AUS: Western Flashcards
Swan Valley GI
Western Australia (1st commercial plantings - 1836, Houghton’s)
* Australia’s hottest GI
Margaret River GI’s hero
Dr. John Gladstones, got 1st plantings to happen in 1967
* rallied the dairy farmers, drew the boundaries
Margaret River’s 1st commercial wine
1971 Vasse Felix Riesling
Margaret River GI’s eastern border
“Gladstone Line”
(follows the Whicher Range)
Margaret River GI’s subzones
Coastal:
Yallingup
Willyabrup (the heart)
Wallcliffe (Chardonnay)
Karridale (Sauvignon Blanc, Blackwood River)
Inland:
Carbunup (lies on Geographe Bay)
Treeton (warmest, biggest diurnal)
Gladstones work: Based on river/creeks drainage directions which correspond to direction of airflow systems
Willyabrup
- 3 most important wineries
- most important variety
Margaret River GI
* Cabernet Sauvignon
Vasse Felix, Cullen, Mosswood
Wallcliffe
Margaret River GI
* known for Chardonnay
Leeuwin Estate, Cape Mentelle
Margaret River’s “First Five”
Cullen (Willyabrup)
Leeuwin Estate (Wallcliffe)
Mosswood (Willyabrup)
Vasse Felix (Willyabrup)
Cape Mentelle (Wallcliffe)
Margaret River’s “Golden Triangle”
Leeuwin Estate
Voyager Estate
Cape Mentelle
*Chardonnay (all in the Wallcliffe subzone of the Margaret River GI)
Gingin & Bernard clone - also known as?
Bernard = Dijon Clone
Gingin = Mendoza Clone
Chardonnay
Margaret River climate + important moderators
Mediterranean: wet winters, dry summers. Warm, temperate oceanic influence.
* ~ 47 in rain/year
* 2500 sunshine hours/yr
Indian Ocean, Leeuwin-Naturaliste Range
Margaret River soils
Gravelly loam is key
* sandy loam topsoil, gravel with high iron content
Langton’s 1st Classified wines from Margaret River
- Cullen Diana Madeline Cab-Merlot
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
Margaret River grapes
1 Cab Sauv (~1600ha, Willyabrup)
#2 Chardonnay (~1200ha, Willyabrup)
#3 Sauvignon Blanc (~500ha, southern areas)
#4 Semillon (~450ha, southern areas)
#5 Merlot (Willyabrup)
1st commercial red produced in Margaret River?
1972 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec