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
