New Sommelier Certification Explores the Petaluma Gap
Do you love learning about wine?
Are you fascinated by terroir?
Are you passionate about California pinot noir?
Are you a sommelier seeking certification?
Are you an ardent collector staying current on the California wine regions?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then you’re a potential candidate for the newly developed PGAP, Petaluma Gap Accreditation Program.
The Inside Scoop on PGAP
A newly developed educational initiative provides a deep dive into the unique growing conditions of the Petaluma Gap followed by an optional exam with certification.
Certification is appropriate for any members of the hospitality industry looking to expand their knowledge base. Consumers and wine enthusiasts are also welcome participate. have both listened to the Petaluma Gap training video and read the study guide. And I’m happy to report that I cover most of this information in my deep dive tasting experience.
So, in theory, you could join me for a tasting, we’ll talk all things Petaluma Gap, you’ll sample PG wines in context, and you’ll ace the certification exam. Wait, what? You’ve never heard of the Petaluma Gap? Let’s start at the beginning.
A Little Background About Me
I was born in Philadelphia, on a dark and stormy night (kidding!).
The Petaluma Gap is a new-ish AVA, American Viticultural Area, a federally recognized wine-growing region defined by unique wine-growing conditions.
In this case, the Petaluma Gap AVA is defined by a very specific wind pattern that alters grape physiology, mitigates grape ripening, and affects the way the wine tastes in your glass. The Petaluma Gap gained AVA status in December 2017, meaning any wine bottled after this date can use the Petaluma Gap designation on its labels.
So far, our conversation about the Petaluma Gap has been very broad. But if you’re a hospitality professional seeking sommelier certification, you’ll need the nuts and bolts.
Here is the biggest takeaway: the Petaluma Gap is the first (& only) AVA defined by a wind pattern, quite literally.
In defining the boundaries for the Petaluma Gap AVA, anemometers recorded a wind speed of 8 mph. If the wind meter didn’t hit 8 mph, the committee moved the boundary. And please commit the 8 mph threshold to memory. Fairly recently, a friend sitting for his master sommelier certification and exam emailed me to confirm the Petaluma Gap wind speed definition. Apparently, this question appeared on a study guide. And now you know!
What makes the wind so important? Firstly, Pacific breezes keep grapes cool. Grapes that stay cool maintain their acidity, yielding wines that are bright, fresh, vibrant, and cellar-worthy.
Secondly, the wind thickens grape skins. Since flavor, color, and texture compounds live in the skins, a thicker skin allows winemakers to extract more color and flavor than you might expect for a “cool climate” grape. Although some Petaluma Gap grapes live many miles from the coastline, the grapes believe they have beach-front property, because those beachy, coastal winds pound the vines every afternoon, like clockwork. Thicker skins lead to complex aromas, richer flavors, and more body.
Thirdly, a cooling wind slows sugar accumulation, so sweetness increases slowly, in conjunction with seeds and skin ripeness, with tannins and acidity. In other words, that aggressive cooling wind promotes balance, elegance, and harmony in all components of the wine.
Lastly, the wind mitigates Botrytis pressure, drying out the morning fog that creeps in from the Pacific, blanketing the vineyards with an eerie but beautiful grey mist. Wine professionals contemplating sommelier certification or expanding their wine credentials should consider the PGAP accreditation program.
What About Consumers?
What about consumers? Of course, consumers are welcome to explore the Petaluma Gap, both with academic rigor and through wine tasting. The more wines tasted from the Petaluma Gap, the better your palate becomes at recognizing the attributes of the region and the wind.
Certification is even offered to private groups and tourist who are passionate about wine education. And here’s a little secret. It’s free to listen to the PGAP training video online. And it's free to download the course study guide.
So consumers can study the Petaluma Gap AVA in exacting detail before even visiting Sonoma County! Then when you arrive for a tasting (or two, or three), you’ll be fully fluent in Petaluma Gap facts.
Wine professionals requiring sommelier certification may be wondering how to acquire accreditation. The official sommelier certification exam is offered online for a nominal fee. Enhancing your sommelier certification with PGAP accreditation can only enhance your confidence, strengthen your resume, and deepen your knowledge base.
If you’re a wine professional, the ways that wind alters grape physiology are good to know. If you prefer a formal classroom setting, Odyssey Wine Academy offers the accreditation program in person.
Everybody knows that the best part of studying wine is drinking wine. What about consumers wanting to sip something delicious and local to the Gap? Seek out wine tastings and wine experiences from producers who make wine from Petaluma Gap grapes. The Petaluma Gap website highlights wineries and winemakers who source fruit from the Petaluma Gap.
In fact, exploring the Petaluma Gap website is a great place to begin your PG wine journey. The website is rich in detail, appropriate for both professionals seeking sommelier certification and wine enthusiasts interested in exploring Sonoma County terroir.
If you’re curious enough to taste many Petaluma Gap wines in one place, I hope you’ll join me on August 13, 2022 at the Wind to Wine Festival. Nearly 20 Petaluma Gap wineries will unite to share wine and stories and food and music, celebrating everything that makes the Petaluma Gap so special. In the Petaluma Gap, our tagline is “wind to wine.” It’s undeniable that wind pushing off the Pacific at Bodega Bay ruffles the Petaluma Gap wine grapes and alters their physiology. But it’s the winemakers and people behind the wines that bring the story of the Petaluma Gap to life.
Join me at our upcoming Wind to Wine Festival. Taste the wines and taste the terroir. And who knows, after a few hours of sipping Petaluma Gap pinot, you just might ace that accreditation exam!
Can’t make it to Wind to Wine Festival?
Visit me in Sonoma County for a 1:1 wine tasting. We’ll talk all things pinot noir and Petaluma Gap. Oh, and sommelier certification, too.