Australia Flashcards
What are two key factors in South Australia’s rise to prominence?
1- Phylloxera (confined only to Victoria and New South Wales, led way for South Australia to emerge as the largest region of production) 2- Creation of the Commonwealth of Australia (federation brought a relaxation of the interstate trade barriers)
Who developed bag-in-the-box technology?
Australians
What two Adelaide based centers have helped to improve Austrialia’s understanding of wine?
The Australian Wine Research Institute and the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
Who did ‘flying winemakers’ originally refer to?
Winemakers from Australia
Who developed the counterintuitive technique of minimal (zero) pruning?
CSIRO
How many winemakers of Australia account for nearly 70% of wine production?
14
When was ‘Grange’ debuted? Who was the winemaker? Who is the producer? What was it originally called?
1951; Max Schubert; Penfolds; Grange Hermitage
Who makes ‘Hill of Grace’?
Henschke
When was Wine Australia created? What was the original name?
1981 as the Australia Wine and Brandy Corporation
What does Wine Australia do?
Maintains oversight of the wine industry- regulates label language, defines geographical boundaries of wine regions, moderates exports and trade, promotes the wines at home and abroad
Who introduced the Label Integrity Program for Australia? When?
Wine Australia introduced it in 1990
What are the minimum percentages for any Australian wines labeled with vintage, varietal or region?
85%
What are the requirements in Australia for listing multiple varieties on the label?
They must be listed in the order of proportion in the blend. All components making up a minimum of 85% of the blend must appear on the label. No listed grape may be in lower proportion than an unnamed varietal
How are regions in Australia defined by Wine Australia?
as Geographical Indications (GIs)
How are the wine regions of Australia divided?
State -> Zone -> Region -> Sub-region
How are regions and sub-regions defined by Wine Australia?
Single tracts of land, compromising at least five independently owned vineyards of at least five hectares apiece, with a minimum output of 500 tons of wine grapes annually
When did Wine Australia authorize the multistate zone of South Eastern Australia? What does it encompass?
1996; Includes all of Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales and the winegrowing areas of South Australia and Queensland
When and where were the first vineyards planted in Australia?
In New South Wales in 1788
What mountain range runs through New South Wales?
The Great Dividing Range
What is the Riverina region also known as?
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
What sides of the Great Dividing Range is Riverina?
West
Who is the producer of [yellow tail]? Where do they source most of their fruit?
Casella; Riverina
Who produces a Botrytised dessert wine in the Riverina?
De Bortoli- it is called ‘Noble One’
What is the climate of the Hunter region?
Subtropical- it has one of the warmest climates in Australia- mitigated by high amounts of humidity, rain and wind
What is Hunter Riesling?
Semillon
Name a top bottling of Hunter Riesling.
Vat 1 by Tyrrell
What are the popular grapes in the Hunter region?
Semillon and Verdelho as well as Shiraz and Cab Sauv
Where are the oldest Verdelho plantings in Australia?
Broke Fordwich, Hunter, Hunter zone, New South Wales, Australia
What are the soils of Broke Fordwich?
Sandy, alluvial soils
What is the climate of Canberra District region?
Continental
What is a top bottling of Canberra District region?
Clonakilla’s Canberra District Shiraz- co-fermented with a small percentage of Viognier
What is the climate of Tumbarumba GI?
Alpine, cool-climate
What is Tumbarumba GI known for?
Still and sparkling wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
What is the smallest and coolest state on Australia’s mainland?
Victoria
What cools coastal Victoria?
Sea breezes blowing up from Antarctica
What is the climate of the Port Phillip Zone?
Cool, maritime climate
What is Victoria’s oldest wine region?
The Yarra Valley GI
When did Moet & Chandon move into Australia? Where did they open up shop?
Moet & Chandon opened Australian Domaine Chandon in 1987 in the Yarra Valley GI
What are the two distinct soils of the Yarra Valley GI?
Grey-brown sandy loam and red basalt-derived
What is the climate of the Mornington Peninsula?
Profoundly maritime, even cooler and windier than the rest of Victoria
What grapes are popular in the Mornington Peninsula?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
What is the climate of the North East Victoria, North West Victoria and Central Victoria zones?
More continental, typified by a large diurnal swing, and North West Victoria is the hottest of the three
What two GI regions are shared between Victoria and New South Wales?
Murray Darling and Swan Hill
What are the most popular grapes of North West Victoria?
Chardonnay and Shiraz
Where is the producer Tahbilk located? What are they known for?
Located in Central Victoria, they managed to protect their vineyards from Phylloxera and they produce their flagship Shiraz from vines planted in 1860
What two regions within North East Victoria are known for sweet fortified wines?
Rutherglen and Glenrowan
When was the Muscat of Rutherglen Network established? What did they do?
In 1995; They developed a voluntary four-tier classification system for the wines based on age, sweetness and complexity. (Producers are responsible for classifying their own wines based on taste alone.) Member wines are denoted by a stylized “R” on the label.
Where is production concentrated within the state of South Australia?
In the lower southeastern sector of the state
What is the climate of Coonawarra?
Cool, maritime influenced
What region of Australia is often considered to producer the best Cabernet Sauvignon?
Coonawarra, within the Limestone Coast in South Australia
Name three of the top bottlings coming from Coonawarra.
Marjella, Wynns’ “John Riddoch” and Parker Estate’s “First Growth”
What climatic concerns do producers in Coonawarra face?
Spring frosts
What is the soil of Coonawarra?
Terra rossa
What is the soil of Padthaway GI?
Terra rossa and red-brown sandy loam
What is the climate of Riverland GI?
Continental and hot with low rainfall, high soil salinity and water shortages
What is the climate of Fleurieu zone?
Essentially Mediterranean, tempered by Southern Ocean currents and Lake Alexandria
What are the popular grapes of McLaren Vale GI?
Cab Sauv and Rhone varietals
What are the top bottlings coming out of McLaren Vale GI?
D’Arenberg’s “Dead Arm” Shiraz
Yangarra’s “High Sands” Grenache
Drew Noon’s Grenache-based “Eclipse”
and the dry-farmed Clarendon Hill’s “Astralis” Shiraz
What is the southernmost region of Mount Lofty Ranges?
Adelaide Hills GI
What is the climate of Adelaide Hills GI?
Cool, maritime cliamte
Where are the most classic and ageworthy examples of Australian Riesling found?
Clare Valley GI
What is the climate of Clare Valley GI?
Warmer, continental
What is Clare Valley GI known for?
Riesling
What are the two unofficial subregions of Clare Valley?
Watervale and Polish Hill River
What soils characterize Clare Valley’s unofficial subzones of Watervale and Polish Hill River
Limestone and broken slate, respectively
Name a top producer from Clare Valley.
Grosset
What is Australia’s most important region for Shiraz?
Barossa zone
What is the capacity of the traditional American oak hogshead?
300 L
Where is Penfolds based?
Barossa Valley
Who are the top producers from Barossa Valley?
Penfolds, Torbreck, Peter Lehmann and Rockford
What are the popular grapes of Eden Valley GI?
Riesling, Chardonnay, Viognier, Shiraz and Cab Sauv
Who are the top producers coming from Eden Valley GI?
Yalumba, Pewsey Vale and Henschke
What is the most acclaimed appellation in Western Australia?
Margaret River GI
What are the most popular grapes of Margaret River GI?
Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Blends
Who are the best known producers of Margaret River GI?
Cullen, Vasse Felix, Leeuwin Estate and Cape Mentelle
What are the popular grapes of Mount Barker subregion?
Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the hottest appellation in Australia?
Swan Valley GI
What is the climate of Granite Belt?
Continental with plentiful summer rain, moderated by high altitude and cooler mountain air
What are the popular grapes of Granite Belt?
Semillon and Shiraz
What unofficial region of Queensland is likely to become the state’s third GI?
Darling Downs
What is Australia’s coolest wine producing area?
Tasmania
What are the popular grapes of Tasmania?
Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cab Sauv
Where does Pinot Noir flourish in Tasmania?
In the Pipers River area
Where does Cabernet Sauvignon flourish in Tasmania?
in the Tamar Valley and Coal River areas
What are the 6 states of Australia?
-Western Australia
-Queensland
-Victoria
-South Australia
-New South Wales
-Tasmania
Where is the Central Western Australia zone?
Western Australia, Australia
Where is the Eastern Plains, Inland & North of Western Australia zone?
Western Australia, Australia
Where is the Greater Perth zone?
Western Australia, Australia
What are the regions of Greater Perth?
-Peel
-Perth Hills
-Swan District
Where is Peel region?
Greater Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Where is the Perth Hills region?
Greater Perth, Western Australia, Australia
