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WSET 3 > 39 - Australia > Flashcards

39 - Australia Flashcards

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1
Q

Australian wine laws

A

Zones: large areas without any particular qualifying attributes
- can either be states (South Australia) or cover several states (South Eastern Australia)
- can also make up part of a state, but with the possible exception Barossa these zones are rarely seen on labels

Regions:
- Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margaret River
- can vary in size & are smaller than zones
- must have consistent & distinct qualities from neighbouring regions
- some regions are covered by several zones
(Eden Valley is a region within the Barossa zone, which is within the zone of South Australia, which in turn, is within South Eastern Australia zone)

Sub-regions:
- if there are notable areas that have distinct & unique qualities
- a sub-region must fall within one region

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2
Q

climate & infl. of Australia

A
  • due to Australia’s latitude, the main growing regions have warm or hot climates
  • many of these regions are tempered by their proximity to either the Southern or Indian Ocean or the Murray River system
  • others are cooled by altitude (Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley)
  • in many regions rainfall is low & irrigation in the growing season is essential
  • drought can be a significant problem & in extreme years even the Murray River can run low
  • dry conditions & high summer temperatures –> bush fires are a very real risk in certain areas
  • plantings have increased in high-altitude locations on the mainland & in Tasmania, which has a more southerly latitude
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3
Q

black grapes in Australia (9)

A
  1. Shiraz
  2. CS
  3. Merlot
  4. PN
  5. Grenache
  6. PV
  7. Mataro (Mourvèdre)
  8. Sangiovese
  9. Tempranillo
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4
Q

Australia’s principal grape variety of either colour

A

Shiraz

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5
Q

Shiraz in Australia

A
  • Australia’s principal grape variety of either colour
  • grown widely in most regions

Hot regions (Hunter Valley) & warm regions (Barossa Valley)
- full-bodied
- intensely fruity
- often display earthy or spicy notes
- develop leather aromas as they age
- a number of winemakers are now making more restrained styles by controlling the level of extraction in the wm process

Cooler regions (Geelong, Heathcote)
- leaner, more peppery style

These qualities may be combined in a multi-regional blended wine

Also used to give softness & body to blends with CS, performing a similar role to Merlot in Bx

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6
Q

CS in Australia
1. char, tannins & acid compared to Shiraz
2. fruit character
3. oak?
4. classic regions

A
  • darker, firmer tannins & higher acidity than Shiraz
  • ripe black fruit characters (blackcurrant, black cherry)
  • toasty oak notes

Classic regions:
- Coonawarra
- Margaret River

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7
Q

Merlot in Australia

A
  • tends to be found in blended wines typically alongside CS, to provide body & fleshy, plummy fruit
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8
Q

PN in Australia

A
  • grown in a number of Australian regions
  • the best examples tend to come from cool or moderate sites in regions such as Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula & Tasmania
  • medium-bodied, medium alcohol, medium to high acidity, typical flavours of cherry & strawberry
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9
Q

Australia’s hot regions are perfect for late ripening varieties such as …

A

Grenache, Petit Verdot & Mataro (Mourvèdre)

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10
Q

varieties from Italy & Spain have gained in popularity in recent years in Australia
1. which grapes
2. why

A
  1. Sangiovese & Tempranillo
  2. they are well adapted to high summer temperatures & a limited water supply
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11
Q

white grapes in Australia (4)

A
  1. Chardonnay
  2. SB
  3. Semillon
  4. Riesling
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12
Q

most planted white grape in Australia

A

Chardonnay

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13
Q

Chardonnay in Australia

A
  • most planted white grape
  • planted widely throughout the vy region
  • made in a wide range of styles

Basic
- often a blend of fruit from different regions
- unoaked or oak chips/staves to add hints of toast & vanilla
- peachy flavours

High-quality
- cool-moderate regions (Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley)
- warm regions (Margaret River)
- beautifully balanced with fresh, vibrant fruit complemented by subtle flavours from careful use of lees, MLF and/or oak maturation

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14
Q

SB in Australia

A
  • widely planted
  • the moderate climate area of Adelaide Hills has developed a reputation as the benchmark for the variety
  • tend to show concentrated passion fruit flavours alongside refreshing high acidity
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15
Q

the moderate climate area of Adelaide Hills has developed a reputation as

A

the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc

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16
Q

Semillon in Australia

A
  • used to make distinctive wines in a style that is unique to Australia
  • planted widely

Classic region: Hunter Valley
- harvested early
- low sugar levels & high acidity
- contact with oxygen is kept to a minimum
- inert vessels for fermentation & storage
- light in alcohol & almost neutral in flavour when first bottled
- develop extraordinary flavours of honey & toast with bottle age
- best: can age for 20 years or more

Western Australia
- much more herbaceous style is made
- could be mistaken for SB

Barossa Valley
- traditionally made Semillon in a fuller-bodied, softer style
- early-picked, unoaked versions are now increasingly being produced

Riverina NSW
- specialises in the production of botrytised wines made from Semillon
- autumn morning mists & fogs favour the development of noble rot

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17
Q

Riesling in Australia

A
  • made in a style that is unique to Australia
  • typically have pronounced citrus fruit aromas & flavours (lime, lemon, grapefruit) in youth
  • develop rapidly into toast, honey & petrol notes as the wines age
  • unoaked with high levels of acidity
  • usually dry or slightly off-dry
  • some sweet wines are also made
  • Classic regions: Eden & Clare Valleys in South Australia
  • Tasmania, & the Frankland River sub-region of Western Australia, are also developing reputations for high-quality Rieslings. Less citrusy & more floral
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18
Q

Wine regions in Australia
6 zones/big areas
18 smaller zones/regions (3+7+5+1+2)

A
  1. South Eastern Australia Zone
    - Murray-Darling
    - Riverina
    - Riverland
  2. South Australia
    - Barossa (zone)
    - Barossa Valley (region)
    - Eden Valley (region)
    - Clare Valley (region)
    - Adelaide Hills (region)
    - McLaren Vale (region)
    - Coonawarra (region)
  3. Victoria
    - Yarra Valley (region)
    - Geelong (region)
    - Mornington Peninsula (region)
    - Heathcote
    - Goulburn Valley (region)
  4. New South Wales
    - Hunter Valley (region)
    - (Mudgee, Orange, Cowra) (regions)
  5. Western Australia
    - Margaret River (region)
    - Great Southern (region)
  6. Tasmania
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19
Q

South Eastern Australia
- covers
- allows
- type of wines
- 3 areas
- how to increase quality
- the choice of components in the blend will depend on

A
  • ‘super-zone’ that covers all the GIs within South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales & Queensland
  • allowing blending of grapes or wines from across most of Australia’s wine regions
  • the majority of wines that are labelled with this indication are high volume brands & take advantage of being able to source fruit from the fertile, irrigated vy of
    –> Riverland in South Australia
    –> Murray-Darling in Victoria
    –> Riverina in New South Wales
  • these regions above can produce high yields of healthy grapes, but they lack the flavours concentration of those from high-quality areas
  • blending in components from regions such as Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale may enhance these wines
  • the choice of components in the blend will depend on
    –> the grape variety
    –> the style sought
    –> the price point that is to be met
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20
Q

3 fertile, irrigated vy areas used for fruit in South Eastern Australia
Name & zone

A
  1. Riverland in South Australia
  2. Murray-Darling in Victoria
  3. Riverina in New South Wales
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21
Q

the choice of components in the blend of South Eastern Australia will depend on

A
  • the grape variety
  • the style sought
  • the price point that is to be met
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22
Q

where is Riverland

A

South Australia

23
Q

where is Murray-Darling

A

Victoria

24
Q

where is Riverina

A

New South Wales

25
Q

Riverina is known for

A
  • fruit used for high volume brands
  • specialises in the production of botrytised wines made from Semillon
    –> autumn morning mists & fogs in this region favour the development of noble rot
26
Q

the majority of Australia’s wine is produced in …

A

South Australia

27
Q

the vineyards in South Australia are concentrated …

A

in the south east of the state

28
Q

South Australia

A
  • the majority of Australia’s wine is produced in South Australia
  • the vy are concentrated in the south east of the state
  • a range of premium vineyard locations offering different characteristics
  • some of Australia’s most prestigious, & most expensive, wines take advantage of the blending opportunities provided by this GI & are simply labelled South Australia
29
Q

where is Barossa Valley

A
  • South Australia
  • to the north of Adelaide
30
Q

Barossa Valley
1. climate
2. grapes

A
  1. warm, dry climate
  2. old bush vines produce outstanding Shiraz, CS & Grenache
31
Q

Shiraz in Barossa Valley

A

Classic Barossa Valley Shiraz:
- full-bodied
- soft tannins
- ripe black fruit
- complemented by sweet American oak
- softens & develops aromas of leather & spice as it ages

32
Q

most notable white variety in Barossa Valley

A
  • Semillon
  • increasingly made in a fresh, unoaked style
33
Q

wines labelled Barossa come from …

A

the Barossa zone & can be made from fruit sourced from Barossa Valley & Eden Valley

34
Q

Eden Valley
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. in the hills to the east of the Barossa Valley, South Australia
  2. cool-moderate climate (varies with altitude)
  3. grapes & wines:

Riesling
- outstanding quality Rieslings are made in the cooler vy
- intense lime & grapefruit aromas & a steely character
- best: have longevity displaying marmalade & toasty characters after ten years

Shiraz, Chardonnay & CS are also grown with success

35
Q

Clare Valley
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. to the north-west of the Barossa Valley, South Australia
  2. the warm climate is tempered by cool afternoon breezes & nights are cold
    - many vy are planted at altitude (300-400m), some even as high as 570m
  3. grapes & wines:

Riesling
- dry
- intense citrus & lime aromas
- high acidity
- with bottle age they can develop honey & toast characters

Shiraz
- fragrant, powerful & structured

CS
- excellent quality, varying styles depending on the vy location, soil & elevation

The best red wines have a long cellaring potential

36
Q

Adelaide Hills
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wines

A
  1. 25km east of Adelaide, South Australia
  2. moderate climate
    - all vy planted above 400m
    - rainfall occurs mainly in the winter
    - soils have limited water-holding capacity
    - irrigation is ofrten necessary during the growing season
  3. grapes & wines
    - specialises in making refreshing SB as well as elegant Chardonnays with high natural acidities & pronounced citrus & peach aromas
    - PN is also grown for still red wines & blending with Chardonnay for sparkling wine
37
Q

McLaren Vale
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wines

A
  1. on the coast to the south of Adelaide, South Australia
  2. afternoon breezes from the nearby ocean temper the warm climate
  3. largely produces red wine from Shiraz, CS, Merlot & Grenache
    - intensely flavoured with dark fruit aromas & soft, ripe tannins
    - some old vine Shiraz & Grenache are used to create wines with depth & complexity
38
Q

Coonawarra
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wines

A
  1. 400km south-east of Adelaide, towards the Victorian border. South Australia
  2. a narrow strip of land 1,5km x 15km
    - with a distinctive red, terra rossa soil over a limestone subsoil
    - under the influence of cold currents from the Antarctic, the maritime climate is moderate
    - cloud cover moderates summer temperatures
  3. grapes & wines

CS
- predominates
- concentrated, structured wines
- characteristic cassis & eucalyptus or menthol aromas
- best: age very well

Shiraz, Merlot & Chardonnay are also widely planted

39
Q

Victoria
Climatic infl.

A
  • offers some of the coolest vy locations on the Australian mainland
  • the wine regions around Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay benefit from ocean breezes, giving conditions cool enough to grow high-quality PN, Chardonnay & grapes for sparkling wine
  • further inland the Great Dividing Range provides a range of altitudes & aspects
  • high altitude sites (Macedon Ranges, Upper Goulburn) make elegant PN & Chardonnay as well as aromatic Rsl & SB
  • regions on lower slopes grow later-ripening black varieties such as Shiraz & CS. Often fresher & lighter in style than those from Australia’s hotter regions
40
Q

what/where is the Great Dividing Range

A

mountain range in Victoria, Australia

41
Q

Yarra Valley
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. to the north-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. cool-moderate Maritime
    - very varied region with a wide range of altitude & aspects
  3. grapes & wine

PN is the speciality:
- high-quality table wines
- excellent quality sparkling wines
- rich in fruit
- strawberries, plums & dark cherries
- ripe tannins
- soft & careful oak handling adds complexity
- top producers make age-worthy wines

Chardonnay, Shiraz & CS are also successfully made in a range of styles although never with quite the weight of similar wines from warmer regions

42
Q

Mornington Peninsula
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. to the south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. cool-moderate Maritime climate
    - small boutique estates
    - vintages can vary here due to the chance of cool, wet & windy weather at flowering & often at harvest
    - best years have a long growing season producing fragrant, elegant wines with finesse
  3. grapes & wine

PN
- ranges from light & delicate, to more structured
- all tend to display very pure fruit characteristics

Chardonnay
- reflect the cool growing conditions
- having citrus, pear & apple aromas
- high acidities that are usually softened by MLF

43
Q

Geelong
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. similar climatic conditions to the Mornington Peninsula
    –> cool-moderate Maritime climate
    –> chance of cool, wet & windy weather at flowering & often at harvest
  3. grapes & wine

Chardonnay
- renowned for its quality
- tends to be complex, concentrated & full bodied

PN & Shiraz are the major red grapes planted
- PN: can take on earhy aromas
- Shiraz: generally fresh & peppery

Both Chardonnay & PN are also used for sparkling wines

44
Q

Heathcote
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. in the centre of Victoria, much further inland than the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula & Geelong
  2. cooling influences here come from altitude rather than the ocean giving a moderate climate
  3. grapes & wine
    Shiraz: firmer structure & fresher fruit flavours than those of warmer regions
    Chardonnay & CS are also widely planted
    Mediterranean grapes such as Sangiovese & Tempranillo have shown promise
44
Q

Heathcote
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. in the centre of Victoria, much further inland than the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula & Geelong
  2. cooling influences here come from altitude rather than the ocean giving a moderate climate
  3. grapes & wine
    Shiraz: firmer structure & fresher fruit flavours than those of warmer regions
    Chardonnay & CS are also widely planted
    Mediterranean grapes such as Sangiovese & Tempranillo have shown promise
45
Q

Goulburn Valley
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. to the east of Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
  2. warm
    - heat is mitigated slightly by the lakes & creeks associated with the Goulburn River
  3. grapes & wine
    - Shiraz is the most planted variety
    - Marsanne is the speciality of the area, producin wines with citrus fruit in youth & developing honeyed aromas with bottle age
46
Q

New South Wales

A
  • has the longest history of wine production in Australia
  • main region: the hot Hunter Valley
  • the regions of Mudgee, Orange & Cowra offer wine producers slightly cooler conditions
  • located inland from Sydney, on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, the vineyards are planted at altitude & are capable of producing some very concentrated Chardonnays & structured CS
47
Q

what area has the longest history of wine production in Australia

A

New South Wales

48
Q

Hunter Valley
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. north of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  2. hot, humid climate
    - high cloud cover & ocean breezes reduce the effect of the heat in the peak of summer
    - often suffers from unsettled rainy weather at harvest
    –> good canopy management techniques are essential to minimise rot
  3. grapes & wine

Semillon
- the most planted grape variety
- light bodied, low alcohol, high acidity
- flavours that are initially rather neutral but evolve into a complex spectrum of toast, nut & honey flavours with bottle age

Chardonnay
- also widely planted
- made in both oaked & unoaked styles

Shiraz
- the black variety with the largest production
- black fruit flavours (blackberry & cherry)
- soft tannins
- medium body
- earthy undertone

49
Q

Western Australia

A
  • the wine regions of WA are located in the south-west tip of this large state
  • the fruit or wine from these regions can be blended together & labelled as Western Australia
  • these are the only wines not part of the South Eastern Australia super-zone
50
Q

Margaret River
1. where
2. climate & infl.
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. approximately 200km south of Perth
  2. coastal region with a warm maritime climate
    - rainfall is high compared with other Australian regions, but falls mainly in the winter
  3. grapes & wine

CS
- widely planted
- often blended with Merlot in a Bx-style blend
- a number of different styles are produced ranging from elegang & restrained to fruity & powerful

Chardonnay
- display concentrated stone-fruit aromas
- retain high levels of natural acidity
- a range of styles are produced using barrel ageing & MLF to add complexity

SB
- also widely planted
- often blended with Semillon
–> attractive gooseberry & tropical fruit aromas with high acidity

51
Q

The Great Southern region
1. where
2. sub-regions
3. grapes & wine

A
  1. the area to the south in Western Australia, around Albany
  2. Mount Barker & Frankland River
  3. deeply coloured CS, elegant, peppery Shiraz & floral Riesling
52
Q

Tasmania

A
  • cool maritime climate
  • cooled by prevailing westerly winds off the Southern Ocean
    –> providing conditions that are generally free from extremes
  • started as a prime source of base wine for Australian sparkling wine
  • has since proved it can also make excellent still wines
  • principal varieties: PN, Chardonnay, SB & Pinot Gris
  • even CS can ripen in the warmest, driest areas

WSET 3 (45 decks)

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