Australia Flashcards
How much dose sparkling wine represent of the total wine crush in Australia?
6% which equaled 66 million litres in 2019-2020
How much sparkling wine is exported from Australia?
11% - which has risen over recent years driven by Moscato, Shiraz, and Australian Prosecco
How much sparkling wine does to the domestic market in Australia
89%
What methods of making sparkling wine are used in Australia
all methods - traditional, tank, transfer and carbonation
What varietals are used for traditional methods in Austraila?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, meunier blends
What varietals are used to make tank method wines in Australia?
Glera/Prosecco, Moscato
What other two methods are used for sparkling wines in Australia that are in very limited quantities
sparkling Shiraz and Pet Nat
Where are grapes grown for traditional method sparkling wines in Australia?
cooler regions esp Tasmania but also Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills and the alpine regions of Victoria, and New SOuth Wales or higher altitude sites
Why are grapes grown in cooler regions in Australia
highly suitable for quality sparkling wines due to their high acidity moderate potential alcohol due to slow sugar accumulation, and creation of ripe but med intensity fruit characters
How are yields in quality regions for sparkling wines compared to regions of high volume sparkling wines
much lower leading to increased price
What is the leading region for high quality traditional method wines in Australia
Tasmania
How far back does Tasmania’s history for growing grapes for sparkling wine go?
1980s when a joint venture between Heemskerk and CHampagne Louis Roederer was launched
How much of Australia’s wine production was made into sparkling wine
36%
What is the climate on the inland of Australia
varied - north coast of tamar vallley and Pipers valley are close to each other but Tamar is much warmer as it is more sheltered from the from Southern Ocean and harvests a fortnight before Pipers
how do the coolest areas in Australia compare to Champagne
they are cooler than Champagne but with higher sunlight intensity due to latitude
Where do the largest producers in Australia source their fruit from>
different locations around the island to gain the volumes necessary, blending grapes from cooler and warmer regions to balance wines
What are the main challenges when growing grapes in Australia
spring frosts and high rainfall
coulure in early season and botrytis in later season
Where are fruit for inexpensive wines grown for sparkling wine in Australia
wide range of regions: Riverland, Riverina and Murray Darling - all labeled South Eastern Australia (vast amount of sparkling wine produced in Australia
In regions where inexpensive sparkling wine is made describe irrigation and mechanization
irrigation = essential
mechanization = standard
When is fruit for inexpensive sparkling wine in Australia picked>
early for lower potential alcohol, to retain acidity, and avoid overripe fruit notes
Compare yields in warm areas of Australia compared to cooler areas
yields are 2-3x as high as in cool areas and prices are around 1/4 of the prices for the fruit that goes into super premium wines
What is the one exception to cooler sites and early picking
fruit for sparkling red wine, esp Shiraz
fruit is grown in warm region climates esp central Victoria Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale
What do red sparkling wines require>
richness, intense flavors
When are grapes for re sparkling wines in Australia picked?
at the same time as still wine grapes
What are yields for red sparkling wine grapes in Australia?
range from high for inexpensive to moderate for premium and above
How are traditional method wines made in Australia
several different styles - Vintage, NV, prestige cuvee and rose
What is the time spent on lees for traditional method wines in Australia
varies: premium producers look to Champagne as an example without having to be restrained to it and have similar min lees aging time
How long do a significant number of producers age their wine on lees for traditional method Australia wines
long periods of time as standard (3 or more years)
Which producers lead the late disgorged wines in Australia where wines are aged more than 6 years on lees for traditional method wines
Jansz and Arras
what has led to most large producers pressing grapes on the island but completing the winemaking on the mainland
geographical position of Tasmania
What happens after juice is refridgerated in Australia
it is transported to their own wineries in mainland Australia where they have invested in specialized equipment for the 2nd fermentation stage for sparkling wine
What do smaller producers in Tasmania do with their wines
make their wines into completion on the island as small vol production can be carried out by hand and limited machinery (gyropalletes)
General SAT for traditional method wines from Australia
med + to high acidity
med alcohol
body and flavor intensity can vary from med - to med + depending on style and length of lees aging
lighter styles = soft fruity citrus and apple
fuller body = prominent autolytic notes
Do traditional method sparkling wines in Australia go through malolactic conversion?
depending on style wineries wish to make
Where are inexpensive and mid priced sparkling wines made in Australia?
across a number of cool moderate and warm climate regions
Typically what regions do inexpensive and mid prices sparkling wines from in Australia
they are blends for a number of regions, but some may have regional designations
What varieties can be made by tank, transfer and carbonation methods in Australia?
chardonnay, pinot noir, moscato, and Glera/Prosecco
General SAT for wines made by tank, transfer and carbonation methods in Australia?
med - med+ acidity
dry - med sweet
low to med alcohol
light to med body
fruity soime intensity with citrus, riper peach and apricot as well as grapey
little to no autolytic notes
What are the main brands of tank, transfer and carbonation methods in Australia?
Brown Brothers and Jacob’s Creek and Yellowglen
How is sparkling shiraz made>
like normal still red wine including malolactic conversion and may or may not spend time maturing in oak
What method is used for very good and outstanding quality sparkling wines in Australia
traditional method
What method is used for acceptable and good quality sparkling wines in Australia
transfer method, tank, carbonation
General SAT for Shiraz sparkling wines
deep in color
ruby to garnet
med - to med acidity
med to high alcohol
med but ripe and soft tannins (balanced by dosage)
med - full body
med to pronounced intensity
styles can be distinctly fruit or have more savoury complexity from extended oak maturation prior to 2nd fermentation
autolytic notes are not as overt
What are some wines that are available for extended lees aging in Sparkling Shiraz
late disgorged
When are sparkling reds typically released
after 1-2 years
Where is Moscato a growing sector domestically?
Australian wine market
In Australia what is Moscato made from
grapes grown in many different regions though trending in warmer regions
How is higher quality small production Moscato made in Australia made?
by traditional method
How is inexpensive to midpriced Moscato made in Austraila?
carbonation
General SAT for sparkling Moscato in Australia
low in alcohol
med acidity
off dry - sweet
distinctly fruity with grapey flavors
acceptable to good quality
What is a rapidly growing segment in the australian sparkling wine market?
Australian Prosecco
What is the main region where Australian Prosecco is produced?
King Valley where Prosecco is the flagship sparkling wine
How is Prosecco labeled in Australia
continues to be labelled Prosecco with the argument being that Australia planted the variety before Italy changed the use of the name from a variety to the name of the PDO - however if exported to EU they need to be labelled Glera
When and by who was the first Australian Prosecco produced
Dal Zotto in 2004
How is Australian Prosecco predominantly made
tank method to obtain light fruity style; although some carbonated wine is also made
General SAT for Australian Prosecco
med + acidity
light to med body
med alcohol
delicate white peach flavors
off dry to med dry
quality is good to very good
What type of wine is now being made by many small often natural winemakers in several regions with several varietals in Australia?
Pet Nat
What color can Pet Nat wines be in Australia?
red, white, and rose
Describe Pet Nat from Australia
quite cloudy with varying levels of pressure from slightly sparkling to fully sparkling
General SAT for Pet Nat in Australia
dry
light to med + body
med + acidity
med alcohol
flavor intensity med to pronounced
yeasty characteristic along with fruit flavors
Explain why Australian winemakers are able to come up with new styles
they are not constrained by laws related to varietals permitted within geographical indications
Who is sparkling wine in Australia made by
full range of producers: major corperations to small artisan growers
What has happened due to the success of Tasmanian traditional method sparkling wine?
led to significant acquisitions of small wineries by large producers and to the consolidation in the sector; Ex: Brown brothers bought Tamar Ridge and Accolade owns a range of brands
How much of the domestic wine sales does Sparkling wine represent by vol in Australia?
12%
What styles of sparkling Australian wine have increased in sales? which one has decreased?
Prosecco and Moscato
Shiraz
What were sales of Australian Prosecco in the domestic retail market in 2020-21
6.5 million litres
How has Moscato grown in production between 2014-2017 in Australia?
tripled, but has fallen to less than half the sales of Prosecco on retail market
Describe some reasons sparkling Shiraz sale may be falling
due to rise of other sparkling options
reduced interest in high alcohol wines
new interest in foreign sparkling wines
Where is the increased interest for Pet Nat in Australia
wine bars in the domestic market
