Australia Flashcards
What is the climate of Australia
Hot, dry interior, cooler near coast.
Cool maritime to warm
Mediterranean to hot and arid.
What is the main white grape of Australia
Chardonnay
What are the red grapes of Australia
Shiraz
Grenache
Cabernet Sauvignon
Name all the white grapes in Australia
Riesling
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend
Semillon (Hunter)
Muscat
Most famous soil type in Australia
Coonawarra: Terra Rossa
What is the other name of Shiraz and where is it from
Syrah and Northern Rhone in France
When did wine come to Australia?
In 1788 when planted (near Sydney) planted purchased grape vines from Cape Town, South Africa
When did Phylloxera hit Australia and what areas were effected the most?
Late 1800’s and Victoria and New South Wales were hit the hardest
What was the original type of wines Australia was known to make?
Sweet fortified wines, until the late 20th century
When did Australia began to make single grape varietal wines?
In the 1960’s and 1970’s with the emergence of California and other non European countries, Australia turned to make classic wines
What is the most important grape grown in Australia and why?
Shiraz due to the extremely warm climate in South Australia
What is Penfolds Grange Shiraz
Created from the best Shiraz vintages in Australia, one of the worlds greatest wines ever produced
What type of wine laws does Australia have?
Laws similar to the United States:
- loose
- can grow anything and anywhere
- no specific winemaking practices have to be followed
-85% labeling required for grape variety, vintage, and
origin
Australian Wine Law
GI Refers to a geographic place of origin only, no other additional laws.
How does Australia label their wines?
By grape varietal
If a grape is listed on a label of Australian wine, what percentage of the grape must make up that wine?
85%
What is the requirements for regional labeling of Australian wines?
85% of the grapes must come from the listed region
What is Geographic Indications?
Also known as G.I
Australia official wine producing areas
A hierarchy of size was established
Based more off physical location than viticultural reasons
Largest official geographic indication
South Eastern Australia - is the only region that is larger than a single state, covering all or part of every state in southern and eastern australia
Physical features in Australia
Elevation in South Australia, currents from Antarctica
Where are the best grapes grown in Australia?
Best vineyards are near the cooler coast
What are the two types of Chardonnays made in Australia
- oaky and buttery flavors (taste manipulated by the oak barrels)
- Cooler - Climate Regions will produce more reserved and acidic wines
Discuss irrigation for Australia
Irrigation is necessary in the country interior
Discuss grape growing in Australia
Concept of blending across regions for volume 100+ year old vines exist
Discuss winemaking in Australia
(-) Traditional: Blending across regions, American oak
(-) Modern: Single GI/site, French oak
(-) Rutherglen: Fortified wines
What is the top producing region in Australia?
South Eastern Australia GI
Regions in Australia
Western Australia
South Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Tasmania
Where are fortified wines made?
Rutherglen
GI in Western Australia Region
Margaret River GI
GI in South Australia GI
Coonawarra GI
GI in New South Wales
Hunter Valley GI
GIs in Victoria GI
Yarra Valley GI
What Are the main grapes of Margaret River?
White: Chardonnay
Red: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
South Eastern Australia GI
Riverina GI
Murray Darling GI
South Australia GIs
Barossa Valley
McLaren Vale
Clare Valley
Coonawarra
Eden Valley
What are the main grapes of Barossa Valley?
Red: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache
White: Riesling
Note:
Higher Elevation: produces Shiraz
Lower Elevation: produces Riesling
What type wines are made in McLaren Vale?
Shiraz
Grenache
Bordeaux varieties
White: Chardonnay
Superzone (South Eastern Australia)
(-) Spans Wide Geographic Area: The South Eastern Australia superzone spans multiple states,
(-) Allows winemakers to blend grapes from various regions within the zone, ensuring consistency and affordability, especially for entry-level and mass-market wines.
(-) Wines labeled “South Eastern Australia” prioritize accessibility and drinkability over regional specificity, often featuring popular varietals like Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the Superzone geographies
(-) New South Wales
(-) Victoria
(-) South Australia
(-) Queensland
(-) Tasmania
Covering renowned wine regions like Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley.
Proprietary Blends / Producer
Penfold’s Grange
Service of Beverage
Screw Caps
Food and Beverage pairings
(-) Ripe Shiraz with intense grilled or barbecued meat.
(-) Use Clare or Eden Riesling like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
(-) Yarra Pinot Noir parallels Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
(-) Yarra Chardonnay works like Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.
(-) Margaret River Bordeaux blends are elegant like wines from Bordeaux.
Yellowtail Model
(-) Simple Offering: Yellow Tail simplified wine with easy-to-understand labels and approachable flavors, appealing to casual drinkers.
(-) Broad Appeal: Targeted non-traditional wine consumers by crafting smooth, easy-drinking wines.
(-) Efficient Sourcing: Used South Eastern Australia vineyards to ensure consistent quality and meet global demand.
Who produces Grange?
Penfolds
How did Victoria lose its position as the leading wine producing area in Australia
Phylloxera decimated the Vines of Victoria
If a wine from Australia is labeled by variety, vintage or region what is the grape requirements
85%
In Australia if there are multiple varieties are listed on the label what are the requirements
Grapes must be listed in order of proportion in the blend
