Australia Flashcards
Australia map
What is the climate in Australia?
- Hot and dry in interior - irrigation is essential
- Southern coast is maritime, (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth)
- Elevated vineyards on Great Divinding Range are cooler (southeast coast from Melbourne to Brisbane)
- Island of Tasmania is surrounded by frigid ocean waters, coolest wine growing area in Aus.
What are some geographical features of Aus?
Elevation from Great Dividing Range
Cool currents from Antarctica
Describe the grape growing in Australia
Blending across regions for volume
100+yr old vines exist
Irrigation is necessary in the country’s interior
Best vineyards are cooler near the coast
Describe traditional winemaking in Australia
Blending across regions
American oak
Describe modern wine making in Australia
Single GI/Site
French oak
Describe winemaking in Rutherglen, Australia
STICKIES!
Located in Victoria, near the northern border
Known for fortified/sweet wine production
Aged for 10-20yrs
Late harvest grapes (not botrytis)
Rutherglen Muscat
* Made with dark-skinned Muscat Rouge a Petit Grains grapes (aka Brown Muscat)
* Sweet, oxidized, well-aged
Topaque
* Made with Muscadelle
* Formally known as Tokay but too similar to Tokaji
What are the main white grapes of Australia?
Riesling
Chardonnay
Sauv Blanc
Semillon (Hunter)
Muscat
What are the main red grapes of Australia?
Shiraz
Grenache
Cab Sauv
What are Geographical Indications (GI’s)?
Australia’s place of origin system
Established 1993
Places on a map - no other additional laws
How many GI’s are there in Aus?
114 GI’s in Aus
What is the agency that manages GI’s?
Wine Australia
What is the min required labelling for grape variety, vintage, and origin?
85%
What else is unique about labelling in Aus?
They require a “best by” date for certain products (mainly bag in box)
Shelf life of no more than 2yrs
What are the GI levels?
Country
Multistate
State
Zone
Region
Subregion
What is an example of multistate?
- “Southeastern Australia”
- Combines NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, parts of Queensland etc into a single gigantic appellation known as a “superzone”
- ie: Jacob’s Creek
What is an example of a state?
NSW
Victoria
South Aus
Western Aus
Tasmania
Queensland
What defines a zone?
An area within a state but not necessarily delineated based on viticultural characteristics
ie: The Adelaide zone is made up of 3 smaller zones
What defines a region?
Part of a zone that has viticulturally common features
The area must have measurable homogeneity in grape growing attributes
What defines a subregion?
Same as region but viticultural homogeneity must be substantial
What are the GI’s of South Eastern Australia?
Riverina GI
Murray Darling GI
Hunter Valley GI
What are the GI’s of Victoria GI?
Yarra Valley GI
What are tge GI’s of the South Australia GI?
Barossa Valley GI
McLaren Vale GI
Clare Valley GI
Eden Valley GI
Coonawarra GI
What are the GI’s of the Western Australia GI?
Margaret River GI
What states are in the South Eastern Australia GI?
NSW
Victoria
Tasmania
Australia Capital Territory
parts of South Aus and Queensland
What kind of wine is produced in South Eastern Aus GI?
Large volumes
Value priced
Sourced from multiple regions, vintages, and varietals
Labelled “South Eastern Australia GI”
Describe the Riverina GI
**Sweet wine in Sauternes style from Semillon/botrytis
**De Bortoli (producer)
- Located in NSW
- One of the largest wine producing areas by total land
- Many rivers in this area to irrigate (Murray and Murrumbidgee)
- Yellowtail produced here
Describe the Murray Darling GI
- Large wine region in NSW/Victoria
- Inexpensive, bulk wine
- Warm to hot climate/deserts
- Murray River
- Grapes: Vermintino, Barbera, Nero d’Avola, Sangiovese
Describe the Hunter Valley GI
Hunter Riesling/Hunter Honey - made from Semillon
Old area & vines
- North of Sydney
- First established wine region of Aus
- Hot and humid from warm ocean currents
- Vines planted in 19th century
- Chardonnay, Shiraz, Semillon
- Steven’s vineyard “Old Patch” some of oldest chardonnay vines in world (1867)
Describe the Yarra Valley GI
**Pinot Noir like Willamette & Chards like Sonoma Coast!
**
* * Located in the state of Victoria, just inland of Melbourne
* Yarra River
* Cool climate from Port Philip Bay proximity
* Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are 75%+ of plantings
Describe the Barossa Valley GI
Shiraz!
- Located in warm, dry interior of the state
- Soil is ironstone, red clay, quartz, limestone
- Avoided phylloxera
- Old vines
- Known for Shiraz and Cabs
- Pair Shiraz with bbq meat
- Producer: Yalumba
Describe the McLaren Vale GI
Shiraz!
* Located 22 miles south of Adelaide
* Gulf of Saint Vincent (west) to Mount Lofty Ranges
* Mediterranean climate
* Shiraz’s from here are powerful and sleek with dramatic spiciness, black olive, menthol, and dark chocolate flavors.
* Pair Shiraz with bbq meat
Describe the Coonawara GI
Terra Rossa soil & Cab Sauv!
- Terra Rossa is bright red soil which rests over a free draining limestone base.
- Cab Sauv from here is excellent - very age worthy
- Maritime climate like Bordeaux
- Wynns is a famous producer of Cabs in this area
Describe the Clare Valley GI
Rieslings and high elevation!
* Actually an elevated plateau
* Dinural shifts and limestone soil helps retain acidity in Rieslings and crisp/clean Shiraz
* Mostly planted with Shiraz
Describe the Eden Valley GI
Rieslings and high elevation!
* Platreau about Barossa Valley
* Dinural shifts and limestone soil helps retain acidity in Rieslings and crisp/clean Shiraz
Describe the Margaret River GI
White wine/Little Bordeaux!
- Breezes from Indian Ocean and Geographe bay cool the area
- Gravel soils aka “Little Bordeaux”
- Age worthy Cab Sauvs
- Known for white wines: Sauv B/Semillon blends & Chardonnay
- Vasse Felix is a good producer here for Chard
Describe the Tasmania GI
Sparkling wine!
Coolest wine growing region
Sparkling wines in Traditional Method are speciality
Cool weather grapes: Pinot Noir, Chards, Sauv B, Riesling
What is the history of Penfolds Grange?
- Most powerful and expensive Shiraz is Grange, made by Penfolds in South Australia
- Grange was made by Penfold’s wineaker Max Schubert in 1951
- Made to mimic structure and complexity of Bordeaux using Shiraz instead of Cab.
- Done by blending top wines in 300 liter American Oak
- VERY AGEABLE
- 7k cases made each year
Shiraz producers to know
“Grange” by Penfolds
“Hill of Grace” by Henschke
Clonakilla
Wendouree
Kay Brothers
What is Yellowtail’s business model?
“Blue Ocean” strategy
Escaped intense competition in Aus for cheap wine and went to US where there was a market for cheap wine
Focus on easy to drink, accessible, cheap wines
What is the history of wine in Australia?
- First vines planted in 1788 near Sydney
- Industry moved west after phylloxera
- Sweet/fortified wines dominated until late 20th century
- Purchased french co that invented Stelvin
