Australia Flashcards
Land under vine in Oz?
146,000ha
When did vines arrive in Oz?
1788 (with first settlers)
What did James Busby do?
Early 1830s: bring vine cuttings to Oz
Where is phylloxera-free in Oz?
South Australia!
+ Tasmania and Western Australia
and other places
strict quarantine
Impact of phylloxera outbreak (Europe) on Australian wine?
big opportunity for Aussie exports, particularly to UK
What is Muscat Gordo Blanco?
Muscat of Aleandria
Company once known as Orlando now called…
Jacob’s Creek
How has land under vine in Oz developed since 1990?
Up and down
1990: 59,000ha
late 2000s (peak): 170,000ha
now: 146,000ha
Why has Australian vineyard shrunk in last 20 years?
Various reasons:
- Oversupply;
- Competition fro other non-Euro countries repliacting the model;
- worsened by strength of Aussie Dollar (2008 crash) making Aussie wine more expensive than eg Argentina and Chile;
- drought > expensive water > go out of business
What is the impact of drought on Aussie viticulture?
Serious droughts push up cost of water
Many growers forced out of business
Aussie land under vine shrinking has had what effect on the type of wine produced?
Less focus on inexpensive, high volume
More focus on small production, high price
=> maintain strong position on export markets
Most Aussie vineyards at what latitude?
30-37S (equivalent to North Africa, Southern Europe)
NB Tasmania is 41-42S
Climate in Murray-Darling Basin
hot continental
Effect of Indian or Southern Ocean on Aussie vineyards?
Cooling influence, moderating daily and seasonal temperatures
Australia is quite flat. So what?
Nothing to stop cooling influence of oceans going further inland,
eg Coonawarra: 100km inland yet continental climate
Key mountain range in Oz
Great Dividing Range
runs from Queensland to western Victoria
Cool sites within the Great Dividing Range that growers are planting on for lighter-bodied, more elegant wine?
Orange
Macedon
Grampians
What does the Great Dividing Range protect south-eastern Australia vyds from?
Creates a barrier, protecting vineyards from tropical weather systems from the Pacific Ocean (from north-east)
Only major wine region to the east of the Great Dividing Range? So what?
Hunter Valley
Hot and humid climate (500mm rain)
Riverland is in Great Dividing Range’s rain shadow. So what?
Gets very low level of rainfall (135mm during season)
Famous soil in Coonawarra?
terra rossa
What makes Oz suitable for viticulture?
Intense sun (and lots of it)
Low rainfall
Low humidity
Disease pressure is low
Why do even Australia’s wetter regions need irrigation?
free-draining soil
Historic source of irrigation water in Oz? And what of it lately?
Murray-Darling Basin
serious droughts => water availability low
Oz: what do old vines (eg Shiraz and Grenache) do re: vigour?
Naturally combat high vigour
(Heat and sufficient water leads to vigour)
How can growers manage vigour and ensure vine balance in eg. warm Australian region (new vines)?
Divided canopy systems eg Scott-Henry, Smart-Dyson
Comment on soil salinity in Oz?
An issue!
Over time, soils become more saline (not enough rainfall to carry away salt deposited in irrigation water)
Saline soil makes it difficult for vine to get water it needs => reduced vine growth/DEATH
Managed through rootstocks and changing irrigation (larger amounts less frequently)
How to combat soil salinity in Oz?
Select suitable rootstocks
Change irrigation patterns (larger volumes, less frequently)
Phylloxera generally not present in Oz, but newer vneayrds often planted on rootstocks. Why?
Prevent future threa to fphylloxera
Combat acidity and salinity in soil
Oz: where is phylloxera present?
Parts of Victoria and New South Wales
Most Oz regions have low humidity. Some exceptions? So what?
Adelaide Hills, southern Victoria, Hunter Valley, parts of Tasmania
So open canopies essential to maximise air flow
Oz’s national sustainability programme?
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia accounts for what % of vineyards/producers?
25% (of both)
Main pests in Oz? And how to fight them?
Birds and kangaroos
Netting good against birds
No solution for ‘roos
most planted grape in Oz?
Shiraz
Most planted black grape in Oz? Most planted white grape in Oz?
Shiraz
Chardonnay
Top 3 black grapes in Oz
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Top 3 white grapes in Oz
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Examples of alternative varieties growing in Oz?
Mediterranean eg Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Fiano, Assytriko
well suited to warm, dry conditions here
Black grapes account for what % of Australian harvested fruit?
54%
More black or white grapes in Oz?
More black (54%)
Shiraz style from hotter Oz regions (Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale)
full body
high alcohol
high, soft tannin
pronounce dark fruit, earthy, spicy
leathery with age
Shiraz style from cooler Oz regions (Yarra Valley, Grampians)
less full bodied
medium alcohol
less intensenly fruity, red and black cherry
distinct black pepper note
Shiraz often blended across regions (eg Penfolds model). Why?
Blend cooler and hotter climate fruit for balance and complexity
Trend in Oz for less intense, more approachable Shiraz styles. Achieved how?
Reduce amount of extraction
Use whole bunch
Reduce levels of new oak
What kind of oak generally used in Oz for Shiraz?
American oak is traditional
French increasingly used
Comment on use of open-topped fermenters in Aussie Shiraz?
very good -> outstanding quality Shiraz
manual/mechanised punching down => soft extraction of tannin
Common blends for Shiraz in Australia?
GSM (NB, “Mataro”)
Shiraz-Viognier
Oz: what does Shiraz bring to a Cab/Shiraz blend
Brings softness and body
Plays the role of Merlot in Bordeaux
Aussie Cab Sauv: tannins and acid higher or lower than Shiraz?
Higher, generally
Australian Cab Sauv style
Varies -> cooler and warmer climate styles
BUT
higher acid and higher tannin (vs. Shiraz)
ripe black fruit, blackcurrant, cherry
oak
Signature of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
eucalyptus
Margaret River: Cab Sauv blended with what? What’s the style?
Merlot
Ripe, subtly herbal
Merlot quality on the rise in Oz. Why?
Better clones!
Name a few regions for Pinot Noir in Australia?
Cool and moderate regions
Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
Aussie Pinot Noir style
medium ody
medim alc
medium to high acid
red fruit: cherry, strawb
Grenache accounts for what % of grape harvest in Australia?
1%
but it’s “Important”
Grenache seen as high quality single-varietal in Oz. Why?
Recognition of the quality of old bush vines in McLaren, Eden and Barossa
Traditional Australian Grenache style? (fallen out of favour)
Low acid
High alcohol
Jammy fruit
New oak
Modern Australian Grenache style?
More fresh
Higher acid
Lower alcohol
Fresher red fruit
Whole bunch or stems = aromas and tannins
Australia’s most planted white variety?
Chardonnay
How has Chardonnay style evolved in Australia?
Gone from ripe and oaky -> early picking, much leaner
High-quality Aussie Chardonnay a sort of middle ground between ripe and lean. Describe the style.
Ripe fruit (citrus, peach)
Medium to medium (+) acid
Well-integrated oak
Complexity, balance and texture from ambient yeasts, solids in ferment, lees ageing, barrel ageing
MLF in Australian Chardonnay?
It depends
Warm climate: NO MLF. Retain acid
Cool climate: YES MLF. Reduce acid, increase complexity and body
Aussie Sauv Blanc vs Marlborough: any differences?
Aussie is less herbaceous (particularly from Adelaide Hills)
Best Aussie Sauv Blanc from where?
Adelaide Hills
Australian Sauv Blanc style
Intense fruit (citrus to tropical)
Stainless steel but maybe lees or barrel ferment
In Margaret River, Sauv Blanc is blended with ___
Semillon
Bordeaux style blend
NB also Cab/Merlot blends there!
Austarlia’s best Pinot Gris comes from where? (2)
Mornington peninsula (and other Victoria)
Tasmania
Australia Pinot Grigio style?
Varies from Veneto Pinot Grigio style to Alsace Pinot Gris. Labelled accordingly.
Best Pinot Gris from Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania
Hunter Valley Semillon style
Low alcohol
High acid
Unoaked
Neutral in youth, complex with bottle age
Barossa Valley Semillon style
Fuller body (vs Hunter)
Higher alcohol (vs Hunter)
Oak flavours
Not as ageworthy as Hunter
What happens to Semillon in Riverina. So what?
noble rot
makes complex sweet wines
Name a few Aussie regions with a reputation for Riesling
Clare Valley
Eden Valley
Great Southern
Canberra
Tasmania
Aussie Riesling: dryness
Most are bone dry
but there are sweet late-harvest styles also
Aussie Riesling style
Dry (mostly)
High acid
Apple, lemon, grapefruit, lime, peach (depends on the region)
Vibrant fruit and floral
What is Muscat Gordo Blanco?
Muscat of Alexandria
Muscat Gordo Blanco and Colombard are grown where in Oz?
Hot, inland (Riverland, Murray-Darling, Riverina)
Cheap blending partners
Colombard used for what in Australia?
Neutral, cheap blending partner for eg Chardonnay
Inexpensive wines
Muscat Gordo Blanco used for what in Australia?
Cheap blending partner in still wines
Sparkling Moscato
Explain the Aussie GI system
Zones, regions and sub-regions
Zone: eg South Australia, South Eastern Australia, Barossa zone etc
Region: eg Coonawarra, Clare Valley
Sub-region: only 14 of them. rare.
What are zones in Aussie GI system?
They can be states (South Australia), multi-state (South Eastern Australia) or smaller regions within states (Barossa, Adelaide etc)
How many “regions” are there in Aussie GI system
63
eg Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margaret River
Wine from grapes grown in Eden Valley region could be labelled as what different GIs depending on what the producer wanted?
Eden Valley
Barossa
Adelaide
South Australia
South Eastern Australia
What is LIP
Label Integrity Programme
1990
For Aussie what’s the min % of a GI, vintage or grape that’s mentioned on that label
85%
Do Australian GIs have rules on grape growing and winemaking?
No
South Eastern Australia zone covers what states?
Victoria
New South Wales
Tasmania
south-eastern corners of South Australia and Queensland
Most grapes for South Eastern Australian zone come from where?
Murray-Darling basin
What is the Murray-Darling Basin
1 million square kilometres of land
formed by Murray and Darling rivers and their tributaries
contains Riverland; Murray-Darling; and Riverina
Riverland is along what river?
Murray River
Murray-Darling along what river(s)?
Murray River
Darling River
Riverina is along what river?
Murrumbidgee River (tributary to the Murray)
Australia’s three largest wine-producing regions?
Riverland
Riverina
Murray-Darling
Climate in Murray-Darling Basin?
Hot continental
Rivers provide cooling influence
Riverland is 200km inland yet has some maritime influence. Why?
There are no mountains between it and the coast
Australian Vintage Ltd is key in what big region?
Riverland
Casella Family Brands and De Bortoli are very active in what big region?
Riverina
Lindemand’s is very active in what big region?
Murray-Darling
Murray-Darling Basin is in rain shadow of Great Dividing Range. So what?
Very little rain
AND sandy soils => irrigation essential
Comment on water in Murray-Darling Basin
Great Diving Range means low rainfall here
Sandy soils and low rain => need to irrgate
Water comes from rivers, but recent droughts make this supply very limited
Increase in water prices (and decrease in grape prices) => some producers going out of business
Main grapes in Murray-Darling Basin
Shiraz and Chardonnay
(and Semillon in Riverina)
Wine style (red and white) in Murray-Darling Basin
medium body
high alcohol
low-ish acid
ripe fruit
Area around Griffith (Riverina) known for what style?
Sweet, botrytis Semillon
Most wine in Murray-Darling Basin is inexpensive and high volume. But what grapes are being used for higher quality wines?
Complex, balanced Shiraz and Chardonnay (lower yields)
Grapes suited to hot climate: Vermeinto, Petit Verdot, Nero d’Avola etc
What makes Griffith suitable for sweet botrytis Semillon?
Summer is dry and hot but autumn is rainy and humid
Morning mists and warm, sunny afternoons => induce noble rot
Well known part of Australia for botrytis Semillon?
Griffith and nearby areas
South Australia produces what % of total harvest?
50%
Australia’s largest wine producing state by volume?
South Australia
Penfolds Grange uses what GI?
South Australia
Barossa zone split into which two regions?
Barossa Valley
Eden Valley
Why blend Shiraz from Barossa and Eden together?
Intensity and body from Barossa (warmer)
Elegance and higher acid from Eden (cooler)
Land under vine in Barossa Valley
11,000ha
The Adelaide Hills are part of what mountain range?
Mount Lofty Ranges
Barossa Valley is a plain protected by what?
Eden Valley (to east)
low hills (to west)
Adelaide Hills (to south0
Climate in Barossa Valley?
Warm
Hot sunny summer days, cooler nights
Low rainfall in Barossa. So what?
Irrigation necessary
Disease pressure low
Northern part of Barossa Valley known for what soils?
Ironstone layer
=> water retaining properties
=> age-worthy wines
Barossa is home to some of world’s oldest vines. Why?
Vines planted in 1840s
Phylloxera never hit
BUT
there was a vine pull scheme in 1980s so some vines lost
Shiraz accounts for what % of Barossa Valley production?
66%
Barosas Valley Shiraz style
Full body
High alcohol
High tannin (soft)
Pronounced ripe (and cooked, dried) black fruit
New American/French oak
Second most planted grape in Barossa Valley?
Cabernet Sauvignon
White grapes account for what% of Barossa harvest?
9%
White grapes in Barossa Valley
Chardonnay
Semillon
Barossa Valley Chardonnay style
High quality
Full body
Ripe tropical fruit
Barossa Valley Semillon style
Different to Hunter Valley!
Higher alcohol
Lower acid
More body
Significant producers in Barossa Valley
John Duval
Glaetzer
Kalleske
Torbreck
Eden Valley forms part of what mountain range?
Mount Lofty Ranges
Altitude in Eden Valley. So what?
up to 600m
High sites are exposed to eg wind (affect flowering and ripening)
Cooler climate
Dry farming more common in Eden than Barossa. Why?
Soils with good water holding capacity
Slightly higher rainfall
Eden Valley: more red or white wine?
Roughly even!
Most planted variety in Eden Valley
Riesling
Eden Valley Riesling style
Dry
High acid
Medium alcohol
Pure citrus lemon and lime
Floral
Age for years -> toast, honey, nutty
Most planted black variety in Eden Valley?
Shiraz
What is Eden Valley Shiraz like compared to Barossa Shiraz?
Eden has higher acid
More structured tannins
Lower alcohol
Eden Valley Shiraz style
High acid
High structured tannins
Lower alcohol than Barossa Shiraz
Ripe, fresh plum and blackberry, sweet spice
Significant producers in Eden Valley
Henschke
Pewsey Vale
Mounty Lofty Ranges Zone contains which two important regions?
Adelaide Hills
Claire Valley
Topography of Adelaide Hills. So what?
Valleys and steep hillsides
Can’t really mechanise
Lots of aspects and soil types
Climate in Adelaide Hills
Cool to moderate
Temperatures vary due to altitude
Why is site selection important in Adelaide Hills?
Low-altitdude, west facing sites in northern part: warm enough for full-bodied reds
Higher altitude, in centre: cooler, early-ripening Sauv Blanc, Cahrd, pinot
Central part of Adelaide Hills has two sub-regions. What are they?
Piccadilly Valley
Lenswood
What are Piccadilly Valley and Lenswood?
Sub-regions of Adelaide Hills
Climate in Adeladie Hills
Maritime
Talk about rain in Adelaide Hills
Relatively high
Most falls in winter and spring -> can be late enough to disrupt fruit set
Rainwater collected in dams -> irrigation
More rain -> more humidity -> fungal threat -> producers spray crops
More white or black grapes in Adelaide Hills?
White 64%
Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc style
intense ripe fruit (rather than herbaceous eg Marlborough)
high acid
medium alcohol
Most planted variety in Adelaide Hills
Sauvignon Blanc
Most planted black and white varieties in Adeladie Hills?
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay style
Medium (+) to high acid
Medium body
Ripe stone fruit (due to intense sunlight)
MLF, oak and lees are common -> texture and complexity
Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir style
Medium (+) acid
Medium body
Medium alcohol
Red fruit
Delicate and floral to more spicy
Firm tannins (vs Victoria Pinot Noir)
Significant producers in Adelaide Hills
Shaw + Smith
Penfolds
Trescowthick Wines!
Where is Basket Range and what kind of wines might you find there?
Part of Adelaide Hills
Organic and low-intervention wines
Clare Valley part of what zone?
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley are part of what Zone?
Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
Climate in Clare Valley
Warm
Hot summer temperatures tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights
Big diurnal range -> slow ripening, retain acid
Topography of Clare Valley
300-500m
Shallow valley within a series of ridges and hills that have valleys running between them
Can Clare Valley be machine harvested?
Yes - slopes are generally not very steep
Some producers choose not to though
Clare Valley owned by small producers or big ones?
Many small family-owned vineyards
Comment on water scarcity in Clare Valley
Can be a problem
Low rainfall in some years
Some dry-farming for low yield, high quality wines
Low rain -> low humidity -> low disease pressure
Riesling accounts for what % of Clare Valley plantings?
35%
Clarey Valley has intense sunlight (low latitude). So what?
Growers need to be careful to protect Riesling from sunburn
=> thick canopies for shading on western side (afternoon sun)
Clare Valley Riesling style
Dry
Medium alcohol
Lime aromas
Higher acid than Eden Valley
Comment on Riesling from Polish Hill (Clare Valley)
Slate soils with low fertility
Less aromatic, flintier style
Neutral in youth, good bottle age (honey, toast)
Comment on Riesling from Watervale (Clare Valley)
Limestone soil, fertile
More aromatic, floral style of Riesling
Earlier drinking than eg Polish Hill (slate)
Significant producers in Clare Valley
Jim Barry
Wendouree
Key black varieties in Clare Valley
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Clare Valley red wine style
Shiraz, Cabernet etc
Medium to medium (+) acidity
Medium to medium (+) tanin
Pronounced ripe black fruit
Distinct minty, eucalyptus
Best known region within Fleurieu Zone?
McLaren Vale
Where is Fleurieu Zone located?
South of Adelaide
Gulf St Vincent is to the north
Southern Ocean to the south
Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale in what zone?
Fleurieu
Land under vine in McLareN Vale
7,200ha
Langhorne Creek historically main source of fruit for what?
Jacob’s Creek
McLaren Vale summers are warm to hot. What moderates the climate?
Winds blowing in off the Gulf/down from Adelaide Hills
(also keep disease low)
Comment on soils in McLaren Vale
They are complex with many soil ypes
Sand, loam, clay
Soils in NORTH: poor, low nutrients
SOUTH: deeper, more fertile, higher yields
Where was Thomas Hardy & Sons making wine? Exporting to where? When?
McLaren Vale
export to UK
Late 19th century
Potted history of McLaren Vale wine styles over last 150 yrs?
Late 19th century: Thomas Hardy & sons, UK export
Early 20th century: fortified wine!
Post WW2: Italian immigrants, dry red wine
1970s: Chardonnay and Semillon, full body, ripe
1990s onward: dry red wine
Black grapes account for what % of McLaren Vale?
90%!
Most planted grape in McLaren Vale?
Shiraz
50% of plantings overall
Top three grapes in McLaren Vale
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grenache
McLaren Vale red wine style
Deep colour
Full body
High alcohol
Pronounced dark fruit
Spice (oak)
Hot sites: cooked, jammy
Higher elevation: more acid, tannin
Where is Blewitt Springs? What is it known for?
Part of McLaren Vale
Old vines, dry farm, bush vines of Shiraz and Grenache
Does McLaren Vale have a lot of old vines?
It lost a lot in vine pull scheme in 1980s
BUT it has good stocks, particularly in Blewitt Springs
McLaren Vale: old-vine Grenache style
Medium tannin
Medium acid
Medium to medium (+) body
Fresh red fruit and spice/herbal
Name some Mediterranean grapes grown in McLaren Vale. So what?
Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Fiano
Can retain acidity in warm climate better than eg Chardonnay
Growing in popularity but still small
McLaren Vale: vineyards tend to be big or small?
Dominated by large vineyards
Machine harvest, night harvest
McLaren Vale has some fertile soils. So what?
Vigorous nature of Shiraz and Grenache -> excess vigour a problem, particularly after a wet winter
Careful vyd mgmt needed
Does McLaren Vale have high or low disease pressure? So what?
LOW
Ideal for organic and biodynamic (eg Paxton)
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia developed here
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia calls for water management. Example of some sustainable water techniques?
Dams
Boreholes
Recycled wastewater
Significant producers in McLaren Vale
Hardys
Mollydooker
Yangarra
Paxton
Limestone Coast Zone has a high diurnal range. Why?
Summer days can be warm, sometimes hot
Sea breezes moderate temperature
Nights are cool
Important regions within Limestone Coast Zone
Coonawarra
Mount Benson
Padthaway
Wrattonbully
Coonawarra climate
Moderate climate
Similar to BORDEAUX, but warmer and drier in growing season
Coonawarra is flat. So what?
It’s 100km from the coast, but cool afternoon sea breezes make it this far
What moderates temperature in Coonawarra?
Cooling sea breezes
Cloud cover during the growing season
Comment on irrigation in Coonawarra
Widely used
Water from underground acquifers
What is terra rossa?
Coonawarra’s red soil
Free-draining, iron-rich loam (50cm deep)
over a hard limestone base
with soft limestone underneath
-> roots struggle to penetrate -> restrict water access
Terra rossa is slightly alkaline. So what?
Restricts the uptake of vine nutrients
Why does terra rossa soil give lower yields?
Hard limestone base is hard to penetrate => restrict water access
Alkaline nature => restrict uptake of nutrients
Coonawarra land under vine
5,000ha
Is Coonawarra entirely terra rossa?
No, a narrow strip in the central core of the region only
Elsewhere: limestone, brown/black clay (more water, more vigorous)
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for what % of Coonawarra?
50%
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon style
Medium to full body
Medium alcohol
High tannin, firm
Concentrated dark fruit (cassis to plum)
Mint and eucalyptus
Oak spice
How does Coonawrra Shiraz compare to Barossa Shiraz?
Lighter bodied than Barossa
But still has concentrated blackberry, herbal, minty
Sometimes blended with Cab Sauv
White grapes account for what % of Coonawarra? Key grapes and styles?
Just 13%
Chardonnay (ripe pear to pineapple)
Riesling (fruit, lower acidity than elsewhere)
Significant producers in Coonawarra?
Wynns
Katnook
Majella
Coonawarra is geographically isolated. So what?
Labour a major problem
Vineayrd work was very mechanised
Recently: migrant labour for summer pruning, green harvest, leaf removal and hand harvest
Mainland Australia’s coolest vineyards are in what zone and state?
Port Phillip Zone, Victoria
Victoria tends to focus on low volume, high quality…except where?
Murray-Darling Basin
Comment on phylloxera in Victoria
Remainsa threat
Recent outbreaks in Yarra Valley (now classified as phylloxera infested)
Some areas (eg Mornington) “at risk” => strict quarantine and biosecurity
Now all new vinse on rootstocks
Yarra Valley is part of what zone?
Port Phillip Zone
Land under vine in Yarra Valley?
2,500ha
Yarra Valley climate
Cool to moderate
Considerable variation due to altitude (50-350m)
Yarra Valley split into two. What are they?
Upper Yarra (cooler, high altitude, south-east)
Lower Yarra (warmer, low altitude, north-west)
How rainy is Yarra Valley? So what?
One of Australia’s wettest wine regions
1,100mm
High humidity -> fungal
More black or white grapes in Yarra Valley?
Black 60%
(over half of which is Pinot Noir)
Yarra Valley Pinot Noir style
light to medium-bodied
light body:
higher, cooler vineayrds. whole bunch gives perfumed fruity strawb, red cherry, plum
Medium body:
warmer sites, riper fruit new and old oak
1 white grape in Yarra Valley?
Chardonnay
25% of plantings
Yarra Valley Chardonnay style
White peach, grapefruit, melon
One of first regions to move away from full body, oaky, tropical style
At first: lean style, pick early, old oak, NO MLF
Now a happy medium: high acid, peach grapefruit, smoky, lees, texture. NO MLF
Where in Yarra Valley are Cab Sauv and Shiraz grown?
Lower warmer parts
Lower Yarra
Yarra Valley Shiraz style
Medium body
Fresh blackberry, raspberry, plum, spicy
Maybe whole bunch
Significant producers in Yarra Valley
Yarra Yering
Mount Mary
Morning Peninsula climate
Cool to moderate
Can be windy (cooling effect)
Sunshine hours high
Water gives moderating effect also
Mornington Peninsula: spring is cool, but frost is very rare. Why?
The wind!
Effect of wind in Mornington Peninsula
Moderates temperatures (keeps em low)
Reduces risk of frost
Reduces risk of disease (high humidity)
What/where is Red Hill?
A ridge in Mornington Peninsula (otherwise flat)
Variety of microclimates
Red basalt soils -> retain water -> no need to irrigate
but vigour can be a problem
Land under vine in Morning Peninsula
920ha
Pinot Noir is what % of Mornington Peninsula?
50%
Winemaking techniques used for Pinot Noir in Mornington Peninsula
Cold soak (extract colour)
Whole bunch or stems (add complexity, tannin)
Chardonnay is what % of Mornington Peninsula grapes?
30%
Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay style
Medium body
High acid
Medium alcohol
Citrus, peach and melon
Lees
Oak
Grapes in Mornington Peninsula
Pinot Noir (50%)
Chardonnay (30%)
also: Shiraz, Pinot Gris
Land prices very high in Mornington Peninsula. Why? So what?
Competition from tourism, golf courses, holidays homes
So: no large producers. Only small wineries and vineyards.
Significant producers in Mornington Peninsula
Portsea Estate
Yabby Lake
Paringa
Land under vine in Geelong
467ha
Where in Australia was phylloxera first divoered?
Geelong
Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and Macedon Ranges are part of what zone?
Port Philip Zone (Victoria)
What kind of wines are made in Geelong?
Chard and Pinot -> riper and fuller than Yarra alley
Also: Shiraz, medium bodied style. And Cabernet SAuvignon
Climate in Geelong?
Cool. Moderated by Port Philip Baya nd Bass Strait
Significant producers in Geelong?
Paradise IV Wines
By Farr
Macedon Ranges region is part of what zone?
Port Philip Zone (Victoria)
Land under vine in Macedon Ranges
215ha
What kind of wine made in Macedon Ranges?
One of coolest climates on mainland
-> Chard and Pinot, still and sparkling
-> Riesling (intense lime, lemon)
-> Shiraz (black pepper)
Significant regions within Western Victoria Zone
Grampians
Pyrenees
Henty
Grampians region formerly known as?
Great Western (now a sub-region within it)
Topography of Pyrenees region (Australia)
gentler slopes (vs European Pyrenees)
Climate in Grampians and Pyrenees
Moderate climate, high diurnal range
Soils in Grampians and Pyrenees
Retain water but are quite acidic!
Can reduce vigour if not treated with lime
What kind of wine is made in Grampians and Pyrenee
Shiraz
Medium-bodied, peppery, spicy
Fresh red fruits (cool areas) -> concentrated black fruit (lower, warmer parts)
Significant producer in Grampians
Mount Langi Ghiran
Significant producer in Pyrenees
Dalwhinnie
Why is Henty one of the coldest Australia regions?
Cold Antartic winds (far southwest corner of Victoria)
Where is Henty?
Part of Western Victoria Zone (far southwest corner of Victoria)
Signature grape variety in Henty?
Riesling
High acid
Pronounced lemon, lime
Toasty with age
Climate in North East Victoria zone?
Continental
200km from Melbourne
Altitude in King Valley
up to 860m
some of Australia’s highest
Why is disease a concern in King Valley?
Temepratures are cool, rainfall is high
Soils in King Valley. So what?
Generally quite fertile, well-draining loams.
need to manage vigour!
King Valley 50-50 black and white grapes. Why?
Variety of conditions (altitude, temperatue etc)
Higher sites: light bodied white, high acid
Lower sites: full body white and red
Land under vine in King Valley
1,400ha
Influence of Italian immigrants in King Valley
Settled after WW2
Grew tobacco!
Sparkling wine Glera/Prosecco
Pinot Grigio
Also Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo
Glera/Prosecco what % of King Valley grapes
1/3
Significant producers in King Valley
Pizzini
de Bortoli
Where is Beechworth
Hills south of Rutherglen
Altitude in Beechworth. So what?
200-1,000m
Wide range of mesoclimates
Beechworth Chardonnay style
Medium body
Medium to high acid
Medium alcohol
Grapes grown in Beechworth
Think Giaconda
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Shiraz
Sangiovese
Nebbiolo
Goulburn Valley makes what kind of wine
Ripe full-bodied reds
Whites from Viognier, Marssane and Roussanne
Topography of Heathcote
Narrow strip on the side of the Mount Carmel Range
160-320
Heathcote part of what zone
Central Victoria Zone
Distinct feature of Heathcote Shiraz?
High acid
(Diurnal range)
Soil in Heathcote. So what?
Calcareous red soil (weathered greenstone)
Retains water
Despite low rainfall, dry-farming is common
Black varieties make up what % of Heathcote
75%
Shiraz is what % of plantinsg in HeatHcote
50%
Heathcote Shiraz style
Medium (+) acidity
Full body
High alcohol
Pronounced ripe dark fruit (black cherry, plum)
Sweet spice
Significant producers in Heathcote
Heathcote Estate
Jasper Hill
What’s the story with Gippsland Zone?
Victoria (one of largest zones)
5 unofficial regions
50 wineries, small and family owned
Chard, Pinot, Merlot, Cab
Australia’s most heavily populated state?
New South Wales
Where does NSW rank in Australian production? (in terms of states)
Second!
Describe the sub-tropical climate that affects Pacific coast north of Sydney (inc. Hunter Valley)
Moderate to high temperatures
High humidity
High rain throughout year
How far is Hunter Valley Zone from Sydney?
200km north of Sydney
Hunter Valley Zone contains one region. What’s it called?
Hunter
How is Hunter region split?
Officially into three sub-regions
Unofficial: Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter
Climate in Hunter
Almost tropical
Summer days exceed 30C regularly
Cool nights
Intense sun
Most of Hunter’s rain falls during season. So what?
Fungal threat!
But no need to irrigate
Why is Hunter often first harvesting region (start and finish) in Oz?
Warm climate means early start to ripening
Chance of late summer storms
More black or white grapes in Hunter?
Almost 50-50
Hunter Valley Semillon style
Dry
Light body
High acid
Low alcohol (10-11%)
Delicate citrus
Neutral in youth; age for decades (toast, honey, hay)
Premium Hunter Valley Semillon: when is it released?
May be when it’s already 5 years old
Do Hunter Semillons see oak?
Rarely
Significant producers in Hunter
Tyrell’s
Mount Pleasant
Other than Semillon, what else grows in Hunter?
Chardonnay
Shiraz
Central Ranges Zone split into what 3 regions?
Mudgee
Orange
Cowra
Where is Central Ranges Zone located?
New South Wales
Western, inland side of Great Dividing Range
Orange, Mudgee and Cowra are part of what zone
Central Ranges Zone
New South Wales
Climate in Central Ranges Zone?
Continental
Altitude gives cooling influence
Wide dirunal range
Most distinctive region in Central Ranges Zone?
Orange
Labelled “ORange Region”
Vineyards of Orange (NSW) located on slopes of what?
Mount Canobolas (ancient volcano)
Deep red volcanic basalt
In what zone/state would you find the Snowy Mountains?
Southern New South Wales Zone
(NSW)
Canberra District is in what state?
Considered part of New SOuth Wales
(administratively it’s part of Australian Capital Territory)
Canberra DIstrict makes what kind of wines?
Black grapes, red wines
Shiraz
Shiraz-Viognier
Significant producers in Canberra Distrct
Clonakilla
Ravensworth
Regions within Southern New South Wales Zone
Canberra District
Hilltops
Tumbarumba
Land under vine in Tasmania
1,700ha
How far from mainland is Tasmania? What separates them?
250km south
Bass Strait
Tasmania makes what % of Australia’s wines?
Less than 1%
More still or sparkling in Tasmnia?
2/3s still!
Climate in Tasmania
Cool maritime
(due to southerly latitude 41-43S; and western prevailing winds)
Does Tasmania have sub-GIs?
Not officially
Informal sub-regions eg Coal River Valley, Tamar Valley and Piper’s River
Tasmania cooler in north or south?
Southern Tasmnia is cooler (latitude)
but longer sunshine => help ripening
Key grapes in Tasmania?
Pinot Noir (42%)
Chardonnay (28%)
still and sparkling wine
Tasmanian Pinot Noir style
Light to miedum body
Medium (+) to high acidity
Medium alcohol
Strawberry and cherry
Warmer sites = riper, more intense
Tasmania Chardonnay style
Medium body
Medium alcohol
Apple, white peach, pear
Naturally high acid
YES to MLF (soften acid, more texture)
Barrel ferment and mature (integrate oak)
Significant producers in Tasmania
Tolpuddle
Tamar Ridge
Tasmania is a popular tourist destination. So what?
Lots of D2C cellar door sales
What is the state capital of Western Australia?
Perth
Western Australia is the country’s biggest state, but not biggest producer of wine. Why?
Most of it is too hot for viti
Comment on Swan Valley
Part of Greater Perth Zone (Western Australia)
Historically = high yields, ripe grapes. inexpensive and fortified
Same latitude as Hunter
Two best regions in South West Australia Zone
Margaret River
Great Southern
Margaret River is surrounded by what on 3 sides?
Water!
Indian OCean (N, W) and SOuthern Ocean (S)
What impact do oceans have on Margaret River?
Indian and SOuthern Oceans moderate temperature
BUT days are still warm
Indian Ocean is relatively warm. So what?
Temperatures in Marg River don’t drop away much at night
Grapes can ripen longer each day (vs regions with cooler nights)
=> ripe fruit character
Account for ripe fruit character in Margart River wines
Indian Ocean warm. Nights stay warm. Grapes ripen longer each day
Topography of Margaret River
relatively flat
gentle hills and valleys
40-90m
low ridge in centre
Margaret RIver soils. So what?
Gravelly soils
Free draining => irrigation essential
Low in fertility => manage vigour
Marg River has free-draining gravels. Where does irrigation water come from?
Dams which store winter rainfall
Land under vine in Margaret River
5,700ha
Dominant grape in Margaret River
Cabernet Suavignon (20% of fruit)
Cabernet Sauvignon is what % of Margaret River plantings?
20%
What is Cab Sauv blended with in Marg River?
Merlot!
Margaret River Cab/Merlot blend style
medium (+) acid
Medium (+) to full body
high ripe tannin
blackberry, blackcurrant, spice
Bordeaux style!
French oak (some/all new)
Key white grapes in Marg River?
Sauv Blanc, Chard and Semillon
Marg River: what grape do most producers use for their premium white wine?
Chardonnay
Marg River Chardonnay style
Natural high acid
Medium (+) to full body
Concentrated stone fruit
No MLF (unless v cool year) = retain acid
Sauv Blanc blended with what in Marg River?
Semillon
Think white Bordeaux
Marg River Sauv Blanc/Sem style
High acid
Grassy, herbaceous
Fruit: gooseberry, tropical
Significant producers in Margaret River
Leeuwin
Moss Wood
Topography of Great Southern
150km east of Marg River
Large, diverse
Coast and inland hills
Sub-regions of Great Southern
Albany
Denmark
Mount Barker
Porongurup
Frankland River
Most parts of Great Southern can be dry-farmed, except…
Frankland River
What sort of wines are made in Great Southern?
Black grapes 55%
Shiraz dominates (30% overall)
Significant producers in Great Southern
Larry Cherubino
Howard Park
Frankland Estate
Comment on Cabernet Sauvignon in Great Southern
Mount Barker and warm parts of Denmark: intense, powerful, blackcurrant, herbal
Porongurup (cooler): elegant, medium-bodied, savoury
Flagship white grape in Great Southern
Riesling
Best Great Southern sub-region for Riesling
Porongurup
Light-body
Toasty and stony w/ bottle age
White grapes grown in Great Southern
Riesling
Sauv Blanc
Chardonnay
How many wineries (/vineyards with a brand) in Australia?
2,250
Five main companies in Australian wine
Accolade
Casella
Treasury
Pernod Ricard
Australian Vintage
Australia’s top 5 companies account for what % of Aussie exports?
87%
Australia now the 5th largest exporter of wine. What was it in the 80s?
exports virtually zero!
Top 5 export markets for Aussie wine
UK
China
USA
Canada
Germany
Aussie exports to China HELPED by what? Then decimated by what?
Help: China-Australia FTA
then: crippling tarrifs, trade dispute
