Australia Flashcards
When did wine arrive in Australia?
1788 with British prisoners
What are two of the most well-known wineries in Australia?
Penfolds and Lindeman’s
What happened in Aus. in the late 19th century?
Economic recession and phylloxera.
Were able to contain phylloxera to Victoria and NSW
What percentage of wine is made in South Australia (SA)?
51%
Most large wine companies are headquartered there
Post-phylloxera, what happened to the wine industry in Oz?
Until 1960s, 80% of production consisted of sweet, fortified wine.
Britain imported a ton of wine
Who developed bag-in-box wine?
Australia
What is the general style of Oz wines?
Fruity, clean, uncomplicated, soft and technically sound
Where does OZ rank in world exports of wine?
Fifth behind Italy, France, Spain and Chile
What is Penfold’s most well-known wine?
Penfolds Grange
Shiraz introduced by Max Schubert in 1951 as Grange Hermitage. Blended from vineyards across several regions
What is another cult bottling from Oz besides Grange?
Yalumba’s Octavius Shiraz
Vines dating back to 1854
What are some facts about Oz wine in 2000s?
Mid-2000’s, exports were surging
–> resulted in overplanting
–> Have been in a 10-year wine glut since 2009
Continuing drought for the last 20 years causing terrible fires
What were bad fire years in Oz?
2009 - bush fires in Yarra Valley and Victoria. One of the worst in Oz history.
2019 & 2020 - bushfires caused long term vineyard damage in SA, NSW, Vic and Queensland
Describe Oz wine today
Decrease in total volume
Increase in quality
Sommeliers like it for food-friendliness
Creating more site-specific wines
What does Wine Australia regulate?
Maintains oversight over wine industry:
- label language
- defining geographical boundaries of wine regions
- moderates exports and trade
- promote product domestically and abroad
What is the Label Integrity Program?
- Introduced in 1990
- Require wines labeled by vintage, variety or region to contain 85% minimum
- If multiple varieties are stated, they’re listed in order of proportion of the blend. All components making 85% must be on the label
What are Geographical Indications (GIs)?
Formal appellation protection that are purely geographic
No restrictions on varieties, yields, etc.
How are regions and subregions defined by Wine Australia?
Single tracts of land, comprising of at least five independently owned vineyards of at least five hectares with minimum output of 500 tons/year
What is the smallest and coolest state in Oz?
Victoria - most diverse and vibrant
What is the mountain range in NSW?
The Great Dividing Range
Runs N-S of eastern Oz. Separates wetter coastal area from arid interior
Where were the first vineyards in Oz planted?
New South Wales in 1788
What percentage of production is in NSW?
25%
Over half of the production is on the west side of the Great Dividing Range
What is the Riverina region also known as?
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
Where is Yellow Tail mostly sourced from?
Riverina
Who is known for their botrytised Semillon dessert wine?
De Bortoli’s Noble One
Where are the Brokenback Mountains located?
West of Hunter Valley
What is the climate in Hunter Valley?
Subtropical, one of the warmest in Oz
Mitigated by high amounts of rain, humidity, and wind
What percentage of Hunter Valley wine is white?
60% - mostly Semillon and Riesling
What is a top Hunter Valley Semillon?
Tyrell’s Vat 1
Can age over 20 years. Austere, grassy in youth. Honey and buttered over time
What states are in South Eastern Australia?
New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania
Winegrowing regions of South Australia and Queensland
What is the climate of coastal Victoria?
Cool maritime
Cooled by sea breezes from Antarctica, winter average temp cooler than Bordeaux or Burgundy
What GIs are known for their sweet, fortified wines?
Rutherglen and Glenrowan
Which zones in Victoria experience a more continental climate?
Inland zones: NW Victoria, Central Victoria, NE Victoria
Large diurinal swings
Describe the Morning Penninsula
In Victoria, sliver of land south of Melbourne. Cooler and windier. Known for CH, PG, PN.
Where will you find PN in Victoria grown?
Yarra Valley, Morning Penninsula, Geelong region, Gippsland
What is Victoria’s oldest wine region?
Yarra Valley
What wines are the Adelaide Hills known for?
SB, CH, PN and sparkling
Cool, maritime climate
What regions are within the Mount Lofty Ranges?
Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Clare Valley
What is the climate in the Fleurieu Zone?
Mediterranean
Warmest region - McLaren Vale
What zone is McLaren Vale in?
Fleurieu
Where is the Riverland GI?
In Lower Murray Zone, north of the Limestone Coast in SA.
Known for bulk wine production
What are the GI’s in the Limestone Coast?
Coonawarra, Padthaway, Wrattonbully, Robe, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier
What GI is similar to Coonawarra?
Padthaway to the north
What is the famous soil in Coonawarra?
Terra Rosa
What is the climate in Coonawarra?
Cool maritime with long, even growing season. Spring frost can be a hazard.
What are some top producers in Coonawarra?
Majella, Wynns’ John Riddoch, Parker Estate’s First Growth
What is the area Coonawarra is in called?
Limestone Coast Zone
What is Coonawarra’s wine style?
Cab Sauv with elegance, soft tannins, red fruit and eucalyptus.
Eucalyptus is what they’re known forW
What is Coonawarra known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon and terra rosa soils
How many zones are in SA?
Eight - most production is in the Southeast
What is Clare Valley known for?
Riesling - most classic and ageworthy