28. Australia Flashcards
Overview
- Vines are confined to SE corner of the country -> 30°-37°S
- Tasmania to the S is the notable exception -> 41-42°S
- Wide range of climates
o Inland, vast Murray-Darling Basin -> hot continental
o Coonawarra -> moderate maritime
o McLaren Vale -> warm Mediterranean - Soils -> very complex geology and virtually all known rock types found
- Most of the world’s commercially grown grapes -> growing somewhere
o Shiraz, Chardonnay, CS, Merlot, SB, PG
o Black grapes à 54%
South Eastern Australia
o Vast zone -> created to allow blending
o Most wines -> inexpensive, high-volume
§ Riverland, Murray Darling and Riverina
SEA, South Australia
§ Largest wine-producing state by volume
§ Considerable diversity of climate, topography and soils
Barossa Zone
* Black grapes
* Shiraz is dominant
* Barossa Valley o Sheltered location -> warm climate o Signature variety -> Shiraz o CS + Grenache o Whites-> small%(Chardonnay main grape) o Small batches of prem-priced wines * Eden Valley o Rolling, exposed hills o Vines up to over 600m -> cooler climate o Most planted variety -> Riesling o Most planted black grape -> Shiraz o Good to outstanding and mid to prem
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
* Range of mountains to E of Adelaide
* Adelaide Hills o Cool maritime climate o mostly White grapes-> SB o PN o Good to outstanding and mid to prem * Clare Valley o Warm climate with cold nights o Well-known for its Riesling o Shiraz and CS o Good to outstanding and mid to prem
Fleurieu Zone
* Strong maritime influence
* Suitable for producing high Y of ripe grapes
* McLaren Vale o Warm to hot summers -> winds moderate o Complex geology -> many major soils o Black grapes -> over 90% § Shiraz (50%), CS, Grenache o old, dry-farmed bush-vine Shiraz and Grenache o Good to outstanding and mid to prem
Limestone Coast Zone
* Moderate maritime climate
* Recognised as producing some of Australia’s finest
red wines -> CS from Terra Rossa
* Significant plantings of Shiraz
* Chardonnay and Riesling
* Small batches of prem-priced wines
Victoria
§ Wide range of conditions
§ More focused on quality than quantity
Port Phillip Zone
* Proximity to the sea -> moderates the climate
* Suitable for early-rip grapes -> Chard and
PN
* Yarra Valley o Cool to moderate climate -> variation due to altitude o more black (PN) o Chard o Good to outstanding and mid to prem * Mornington Peninsula o Cool to moderate climate -> often windy (cooling effect) o PN o Chard o Good to outstanding and mid to prem * Geelong o Cool climate, coast moderates region -> often windy o Chard and PN dominant cool sites o Shiraz and CS -> warmer sites o Good to very good and mid to prem * Macedon Ranges o 1 of coolest climates in mainland o Chard + PN o Riesling is a speciality, Shiraz also produced
Western Victoria Zone
* Pyrenees and Grampians -> extensions of GDR
o Best known for Shiraz
* Henty -> recognised for its cool climate, elegant o 1 of the coldest mainland regions o Riesling à signature grape
North East Victoria Zone
* Continental climate
* King Valley o Merlot and CS o Pinot Gris o Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo o Good to very good and mid to premium-priced * Beechworth o Vines 200-1,000 m -> wide range of climates o Chardonnay, Shiraz, PN, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo
Central Victoria Zone
* Varied conditions
* Warm, flat plains of Goulburn Valley and Bendigo ->
ripe, full-bodied reds
* Cooler regions -> High-quality white wines from
Chardonnay, Riesling and SB
* Heathcote o Vines at 160-320 m o Black grapes dominate o Shiraz o Good to outstanding and mid to prem
Gippsland Zone
* Vineyards and wineries -> very diffuse
* Chardonnay and PN
* CS and Merlot -> found on sheltered, warm
New South Wales
§ Climate mainly continental -> very hot and dry
Hunter Valley Zone
- Hunter region
o Hotter and most humid wine regions
o White and black grapes -> grown almost
equally
o Famous for its unique expression of Sémillon
§ Dry, light-bodied, high in acidity, and
low in alcohol
Central Ranges Zone
* Continental climate
- Mudgee
o Northernmost -> lower and warmer than
Orange
o Black grapes are more common
o Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon - Orange
o Vines mainly at 600-900 m
o Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon - Cowra
o Lower and warmer than Orange
o Chardonnay dominates in Cowra
Southern New South Wales Zone
* Continental climate -> altitude providing a cooling
influence
- Canberra District
o Most black grapes -> Shiraz is the most planted
o Riesling is the most important white
o Good to outstanding and mid to premiumpriced - Hilltops -> to the N of Canberra
o Vines at a range of altitudes
o Increasingly recognised for quality
o Shiraz, Cab Sauvignon and Chardonnay - Tumbarumba -> to the S of Canberra
o Slightly cooler
o Increasingly recognised for quality
o PN and Chardonnay
Tasmania
§ Cool maritime climate -> latitude 41–43°S
§ Less than 1% of total wine production
§ Two dominant grapes -> PN (42%) and Chardonnay (28%)
§ Key producer of premium-priced wines
Tasmania
§ Cool maritime climate -> latitude 41–43°S
§ Less than 1% of total wine production
§ Two dominant grapes -> PN (42%) and Chardonnay (28%)
§ Key producer of premium-priced wines
Western Australia
o Production is small -> 3% of country’s total volume
o Focus on premium wines
Margaret River
§ SW corner -> Western Australia’s best-known region
§ Warm Maritime, gravelly soils
§ CS most planted -> often blended with Merlot
§ Key white grapes -> SB, Chardonnay and Sémillon
Great Southern
§ Large, diverse region
§ Black grapes 55% -> Shiraz 30%, CS also important
§ Five official subregions have been created à over 50%
§ Albany and Denmark have a maritime climate
§ Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup à
continental climate (altitude is a cooling influence)
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§ Riesling is flagship white -> but less planted than SB,
Chardonnay
§ Good to outstanding and mid to premium-priced
