Australia 2 Flashcards
When did vines arrive in Australia?
Vines arrived with the First Fleet of British prisoners in 1788.
What major event in the 1850s spurred the growth of viticulture in Australia?
The arrival of free settlers spurred by the promise of gold.
By what year had over 6000 liters of wine been exported to Britain?
By 1854.
What were the two major Australian wine brands launched during the early period?
- Penfolds
- Lindemans
What caused the domestic demand for wine to fall in Australia?
Depletion of gold deposits and restrictive state trade barriers.
What pest caused significant damage to the Victorian wine industry in the late 1800s?
Phylloxera.
What major change occurred in 1901 that benefited the Australian wine industry?
The creation of the Commonwealth of Australia relaxed interstate trade barriers.
What percentage of Australia’s grapes does South Australia produce annually?
50%.
What type of wine dominated Australian production from the post-phylloxera period until the 1960s?
Sweet, fortified wines.
What key grape varieties became prominent in Australian wine production by the mid-1990s?
- Chardonnay
- Shiraz (Syrah)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What innovative wine packaging technology did Australians develop?
Bag-in-the-box technology.
What is the role of the Australian Wine Research Institute?
Contributes to scientific understanding of grapes and winemaking.
What is the significance of mechanical harvesting in Australian viticulture?
It is essential due to the lack of cheap labor and is often done at night.
What technique developed by CSIRO restricts vigor in low-cost vineyards?
Minimal (zero) pruning.
What is the major irrigation challenge faced by Australian vintners?
Managing high-saline soils.
What is the blending philosophy in Australian winemaking?
Blending over vast tracts of land to regulate quality and brand consistency.
What iconic Australian wine was introduced by Max Schubert in 1951?
Penfolds Grange.
What trend in Australian wine emerged during the 1990s and 2000s?
Cultivation of old vines, some over 150 years old.
What major natural disaster in 2009 affected Australian vineyards?
Brush fires wreaked havoc on vineyards.
What is Wine Australia’s role in the Australian wine industry?
Regulates labeling, geographical boundaries, exports, and promotes wine.
What are the requirements of the Label Integrity Program introduced by Wine Australia?
Wines labeled by variety, vintage, or region must contain a minimum 85% of the stated components.
How are wine regions in Australia defined by Wine Australia?
As Geographical Indications (GIs) based on geographic scope.
In which Australian state are the first vineyards planted?
New South Wales.
What percentage of Australia’s wine production comes from New South Wales?
Approximately one-quarter.
What is the significance of the Riverina region in New South Wales?
It represents Australian industrial viticulture at its most efficient.
What is the primary white grape of the Hunter Valley region?
Semillon.
What climate condition affects the Hunter Valley’s wine production?
High amounts of humidity, rain, and wind.
What notable wine-producing region is located to the southwest of Canberra?
Tumbarumba GI.
What is Victoria’s status in terms of wine production in Australia?
It is one of Australia’s most diverse and vibrant wine-producing areas.
What climatic condition influences the Port Phillip zone surrounding Melbourne?
Cool maritime climate.
What type of climate does the Yarra Valley have?
Cool maritime climate.
What is the climate characteristic of the Yarra Valley?
Winter average temperatures lower than Bordeaux or Burgundy
The Yarra Valley is known for its depth, distinction, and style in Pinot Noir wines.
Which major French Champagne house established a presence in the Yarra Valley and when?
Moët & Chandon established Domaine Chandon in 1987
This reflects the region’s potential for high-quality wine production.
What two distinct soil types are found in the Yarra Valley?
- Gray-brown sandy loam
- Red basalt-derived soils
What is the primary grape variety produced in the Mornington Peninsula?
Pinot Noir
Other varieties include Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.
What characterizes the climate in North West Victoria?
More continental climate with a large diurnal temperature shift
Which two GI regions are shared between Victoria and New South Wales?
- Murray Darling
- Swan Hill
What pest caused significant issues for many wineries in Victoria?
Phylloxera
What sweet fortified wine is produced in Rutherglen?
Brown Muscat
Known for its richness, sweetness, and rancio character.
What is the classification system developed by the Muscat of Rutherglen Network?
A voluntary four-tier classification system based on age, sweetness, and complexity
How many zones is South Australia divided into?
Eight zones
What is considered Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignon region?
Coonawarra
What is a notable feature of Coonawarra’s soil?
Terra rossa topsoil
Which grape varieties dominate the Padthaway GI?
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Pinot Grigio
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the primary climate type in the Fleurieu zone?
Mediterranean climate
Which grape varieties are predominantly produced in McLaren Vale?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Grenache
- Shiraz
- Mourvèdre (Mataro)
What is the notable wine produced by Penfolds in Barossa Valley?
Grange
What grape variety is most commonly associated with Margaret River?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the climate of Tasmania’s Northern region similar to?
Champagne or Rheingau
What is Tasmania’s most planted grape variety?
Pinot Noir
Fill in the blank: The inland Barossa zone is Australia’s most important region for premium _______.
Shiraz
True or False: Queensland is a major grape-growing state in Australia.
False
What is the significance of the Darling Downs region in Queensland?
It seems poised to become the state’s third GI in the future
What is the climate type of Granite Belt?
Continental climate with plentiful summer rain
What is the primary white grape variety grown in Tasmania?
Chardonnay
Riesling is also popular, but Pinot Noir is the most planted.
