AUSTRALIA Flashcards
What is Mourvedre called in Australia?
Mataro
What is the principal grape grown in Australia? What are its qualities in what regions?
Shiraz.Can be full-bodied style in Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley, lighter more peppery style in Geelong and Heathcote.
What are the main black grapes in Australia? (7)
Shiraz, Cab S., Merlot, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Mataro
Where is Pinot Noir grown in Australia? What style is made?
Cooler regions in the south such as Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley - medium body style
What is the climate in Australia?
warm-hot climate, mediterranean mainly
What are moderating effects in Australia? What are some examples?
Indian and Southern Ocean, altitude, the Murray river system
What are some growing challenges faced in Australia?
Drought is a big problem, Irrigation is heavily practices here. Forest fires are a high risk from dry and hot conditions
What are the principal white varieties in AUS? What is the most widely planted?
Chardonnay (most planted white), Sauvignon Bl., Semillon, Riesling
What are zones in Australia? Examples?
Large GI’s used to produce high volume wines, can cover several states. Example is South Eastern Aus covering several states
What are regions in Australia?
Smaller than zones and sometimes broken into sub-regions. Must have distinct qualities from neighbouring regions.
What is an example of a sub-region, region and zone in Australia?
Eden Valley is a sub-region in the Barossa zone, which is within the zone of South Australia
What is the “super zone” in Australia called? Explain.
South Eastern Australia Zone is a super zone that covers several states. This zone allows blending across all areas with the labelling term “S.E AUS”. most of the wines are high-volume.
Discuss Riverland, Riverina, Murray-Darling.
Located in S.E AUS zone, fertile well irrigated vineyards with high yields for high-volume wines
Where is the majority of wine produced in Australia?
South Australia
What is Barossa Valley known for?
Old vine shiraz and semillon
Where can the grapes come from in a wine labelled Barossa?
Anywhere in the Barossa zone, Barossa valley and Eden valley
What are the characteristics of Clare Valley? What is grown there?
Cooled by altitude (300-400m), high diurnal shift known for Riesling
What wine is made in Adelaide Hills? What are the characteristics of this region?
Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay’s are primarily made, as well as Pinot Noir. All vineyards are above 400M and receive cooling effects from altitude
What is grown in McLaren Vale? What is the climate like?
Black varieties such as Shiraz, Cab S, Merlot, Grenache. Climate is cooled by nearby ocean
Discuss Coonawarra
This region is known for its red “Terra Rossa” soil, which is mixed with limestone. This region has a maritime climate which moderates the vineyards and receives cool currents from the south ocean. Cloud coverage allows for Cabernet Sauv to grow well in this region.
What is the climate like in Victoria? What grows well here?
Coolest climate in AUS mainland. Chard, P.N, Riesling all grow well here from southernly aspect and ocean breezes + altitude
What is grown in Yarra Valley? Why does it grow well here?
Pinot noir grows well from altitude
Discuss Margaret river and Great Southern
Margaret River has a warm Mediterranean climate and is known for premium quality chardonnay, and Cab S. in a Bordeaux blend. The area receives high rainfall in the winter. Bordeaux blends of Sauv bl. and Semillon is popular here as well.
The great southern is a larger region that includes sub-regions of Mount Barker and Frankland River which produce Cab S.
