Australia Flashcards
this grape is responsible for half of Australia’s WW production
Chardonnay
Lead reds
Shiraz, Cab Sauv, Merlot, GSM blends
Lead whites
Chard,SB, Riesling, Viognier
Gordo Blanco aka
Muscat of Alexandria
Australia’s appellation system
Geographical Indications (GI)
GI levels
Country
Multistate
State
Zone
Region
Subregion
who oversees Australia’s GI system
Wine Australia
GI min % for sourcing
85
Why are multiple GIs sometimes listed on label
A single GI can’t be listed unless 85% of the grapes are sourced from that GI - alternatives are to use a larger GI or list every applicable GI
vintage/varietal labeling min %
85
the super zone
Adelaide zone - contains 3 smaller zones, hence “super zone”
Zone vs region
zone larger than region - and not necessarily defined by viticultural characteristics. region is define by viticultural characteristics
subregion meaning
smallest GI level. significant viticultural homegeneity
general style of Australian wine
fruit driven, full bodied
what kinds of dessert wines are made in Australia
botrytis-affected Riesling and Semillon
Port style fortified wine
late harvest Muscat
Hunter Valley is just north of this city
Sydney
______ GI is located betweeb Bendigo and Goulburn Valley
Heathcote
Heathcote is known for premium _____
Shiraz
Two biggest terroir factors re: Heathcote
Cooling winds descent from Mt Camel to moderate Heathcote - vines are planted on ancient Cambrian soils
Rutherglen is known for big reds (particularly from ____) and fortified _____ wines
Shiraz; Muscat
Coonawarra is the best known region of this zone
Limestone Coast zone
Where is Limestone Coast zone?
Southern Australia
what is terra rossa soil?
red clay
1 region by volume of production
Riverina
South Australia’s mass production region
Riverland
Margaret River is known for these grapes…
Chardonnay
Sauv Blanc/Semillon blends
This GI in New South Wales is known for high elevation Cab Sauv and Shiraz
Mudgee
when did the Gold Rush era begin
1851
Australia’s most important GI for fortified wine
Rutherglen
Rutherglen Brown Muscat aka
MBaPG
What is Rutherglen Topaque
fortified wine made from Muscadelle
Durif aka
Petite Sirah
Rutherglen’s specialty red grape
Durif aka Petite Sirah
Topaque aka
Muscadelle
Rutherglen’s fortified categories, from simplest to richest and most compelx
Rutherglen ~5
Classic ~10
Grand ~15
Rare ~20
How are Rutherglen’s sticky wines made?
two grapes: Brown Muscat or Topaque (muscadelle) -> fortified
Why is Rutherglen situated to make dessert wines?
hot, continental climate -> little autumn rain, so grapes can shrivel on vine before getting picked
McLaren Vale is a part of this Zone
Fleurieu
Australia ranks #_ in production worldwide
7
Where did viticulture begin in Australia?
New South Wales
Australia was originally a ______ colony
penal
When did the vine first arrive in Australia?
1788 - with the First Fleet of British prisoners
Phylloxera was confined to…
Victoria and a portion of New South Wales
post-phylloxera until the 1960s, 80% of Australia’s production was….
sweet, fortified wines
Why is mechanical harvesting prevalent in Australia?
shortage of cheap labor
t/f: irrigation is necessary for many of Australia’s wine regions
true
key elements of Australia winemaking
mechanical harvesting
blends from different
technically proficient winemaking
irrigation
What enables the Australian wine industry to sell accessible wine cheaper than their counterparts in, eg, California, South America, and the Old World?
a small handful of Australia’s largest companies control the majority of production; as well: quality and brand consistency can be maintained by drawing from vines from massive tracts of land
why does Australia have some of the oldest vines in the world?
successful phylloxera defense
this Portugese grape is popular in Hunter Valley
Verdelho
Hunter Valley has a ______ climate
subtropical
this GI north of Coonawarra also has terra rossa soils
Padthaway GI
McLaren Vale focuses on these varieties
Cab Sauv + Rhone varieties
Mount Lofty Ranges has these 3 Regions
Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Plains
Clare Valley
Barossa Valley is home to ___ year old vines
150
t/f: Barossa Shiraz is traditionally aged in American Oak
true; 300-L American Hogshead
This Western Australia GI also excels with Riesling
Mount Barker
Capital of South Australia
Adelaide
Where is the Fleurie Zone?
South Australia - covers ground south of Adelaide - 2 most prominent Regions are McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek
Limestone Coast Zone is famous for this grape
Cabernet Sauvignon
3 most important regions of Limestone Coast Zone
Coonawarra
Padthaway
Wrattonbully
Mataro aka
Mourvedre
Adelaide Hills is known for…
Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc
