31 - Australia Flashcards
Describe the export boom of the 1980s and the subsequent decline.
Describe factors driving both.
Boom
Australia’s wine production boomed –> became world’s 5th largest exporter
- Via varietal labelling and including taste descriptors
- Ripe, approachable styles
Plantings rose from 59,000ha –> 170,000ha in late 2000s
Re-adjustments
Plantings fell from 170,000ha –> 146,000ha
- Global oversupply - many countries copying ripe, accessible style
- Strong Aussie dollar
- Series of droughts increased cost of irrigation
–> outcome is vine pull and refocus on smaller production / higher val bottlings
Describe the climatic conditions of Australia.
Range of climates from cool - hot and Mediterranean - continental depending on:
a) exposure to ocean influence –> Indian and Southern Ocean, flat topography allows breezes to penetrate far inland e.g. Coonawarra; some areas protected by mountain ranges e.g. Murray-Darling
b) altitude e.g. Great Dividing Range from Queensland to western Victoria
Intense sunlight due to low altitudes (30-37 degrees south = southern Europe)
Low rainfall e.g. Riverland 135mm during growing season due to rainshadow of GDR
What are the main climatic challenges in Australia? (5)
Drought very low levels of rainfall + high evapo mean irrigation necessary but water scarce
Spring frost in cooler areas
Sunburn due to low latitudes
Forest/bush fires due to heat and dryness
Soil salinity due to lack of rainfall
Outline the reasons for the difference in the climatic conditions between the Hunter Valley, Riverland and Tasmania. (3)
Hunter Valley hot, humid
Murray-Darling hot, continental, dry
Tasmania cool, maritime
1. Latitude Hunter Valley at low latitude 32S vs. Tasmania at 41S
2. Rainshadows MD largely protected from tropical storms by GDR, Hunter Valley to east of GDR so not protected –> MD gets around 135mm of rain, Hunter Valley gets 500mm
3. Continenality Tasmania exposed to cold Southern Ocean, MD protected by GDR and location inland
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of Australia’s climate for viticulture? (6)
+ Minimal disease pressure
+ Plenty of sunshine
+ Consistent warmth
- Lack of water –> requires irrigation –> limited water supply
- Excessive heat + sunshine –> excessive ripeness
- Managing vigour due to heat (when vines are irrigated)
Where is water for irrigation sourced? (3)
- Rivers e.g. Murray-Darling Basin –> but can run low
- Stored rainwater e.g. regions with some winter rainfall e.g. Adelaide Hills
- Unground water sources e.g. Coonawarra
Due to plentiful warmth and sunlight as well as fertile soil, irrigated vines can be vigorous. How is this commonly managed? (2)
- Divided canopy systems e.g. Scott-Henry
- Old vines esp. of Shiraz and Grenache
Why is much Australian viticulture mechanised?
- Many regions are flat e.g. Murray-Darling
- High labour costs
- Many vineyards far from towns and cities - limited labour availability e.g. Murray-Darling
- Night harvesting important in hot climates as grapes ripen quickly
- Improvements mean machine harvesters can limit grape splitting
What is the impact of soil salinity and how can it be managed?
More difficult for vine to get water –> slow growth, death
Chardonnay esp. sensitive
- Suitable rootstocks
- Changing irrigation patterns –> supply more water, less frequently
Which areas of Australia have phylloxera? Why do growers graft their vines in non-phylloxera zones?
Phylloxera present in Victoria and New South Wales
Grafting used as insurance against future outbreaks, to improve drought and salinity tolerance
Which regions of Australia have unusually high levels of humidity? (4)
Adelaide Hills
southern Victoria
Hunter Valley
parts of Tasmania
All are exposed to ocean influence
Roughly what % of production is certified sustainable?
25% by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
What are the two main natural pests?
How is each dealt with?
Birds and kangaroos
Birds –> netting
Kangaroos –> nothing to be done
Why might whole bunch harvesting be especially desirable?
Limits grape splitting - slows oxidation in hot conditions
Name the top 11 most planted grape varieties (4 red, 7 white).
Why is Austalia able to ripen such a wide variety of grapes?
Diversity of climates from cool to hot
What kind of grapes are gaining popularity and why?
Grapes suited to warm, dry climates e.g. Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Fiano and Assyrtiko
Better suited to handling warmer, drier conditions esp. where access to irrigation may be limited
Describe some techniques that Australian winemakers have been experimenting with?
- Site selection - cooler sites
- Precise harvesting dates
- Ambient yeast
- Lees contact
- High % of solids in fermentation
- Whole bunch and stems for reds
Outline the range of styles produced from Shiraz including where these styles may be produced.(4)
1. Warm, ripe style from Barossa and McLaren Vale
Full-bodied, high alcohol, high/soft tannin, with pronounced dark fruit, spice and earthy + leather with age
2. Cooler, fresher style from Yarra Valley and Grampians
Less bodied with med alcohol, red + black fruit, black pepper
Trend is toward this style - less extraction, wholebunch, less new oak
3. Blend of above styles from multi-regional blends
4. Blended with other grapes e.g. GSM, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon (where it adds softness and body, like Merlot)
Identify one key difference between premium and inexpensive Shiraz-Viognier blends.
Premium may be co-fermented to improve integration and complexity –> also helps colour stability
Inexpensive may be blended post-fermentation
Describe the typical style of Cabernet Sauvignon produced and which regions are well-known for it.
Range of styles from cool - warm climate but all have higher acid / tannins than Shiraz
Ripe blackcurrant and cherry + oak for mid-priced wines
Coonawarra distinctively minty
Margaret River often blended with Merlot, riper with subtler herbal notes
Describe the style produced by Merlot, Pinot Noir and Grenache.
Merlot often blended with Cab, varietal wines are med body - full-bodied with ripe black fruit aromas
Pinot Noir med-body, med alcohol, med-high acid, red fruit with oak aging; whole bunch, stem inclusion and whole bunch has become popular
Grenache predominately in GSM blends; varietal wines growing in popularity with modern styles having more acid, lowering alcohol and fresher fruit from early harvest; wholebunch to enhance aromas and stem inclusion to enhance tannins; large, old oak is common
How has Chardonnay changed in style in the last few decades?
What determines whether or not it goes through malo?
What may Chardonnay be blended with?
Ripe fruit, overt oak –> earlier harvested, leaner style with less obvious oak
HQ wines often have ripe fruit (citrus, peach) with med-med(+) acid and integrated oak
Warmth of vineyard - malo may be blocked to retain acid
Inexpensive wine may be blended with Semillon - Chard contributed ripe fruit to a Semillon’s restrained character
How does Sauvignon Blanc in Australia differ from Marlborough in New Zealand?
Which regions have a particular reputation for it?
Less herbaceous
Adelaide Hills excellent rep for HQ with intense citrus and tropical fruit
Margaret River Bdx blends
What styles of wine can be made from Pinot Grigio?
Early harvested neutral style akin to Veneto
Riper, spicy, full-bodied style akin to Alsace
What styles of wine are produced using Semillon? Which regions make these? (3)
Hunter Valley style high acid, low alcohol, unoaked neutral –> aromatic when aged
Barossa Valley fuller-bodied with higher ABV and oak, although
Noble-rot sweet with from Riverina
Where are the best Riesling produced? In what style?
What kind of juice is popular for premium Riesling?
Cooler regions of Clare and Eden Valley as well as Great Southern, Canberra, Tasmania
Bone dry with high acid apple –> citrus –> peach; with some late-harvested, sweeter styles
Premium wines often made with free-run juice –> highest in acid and sugar, low phenolic compounds –> purest, best balance (although producers using skin contact and lees for texture)
Where are Muscat Gordo Blanco (Muscat of Alexandria) and Colombard grown in Australia. What are they used for?
Hot, inland areas like Riverland, Murray-Darling and Riverina
Colombard is used to bulk up blends labelled as Chardonnay
Muscat used as blending partner and in sparkling Moscato wines
Outline the hierarchy of Australia’s GIs.
Zones large areas that cover entire states (Victoria) or encompass several (SEA) some smaller zones also exist (Barossa)
Regions various sizes but have consistent and distinct qualities e.g. Connawarra, Tasmania
Sub-regions rarer GI accounting for differences in climate, soil and topography including within Great Southern, Hunter Valley
How does Australia’s system of GIs give producers flexibility?
Can apply various labels to same/similar wines esp. when grapes come from different areas
E.g. wine from Eden Valley Grapes can be labelled as Eden Valley (region), Barossa (zone), Adelaide (super-zone), South Australia (zone) or South Eastern Australia (zone)
What % of grapes must conform if GI, vintage or variety is mentioned on the label?
Are there any other rules outline by GIs on viti or vini?
85%
None.
Describe the situation, climate, soils and wines of SEA.
Situation very large area including three states, most grapes from Riverina, Murray-Darling and Riverland, an area collectively known as the Murray-Darling basin
Climate hot and continental due to low altitude and lack of maritime influence (GDR) –> also dry with rainfall as low as 135mm
N.B. Riverland is cooler, despite being 200km from coast, flat land allows martime breeze to reach it
Soils sandy
Wines
Inexpensive: vast majority grown from Shiraz, Chardonnay and some Semillon (Riverina) w/ low acid, high alcohol, med body and ripe fruit.
Yellow Tail, Jacob’s Creek, Lindeman’s
HQ: emerging esp. from old vines and hot-climate varieties e.g. Viognier, Vermentino, Nero d’Avola; botrytised Semillon in Riverina
Why is irrigation necessary in the Murray-Darling Basin? How is it performed?
- Low rainfall
- High evapotranspiration - due to hot climate
- Free draining, sandy soil
Water from rivers low water levels during droughts means drip irrigation is common
Despite this, high water prices have pushed some growers out of business
Describe the conditions which make it possible for Riverina to produce HQ, botrytised wine.
Closer to coast - autumn has rainfall and humidity w/ morning mists and afternoon sun
Producers like De Bortoli
To what extent does the Murray-Darling trio dominate wine production?
Combines the three largest regions by hectarage and crop.
How do SEA producers introduce freshness into their wines?
May blend small amounts of non M-D wines from cooler, coastal regions
What has happened to the number of branded wineries over the past 10 years?
Fallen by about 10% as a result of many wineries ceasing production to focus on growing
What portion of producers are small?
What % of exports do the five largest companies account for?
80% of producers crushed fewer than 250 tonnes of grapes
Top five (incl. Accolade, Casella, Treasure) export 87% by vol
How is Wine Australia funded and what does it do?
Funded by levy on growers, aims to promote Australian wine domestically and abroad
How important are exports to Australia’s wine industry?
Where are Australia’s largest markets?
Which export market is growing fastest?
Very - accounts for 2/3 of sales
UK, China, US, Canada and Germany are main markets
China - volume sales dipping but value growing HOWEVER trade dispute in 2020 has jeopardised this growth
What role does DTC and cellar door play in Australia?
Cellar Door - 2/3 of wineries have a cellar door, up to 80% in Tasmania
Wine tourism raises profile of individual regions, increased margins, helps cash flow esp. in regions near Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
Online shops have helped even isolated regions benefit from DTC
What are the opportunities and challenges in selling wines made from uncommon grape varieties?
Heat tolerance varieties have become increasingly popular
+ Diversification makes demand resilient to changing tastes
+ USP compared to other New World markets that also sell int’l varieties
- Competition from producers growing these grapes in more famous origin regions
- Small production volumes mean high prices (for now)
