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A STUDY IN WINE Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling & Zinfandel Wines of the USA Fall 2016 Paula Woolsey CSW INTRODUCTION ■ Thousands of individual grape varieties are used to make wine throughout the world. Some stats show up to 10,000 with over 1,500 “commonly used” ■ Most of these varieties are indigenous, meaning they are unknown outside their country of origin. ■ “International" varieties - are grown successfully all over the planet. ■ All international varieties, and indeed most indigenous varieties, are of the species vitis vinifera. ■ The world's grapevine configuration changes on an ongoing basis because of changes in consumer taste and wine-style preference. ■ As one grape variety wanes in popularity, another often takes its place. ■ New clones are always being refined, and new crosses developed, both for the fruit-bearing vines themselves and for rootstocks. The Goal – Balance! The Ingredients The finished product Don’t forget to look out for the Flaws Chardonnay ■ Chardonnay comes first for a reason: the grape, and the wine it produces, is the world's most widespread. ■ Genetic studies have identified Chardonnay as a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc ■ Some Chardonnay wines are light and flinty, with notes of apple. Others are full- bodied with characteristics of butterscotch, caramel, vanilla beans and nuts. ■ Old World Chardonnay tends to be subtle, while New World Chardonnay is more fruit-forward. ■ Chardonnay ripens to high sugar levels, resulting in wines with high alcohol levels. ■ The grape also leads to wine with good levels of extract, that is, concentration of flavor. ■ The highest-end Chardonnay can develop flavors and subtleties with bottle aging. ■ Chardonnay growers must time their harvests well to ensure that the grapes do not lose too much acidity as they ripen (a tendency with the grape Regional Differences in Color or Wine Viticulture Winemaking ■ Chardonnay is native to the ■ Chardonnay tends to exhibit a neutral flavor Burgundy region of France and is showing green apples and minerals. a mainstay for the iconic ■ Techniques such as malolactic fermentation, sur sparkling wines of nearby lie aging and stirring, barrel fermentation and Champagne. barrel aging to promote a wider array of aromas ■ Both these regions have chalky and flavor. soil and cool to moderate ■ Old World: these techniques are used with a climates, ideal for Chardonnay. gentle hand, the aim being subtle notes that ■ Chardonnay is a relatively easy balance well with the wine's other grape to grow. It buds early, characteristics. bringing some frost-damage ■ New World: more assertive in their approach, issues in cooler climates, but it specifically aiming for the distinct taste of also ripens early, lessening the toasted oak and the buttery characteristic of chance of damage from autumn full malolactic fermentation. frosts and unwanted harvest season rain. ■ Chardonnay has medium to high alcohol levels and covers the full range of acidity: low, medium, and high, depending upon where it is grown and when it was picked. Production Areas - Chardonnay Production Areas: Beyond Burgundy and Champagne, Chardonnay is a major grape in both American and Australian vineyards. South Africa, Spain, Chile and Argentina are increasing their production. New Zealand's production is significant. Chardonnay also grows in Germany (called Klevner) and in Austria (called Morillon). Positive Attributes Negative Attributes Ripens reliably and to high sugar levels Loses acidity quickly as it ripens Winter-hardy Thin skin makes it susceptible to rot California California Chardonnay Chardonnay is California's most widely planted wine grape, with 97,826 acres reported in 2014. Chardonnay far and away remains the most popular wine in the U.S. and has continued to be the leading varietal wine for the last decade, with sales increases every year. In 2014, California crushed 718,000 tons of Chardonnay, and more than 54 million cases. ■ 85% of the vineyard acreage in the United States ■ California produces more than 90% of American wine. ■ California is ideal for wine production. Rain falls largely in the winter, leaving a dry growing season ■ Damaging winter freezes are almost entirely absent. ■ California’s sunshine is legendary, and that is good for grapes, ■ Significant ocean and river influences. The Growing regions marked in YELLOW areas are ideal for Chardonnay ■ The North Coast Super AVA encompasses the leading fine wine counties in California. • Napa: Warm days cool nights Cabernet Sauvignon is king here. • Sonoma: Warm and cool-climate regions, coastal influence. Pinot Noir & Chardonnay. • Mendocino: Mostly cool climate with some hot spots. Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Chardonnay & Riesling • Lake: Relatively warm climate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. ■ Sonoma shares the cool climate Los Carneros AVA with Napa, ■ Just above Carneros is cool-climate Sonoma Valley, which encompasses the smaller Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Valley AVAs. ■ Cool air also comes into Sonoma through breaks in the mountains along the Pacific Coast, particularly the gap where the Russian River flows into the ocean. ■ Russian River Valley and Green Valley AVAs produce cool-climate grapes. ■ Chardonnay accounts for 80% of Sonoma’s white wines, and Pinot Noir, is widely grown. ■ Santa Maria Valley straddles the line between San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbera County to its south, a cool climate region with major ocean fog influence. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are specialties. ■ Santa Ynez Valley runs east/west, showing average temperature gains of approximately one degree per mile the further east (and away from the ocean) one goes. ■ Santa Rita Hills sub-AVA, is decidedly cool, just the spot for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In Santa Ynez proper, Chardonnay thrives in the west, Rhône varietals led by Syrah further east. Tasting - Chardonnays from California ■ 2014 Cambria Clone 4 Estate, Santa Maria ■ 2013 Selby Winery, Russian River Valley ■ 2012 Starmont Winery, Carneros Napa ■ 2011 Pedroncelli Vintage Sel, Dry Creek Valley 2014 Cambria Clone 4 Estate Santa Maria AVA I. Estate grown, produced and bottled 1,405 acre Estate managed and farmed by Cambria Estate Winery II. Family Owned In Barbara Banke purchased the vineyards formerly known as Rancho Tepusquet and renamed it Cambria, the Roman name for Wales, in honor of her family heritage. III. Santa Maria Bench East - West orientation of Santa Maria Valley allows unobstructed access to coastal wind and fog, which creates California’s longest growing season. The winery sits on the Santa Maria Bench, home to more than 17 unique and distinct soil types, which contributes complexity to each bottling. IV. Single-Vineyard Chardonnays & Pinot Noirs Award-winning wines in the over $15 category CLONES • Over the years, winegrowers have systematically isolated individual vines that possess special attributes or abilities and propagated those vines for commercial production. • The special attributes include heightened aromatics, better color, thicker texture, higher/lower yields, resistance to pests and disease, ability to grow in arid or wet conditions, high quality and overall complexity. • Clone 4 makes up the majority of Chardonnay vines on the Cambria Estate. It produces a complete, stand-alone wine that is consistent from year to year. • Its characteristics include pineapple, citrus blossom, tangerine, pink grapefruit and stone fruit. Time to Taste Wine #1 2013 Selby Winery Russian River AVA I. Vineyards are in Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys, the best of Sonoma County. II. Family owned “My father taught me that wine is an incredible combination of art, science and nature. I am privileged to be a winemaker and proud to present my wine in honor of my father.” III. Only use sustainable and organic vineyards. IV. Favorite wine RRV Chardonnay Vineyards • Russian River Valley vineyards are situated on low hills on either side of the river, which meanders through western Sonoma County until it empties into the ocean at Jenner. • Russian River vineyards are often cloaked in cool fog, which provides our Chardonnay with delicious lemony fruit and our Pinot Noir with blackberry-like flavors. Time to taste wine #2 2012 Starmont Chardonnay Napa Carneros AVA I. A state-of-the-art “green” winery to craft premium wines from sustainably farmed grapes. II. Starmont is located at the entrance to the Napa Valley on the historic Stanly Ranch, one of the first vineyards planted in the valley, built by agricultural pioneer Judge John Stanly in 1872. III. 50 acre vineyard is planted to chardonnay, viognier, pinot noir, and syrah. IV. Starmont is committed to protecting and preserving the environment. V. Our goal is to capture the essence of the Napa Valley’s premier vineyards in rich, complex, supple wines that pair well with food and are accessibly priced. Time to taste wine #3 2011 Pedroncelli Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley AVA ■ Giovanni and Julia Pedroncelli came to Dry Creek Valley in 1927 to purchase vineyard, a home and winery. ■ In 1934, after selling the grapes during Prohibition, they added winemaking to the family business. ■ Sons John and Jim Pedroncelli followed in their parents’ footsteps, John heading up winemaking and grape growing while Jim took the reins selling and marketing their wines. ■ Their goal, as the next generation, is to honor and build on the success of the first two generations. The Dry Creek Valley AVA is within the Sonoma County AVA The valley is formed by Dry Creek, a tributary of the Russian River, and is approximately 16 miles long and 2 miles wide The appellation benefits from the proximity of the Lake Sonoma reservoir for irrigation in this relatively dry area. Sustainable Stewardship As a family who has farmed for over 85 years in the Dry Creek Valley, you could say that they have ‘sustainable’ in their DNA. Time to taste wine #4 Washington Chardonnay Washington State ■ 7,654 acres 3,097 hectares ■ Chardonnay is one of the best manifestations of the state's special winemaking character.

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