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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

Major producers in Western Australia?

A

Cullen, Vasse Felix, Leeuwin Estate, Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood

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2
Q

Margaret River soils

A

Leeuwin Complex: old granite and gneiss

foret grove: gravel and loam

calcareous sand in the west (less vines here)

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3
Q

Where are most premium producers in Margaret River?

A

in the Northwest, in Wilyabrup

Cullen, Moss Wood, Vasse Felix, Lenton Brae, Woodlands, Howard Park, etc

Yallingup is second most concentrated with quality producers

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4
Q

Chardonnay clone Margaret River

A

Gingin- unique to the region, it has looser clusters and varied berry sizes, which helps alleviate mildew and rot pressures near the coast

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5
Q

Zones Western Australia

A

Greater Perth
SW Australia

Central Western Australia
Eastern Plains, Inland, North of WA
WA Southeast Coastal

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6
Q

Regions within Greater Perth?

A

(in Western Australia)

Peel GI
Perth Hills GI
Swan District GI (Swan Valley sub region)

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7
Q

Regions within SW Australia?

A

Margaret River GI
Great Southern GI
Blackwood Valley GI
Geographe GI
Manjimup GI
Pemberton GI

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8
Q

Subregions of Great Southern GI?

A

(in SW Austrailia, Western Australia)

Denmark GI
Albany GI
Porongurup GI
Frankland River GI
Mount Barker GI

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9
Q

Major grapes Western Australia

A

red: Cabernet, bdx blends

white: Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

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10
Q

What is the capitol of Western Australia?

A

Perth

where Swan River meets SW coast

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11
Q

Margaret River climate and influencing factors

A

Warm Mediterranean with maritime influence. majority of rainfall is in winter and spring- less than 10% during harvest. temperatures are very consistent year-year.

on coast, near Indian and Southern Oceans, Geographe Bay

Fremantle Doctor: cool afternoon breeze

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12
Q

Margaret River viticultural threats

A

warm winds off the Indian Ocean invite mildew, botrytis, bunch rot, which also encourage pests. well draining soils are key

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13
Q

What is the Gladstone’s Line?

A

The “Gladstones Line”—the line of longitude 115° 18’ E—established Margaret River’s modern eastern border, essentially following alongside the Whicher Range. It is the point at which the land stops feeling the ocean’s influence

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14
Q

Margaret River unofficial subzones

A

Yallingup,
Carbunup,
Wilyabrup,
Treeton,
Wallcliffe,
Karridale

all proposed in 1999 by Dr. John Gladstones

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15
Q

Henschke - where are they based? Two wines?

A

based in Eden Valley

Hill of Grace Shiraz: Inaugural vintage 1958.
Hill of Roses Shiraz: Produced from younger vines deemed not ready for the Hill of Grace.
Mount Edelstone Shiraz
Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon

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16
Q

What zones does the Adelaida super zone cover?

A

Barossa
Fleurieu
Mt Lofty Ranges

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17
Q

Where in Australia are the King and Alpine valleys?

A

Northeast Victoria

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18
Q

Yalumba- where are they based? What do they make?

A

Eden Valley, South Australia

The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz
The Signature CS Blend
The Reserve CS

also Viognier

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19
Q

Torbreck- where are they based? What do they make?

A

Barossa, in South Australia

Woodcutter Shiraz $25
The Pict Mourvedre $100
RunRig Shiraz $200
The Laird Shiraz $800

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20
Q

Cullen- where are they based? What do they make?

A

Margaret River, Western Australia

Diana Madeline- CS based blend

Also: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

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21
Q

d’Arenberg- where are they based? What do they make?

A

McLaren Vale, South Australia

Dead Arm Shiraz $60 retail

also: stump jump shiraz $15 retail

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22
Q

When were the first vineyards in Australia planted? Where?

A

1788, New South Wales

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23
Q

What is CSIRO? Where is it based?

A

Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, based in Adelaide.

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24
Q

Where is Penfolds based? What do they make?

A

based in Adelaide

Grange: Shiraz

also: CS/ Shiraz blends, Cabernet, Chardonnay

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25
Q

What is the capitol of New South Wales?

A

Sydney!

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26
Q

Important zones in New South Wales

A

Hunter Valley
Big Rivers
Central Ranges
Southern New South Wales

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27
Q

Regions in Big Rivers?

A

(zone in New South Wales, Australia)

Riverina
Murray Darling
Swan Hill
Pericoota

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28
Q

Regions in Central Ranges?

A

(zone in New South Wales, Australia)

Cowra
Orange
Mudgee

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29
Q

Regions in Hunter Valley?

A

(zone in New South Wales, Australia)

Hunter

Subregions: Broke Fordwich, Pokolbin, Upper Hunter Valley

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30
Q

Regions in Southern New South Wales?

A

(zone in New South Wales, Australia)

Canberra
Tumbarumba
Hilltops
Gundagai

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31
Q

What are the major rivers in Riverina?

A

Murumbidgee, Lachlan, Murray, Darling

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32
Q

What mountains are in New South Wales?

A

Great Dividing Range, Snowy Alps

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33
Q

Important grapes in Hunter Valley?

A

Semillon (Hunter Riesling), Chardonnay, Verdelho

Shiraz, CS

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34
Q

What is the coolest part of New South Wales?

A

Tumbarumba GI- alpine, cool climate. Produces sparkling wines from PN and Chardonnay

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35
Q

List 3 producers from New South Wales

A

Tyrrell’s - Semillon
Clonakilla - Shiraz
De Bortoli- dessert wine

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36
Q

What major city is in Victoria?

A

Melbourne

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37
Q

What is the climate of the Hunter Valley?

A

one of the warmest in Australia- hot subtropical, lots of humidity, rain and wind. 20 inches of rainfall in the growing season

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38
Q

What is the climate of Victoria?

A

Victoria is the smallest and coolest state on the mainland. Cool maritime climate- sea breezes from Antarctica.

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39
Q

List the zones within Victoria

A

Western Victoria
Northwestern Victoria
Central Victoria
Northeast Victoria
Gippsland
Port Phillip

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40
Q

Port Philip- where is it? Regions and grapes?

A

zone in Victoria, Australia

Geelong GI
Macedon Ranges GI
Mornington Peninsula GI
Sunbury GI
Yarra Valley GI

Pinot Noir, CS, Shiraz

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41
Q

Regions within Northwest Victoria? Grapes?

A

Murray Darling
Swan Hill
(shared with Big Rivers, NSW)

Chardonnay, Shiraz

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42
Q

Yarra Valley soil types?

A

In Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia

grey-brown sandy loam and red basalt soils

43
Q

Regions within Central Victoria? Grapes

A

Bendigo
Heathcote
Goulburn Valley (Nagambie Lakes subregion)

Shiraz, and some old Marsanne

44
Q

Regions within Northeast Victoria? Grapes?

A

Rutherglen
Glenrowan

sweet fortified wines from Muscadelle, Brown Muscat

45
Q

What is Topaque?

A

sweet fortified Muscadelle made in Rutherglen, NE Victoria. Lighter in style than Rugherglen Muscat

46
Q

Zones within South Australia

A

Adelaide Superzone:
Barossa
Fleurieu
Mt Lofty Ranges

Limestone Coast
Far North
Lower Murray
The Peninsulas

47
Q

Regions within the Limestone Coast

A

(in South Australia)

Coonawarra
Padthaway
Wrattonbully
Robe
Mount Benson
Mount Gambier

48
Q

Distintive soil type in the Limestone Coast? Which GIs is it in? Grapes?

A

well drained red terra rossa

Coonawarra, Padthaway

Cabernet. Padthaway also has some Riesling, PG, Chardonnay

49
Q

GI within Lower Murray Zone?

A

in South Australia

Riverland GI. continental and hot, low rainfall, high salinity soil

50
Q

List of GI in Fleurieu? Grapes?

A

in Southern Australia

McLaren Vale GI
Langhorne Creek GI
Currency Creek GI
Kangaroo Island GI
Southern Fleurieu GI

McLaren Vale. Reds- Cabernet, Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre (Mataro)

51
Q

List 3 wines from Fleurieu

A

D’Arenberg- Dead Arm Shiraz

Yangarra - High Sands Grenache

Drew Noon - Eclipse Grenache

Clarendon Hills- Astralis Shiraz

52
Q

Regions within Mount Lofty Ranges?

A

Adelaide Hills (Lenswood, Picadilly Valley subregions). white + sparkling

Adelaide Plains

Clare Valley

(zone in South Australia)

53
Q

Clare Valley- where is it? Climate? Subzones? Grapes?

A

region within Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia

warm continental climate, limestone and slate soils

Riesling does well on higher altitude west facing slopes

unofficial subzones: Watervale, Polish Hill River, Auburn, Sevenhill, Clare

54
Q

List 3 Riesling producers in Clare Valley

A

Jim Barry
Grosset (Polish Hill)
Pikes

55
Q

Regions and Subregions within Barossa?

A

Barossa Valley

Eden Valley - subregion High Eden

56
Q

Producers from Barossa?

A

Eden Valley:
Yalumba
Pewsey Vale
Henschke

Barossa Valley
Penfolds
Torbreck
Rockford
Peter Lehmann

57
Q

Regions within Queensland? Grapes

A

Granite Belt GI
South Burnett GI

Shiraz, Semillon, Chardonnay

58
Q

Tasmania unofficial subregions?

A

Unofficial Subregions:
Northern Tasmania: Pipers River, Tamar Valley, North West Coast

Southern Tasmania: Derwent Valley, Huon Valley, Coal River/Richmond, The East Coast (Cranbrook/Bicheno area)

59
Q

Tasmania climate?

A

Australia’s coolest- similar to Champagne or Rheingau. Long sunshine hours during growing season

60
Q

Tasmania grapes?

A

Chardonnay
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir*
some Cabernet in Tamar Valley, Coal River

61
Q

How did South Australia manage to remain free of phylloxera?

A

SA managed to avoid phylloxera despite ruin in neighboring Victoria’s vineyards by quickly implementing a total ban on imported vine material in 1874.

62
Q

Where are the world’s oldest Syrah vines?

A

Barossa, South Australia:
Langmeil’s “Freedom” vineyard, planted in 1843

Also home to what are presumably the world’s oldest Grenache and Mataro/Mourvèdre vines as well: Cirillo owns a three-hectare parcel of Grenache planted in 1850, and Hewitson produces Mataro from the Koch family’s “Old Garden” of vines dating to 1853

63
Q

What are the 4 categories of old vines under the Barossa Old Vine Charter?

A

Barossa Old Vine: Min. 35 years old
Barossa Survivor Vine: Min. 70 years old
Barossa Centenarian Vine: Min. 100 years old
Barossa Ancestor Vine: Min. 125 years old

64
Q

Where is Australia’s oldest Cabernet vineyard?

A

Penfolds’ “Block 42,” lies in Kalimna in the northern Barossa Valley and dates to 1888

65
Q

Temperatures in Barossa Valley vs Eden Valley?

A

Barossa Valley is lower in elevation (100-300 meters above sea level) and daytime temperatures are typically two to three degrees (Celsius) warmer than in Eden Valley.

Eden Valley is cooler, higher in elevation (400-600 meters above sea level) and more sparsely planted

66
Q

Barossa valley soil types?

A

deep, loamy clay soils

67
Q

What style of wine was Barossa originally known for?

A

In the past, fortified wines drove production in the region—a legacy retained in the wines of Seppeltsfield, whose world-class “100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny” is a national treasure—but Barossa Shiraz is its most famous product today.

Currently 1923 is available. 1878 was first, released in 1978

68
Q

What is Scare Earth?

A

Scarce Earth allows members of McLaren Vale Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (MVSWGA) to submit Shiraz from single sites to an annual tasting panel for possible approval as “Scarce Earth” wines. In 2011, two-dozen wines from key producers like d’Arenberg, Chapel Hill, and Gemtree were selected, and collectively released on the 1st of May the year after the harvest.

To be considered, wines must be produced from vines that are at least ten years of age, and the wines may not be excessively shaded by oak, faults, over- or under-ripeness—fairly fluid decrees determined by taste profile rather than clear numerical guidelines.

69
Q

Clarendon Hills - where are they based? Top wines made?

A

McLaren Vale, South Australia

Astralis Syrah: Inaugural vintage 1994.
Hickinbotham Syrah
Piggot Range Syrah

70
Q

What gepgraphical features influence McLaren Vale?

A

Gulf of St Vincent
Sellicks Hill Range

71
Q

List 3 wines from Coonawarra

A

Wynns - John Riddich Cabernet
Penfolds Bin 620 Cab Shiraz
Parker Coonawarra Estate ‘First Growth’ Cab based blend

72
Q

What is Australia’s oldest continuously operating winery? Where is it?

A

In Hunter Valley, George Wyndham founded Australia’s now-oldest continuously operating winery (Wyndham Estate) in 1828

he planted Australia’s first commercial Shiraz vineyard in 1830

73
Q

What was the area encompassing Pokolbin and Broke Fordwich traditionally known as?

A

Lower Hunter Valley, but it was not given GI status. Top producers refuse to label Pokolbin.

74
Q

Top producers in Hunter Valley?

A

Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood, Thomas Wines, Audrey Wilkinson and McWilliam’s Mt. Pleasant

75
Q

Mudgee GI- where is it? Grapes?

A

in Central Ranges, NSW. Borders Hunter GI, but sunnier and drier

Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot

76
Q

Orange GI- where is it? At what elevation does it start?

A

Central Ranges, NSW. GI begins at 600 meters, and rises above 1000 meters.

Cab, Merlot, Shiraz, Chard, PN, SB

77
Q

Cowra GI- where is it? Grapes

A

Central Ranges, NSW. southernmost and warmest. known for chardonnay

78
Q

What is the sole GI of the Northern Rivers Zone?

A

in NSW

Hastings River GI

too hot to make good wine. some Semillon

79
Q

What is the sole GI of the Northern Slopes Zone?

A

In NSW

New England Australia GI

80
Q

What GIs are within the South Coast Zone?

A

in NSW

Shoalhaven Coast GI
Southern Highlands GI

81
Q

What is the largest region in Australia? Which zone produces the most wine?

A

Riverland in South Australia largest

Big Rivers zone in NSW - most production

82
Q

What are the most planted grapes in Riverina GI?

A

In Big Rivers, NSW

Chardonnay, Shiraz, Semillon

83
Q

Who makes the wine Noble One Botrytis Semillon? Where?

A

DeBortoli, in Riverina, NSW.

First released in the 1982 vintage, the lusciously sweet “Noble One” quickly rose to the pinnacle of Australian dessert wines, and has garnered an outpouring of international critical praise.

84
Q

What is the capital of Australia?

A

Canberra, in NSW

85
Q

The climate of Canberra GI is closest to which French region?

A

Northern Rhone, Côte Rotie specifically- mild continental

86
Q

Compare Shiraz from Canberra vs Hilltops

A

Canberra is comparable to Côte Rotie- cooler climate, elegant, pretty

Hilltops Shiraz, in comparison with Canberra District fruit, tends to develop deeper color, lower acid, more robust tannins and darker fruit.

87
Q

Tumbarumba GI- where is it? Styles made? Climate?

A

in the Southern NSW Zone. In foothills of the Snowy Alps.

Mostly Chardonnay and PN planted, capable of quality sparkling.

88
Q

List 3 producers from Canberra

A

Clonakilla
Nick O’Leary
Lark Hill

89
Q

Who owns yellow tail? What else do they own?

A

Casella

Peter Lehman
Casella Family Wines
Morris Rutherglen

90
Q

What is the capital of Tasmania?

A

Hobart

91
Q

What is the center of wine production on Tasmania?

A

Tamar Valley, in northern Tasmania

92
Q

Most important part of southern Tasmania?

A

Coal River

93
Q

Describe the climate of Tasmania

A

The climate of Northern Tasmania is similar to that of Champagne or the Rheingau, and Southern Tasmania is even cooler, although long sunshine hours during the growing season promote slow, even ripening

Quite a bit of rain in the west, but Hobart in the east is Australia’s second driest capital after Adelaida

94
Q

What separates Tasmania from mainland Australia?

A

The Bass Straight

95
Q

Between which lattitudes does Tasmania lie?

A

40-44 south

96
Q

Describe the topography of Tasmania

A

Tasmania is Australia’s most mountainous state, with multiple mountain ranges criss-crossing the centre of the island. The highest point is Mount Ossa in the north-west, its peak sitting at 1,620 meters (5,300ft) above sea level.

97
Q

List 3 producers Tasmania

A

Jansz - sparkling
Tolpuddle - chard / pn
Chatto
Stoney Rise
House of Arras

98
Q

Who founded Jansz? Who owns it now?

A

founded in the early 1980s as a joint venture between Louis Roederer and Heemskerk Wines,

now owned by Yalumba (??)

99
Q

Who makes Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz? Where?

A

Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, NSW

$170 retail

100
Q

Which two wines from NSW are Langston’s Classifed Exceptional?

A

Clonakilla, Shiraz Viognier $120
Brokenwood, Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz $170

101
Q

What are the 3 Langston’s Exceptional wines from Western Australia?

A

Leeuwin, Art Series Chardonnay $110
Moss Wood, Cabernet $50
Cullen, Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot $110

all from Margaret River

102
Q

What bodies of water surround Margaret River GI?

A

in SW Australia, Western Australia

Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Geographe Bay

103
Q

Hunter Valley soil types?

A

Alluvial - semillon thrives here

Red volcanic loam - shiraz likes tihs

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