sauv 600 acres. R I - 14,000 acres. 560 acres. E Chard 289 acres. T Rhone varieties, , , I E , Petit Sirah. S

UC Davis developed to withstand heat Dry farming. V w/ high yields. (, Emerald Own rooted vines. I ) 600 acres, 60+ year old vines. T I Most extensive and intricate irrigation system ever built.

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S Central Valley is not an AVA. 5 AVAs in 8 counties. Alta Mesa AVA, Borden Ranch AVA, Lodi Woodbridge AVA: Sub-AVA’s: Fiddletown, Shenandoah, El U B San Joaquin Valley is not an AVA. Clements Hills AVA, Cosumnes River AVA, Dorado, Fair Play, North Yuba. - Jahant AVA, Mokelumme River AVA, R Sloughhouse AVA. E G I O N S

P >50% of total states’ crush. AVA was expanded in 2002 to include 100 wineries. R 30 wineries. (Gallo, Franzia, Constellation) southern and westerns areas. Most small, boutique. O D Woodbridge by Mondavi, Klinker Brick, U Peirano, Michael-David. C T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 North Central Coast (technically encompasses all land from San Francisco to Los Angelas, inland from coast to Central Valley)

Alameda ( AVA) Santa Clara Santa Cruz

H 1400 acres, 566 ha planted. 1500 acres, 607 ha planted. 1500 acres, 607 ha planted. A

L East of San Fran bay. “” San Fran peninsula to Santa Cruz. O Hides behind high hills. South of San Fran bay. West of Santa Clara. C A East of Santa Cruz mtns. Begins 400’ in the east, 800’ in the west. T Most in the south. Most vineyards at 2000’ elevation. I Steep slopes. O N

C Location behind high hills blocks fog. Warmer than most areas. Follows fog line. L I Warm. In-between cool air from bay and rising heat from Central Cooling influences from Hecker & Pajaro passes. Wide range of microclimates. M Valley. West side of mtns is the coolest. A Rain: 30” in the north, 50” south. T E Afternoon fogs.

S Gravel soils but stonier than Graves. Deep alluvial fans. San Andres fault runs through making soil generalities difficult. O I Gravelly, well drained. Thin soils on steep slopes. L More acidic due to rainfall & forrests.

V Sauv Blanc, Semillon: well suited to but losing flavor. Cab Sauv, Syrah, Zin, Chard, , Merlot. PN 25% A Zin, Petite Sirah: emerging as best quality. Cab Sauv 25% R I Chard: widely planted. Chard 25% E Riesling, Rhone varieties, Zin. T I E S

V Active sustainable practices. I 4 organic, more in certification. T I

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S U B - R E G I O N S

P Went, Concannon Vineyards. Almaden, Paul Masson. 50 wineries. R Ridge, David Bruce, Mt Eden, Fogarty, Storis, Bonny Donn. O D U C T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 North Central Coast con’t (technically encompasses all land from San Francisco to Los Angelas, inland from coast to Central Valley)

Monterey Santa Lucia Highlands AVA Carmell Valley AVA Chalone AVA Arroyo Seco AVA

H 40,000 acres planted. 6,100 acres planted. 300 acres planted. 300 aces planted. A

L 100 miles north to south abutting Paso Salinas Valley. Seaward facing. East side of Salinas Valley. West side of Salinas Valley. O Robles. Hillside vineyards. Steep slopes. Looks down to Arroyo Seco. South of Santa Lucia Highlands. Salinas Valley: a chute between Santa Terraces on Sierra de Salinas Vineyards above 1000’. High in Gavilan mtns. Lucia mtns to the west and Gavillan mtns. Named for nearby Chalone Peaks. ranges in the east. Typically 400’ to 600’, some as high as 1200’.

C North: cool, long growing season. Intense morning and afternoon Less wind and fog than Salinas Valley. Above the fog line. Notably low average day temps. L Summer 74F. sun. Warmer than northern end of Salinas Valley. Completely different climate than Arroyo Seco. Very long growing season. South: 100F at times. Winds and fogs increase in Western section more sheltered from winds. Valley allows cool air from Monterey Bay afternoon. with impressive winds. Very long growing season, into Nov.

S Sandy soils. Well drained gravelly loam. Granite. Calcareous. Pebbly gravel. O Glacial alluvial fans. Limestone. Absorbs heat at day and keeps grapes from Decomposed granite. freezing at night.

V Chard 50%. PN 2,500 acres. varieties. Chard, PN, PB Riesling, Gewürz: western section, promotes yearly A PN, Riesling: North. Chard 2,100 acres. botrytis. Bordeaux varieties: South. Rhone varieties. Chard. Cab Sauv: less successful.

V Most regions require extensive irrigation I from Salinas river.

V I

S Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Carmel Valley U AVA, Chalone AVA, Arroyo Seco AVA.

P Diageo, Brown Forman, Monday, Gallo, Pisoni, Gary’s, Caymus, Sleepy Bernardus. Chalone. R Delicato, Beringer, Constallation, Kendall Hollow. Jackson.

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 South Central Coast

San Luis Obispo Paso Robles AVA Edna Valley AVA Arroyo Grande Valley Santa Barbara County Santa Maria Valley AVA Santa Rita Hills AVA County AVA AVA

H 26,000 acres. 800 acres. 21,000 acres. 8,000 acres. 5,000 acres. A

Midway between San Fran Rolling hills east of Salinas Directly south of coastal 2 miles south of Edna 50 miles stretch. On San Luis Obispo Long east west corridor. Part of Santa Ynez Valley. L & Los Angeles. River. town SLO. Valley. Longest east/west traverse border. Between Purisima Hills to O Elevations from 700’-1000’ Steeper hillsides and Low hills on 3 sides allows 16 miles long. of shoreline from Alaska to Vineyards at valley floor the north. C A in the east to 850’-2000’ in canyons to the west. it to collect moisture laden East: northeast orientation, Cape Horn. 300’ to slopes and hillsides Santa Rosa Hills to the T the west. air from the ocean. allows Pacific breeze to up to 800’. south. I San Andreas fault runs moderate. Runs east to west. O N down eastern side of Valley divided by fog line. region.

Primarily maritime climate. East: hot with no direct Cool, even temps. One of the coolest in CA. East west running valleys Flood plain of Santa Maria Main valley much warmer. West valley causing a wine C Very mild winters. access for cooling ocean Fog cover. open to the Pacific allowing river runs true east to west. Sheltered by sea fogs by gap that funnels fog and L I Cooler summers than CA breezes. Long growing season. inland flow of fog and off Wide open to sea fogs. elevation and higher hills. ocean breezes. M norm. West: wooden terrain, shore breezes. Region 1 Winkler. Region II Winkler. Region 1 Winkler. A Mean July temp 61F/17C marine air cooled. Wind is serious Dinural swings of 26 deg. T E (same as Mosel Valley). Large diurnal swings of consideration. Best sites in 40-50 degrees. the lees of hills not on top.

Marine influenced. West side of 101: Clay rich soils. Sandy loam to clay loam. Botella clay loam or Carbonate infused. limestone, calcareous rich Monterey Shale with sandy S soils blended with dense loams, alluvial gravels, O I clay. chalk and marl. L East of 101: limestone with loam, clay mixed with sand. Deep and fertile.

Red grape territory. Chardonnay. Zin, Petite Sirah, Rhone Chard: 6000+ acres. PN, Chard, Syrah. Lower eastern side end PN, Chard: more austere V A Cab Sauv 38% Gewurztraminer: done well : grown on higher PN: 4000+ acres. best suited to PN, Chard, than Santa Maria. R Merlot 15% but not widely planted. elevations. Syrah: 1300 acres. Riesling. Syrah: peppery, leaner I Syrah 10% PN: variable. Chard, PN: cooler, mid- Western side: north/south body. E T Zin 9% valley vineyards. running canyons favor I warmer climate. Rhone, E Bordeaux, Sangiovese, S Nebbiolo, Syrah.

V Fungal disease threat Own rooted vines. I despite low rainfall. Clonal selection important. T I

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York Mountain AVA (not a S sub of Paso) U Very small area on the B western edge of Paso S Robles. Cooler region.

East: soft, easy drinking Talley, Latetia. 85% of vineyards owned Zaca Mesa, Firestone, Clos Pepe, Sanford, P Cab, Zin, Syrah. by 5 owners. Fess Parker. Babcock, Melville. R Corporate. Beringer, J Most grapes go to cellars O Lohr, Fetzer owning outside of county. D U thousands of acres. Byron, Qupe, Au Bon C West: smaller boutiques. Climat, Kendall Jackson. T Cool climate Syrah I O excelling. N 58% of harvest sold to other parts of the state. Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 Mendocino County

Mendocino County Mendocino AVA AVA Mendocino Ridge AVA Yorkville Highlands McDowell Valley AVA Redwood Valley AVA Potter Valley AVA AVA

16,700 acres planted. Est 1997. Est 1998. H Total AVA: 250,000 acres. A Total Planted: 75 acres.

Vineyards in southern half. East of Mendocino West of coastal ranges. West and South of Separates Anderson Valley Tiny, alcove of inland Most northern part of Most northern part of L Ranges. Follows Navarro river. Anderson Valley AVA. from Alexander Valley. Mendocino AVA. Mendocino AVA. Mendocino AVA. O Follows along Russian Steep hills, floor. Large area but only Sloping plateau. West of Potter Valley. East of Redwood Valley. C A River to Sonoma. 10 miles end to end. vineyards above 1200’ are East bank of Russian T Elevation rise from entitled. River. I 800-1300 ft. A series of disparate Favorable areas above O N mountain ranges. 1,000’ of gravel loam. Above coastal fog.

Wide range of Warmer, more Center and North receive Days are warmer than Slightly cooler than Slightly cooler than mesoclimates. mediterranean. more cooling fog than Anderson Valley but cooler surrounding areas. plantings to the south. C Ranges serve as rain South. at night. L I shadow and barrier to cool M Pacific fog. A Region III & IV Winkler. T E Avg July temps 73F. Rain mostly in winter (drought issues).

S Flood plains and alluvium Mostly deep alluvial soils. 20 types of alluvial soils. Rocky soil with high gravel Most soil unsuitable. O along Navarro and Russian content. I Rivers (Whites). Superior water drainage. L Benchlands (Reds).

V Chard: 4,300 acres. Cab Sauv & Blends around Chard, Riesling: delicate Nearly all Zin. Sauv Blanc, Cab, Merlot. Petit Sirah: first planted in Zin: more acidity, deeper Card, Sauv Blanc. A Cab Sauv: 2,600 acres. Russian River. with higher acidity. 1919. colored. PN: cooler microclimates. R I PN: 1,900 acres. Zin, Petit Sirah: bench Zin, Cab: grown above the Syrah: first planted in 1913. E lands. fog line but still slowed by T Chard. . I E Gewurz. S

V 25% of land organic. Shorter growing season Extremely long growing Active center for clonal I than Sonoma. season. research. T I Cab Sauv into November.

V Most grapes blended and I N labeled as Mendocino AVA. I

12 AVA’s. Coverall includes: Anderson Valley, Yorkville S Highlands, Mendocino U B Ridge, McDowell Valley, S Potter Valley, Russian River from Redwood Valley to Alexander Valley.

P Roederer (sparkling). McDowell Valley R Vineyards, 1st winery. O D U C T I O N Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 Napa Valley - N to S, W to E

Napa Valley AVA Calistoga AVA Diamond Mountain Spring Mountain District Howell Mountain AVA St Helena AVA Rutherford Ava District AVA AVA H 16,000 ha est 2010. est 2001. est 1993. est 1983. est 1995. est 1993. A 5,000 acres. 500 planted. 8,600 acres. 1,000 planted. 14,000 acres. 600 planted. 9,000 acres. ? planted. L 40 miles long x 1 mile wide. Northern Napa Valley AVA. SW of Calistoga. South of Diamond Mtn. Mtns east of Calistoga AVA. Centered around town. Centered around town. O Mayacamas Mtns to the west. NE of town. Sonoma county west line. North and west of St. Helena. 140 ft and up. Above the fog Flat narrow land between both Bench: long, alluvial land along C A Vaca Mtns to the east. Over 400 ft, higher than most East facing terraces on line. mountains. west side. T Mountain + hillside vineyards. Napa Valley AVAs. Mayacamas Mtns. Vaca Mtn. ranges. Valley floor. I Valley floor + benchlands. O N Sea level to 362 ft.

C South: Very cool region. Winkler Highest diurnal temp variation Less cool fog. Coolest and wettest in Napa. Receives more sun. Slightly warmer than L I 1. in Napa Valley. More direct sunlight. Mostly above fog line. Cooler at night. Rutherford. M North: Region 3. Calistoga. 100F day, 50F night. Cooler days and warmer nights A Eastern side of valley more arid. than valley floor. T E

S Large number of soil types. Volcanic. Very porous volcanic soil. Volcanic. Aiken loam. Volcanic soil with excellent Well-drained gravel, loam, O I South: alluvial deposits. Cools down quickly. Red, thin, infertile. drainage. sand with volcanic deposits. L North: volcanic lava, ask.

V 90% Red. CS, Zin. A CS, Merlot. R I E T I E S

V Vines ripen 2 weeks earlier on I Bench. T I

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1st sub-AVA in Napa Valley. S U B S

P AVA proposed by Bo Barrett 50 wineries: Charles Krug, Beaulieu, Inglenook, To Kalon, R (Ch Montelena). Chappellet, Duckhorn, Hertz, Rubicon. O D Louis Martini. U C T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 Napa Valley - N to S, W to E con’t

Oakville AVA Yountville AVA Stags Leap AVA Oak Knoll AVA Mount Veeder AVA Atlas Peak AVA Chiles Valley AVA

H 5,700 acres. 5,000 planted. est 1999. est 1989. est 2004. est 1990. est 1992. est 1999. A 2,700 acres. 1,200 planted. 8,300 acres. 3,500 planted. 15,000 acres. 1,000 planted. 11,000 acres. 1,500 planted. 6,000 acres. 1,000 planted.

L Just south of Rutherford. Centered around town. Between Oakville and Oak South of Yountville and Stags Southern end of Napa Valley. East of Stags Leap. West of St Helena and O Centered around town. West of Stags Leap, between Knoll. Leap. From top of mtn. (that West facing on Vaca Mtns. Rutherford. C A Oakville and Oak Knoll. West side of Vaca mtns. North of town Napa. separates Sonoma) to 400’ 768’ to 2663’ elevation. Nestled in Vaca Mtns. T Eastern side of valley. Valley floor. elevation. I >30 degree slopes. O N

C A bit cooler than Rutherford. One of the coolest in Napa Cool southern winds allow Close to . Warmer in the morning, above Above the fog line. Warmer. L I Warmer than Yountville and Valley. ripening same as Napa Valley. Cooler and more moderate fog line. West facing extends direct sun. More continental. M Stags Leap. Long growing season. than any other Napa region Cooler in the afternoon, close Wide diurnal swings, 30 Deg. Fogs and winds have difficulty A besides Carneros. to San Pablo Bay. reaching so far inland. T E

S Deep soils washed from mtns. Unique soil. Loam and clay Thin volcanic soil. Thin well-drained. O Large particles, well-drained. from river, volcanic soil from Volcanic. I Vaca Mtns. Cools down quickly. L 1200 ft vertical basalt palisade.

V CS (tannic) CS: lighter, supple tannins, Riesling, PN, Chard, Merlot. CS, Chard. Zin, Chard, CS, Sangiovese. Zin, CS, Chard, SB A sour cherry. R I Merlot. E T I E S

V West side are top Cab sites. Bud break 2 weeks earlier. I T I

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S U B S

P Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Stags Leap, Clos du Val, Trefethan, Biale, Lewis. Mayacamas, Hess. R Groth, Opus One, To Kalon, Shafer, Chimney Rock, O D Martha’s. Silverado. U C T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 Sonoma County - N to S, W to E

Sonoma County Fort Ross Seaview Dry Creek Valley AVA Alexander Valley AVA Knights Valley AVA Russian River Valley Green Valley AVA Chalk Hill AVA

H 61,000 acres planted. est 2012. est 1983. 1,600 acres. A 27,500 acres. 506 planted. 1,000 acres.

West of Dry Creek. West of Russian River. Follows Russian River Separates upper end Napa South of Dry Creek and West edge of RRV. NE corner of RRV. AVA does not overlap NNW of Russian River upstream from Healdsburg Valley and lower Alexander Alexander Valley. Most on western slopes of L O another. Valley. to Mendocino. Valley. Where the river bands Mayacamas mtns. C Steep, mountainous 12 miles long x 2 miles west to the Pacific. A terrain. wide. T I 1500ft mountains on the O west. N 600ft ridge between Alexander V.

Strong maritime influences. Above fog line. Warmer and wetter than Warmer than Santa Rosa Warmer than Dry Creek V. Regular intrusion of cooling Among coolest areas in Warmer than RRV due to a C Cool night and days. Rarely Longer periods of sunlight. surrounding areas. plain. Cooler (higher) than fog. CA. thermal belt. L gets hots. Warmer than land below. Alexander V. Fog flows through Close to ocean. I Fog through Petaluma Gap. Petaluma Wind Gap and M A Warmest summer dats 84F. Russian River channel. T Night temps 40F. Frost rare. Fogs arrive in the evening E Little to no rain during with 35-40 deg temp drops. harvest. Leaves in the morning.

S Valley floor: Alluvial Alluvial soils, valley floor. Clay: central lagoon. Volcanic soil (St Helena), O (whites). Gravel: rivers and creeks. which ash, sand, silt. I Coin-sizes gravel with red Pebbles and well drained L soil and clay-like texture. loams: gentle hillsides.

V Chard: 16,000 acres. Big body, bold fruits. SB, Zin. CS: chocolate, warmth. CS: star. Chard, PN. Chard, PN. Chard, SB. A SB: 2,500 acres. Chard: bold, ample. White & Red Bordeaux Zin: hillsides. R I CS: 12,000 acres. SB, Zin: very successful. grapes. E PN: 12,000 acres. best suited? T Merlot 5,300 acres. Merlot. I E Zin 5,200 acres. S

V Most plantings on valley I floor. T I

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15 AVA’s Hirsch, Flowers. Rockpile AVA Green Valley AVA S Chalk Hill AVA U B S

P Ridge, Geyser Peak, Silver Beringer developed region. Produces 30% of 10 wineries. Chalk Hill, Merry Edwards. R Oak, Clos du Bois, Simi, Peter Michael only winery. Sonoma’s grapes. O D Kendall Jackson, Gallo, Gallo expanded area U Jordan, Coppola, Murphy- 14,000 acres. C Goode. T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016 Sonoma County - Southern

Sonoma Coast AVA Sonoma Valley AVA AVA AVA Carneros AVA est. 2003 est 1985

H 500K acres. 7K planted. 8,140 acres. 650 planted. A

L From San Pablo Bay to Mendocino line. Centers on Sonoma Valley in southern part Almost completely within Sonoma Valley East facing slopes. Spans extreme south of Napa and Sonoma. O of county. AVA. 400ft to 1600ft. Just north of San Pablo Bay. C A Bordered by 2 mountain ranges. NW corner of Sonoma Valley. Separates Sonoma Valley from the Petaluma Sprawls across last low hills of Mayacamas. T Mayacamas, east. Sonoma, west. Surrounded south, east, and west by watershed to the west. Vineyards sea level to 400ft. I From RRV to Carneros. Sonoma Mtns. O N Santa Rosa to the north.

C Cool climate. Sonoma Mtns protects from rains and cold. More cooling influence than Sonoma Valley. Vineyards above fog line. Coolest and windiest in Sonoma and Napa L I High rainfall. Northern part is warmer. Cool costal fogs and breezes from the SW. Early morning sun. AVAs. M Broad range of mesoclimates. Diurnal swings low. Fogs and winds move north from the bay. A Winds cause stomata (slows metabolism, T E maintains acidity).

S Unusually thin well-drained rocky soils. Shallow soils and thin, 3ft deep. O I Poor drainage. L Rich in nutrients.

V Chard, PN: south. Barbera, CS (too cool to ripen), CF, Chard, CS, Zin: quality over fog line. Chard: 1/2 of plantings. A , Merlot, PN, SB, Syrah. PN: 40% of plantings. R I Merlot dominates. Some Merlot and Syrah. E Notable production. T I E S

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Petitions of sub-AVAs. Bennett Valley AVA Sub-AVA of Sonoma Valley AVA. S Sonoma Mountain AVA U B S

P Matanzas Creek Winery established the Laurel Glen. Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros, Codorniu, R AVA. Domain Chandon. O D U C T I O N

Brandon Thomas, DipWSET - thewalkinggrape.com - July 2016