AUS General Flashcards

1
Q

When and where did Phylloxera hit Australia?

A

The mid- to late-1800’s, mostly confined to Victoria and parts of New South Wales.

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2
Q

What is Australia’s largest region by production?

A

South Australia, with over 50% of production

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3
Q

What two major Australian wineries were founded during the Australian Gold Rush of the 1850’s?

A

Penfolds and Lindemans

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4
Q

What are the four cornerstones of Australian Winemaking?

A

Technical Proficiency
Mechanical Harvesting
Irrigation
Blending

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5
Q

What do many of Australia’s luxury bottlings have in common?

A

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.

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6
Q

What vintages were terribly affected by drought in the 2000’s?

A

2003
2006
2007
2008
2009

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7
Q

What is the purpose of Wine Australia?

A

To oversee the wine industry: regulate label language, define wine regions, moderate export and trade, and promote the wine.

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8
Q

What is the original name of Wine Australia? When was it founded, and when did the name change?

A

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.

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9
Q

When was the Label Integrity Program introduced, and what does it do?

A

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.

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10
Q

What changed in the Label Integrity Program in 2010?

A

Previously, all grapes must be listed, regardless of %.

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11
Q

When does the Southern Hemisphere harvest occur in relation to the Northern Hemisphere harvest?

A

6mos EARLIER, so the new release of SH wines will always hit the shelves first.

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12
Q

Wine regions in Australia are defined as what?

A

Geographical Indications (GIs), and listed on the Register of Protected Names

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13
Q

What are the requirements for a GI, and what are the relative sizes?

A

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.

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14
Q

What is South Eastern Australia?

A

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.

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15
Q

If a wine is labeled as Australia, may the producer include vintage or varietal for export to the EU?

A

NO

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16
Q

Queensland: official and unofficial GI’s

A

(clockwise from 11:00)
South Burnett GI
Sunshine Coast & Hinterlands
Brisbane & Scenic Rim
Gold Coast & Hinterlands
Granite Belt GI
Darling Downs

17
Q

Granite Belt: climate and natural features

A

Subtropical but very high altitude (700M+), fraught with spring frosts and rain at harvest.
Great Dividing Range
Granite Belt (200 year old granitic intrusion, running down into New England Australia, sometimes called the New England Tableland)

18
Q

South Burnett: climate and natural features

A

Subtropical and continental, with more growing season rainfall than any other continental climate in the country.
Burnett River (north)
Blackbutt, Brisbane, and Coast Ranges (east)
Great Dividing Range (south)

19
Q

What is Australia’s coolest growing region?

A

Tasmania

20
Q

What is Tasmania’s most notable product?

A

Traditional Method sparkling wine

21
Q

Northern Tasmania Unofficial Subzones

A

(west to east)
North West Coast
Tamar Valley (generally achieves ripeness earlier, making it more suitable for late ripening varieties)
Pipers River (within Tamar, better for early ripening varieties)

22
Q

Where is Jansz, who founded it, and who owns it now?

A

Jansz is in Pipers River (northern Tasmania)
Founded as a collaboration between Heemskerk (Tassie) and Louis Roederer, now owned by Hill-Smith Family Vineyards (Yalumba).

23
Q

What is the relationship between Michael Hill Smith and Robert and Sam Hill Smith?

A

They are second cousins. Robert and Sam own Yalumba; Michael took the buy-out check when they took over and founded Shaw + Smith.

24
Q

Southern Tastmania Unofficial Subzones

A

(west to east)
Huon Valley
Derwent Valley
Coal River/Richmond (longer sunlight hous, can ripen later maturing varieties)
East Coast

25
Q

What major European wine regions can Tasmania be compared to?

A

Champagne and the Rheingau

26
Q

When was Langton’s Classification published, and what does it classify?

A

1990
Specific bottlings (as opposed to producers); must be made for 10 vintages, and is based heavily on the wine’s value on the secondary market.

27
Q

Top five varieties, by planting:

A

Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Semillon

28
Q

What term replaces Sherry?

A

Apera

29
Q

What is dekkera bruxellensis, and when and where was it mapped?

A

Brettanomyces; isolated by the Australian Wine Research Institute in 2011.

30
Q

What is Regulated Deficit Irrigation?

A

RDI is a system that creates water stress during key periods of the vine’s development by lower the total amount of applied water; limits vegetative growth, lowers yields, and encourages fruit coloration and smaller berries. Good for red wines. Minor water savings.

31
Q

What is Partial Rootzone Drying?

A

A system that alternates the application of water from one side of the rootzone to the other, reducing water use by 50%. Similar results in terms of heightened grape quality, but does not lower yield in the same way.

32
Q

What is significant about Australia’s federation in 1901?

A

It removed interstate trade barriers, allowing wineries access to all major cities, leading to SA’s taking the lead in production and several other regions shrinking or ceasing in production as a result.

33
Q

Who are the four largest producers in Australia?

A

Accolade (Constellation AUS/Hardy’s)
Treasury
Casella
Pernod Ricard