AUS General Flashcards
When and where did Phylloxera hit Australia?
The mid- to late-1800’s, mostly confined to Victoria and parts of New South Wales.
What is Australia’s largest region by production?
South Australia, with over 50% of production
What two major Australian wineries were founded during the Australian Gold Rush of the 1850’s?
Penfolds and Lindemans
What are the four cornerstones of Australian Winemaking?
Technical Proficiency
Mechanical Harvesting
Irrigation
Blending
What do many of Australia’s luxury bottlings have in common?
They are frequently made from old vine parcels - because of Australia’s success in isolating phylloxera, there are many very old vineyards (150+), planted on their own rootstocks.
What vintages were terribly affected by drought in the 2000’s?
2003
2006
2007
2008
2009
What is the purpose of Wine Australia?
To oversee the wine industry: regulate label language, define wine regions, moderate export and trade, and promote the wine.
What is the original name of Wine Australia? When was it founded, and when did the name change?
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, founded in 1981 to define GI’s and oversee the Register of Protected Names. The name changed in 2010.
When was the Label Integrity Program introduced, and what does it do?
1990
Currently, if stating vintage, varietal, or region, 85% of the wine must comply.
If listing a multi-vintage wine, all vintages must be listed, in descending order of importance.
If listing a blended wine, only the grapes making up 85% must be listed, but the others can, as long as no listed variety makes up a smaller percentage than the rest.
If listing a wine blended across regions, all regions must be listed in descending order of importance.
What changed in the Label Integrity Program in 2010?
Previously, all grapes must be listed, regardless of %.
When does the Southern Hemisphere harvest occur in relation to the Northern Hemisphere harvest?
6mos EARLIER, so the new release of SH wines will always hit the shelves first.
Wine regions in Australia are defined as what?
Geographical Indications (GIs), and listed on the Register of Protected Names
What are the requirements for a GI, and what are the relative sizes?
Divided into Zones, Regions, and Subregions. Each must comprise five independently owned vineyards of at least 5ha each, with a minimum output of 500tons annually.
What is South Eastern Australia?
A “superzone” encompassing Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and parts of South Australia and Queensland, formed as a response to the EU directive that varietal wines have a single place of origin.
If a wine is labeled as Australia, may the producer include vintage or varietal for export to the EU?
NO