31 - Australia (NSW + South Western Australia) Flashcards
Outline the range of climates in New South Wales.
Hunter Valley sub-tropical with warm-hot temps, high humidity, rainfall
Remaining zones/regions protected by GDR so have hot, dry and continental climate with altitude mod temps
Describe the growing conditions in the Hunter Valley.
Climate sub-tropical → hot, intense sunlight → low latitude, high hum and ~500mm of rainfall during growing season
- Nights cool + afternoon clouds shield sun
- Tropical storms in late summer → harvest
- Lower Hunter closer to sea so cooler
Soils clay based → in addition to rainfall, no irrigation needed
Topography low, rolling hills
Identify the challenges of growing grapes in the Hunter Valley. (3)
- High humidity → disease pressure
- Vigour → clay + higher rainfall
- Summer storms → harvest early
Name the three regions of the Central Ranges zone. Briefly describe their growing environment and the wine produced.
- Mudgee, Orange and Cowra
- All continental, low rainfall + altitude provides mod influence
Orange high asl volcanic soils + gravel, very windy
Shiraz + CS fresh, spicy, herbal, med ABV, med-bodi; Chard, SB, PG, mid-priced/good-VG
Elsewhere … warmer conditions mean fuller-bodied Shiraz, Cab, Chard
Describe the styles of wine that the Hunter Valley is known for.
Semillon
- harvested early
- neutral in youth
- developing pronounced toast, honey and hay
- dry, low-abv, high acid
- released 5 years \
- varying Q but not cheap
Chard full range of styles
Shiraz
What are the advantages and disadvantages of strong winds?
+ Mods temp
+ Reduces disease pressure
+ Reduces frost
- May disrupt fruit set
Describe the size and nature of production in the South West Australia Zone.
3% of total production by vol focusses on prem
Describe the growing conditions in Margaret River and the wine produced as a result.
Warm, maritime climate
S ocean → cools, Indian → warm at night
dry growing season ~275mm (with a total of 1000mm falling during the year)
Flat region gravelly ridge runs through centre → free draining, poor nutrition
CS + Merlot BDX-style, high/ripe tannin, med(+)-full body
Chard stone fruit, high acid, fullish body w oak ageing but w/o malo
SB + Semillon gooseberry → tropical, herbaceous, high acid + various vessels
Describe the growing conditions of Great Southern vary and how this affects the style of wine produced.
Coastal regions Albany+Denmark → maritime climate; inland Frankland → continental
Rainfall differs depending on proximity to coast
Altitude important mod factor in-land
Shiraz → Frankland
CS varies depending on region - intense, full-bodied from Mount Barker vs. cooler and elegant from Porongurup
Riesling → Porongurup; toasty, stoney character with age + light-body
SB + Chard range of styles
