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WSET Dip D3 > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

1
Q

What latitude ranges are the following, and what do they correspond to in the NH -

  • Most Australian wine regions (minus some Queensland vineyards)
  • Tasmania
A

30-37°S - North Africa and South Mediterranean

41-42°S - Porto and Central Italy

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2
Q

What area does the Great Dividing Range protect and from what?

A

South-east australia
Tropical weather systems coming from Pacific Ocean to the northeast
The regions in its rain-shadow get very low rainfall

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3
Q

Name the seven grape varieties that have the largest area under vine in Australia, in order of most planted

A 
Shiraz
Chardonnay
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Muscat Gordo Blanco
(Semillon, Colombard, Pinot Noir and Riesling follow)
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4
Q

What name is often used for Mourvèdre in Australia?

A

Mataro

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5
Q

Where are Grenache old bush vines with high quality being recognised?

A

Mclaren Vale, Eden Vally & Barossa Valley

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6
Q

Which barrel styles are most suitable for ageing Australian Grenache?

A

Old and/or large oak

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7
Q

Expected style of Shiraz from Barossa Valley (and potentially McLaren Vale)

A

Tannins - high and soft
Alcohol - High
Body - Full
Pronounced ripe (or often cooked or dried) dark fruit with earth and spicy notes
Develop leather characteristics with age
Many aged in new american oak though more recently moving to french)

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8
Q

What are the 3 main wine-producing regions in the Murray Darling Basin?

A

Riverland (along the murray river in South Australia)
Murray-Darling (along both rivers falling between Victoria and NSW)
Riverina (on the Murrumbidgee River in NSW)

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9
Q

Climate in the Murray Darling basin? (and any climatic influence, topography, soil)

A

Hot and Continental
Rivers provide slight cooling influence
Rain shadow of great dividing range
Sandy soils (irrigation is necessary)

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10
Q

Why is Riverland a slightly cooler region?

A

Because there are no mountains between it and the coast (200km inland)

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11
Q

Expectation of Shiraz and Chardonnay from MDB

A 
Medium Body
High alcohol
Relatively low in acidity
Characterised by ripe fruit flavours
(depending on price point, producers may blend in grapes from other grapes to add more complexity, flavour and balance)
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12
Q

What area is known for producing sweet, botrytised semillon?

A

Griffith in Riverina

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13
Q

How do areas such as Adelaide Hills and Margaret River combat need for irrigation and risk of drought?

A

They store the rainfall in dams until it is needed in the summer

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14
Q

Which regions store the rainfall in dams until it is needed in the summer

A

Adelaide Hills and Margaret River

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15
Q

Which regions use underground water sources to comat irrigation/risk of drought?

A

McLaren Vale and Coonawarra

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16
Q

Which divided canopy systems are used for new plantings to manage vigour and ensure vine balance?

A

Scott-Henry and Smart-Dyson

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17
Q

What are Scott-Henry and Smart-Dyson and what are they used for?

A

Divided canopy systems used for new plantings to manage vigour and ensure vine balance

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18
Q

What are the benefits of mechanical harvesting, and some reasons why it’s widely used in Australia?

A

Can cover a large area in a short time, meaning grapes can be delivered to the cool of the winery asap
Can harvest at night

Unit labour costs are high, some areas are remote,
Most of the vineyards are on flat or gently sloping land, enabling mechanisation

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19
Q

Why do some producers choose to harvest by hand?

A

To limit grape splitting/crushing
To allow greater selection of fruit during harvest
To maintain whole bunches

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20
Q

Why can soils become more saline over time?

A

There isn’t enough rainfall to carry away the salts deposited in irrigation water or because saline water in deeper aquifers may find it’s way to the surface

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21
Q

What is the risk of saline soils and how can you combat it?

A

They make it more difficult for the vine to get water it needs and leads to reduced vine growth and sometimes death

Selecting suitable rootstocks (e.g. based on V. berlandieri e.g. 1103P) that are tolerant of soils with high level of dissolved salt
Changing irrigation patterns to supply larger volumes of water at less frequent intervals

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22
Q

What is the expectation of Shiraz from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale (for example)

A

Body - full
Alcohol - high
Tannins - high, soft
Pronounced dark fruit aromas with earthy and spicy notes

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23
Q

What is the expectation of Shiraz from cooler regions e.g. Yarra Valley and the Grampians

A

Less full bodied
Alcohol - Medium
Less intensely fruity, red and black cherry
Distinct black pepper

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24
Q

There is a trend for more approachable, less intense styles (shiraz). How would this be achieved?

A

Reducing the amount of extraction - using whole bunch fermentation
Reducing the levels of new oak

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25
Very good and outstanding quality Shiraz - | Vessel and cap management?
Open fermentation tanks | Manual or mechanised punch downs for soft extraction of tannins
26
What does the Eden Valley form part of, and what does that mean for some sites?
The Mount Lofty Ranges | In some places the gradient can be steep enough to limit mechanisation
27
What altitude do the vineyards stretch to in Eden Valley
600m above sea level | climate becomes cooler with altitude
28
What are the risks of the high sites of the Eden valley?
They are exposed - rainfall higher at 230mm during the growing season Wind can be strong enough to affect flowering and ripening
29
Why is dry farming common in Eden valley?
Wide variety of soil types but most have water-holding capacity Slightly higher rainfall than e.g. Barossa Valley
30
What old vine plantings are Eden valley known for?
Shiraz, Riesling, Grenache
31
Expectation of Shiraz from Eden Valley?
Acid - high (higher than Barossa Valley) Tannins - Structured (more so than Barossa Valley) Alcohol - Lower than Barossa Flavours sit between very ripe style of Barossa and the more peppery styles from cooler climates Ripe but fresh plum and blackberry, sweet spice from Oak
32
Name 2 significant producers of Shiraz in Eden Valley
Henschke | Pewsey Vale
33
What is an ongoing and probably biggest threat when it comes to climate in Australia?
Drought
34
What are the 2 main natural pests in Australia, and what can be done to prevent them
Birds and Kangaroos Netting for birds No solution found for kangaroos as yet
35
Single varietal Cab Sauv in Australia - change with different climates but what do they all tend to have in common?
Higher acidity and tannins than Shiraz Ripe black fruit aromas of blackcurrant and cherry Tend to have oak characteristics
36
Which 2 regions are leading for Cab sauv production, and what are key indicators
Coonawarra - mint or eucalyptus aromas | Margaret River - often blended with merlot and style is riper with more subtle herbal notes
37
What is one of the hazardous risks of hot, dry summers and what does it result in?
Bush Fires Damage to vineyards Smoke taint
38
Which areas is phylloxera present in Australia?
Victoria and NSW
39
There tends to be low humidity in the vineyards in Australia, where are the exceptions to this and what basic principle needs to be employed in the vineyard?
Adelaide Hills Southern Victoria Hunter Valley Parts of Tasmania Open canopies necessary
40
What is the body of sustainable practices in Australia, and what % of the wine industry take part
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia 25% land owned 25% wine production
41
Single varietal Merlot is produced in a full range of styles - give 2 examples
Med body, med tannins, red fruit Fuller bodied, riper black fruit
42
Where is Pinot Noir planted in Australia?
Cooler regions - Yarra Valley Mornington Peninsula Tasmania
43
What is the expectation of Pinot Noir in Australia?
Medium Body Medium Alcohol Med-High Acid Red fruit - cherry, strawberry
44
Talk through some winemaking options of Pinot Noir and what that results in?
Whole bunch = aromas Cold Maceration = Enhance colour and flavours Stem Inclusion = influence tannic structure Maturation in french oak, new oak is reducing in use
45
Where is Grenache increasingly produced as single varietal?
Where there are old bush vines - Barossa Valley McLaren Vale Eden Valley
46
What is the modern style for Grenache in Australia?
Freshness, higher acidity, slightly lower alcohol, fresher red fruit flavours, Old / large oak
47
Where are the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc found in Australia, and what are the expected characteristics?
Adelaide Hills Less herbaceous than NZ, citrus, tropical Margaret River - blended with Semillon - Bordeaux style
48
Where would you find finer wines labelled Pinot Gris in Australia
``` Mornington Peninsula (Vic) Tasmania ```
49
Expectation of single varietal Semillon in Australia
Low alcohol, high acid, unoaked (Hunter Valley) Gain great aromatic complexity with age Barossa Valley = not as ageworthy, fuller bodied, higher ABV, oak influence
50
How many regions are registered in Australia?
63
51
How many sub-regions are registered in Australia?
14
52
According to the LIP, what % of grapes must conform if listing GI, vintage or variety on label?
85%
53
What is the LIP rule for listing multiple varieties on label
Must go in descending order of quantity (high to low)
54
Why do many producers blend Shiraz from Eden Valley and Barossa Valley in the Barossa Zone?
To combine intensity and body of Shiraz from warmer Barossa, and the elegance and higher acid of those from Eden Valley
55
Climate in Barossa valley and climatic protection?
Warm climate - hot, sunny summer days but cooler nights Low hills to the west Eden Valley regions to the east Steeper parts of the mount lofty ranges (Adelaide Hills) to the south
56
Where are some of Barossa's most age-worthy wines produced and soil type?
Northern part of the valley, ironstone layer in the soil prized for it's water-retaining properties
57
Name the 2 important regions in the Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
Adelaide Hills | Clare Valley
58
What is Adelaide Hills characterised by (topography) and what does this mean in the vineyard?
Valleys and steep hillsides | Restricts mechanisation in many vineyards
59
Climate in Adelaide Hills
Cool - moderate, with temps varying due to Altitude | Maritime = 280-320 mm rainfall during growing season
60
Most planted black variety and expectation in Adelaide Hills?
``` Pinot Noir good-very good quality Medium (+) acid Medium body Medium alcohol Red fruit Range from delicate and floral to more spicy ```

WSET Dip D3 (13 decks)

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