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Australia Flashcards

1
Q

Australia map

A
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2
Q

What is the climate in Australia?

A
  • 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.
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3
Q

What are some geographical features of Aus?

A

Elevation from Great Dividing Range
Cool currents from Antarctica

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4
Q

Describe the grape growing in Australia

A

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

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5
Q

Describe traditional winemaking in Australia

A

Blending across regions
American oak

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6
Q

Describe modern wine making in Australia

A

Single GI/Site
French oak

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7
Q

Describe winemaking in Rutherglen, Australia

A

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

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7
Q

What are the main white grapes of Australia?

A

Riesling
Chardonnay
Sauv Blanc
Semillon (Hunter)
Muscat

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8
Q

What are the main red grapes of Australia?

A

Shiraz
Grenache
Cab Sauv

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9
Q

What are Geographical Indications (GI’s)?

A

Australia’s place of origin system
Established 1993
Places on a map - no other additional laws

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10
Q

How many GI’s are there in Aus?

A

114 GI’s in Aus

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11
Q

What is the agency that manages GI’s?

A

Wine Australia

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12
Q

What is the min required labelling for grape variety, vintage, and origin?

A

85%

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13
Q

What else is unique about labelling in Aus?

A

They require a “best by” date for certain products (mainly bag in box)

Shelf life of no more than 2yrs

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14
Q

What are the GI levels?

A

Country
Multistate
State
Zone
Region
Subregion

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15
Q

What is an example of multistate?

A
  • “Southeastern Australia”
  • Combines NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, parts of Queensland etc into a single gigantic appellation known as a “superzone”
  • ie: Jacob’s Creek
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16
Q

What is an example of a state?

A

NSW
Victoria
South Aus
Western Aus
Tasmania
Queensland

17
Q

What defines a zone?

A

An area within a state but not necessarily delineated based on viticultural characteristics

ie: The Adelaide zone is made up of 3 smaller zones

18
Q

What defines a region?

A

Part of a zone that has viticulturally common features
The area must have measurable homogeneity in grape growing attributes

19
Q

What defines a subregion?

A

Same as region but viticultural homogeneity must be substantial

20
Q

What are the GI’s of South Eastern Australia?

A

Riverina GI
Murray Darling GI
Hunter Valley GI

21
Q

What are the GI’s of Victoria GI?

A

Yarra Valley GI

22
Q

What are tge GI’s of the South Australia GI?

A

Barossa Valley GI
McLaren Vale GI
Clare Valley GI
Eden Valley GI
Coonawarra GI

23
Q

What are the GI’s of the Western Australia GI?

A

Margaret River GI

24
What states are in the South Eastern Australia GI?
NSW Victoria Tasmania Australia Capital Territory parts of South Aus and Queensland
25
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"
26
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
27
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
28
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)
29
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
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
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
35
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
36
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
37
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
38
Shiraz producers to know
"Grange" by Penfolds "Hill of Grace" by Henschke Clonakilla Wendouree Kay Brothers
39
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
40
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

Certified Sommelier (50 decks)

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