Australia Flashcards
Australian Wine History
- 1788 vines brought by settlers
- 1850’s first exports - phylloxera in Europe gave opportunity
- Domestic demand grew from tourists returning from Europe
- 1950’s rise of the big companies (Orlando/Jacob’s Creek, Lindeman, Hardys, Penfolds)
- Late 1980’s - shift to export market, marketing body Wines of Australia embraced modern advertising
- Style shift to big, oak (vanilla),
- Peak in late 2000’s at 170k ha, financial crisis, South American competitors, droughts pushing up irrigation costs
- premiumisation has kept Australian wines in the game
Climate
Inland (Murray-Darling Basin), hot continental
Coastal areas are maritime
Coonawara maritime even though not close to coast
Great Dividing Range provides altitude (Orange, Grampians, Macedon)
Rain shadow from mountains: Riverland only gets 150mm rain, but on the other side Hunter Valley gets 500 and is hot and humid
Soil
Varied
Coonawarra has distinctive red soil (terra rossa)
McLaren Vale - over 40 unique soil types
Vineyard Management: Lack of Water
Murray-Darling Basin for irrigation, not always enough
Adelaide Hills and Margaret River have higher winter rainfall and store in dams
McLaren Vale and Coonawarra have underground water sources, also pioneering recycled water
Drip irrigation most often used to conserve water
Vineyard Management: Vigorous Vines
Old vines combat high vigour
divided canopy systems like Scott-Henry or Smart-Dyson
Vineyard Management: Labour
Fairly expensive, so mechanised where possible.
Not many steep slopes
Vineyard Management: Soil Salinity
Not enough rainfall to carry away salt deposits and water from underground aquifers find their way up.
Can make it hard to vines to get nutrients - Chardonnay particularly vulnerable.
Rootstock selection (based on v. berlandieri)
Vineyard Management: Wildfires
Diluting tainted grapes
Vineyard Management: Sustainability
Many areas dry so very good for organic viticulture
Vineyard Management: Pests
Birds and Kangaroos
Grape Varieties
Black Grapes: (54%) Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Grenache
Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Grigio Semillon Riesling Muscat Gordo Blanco
Grape Varieties: Shiraz
25% total harvested fruit
hotter areas (Barossa and McLaren Vale): full-bodied, high alcohol, high soft tannin, dark fruit, earhty & spicy
cooler areas (Yarra, Grampians): less full bodied, higher acidity, some red fruit, black pepper
Very good and Outstanding: made in open fermenters with punch downs/pumpover for soft extraction
GSM Blends, co-fermented with Viognier, blended with CS
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Higher in acidity and tannin than Shiraz, ripe black fruit, (blackcurrant and cherry), with oak.
Coonawarra: eucalyptus
Margaret River: blended with Merlot, herbal notes, slightly riper
Grape Varieties: Merlot
Mostly in blends.
As single-varietal: medium bodied with medium tannin and red fruit to fuller bodied with riper, black fruit character
Better clones have been planted recently, leading to better quality
Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir
In cool and moderate areas like Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Tasmania.
Medium-bodied with medium alcohol, medium to high acidity, red fruit.
Whole bunch fermentation, cold maceration for colour and flavour, and stem inclusion for tannic structure.
Grape Varieties: Grenache
Only 1%, used in GSM blends
Old vines for single varietal in McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Barossa Valley
Traditionally low acidity, high alcohol, and jammy. Now picked earlier, higher acidity, lower alcohol, fresher red fruit.
Sometimes whole bunch or stem inclusion for aromas & colour.
Small new oak overwhelms flavours, so older/bigger oak vessels used.
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay
Big range of styles/prices
Inexpensive: Tank fermented, oak chips/staves if any, sometimes blended with Semillon (Chard brings ripe fruit flavours)
Higher end: medium to medium (+) acidity, well-integrated oak, ambient yeast, high level of solids during ferment, oak fermentation, malo (in cooler areas where there is enough acidity), lees ageing, barrel maturation.
Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc
Cooler climates - mid priced wines
Hotter climate - large volume, inexpensive wine
Less herbaceous than Marlborough.
Adelaide Hills: premium, with intense fruit character from citrus to tropical. Sometimes oaked/lees. Sometimes blended with Semillon.
Grape Varieties: Pinot Grigio
picked early for neutral style like Veneto, or riper for for style like Alsace (riper, fruitier, spicier).
Labelled Pinot Grigio for neutral style, Pinot Gris for fuller-bodied style
Grape Varieties: Semillon
Blended with SB, Chard, or as single varietal
Low alcohol, high acidity from Hunter Valley. Neutral when young, but develops complexity.
Barossa Valley has fuller body, higher alcohol, oak (not as age-worthy as Hunter Valley). Recently picking earlier for lighter style.
Riverina of New South Wales: noble rot for sweet wines
Grape Varieties: Riesling
Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Great Southern, Canberra, Tasmania.
Some sweet, but usually dry with high acidity. Apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach.
Premium using free range only. Some wine makers experimenting with skin contact.
Grape Varieties: Muscat Gordo Blanco and Colombard
Muscat of Alexandria = Muscat Gordo Blanco, for sparkling Moscato
Riverland
Cheap blended wines
Zones
Largest area, no rules, not terroir-led,
Can be entire state or multiple states (South Eastern Australia)
Most states divided into smaller zones
South Australia smaller zones: Barossa, Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu (which are also the Adelaide “super zone”
Regions
Smaller than zones
63 registered
Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margaret River,
Must produce at least 500 tonnes of grapes/year across 5 differently owned vineyards of 5ha each.
Sub-regions
Recognise areas with particular climates, topography, soil.
14 sub-regions registered
LIP
Label Integrity Programme
Introduced 1990
85% GI, Vintage, or Grape if it is stated on the label
Varieties stated by percentage (most to least)
South Eastern Australia Zone
Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, plus south-eastern corners of South Australia and Queensland
Inexpensive, high volume wine
Mostly Murray-Darling Basin
Riverland, Murray-Darling, Riverina
Large wine producing areas in South Eastern Australia Zone
Hot Continental
Riverland has slight maritime influence
Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon (Riverina - botrytised Semillon in Griffith area of Riverina)
South Australia
Largest wine-producing state, 50% total weight of harvested fruit.
Southeast corner near coast
Smaller zones: Barossa, Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu, Limestone Coast, Lower Murray Zone
South Australia: Barossa Zone
North of Adelaide
Barossa Valley on valley floor, Eden Valley in hills to the east
Shiraz
South Australia, Barossa Zone: Barossa Valley
protected by Eden Valley hills to the east, low hills to the west, Adelaide hills (Mount Lofty Ranges) to the south
one of Australia’s largest regions: 11,000 ha
160mm rainfall, irrigation necessary
full, ripe reds
Old vine Shiraz and Grenache, Cab Sauv, Chardonnay, Semillon
Semillon: higher alcohol, fuller body than Hunter Valley
South Australia, Barossa Zone: Eden Valley
Rolling exposed hills, part of Mount Lofty Ranges
up to 600m above sea level, sometimes too steep for mechanisation
230mm rainfall, good water-holding soil
Old vine Shiraz and Riesling, Grenache,
Eden Valley Riesling: dry, high acidity, medium alcohol
Eden Valley Shiraz: higher acidity, lower alcohol, structure tannins
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
range of mountains east of Adelaide, surrounding Barossa on 3 sides
Most important areas are Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley
Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Valleys and steep hills restrict mechanisation
Cool to moderate maritime climate
280-320mm rainfall in winter and spring (can interrupt fruit set), caught in dams and used for irrigation - also water from underground sources
Higher humidity
SB, Chard, Pinot in the higher altitude vineyards, full-bodied reds (Shiraz) in the lower, west-facing slopes
Latitude gives intense sunlight, so flavours are riper
Sub regions: Picadilly Valley and Lenswood
Adelaide Hills SB
Riper fruit flavours, high acidity, medium alcohol
Adelaide Hills Chard
Medium (+) to high acidity, medium body, malo, oak, lees
Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Northern most part of the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Warm, but cool afternoon breezes and nights. High diurnal range
Ridges & hills with valleys: microclimates
Whites on high slopes, reds lower
Small family wineries
250mm rainfall, mostly in winter, dams built to use water for irrigation, low humidity
Riesling 35% of grapes, intense sunlight - need to protect from sunburn,
Shiraz, Cab Sauv: med to med (+) acid and tannin, ripe black fruit, mint & eucalyptus
Clare Valley Riesling
High acidity (higher than Eden Valley), lime character,
Polish Hill: slate soils, flintier, neutral in youth
Waterfale: more floral, younger-drinking
Fleurieu Zone
South of Adelaide, with Gulf St. Vincent to the north and Southern Ocean to the south
Mediterranean, with cool breezes moderating.
McLaren Vale is best known
Fleurieu Zone, McLaren Vale
Northern end of peninsula
Warm to hot summers, winds from Gulf and Adelaide Hills moderate and lower disease risk (organic & biodynamic)
Less than 200mm rainfall
7200 ha, vineyards on undulating hills
Many microclimates and lots of soil types (north has poorer soils, south is more fertile & more vigourous Shiraz & Grenache)
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, mediterranean varieties: deeply coloured, full-bodied, high alcohol, dark fruit
Old vines
Large vineyards, mechanised
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Limestone Coast
south-eastern corner of South Australia
Cooler climate, moderating sea breezes give high diurnal range
flat, so maritime influence extends inland
High quality areas: Coonawarra, Mount Benson, Padthaway, Wrattonbully
Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Moderate maritime, similar to Bdx except warmer/drier
100km from coast, but flat so maritime influence extends
260mm rainfall, can disrupt flowering
Spring frost hazard
underground aquifers for irrigation
Terra rossa soil: a strip of free-draining, iron-rich soil over limestone, hard for roots to penetrate limestone, soil is alkaline (harder to take up nutrients). Controls vigour and concentrates wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon over 50%, also Shiraz, Riesling
Isolated, so labour is an issue
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignin
Medium to full-bodied, medium alcohol, high & firm tannins, dark fruit, mint & eucalyptus
Coonawarra Shiraz
Lighter than Barossa, but still minty/eucalyptus
Victoria
State of Victoria split into six smaller zones:
Port Phillip Zone, Western Victoria, Central Victoria, North Eastern Victoria, North West Victoria
Murray Darling Basin for high volume, otherwise quality over quantity
Port Phillip Zone
Around Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay
Moderation from sea breezes and altitude
Suitable for early-ripening Pinot and Chard. Some sites warm enough for Shiraz & Cab Sauv
Port Phillip Zone, Yarra Valley
Cool to moderate climate
altitude 50 to 350m
Upper Yarra: cooler
Lower Yara: warmer
frost risk in hills
1100mm rainfall
500mm during growing season, high humidity
State of Victoria split into six smaller zones:
Port Phillip Zone, Western Victoria, Central Victoria, North Eastern Victoria, North West Victoria
Murray Darling Basin for high volume, otherwise quality over quantity
Pinot Noir & Chardonnay mostly, some Shiraz and Cab
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
light to medium bodied
Lighter: from higher altitude vineyards, whole bunch fermentation for fruitier style
Medium bodied from warmer sites, riper, usually aged in large oak barrels
Yarra Valley Chardonnay
White peach, grapefruit, melon, higher acidity
Sometimes high degree of solids for more reductive flavours
Yarra Valley Shiraz
medium bodied, black & red fruit, spicy, some whole bunch
Yarra Valley Cab
Medium bodied, herbal
Port Phillip Zone, Mornington Peninsula
Port Phillip Bay on one side, Bass Strait on the other
cool to moderate climate, wind and maritime influence moderate the high sunshine hours
Wind reduces disease but also interrupts flowering
320-290mm rainfall
Red Hill ridge provides microclimates & altitude - red basalt soil which retains water. Vigour can be an issue - use Lyre trellising
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, some Shiraz and Pinot Gris
Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
Light bodied with perfumed red fruits and med (+) acidity to warm, ripe, with higher tannin
Port Phillip Zone, Geelong
to the west of Melbourne, includes Bellarine Peninsula
Cool climate (Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait)
500-600mm rainfall, lower than Yarra
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in cooler sites, Cabernet and Shiraz in warmer
riper and fuller Chard and PN than Yarra (some black fruit for PN)
Medium body/acid Chard
Medium Shiraz with red and black fruit
Port Phillip Zone, Macedon Ranges
Northeast of Melbourne, part of Great Dividing Range, 300-800m altitude
Small, only 215 ha and 40 wineries
One of coolest climate in Australia mainland
Shallow, granitic sandy loam on hillside reduces yield
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling
Black pepper Shiraz, but needs warm site and warm year
Western Victoria Zone
Large zone, Port Phillip Zone to South Australian border
Most important regions: Grampians and Pyrenees
Western Victoria Zone, Grampians
moderate climate, 130km inland
240-440m altitude, wide diurnal range
250mm rainfall, but loamy soil holds water well
Acidic soils that must be treated with lime, or poor vigour
Medium bodied Shiraz with red and black fruit
Western Victoria Zone, Pyrenees
east of Grampians
gentle slopes, warmer than Grampians
Medium bodied Shiraz with red and black fruit
Western Victoria Zone, Henty
far southwest corner of Victoria
Coldest mainland region, cold Antarctic winds, but high sunshine hours
sea level to 460m altitude
Riesling with high acidity and lemon and lime, toasty with bottle age
Also Chard, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cab Sauv
North East Victoria Zone
200km inland from Melbourne, continental climate
Warm flat plains of Rutherglen to cool upper King Valley in the foothills of Great Dividing Range
North East Victoria Zone, King Valley
up to 860m altitude, some of highest in Australia
Cool and high rainfall, heavy disease pressure
well-draining loam with high fertility
Equal black and white grapes
Italian immigrants - sparkling wine from Glera, lots of PInot Gris
Merlot and Cab, but also Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo
North East Victoria Zone, Beechworth
In hills south of Rutherglen, 200m to 1000m in altitude
Chardonnay - medium bodied with medium to high acidity and medium alcohol
Shiraz - Medium bodied, with black and red fruit and medium firm tannin
Pinot, Sangio, Nebbiolo
Central Victoria Zone
Flat plains of Goulburn Valley and Bendigo: ripe, full-bodied reds, whites from Rhone varieties
Upper Goulbourn in the foothills of Great Dividing Range: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauv Blanc
Heathcote: Shiraz
Central Victoria Zone, Heathcote
Narrow strip along side of Mount Carmel Range
160-320m
250mm during growing season
Calcareous red soil from weathered greenstone, retains water
Shiraz 50%: medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, ripe dark fruit, sweet spices
Central Victoria Zone, Gippsland Zone
One of largest zones in Victoria, from Melbourne to Victoria eastern border
more than 50 wineries, mostly small family ones
420-530mm rain
Chardonnay and PN, some Cab and Merlot in warmer sites
New South Wales
East coast of Australia
sub-tropical climate, with moderate to high temperatures, high humidity, and rainfall throughout the year
Hunter Valley is most famous region
Other regions are protected from tropical weather by Great Dividing Range and are continental climate
New South Wales, Hunter Valley Zone
200km north of Sydney
Hunter is the only region, 2600ha, unofficially split into Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter
Almost tropical, hot and humid, low latitude
500mm rainfall during growing season
Semillon
Chardonnay, Shiraz
New South Wales, Hunter Valley Zone, Lower Hunter
closer to coast, sea breezes, undulating hills at low altitude.
Sandy loam to clay loam, over clay base
New South Wales, Central Ranges Zone
Three regions: Mudgee, Orange, Cowra
Mudgee and Cowra are lower and warmer
New South Wales, Central Ranges Zone, Mudgee
northernmost, protected by Great Dividing Range, lower rainfall
Continental climate, but high altitude, frost an issue
New South Wales, Central Ranges Zone, Orange
Slope of Mount Canobolas, 600-900m
Red volcanic basalt soils, yellow/brown clay loam, shallow gravel
Windy
Black grapes on lower slopes, Shiraz and Cab
Chardinnay and some SB, PG on higher slopes
Southern New South Wales Zone
Inland area south of Sydney to Victoria border
Hills and Snowy mountains protect from maritime influence
Continental climate
4 small regions: Canberra District
Southern New South Wales Zone, Canberra District
500-850m altitude
winter and spring cold/frost
irrigation necessary
autumn rain
Shiraz and Riesling
Southern New South Wales Zone, Hilltops and Tumbarumba
Continental climate with cool nights
Hilltops: Shiraz, Cab, Chardonnay
Tumbarumba: Pinot and Chardonnay for sparkling
Tasmania
250km south of mainland separated by Bass Strait
Cool, maritime climate
rainfall mostly on west coast not in vineyard area
Unofficial regions: Coal River Valley, Tamar Valley, Piper’s River
Southern Tasmania cooler, long sunshine hours, north and east exposure
South east is drier - irrigatio
North and West 250mm rainfall in growing season, humid, spring frosts
Pinot Noir and Chard, some Riesling, SB, Pinot Gris, some Merlot, CS, Shiraz in warmer sites.
Tasmanian Pinot Noir
Light to medium bodied, medium (+) to high acidity, medium alcohol, red fruit
Tasmanian Chardonnay
medium bodied with medium alcohol, apple, white peach, pear, high acidity, usual MLF and barrel fermentation
South West Australia Zone
Margaret River and Great Southern
South West Australia Zone, Margaret River
Peninsula sw corner of Australia
Indian Ocean to north and west and Southern Ocean to south
Days are warm - Southern ocean cools but Indian ocean is warm
Maritime
1000mm but mostly in winter
flat region with gentle hills, 40-90m
Ridge down center with free draining gravel soils
5700ha, mostly Cabernet with Merlot, some SB, Chard, Semillon
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Blended with Merlot
Medium (+) acidity and medium (+) to full body, high ripe tannin, black fruit, spice
Mostly French oak
Margaret River Chardonnay
high in acidity, medium (+) to full body, stone fruit, usually no MLF
Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc
blended with Semillon
High acidity, grassy, gooseberry to tripical
South West Australia Zone, Great Southern
5 sub regions: Albany and Denmark, Mount Barker, Porongurup, Frankland River
Black varieties 55%, Shiraz dominant
Cabernet Sauvignon in Mount Barker and warmer parts of Denmark - intense and powerful
Cabernet Sauvignon from Porongurup, more elegant and savoury
Riesling
SB from Albany and Denmark - green and herbaceous
South West Australia Zone, Great Southern Sub-Regions
Albany & Denmark: maritime
Mount Barker, Porongurup, Frankland River: continental with wide diurnal range
Frankland River: Drier
Wine Australia
Goverment authority that funds research and promotes
Exports
5th largest wine exporter
2/3 average production
UK, China, USA, Canada, Germany
Cellar Door and wine tourism
Less common varieties popular domestically
