20 Australia Flashcards
How is the domestic sales and the export split?
- 89% domestic sales
- 11% export
Which percentage of the total Australian wine production has sparkling wine?
less than 6%
How has the export changed in the resent years?
it have risen up driven by Moscato, Shiraz & Australian Prosecco
Decline- traditional method
which sparkling wine production methods are used?
- traditional method
- transfer method
- tank method
- carbonisation
Which styes of sparkling wine is produced?
- classic traditional method Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier blends
- tank method from Glera/Prosecco and Moscato
- sparkling Shiraz
- Pet Nat in very small quantities
Where are the grapes for traditional method sparkling wines grown?
- Tasmania
- Yarra Valley (led by Domain Chandon)
- Adelaide Hills
- Victoria (alpine regions)
- New South Wales (higher altitude)
Which is the leading state for the production of sparkling and why?
- Tasmania
- du to a joint venture in the mid-1980s between the Tasmanian company Heemskerk and Louis Roederer
Which amount of the total grape production in Tasmania goes into the sparkling wine production?
36% in 2020
Why is are the two close regions Tamar Valley and Piper’s River different in temperature?
- Tamar Valley is warmer due to it’s sheltered from the Southern Ocean
How dose the warmer temperatures in Tamar Valley influence the date of harvest in comparison to Piper’s River?
harvest in Tamar Valley is two weeks before Piper’s River
How is the temperature of the coldest areas of Tasmania in comparison to Champagne?
the temperature is cooler than in Champagne but with higher sunlight intensity due to its latitude
Which change within Tasmania is currently discussed?
- create named sub-zones within Tasmania
- currently they label their wines as Tasmanian
Which are the main hazards for premium sparkling wine?
- spring frost
- high rainfall
- coulure
- botrytis
Where dose the grapes for inexpensive sparkling wines come from?
- Riverland
- Riverina
- Murray-Darling
labeled as “South Eastern Australia”
What’s the difference for inexpensive sparkling wine to premium sparkling wines in terms of vineyard management?
- irrigation is used
- mechanisation is standard
How is yield and price for inexpensive grapes in comparison with premium grapes
- yield is two or three times higher as in cooler areas
- price is just around one-quarter of the price of premium grapes
What is the exception to the general rule of choosing cooler sites and picking early at sparkling Shiraz?
the grapes are grown in warmer-climate regions (Central Victoria, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale) to get the required richness and intensity of flavours and picked at the same time as for still wines
When are the grapes picked for sparkling Shiraz?
at the same time as for still wines
Where dose the grapes for sparkling Shiraz grow?
- central Victoria
- Barossa Valley
- McLaren Vale
Which styles of traditional sparkling wines are produced?
- non-vintage
- vintage
- prestige cuvée
- rosé
How are the lees aging times for traditional sparkling wines
- similar to the Champagne (without having this requirements)
What is a standard of lees aging time?
- similar to Champagne but not restricted by its rules
Premium producers - three or more years as standard
| - more than six years for “late disgorged” wines (e.g. Jansz and Arras
Where dose the Tasmanian producers produce their sparkling wines?
- large producers pressing their grapes in Tasmania and transporting the refrigerated juice or base wine to their own winery in mainland Australia
- smaller producer make their wine in Tasmania (small volume production can be carried out by hand and limited machinery (e.g. gyro palette))
Describe the style of a premium traditional method sparkling wine from Australia
- medium (+) to high acidity
- medium alcohol
- medium (-) to medium (+) body and flavour intensity (depending on the and length on the lees)
- softly fruity (citrus and apple aromas)at lighter styles
- autolytic notes at fuller bodied styles
- MLC or None
Which production methods are used for inexpensive and mid-priced sparkling wines?
- transfer method
- tank method
- carbonation
Describe the style of an inexpensive or mid-priced sparkling wine
- medium to medium (+) acidity
- everything between dry to medium-sweet
- low to medium alcohol
- light to medium body
- citrus, ripe peach and apricot aromas
- little autolytic character (just for some transfer wines)
Which are the main brand for inexpensive or mid-priced sparkling wine?
- Brown Brothers
- Jacob’s Creek
- Yellowglen
Which production methods are used for sparkling Shiraz?
- traditional method for very good to outstanding quality
- transfer method, tank method or carbonation for acceptable to good wines
Describe the style of a sparkling Shiraz
- deep colour from ruby to garnet
- medium (-) to medium acidity
- medium to high alcohol
- medium but ripe and soft tannins (balanced by dosage)
- commonly more than 20g/l residual sugar (to balance tannins and high alcohol)
- medium to full-body
- medium to pronounced intensity
- MLC is done
- less autolytic notes to not mask the other flavours
Describe the style of a sparkling Moscato
- low alcohol
- medium acidity
- vary from off-dry to sweet
- distinctive fruity Moscato grapes flavours
- acceptable to good quality
Which Moscato style is growing in the Australian wine market?
pink Moscato (e.g. Innocent Bystander)
Why do Australia still use the word Prosecco for the grape variety Glera?
they argument that the first Australian Prosecco was made before Italy changed the name form the grape variety to a PDO (first Australian Prosecco 2004, change of name Italy 2009)
How is the label term for Australien Prosecco if exported to the EU or other markets?
- EU: must be labelled as Glera
- other markets e.g. China: still labeled as Prosecco
Describe the style of a Australien Prosecco
- mostly done in tank method (some are carbonated)
- medium (+) acidity
- medium alcohol
- light to medium body
- delicate white peach flavors
- off-dry to medium-dry
- good to very good quality
- mostly made by small quality producers
Describe the style of a Australien Pet Nat
- white, rosé or red
- quite cloudy
- varying levels of pressure (slightly sparkling to fully sparkling
- usually dry
- medium (+) acidity
- medium alcohol
- light to medium (+) body
- medium to pronounced flavour intensity
What is a difference between the wine law in Australia and e.g. the EU?
- Australien winemakers are not constrained by wine law to varieties permitted within geographical indications
- they are able to introduce new styles such as sparkling Shiraz
What happens due to the success of Tasmanian traditional method sparkling wines?
large producer are looking to buy smaller producers (e.g. Brown Brothers bought Tamar Ridge and Accolade owns a range of brands including House of Arras and Bay of Fires)
How big is the sales of Australian sparkling in the domestic market?
12%
How has the sales for sparkling wines changed in the last years?
- Australian Prosecco reached 6.5 million liter in 2020-2021
- Australian Moscato tripled in production between 2014 and 2017 (but less than half of Prosecco)
- sparkling Shiraz decreased production size (may be due to the increase of the other sparkling wines, reduced interest in high alcohol & new interest in foreign wines)
- Pet Nat increased sales in wine bars in the domestic market
