31. Australia Flashcards
1
Q
For comparison how does Aus climate resemble EU climates
A
Aus - warm, dry 30/ 37 ~ South Europe
Tasmania 41/ 42 - Porto, Italy
2
Q
Describe the climate and grow env in Aus
A
Aus Growing Environment and Grape Growing
Climate
- VY lie between 30-37deg S = North Africa/S Europe in N Hemis. Tasmania is exception at 41-42deg S
- Sunlight hours long, UV high > sunburn & can mgt
- Large area, thus range of climates.
- Murray-Darling Basin = hot continental.
- Most other rely on cooling (mod) influences.- day and season
- e.g. Indian or Southern Ocean.
- Cooling infl travel e.g. 100km Coonawarra has a “maritime” climate.
- cooler areas (Orange, Macedon, Grampians) may suffer frost – site selection nb (should “drain” the frost)
- ocean wind can mitigate frost risk, but disrupts fr set
- Great Dividing Range
- alt > cooler sites / rain shadow for Riverland in the west 135mm (vital irrig from rivers in Murray Darling basin run dry
- Hunter Valley to East gets 500mm and is hot and humid.
- Drought is a constant threat (low rainfall) Murray Darling Basin rivers sometimes run low
Soil
- Various
- terra rossa in Coonawarra
3
Q
Describe VY management in Aus
A
VY Management
- Plenty of intense sunshine >> (sunburn ~ sunscreen)
- Low rainfall, low humidty, low disease pressure, reliable ripening >> drought and pressure on available groundwater
- Heat + water means vigorous growth – careful techniques for even ripening on fertile soil.
- Significant stock of old vine – Shiraz, Grenache (old > not so vigorous).
- New plantings – Scott Henry, Smart-Dyson for managing vigor, vine balance
-
Widely mechanised: wide vine spacing, flat/gentle sloping land
- high labour cost
- efficiency, and pick at cool times (night)
- Some still by hand for selection of fruit or whole bunches
-
Soil salinity –fm irrigation. reduces wine growth / kills. CH esp sensitive
- addressed by root stock or tol/ change irrig pattern (more water less often)
- Bush fires – damage by burning or taint
-
Mostly phylloxera free, strict quarantining (10 yrs) (present in Victoria and NSW)
- Low humidity ideal for sustainable viticulture : Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has 25% of vy land acc for 25% of prod
- except: Adelaide Hills, south Victoria, Hunter Valley and parts of Tasmania. (can mgt -open for air circ)
- Pests: birds and kangaroos. Only netting helps with birds, expensive. No sol for kangaroos
- Climate means most var ripen optimally within narrow window
- quick and efficient harvest needed
- some prod pick early for logistical as well as wm reasons
4
Q
Most prominent black varieties in SA - where are they mostly found?
A
Shiraz 25% of harvest fruit weight
-
hotter - Barossa Valley; Mclaren Vale
- f body, hi alc, hi soft tann, pron dk fr, spice, leater
- cooler - Yarra, Grampians
- m/m+ body, m aclm structured tann, distinct rotundone
- above oft blended for bal
- trad - f body, hi alc
- Recent - less intense, more approachable, less extr, whole b ferm, reduce new oak
- Best made in open top ferm tank with punch downs for soft extr tann
- Widely used in blends
- Rhone style GSM
- Co-ferm Viognier per Cote Rotie
- with CS /Mer per Bordeaux [herbal notes]
Cabernet Sauv
- 2nd to Shiraz in blacks
- Single var (cool or warm styles)
- M+ hi acid, m+/hi tann, ripe bl fr, blackcurrant, cherry, hiq with oak
- Coonawarra distinctive mint / eucalyptus
- Bordeaux blends
- Margaret River – blended with Merlot
Merlot - most for blends with CS.
- also single var m body, m tann, red fruit (or f body, black fruit)
Pinot Noir
- Widely - Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
- m body, m alc, m/m+ acid, m tann, red cherry, strawb
- whole bunch / mac for col, flav, + stems for tann structure
- matured fr oak - use of oak reducing as new trend
Grenache
- was most in Rhone style blend
-
now old bush McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Barossa >> single var wine hiQ
- mod style fresh, hi acid, lower alc, fesh red fruit
- made whole bunch (all/part) ~aromas; stems ~ tann struct.
- old oak large barrels.
- opposite of the above = old trad
5
Q
What white var are grown in Aus, and where are they found
A
Chardonnay - Marg River, Adellaid; Hunter Valley, Morn Pen; Yarra Valley
- old - ripe and overt oak
- now - picked early for leaner
- inexpensive tank, oak chips, sometimes blend CH and Sem
- hiQ -middle grnd- ripe fr, m/m+ acid, well int oak
- comp, bal texture from techniques
- amb yst, leave solids in ferm.; barrel ferm; lees; barrel mat in fr oak.
- malo dep on climate and final style.
- comp, bal texture from techniques
Sauv Blanc : Adelaide Hills (Bord Blend with Sem in Marg River)
- cooler - mid price
- warmer - inexp
- less herbaceous than Marlborough.
Pinto Grigio : Mornington Pen; Tasmania
- mimics neutral style of Veneto, can be fruitier, more spicy, fuller body
Semillon
-
Hunter Valley - Single var most distinctive white of Aus -
- lo alc, hi acid, unoaked
- neutral in youth dev great aromatic compl with bottle age
- (Noble Rot) from Riverina
Riesling
- Clare and Eden Valleys
- Great Southern Canberra, Tasmania
- usually dry, hi acid (apple, lemon, grapefruit, lime, peach)
- Most SS and bottled for vibrant fruit
- Some prem from only free run
- some experim with skin cont and lees for texture and weight
6
Q
Describe Barossa, clim, var
A
Barossa Valley (Shiraz) one of the largest in Aus
- Plain, protected - E/N/S mntns
- Warm clim, hot days, cooler nights
- Lo rain > irrig necessary, dis press low.
- Low plain > ripe, f-body red wines
- Valley sides cooler > fresher style both are blended
- Complex soils, north > ironstone layer with h2o retn > here some most ageworth wines.
Old Bush Shiraz, Gren
- Lo yield, dry farmed, os complex wine
- Preserved by “Old Vine Charter” – seen on labels
Signature var = Shiraz ~60% of harv fr in Aus
- F Body, hi alc, hi soft tann, pron ripe/cooked black fr; leather, spice with age
- Many US oak recently more FR
- Early pick fresh, hi acid, elegant style
- Both styles ageworthy
CS
- Better from cooler higher sites
- richer than Coonawarra/Marg River
- by com softer tann, higher alc.
Grenache – old vine
- Rhone blends / single var
Semillon
- higher alc, lower acidity, more body than Hunter Valley
- Prem styles ferm in FR oak, trend > lighter & unoaked.
7
Q
Describe Eden Valley
A
Eden Valley (Riesling)– not a valley, low hills
- Steep > limits mech.
- 600m asl -Hi sites exposed, cooler,
- more rain than Barossa, wind can disrupt fl/frset
- Known for old vine Shiraz, Riesling, Grenache
- R/W equal q – most plantings Riesling
Riesling Style
- Dry, hi acid, m alc, (SS ferm) citrus – lem &lime, floral
- Ageworthy – gains honey, nuts, toast
- Many aged before sale for inc compl
Shiraz Style (comp to Barossa)
- Higher acid, more struct tann, lower alc, more rotundone (not as much as cool site Shiraz)
- Ripe fresh plum, blackberry, sweet notes from oak.
[Henschke]
8
Q
Describe Adelaide Hills, clim, top, var
A
Adelaide Hills (SB)
- Maritime clim high rain winter/spring (!Fr set)
- Water> dams>irrig
- Humidity > sprays (sustainable)
- Valleys/steep hillside restr mech
- Diff aspec/top/soils
- Cooler 400-500m, close to ocean
- High diurn range, lo lat = int sun = ripe fr flavour
- Long slow ripen = conc fr flav
- 64% white: SB, CH;PN
- SB-Int ripe fr, hi acid, m alc.
- CH-m/m+ acid, m body, ripe stone fr,
- Malo / lees / oak for complex, text
- PN ; Shir cool style
Warmer lower slope w-f > fbody reds
9
Q
Describe Clare Valley, clim, top, varieties?
A
Clare Valley (Riesling)
- a number of ridges/valleys > micro climate
- Warm clim, cool pm breeze, cold night
- Hi diurn range – slows ripen, ret acid
- Slopes 300-500m asl – white var
-
Lower, warmer slope – black var
- Not steep – cb mach harvested
- Some choose not (small vy)
- Mod rain – most winter>dams>irrig
- Many dry farm for lo yld
- Low hum> low dis pressure
Riesling
- hi uv ~sunburn prot
- Thick canopy, west side shade
- Ferm ~dry, med alc, signature lime flav
- Higher acid than Eden Valley
- Soils are expressed in the wine (Roter Hang)
- Polish Hill slate > flinty less aromatic better with age
- Watervale limestone>aromatic, floral approachable young.
[Jim Barry]
10
Q
Describe the McLaren Vale Region
A
McLaren Vale
- Gulf to the East, Adelaide hills to the west.
- warm clim, cool air – hillsides, coast >> mod
- wind keeps dis pressure low
- rainfall low, in winter
- large region, various mesoclimates
- cool wind / alt from 0 – 350m, most of the region undulating hills
- north more poor soils
- south, more fertile (hi vol,)
- Dry farm, bush vine Shir, Gren, CS (sandy soil over clay – ret h2o)
Shiraz
- deep col, f body, hi alc,dark fruit, poss oak.
- fm south cooked/jammy
- higher elev> higher acidity;
Grenache
- m tann, m/m+ body, red fruit, spice, herb, oak carefully used not to mask flavours
Some experimentation with other hot clim var (mourvedre , sangiovese which ret acid in the heat. etc)
VY
- most VSP for mach hvt – takes place night
- Bush vine and small VY by hand for Q /whole bunch.
- Fertile soil, winter rain, vig vines>> , mb controlled for q (hi yields >lower conc)
- Conditions suited to org/biodyn farming
- Own sust. prog “Sust Wine Aus”
All irrig sust sourced, dams, borehole, recycled waste.
11
Q
Describe the Coonawarry Region in the Limestone Coast Zone
A
Coonawarra
- mod clim. 100km from sea, but still mod by ocean breeze and cloud moderates
- spring frost
- low rain – still can disrupt fr set
- irrig fm groundwater aquifers, or dry farmed.
Soil
- strip runs down middle of region: terra rossa, free-drain iron-rich loam over limestone
- inpenetrable limestone and alkaline soil prevent uptake of nutrient >>restricts vigour>lo yield, conc
- Other areas – clay, patchy limestone prod hi yields less conc
Winemaking
- Prod Aus finest reds (more than 50% CS)
Cab Sauv
- m/f body, m alc, high firm tann, conc dark fruit (cassis-plum), mint, eucalyptus
- freq mat in oak > spice
Sign Shiraz
- Lighter body than Barossa, conc blackberry, herbal, mint
- Sometimes blend with CS
- Isolated – labour is a prob
12
Q
Describe Yarra Valley in the Port Phillip Zone of Victoria
A
Yarra Valley ( Pinot Noir)
- cool/mod clim – varies due to alt 50-350m
- Typical “up /lower” valley
- South east in the valley – cooler, higher alt, . deeper volc soils – dry farm
- North west in the valley – warmer, lower alt, clay loam, low fert, irrig still needed
- slopes – gentle, different mesocliamtes
- frost risk on valley floor
- hi rain > high humidity > fungal dis
- Most planted = black and of that most =PN
- light / med body (high, cool sites, whole bunch for enh perfume, fruity aromas)
- med body – warmer sites show riper fr char
- mix of new/used oak incr 500l and bigger
Chardonnay:
- hi acid, peach, grapefruit, mix new and used oak for fermentation and maturation (increasingly larger)
- High % solids in ferment for range of flavours (e.g. smoke from reductive sulfur compounds)
- Often lees for texture (Malo C is avoided)
Shiraz /CS
- In the lower/warmer areas
- Shiraz m body, fresh black/red fruit, spice > often whole bunch ferm
- CS m body, distinctive herbal. Some overt oak.
13
Q
Describe the Mornington Peninsula (P. Phillip Zone, Victoria)
A
Mornington Peninsula (Pinot Noir, CH)
- Narrow peninsula between Port Ph Bay and Bass Strait.
- Small area, small wineries
- Cool, moderate, windy, high sunshine hrs
- Cool wind keeps summer pm temp low
- Water moderates autumn – longer seas
- Frost uncommon – water mods
- Wind >> inhibits flowering, but keeps dis low
- Rainfall low in winter, spring – threat flowering and harvest
-
Red Hill ridge
- Creates mesoclimates (alt 250m)
- Red basalt soil ret winter rain into grow seas (irrig not reqd)
- Fert soil, water >> vigour prob
- Lyre sys rather than vsp to mnge vigour
- Away from ridge flatter, free-drain soil >> irrig needed
Pinot Noir >50% Range of styles
- L body, red fruit, perfume m+acid
- M body, riper fruit, higher tann (lower vy)
- Wh Bch for texture, tannin
- Many aged FR oak %new
Chardonnay ~30%
- M body, hi acid, m alc, flavs citrus/peach/melon
- Many have lees & oak (small%new) ageing
- Complexity
- Malo C for rounder style
Also Shiraz, PG
Land exp (hol homes, tourism, golf) thus mainly small wineries and VY, Cellar door, rest, café capitalisa on direct to consumer sales.
14
Q
Describe the Geelong Region in P. Phillip Zone, Victoria
A
Geelong [Bellarine Peninsula]
- Newish (1960) VY as replanted after Phylloxera
- Cool climate
- Port Phillip Bay, and Bass Strait moderate
- Low rain falls winter spring
- Strong SW wind reduces him and fung dis risk
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir dominate on cool sites
- PN > ripe red / black cherry; m soft tannin; many wines partly whole-b ferm
- Chardonnay > m body, m acid, peach, melon.
-
Shiraz, Cab Sauv on warmer sites
- Shiraz > m body, red/black fruit; spice flavour; firm tannin.
- (no comment in notes on CS)
15
Q
Describe the Macedon Ranges Region in P. Phillip Zone, Victoria
A
Macedon Ranges
- One of Aus coolest climates – TINY 215ha small wineries all Q focussed
- Macedon Ranges par tof Great DIv Range
- Alt 300 – 800m
- Careful site selection for ripening & reduce frost
- Shallow granite/sandy loams on hillsides >> red yields
- Deeper loam on lower slopes
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
- Sparkling and still
Riesling Elegant
- intense lime and lemon
Shiraz
- distinctive rotundone, needs warm VY site and warm sunny year to fully ripen
