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Master Sommelier Exam > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

1
Q

Which three zones comprise the Adelaide Superzone?

A

Mount Lofty Ranges
Barossa
Fleurieu

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2
Q

Where is De Bartoli (Region,Zone,State) and what wine is the crown of their portfolio?

A

Riverina Region of Big Rivers Zone in the state of New South Wales

“Noble One” , a botrytised Semillon dessert wine.

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3
Q

What subregion within Hunter is famous for its Verdelho plantings?

A

Broke Fordwich

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4
Q

South Australia emerged as the country’s leading producer of wine as a result of what devastating event?

A

Phylloxera’s spread in New South Wales and parts of Victoria

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5
Q

High Eden is a subregion of what region? What is the other region in that zone? What is the zone?

A

Eden Valley

Barossa Valley is the other region Barossa is the Zone

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6
Q

Who makes Astralis and where are they located? Grape?

A

Clarendon Hills
McLaren Vale
Produced from Shiraz

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7
Q

What vinification practice is commonly employed to ensure quality and brand consistency?

A

Blending often over several states

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8
Q

Nagambie Lakes is a subregion of what Region? What are the other four Regions in that zone? What is the zone?

A

Subregion of Goulburn Valley

Other four regions in Central Victoria Zone:
Bendigo
Upper Goulburn Valley
Strathbogie Ranges
Heathcote
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9
Q

What are the Regions of the Central Ranges? (3)

A

Mudgee
Orange
Cowra

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10
Q

North West Victoria is home to what two Regions that are shared with New South Whales?

A

Swan Hill

Murray Darling

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11
Q

What are the 6 zones of Victoria?

A 
North East Victoria
North West Victoria
Central Victoria
Western Victoria
Port Phillip
Gippsland
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12
Q

What are the 5 regions of the North East Victoria Zone?

A 
King Valley
Glenrowan
Alpine Valleys
Rutherglen
Beechworth
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13
Q

The multistate zone of South Eastern Australia encompasses what Australian states? When was the zone created?

A

Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland

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14
Q

Which region in the Barossa Zone is known for its premium Shiraz and 150 year old vines?

A

Barossa Valley

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15
Q

What are the four tiers of classification for Muscat of Rutherglen and what are the aging and sugar requirements for each?

A

Rutherglen
3-5 years of age with RS between 180-240g/L

Classic Rutherglen
6-10 years of age with RS between 200-280 g/L

Grand Rutherglen
11-19 years of age with RS between 270-400 g/L

Rare Rutherglen
20+ years of age with RS between 270-400g/L

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16
Q

What are the three unofficial subregions of Northern Tasmania?

A

Pipers River
Tamar Valley
North West Coast

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17
Q

Who makes Yellow Tail and where do they source most of the fruit for this brand?

A

Casella

Source most of the fruit from Riverina

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18
Q

What changed in around 1970 contributed to the building of momentum for dry table wines in Australia? (4)

A

A surge in quality at the lowest level
The adoption of new technologies
Changing Consumer Preferences
Skyrocketing domestic consumption

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19
Q

Coonawarra is known for producing world-class examples of what grape? What zone is this located within? Who makes “First Growth” here? Name one other major producer here.

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Located in the Limestone Coast Zone

Parker Estate makes “First Growth”
Another major producer here is Majella.
Also Wynn which is owned by John RIddoch.

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20
Q

What Australian states was Phylloxera isolated in preventing its spread?

A

New South Wales and parts of Victoria

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21
Q

What are the regions and subregions of Hunter Valley Zone?

A

Hunter is the sole region

The subregions are:
Broke Fordwich
Pokolbin
Upper Hunter Valley

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22
Q

What are three major producers located in the Margaret River? What is the most successful style of wine produced in the Margaret River?

A

Cullen
Vasse Felix
Leeuwin Estate

One of the country’s premium sources for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend is another specialty

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23
Q

What is the region of Northern Rivers Zone?

A

Hastings River

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24
Q

Murray Darling and Swan Hill are two regions that are shared with New South Whales. What zone are they located in?

A

North West Victoria

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25
Q

Which zone in Vicotria has no regions or subregions?

A

Gippsland

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26
Q

What are Regions and Subregions defined as in Australia in regards to vineyard numbers and size minimums as well as annual output of wine?

A

Defined as single tracts of land, comprising at least five independently owned vineyards of at least five hectares apiece, with a minimum output of 500 tons of wine grapes annually.

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27
Q

What is the region of the Northern Slopes Zone?

A

New England Australia

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28
Q

Why is mechanical harvesting so common in Australia?

A

The lack of a large population and a source of cheap labor

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29
Q

Which Region is also known as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area ? What zone is this located in?

A

Riverina in New South Wales

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30
Q

The Adelaide Hills are famous for what styles of winemaking?

A

Sparkling Wines in addition to fresh expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir

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31
Q

The Hogshead is a traditional barrel in what region? What is the size in liters of this barrel? What kind of oak is it made from?

A

Barossa Valley

300L American Oak

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32
Q

Acidification is illegal/legal and Chaptalization is illegal/legal in Australia?

A

Acidification is legal and chaptalization is illegal

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33
Q

Vines for Tahbilk’s Shiraz were planted in what year?

A

1860

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34
Q

The Eden Valley Subregion is famous for being the home of the “Hill of Grace”wine. Who produces it, what is the major grape, and what was the precursor wine to this? When was the first vintage of each?

A

Hanschke produces it.
Shiraz is the major grape.
Mount Edelstone Shiraz (1952)
Hill of Grace (1958)

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35
Q

By what year had the vine spread to New South Whales as a result of the gold rush?

A

1850

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36
Q

What counterintuitive process was innovated in Australia to control vigor?

A

Minimal (zero) pruning

37
Q

In 1951 who was responsible for releasing Penfold’s first vintage of Grange Hermitage?

A

Max Schubert

38
Q 
The following are all wines produced in McLaren Vale. What are the producers and major grapes in each?
Dead Arm
High Sands
Eclipse
Astralis
A

D’Arenberg (Dead Arm/Shiraz)
Yangarra (High Sands/Grenache)
Drew Noon (Eclipse/Grenache)
Clarendon Hills (Astralis/Shiraz)

39
Q

What vineyard practice is highly common and absolutely necessary due to Australia’s climate?

A

irrigation

40
Q

What is Australia’s coolest wine producing state? Which unofficial subregions are notable for their Pinot Noir and Cool-climate Cabernet respectively?

A

Tasmania

Pinot Noir - Piper’s River

Cool-Climate Cabernet - Tamar Valley, Coal River

41
Q

Who produces Octavius? Where are they located? What grape is used to produce this wine?

A

Yalumba
Located in Barossa Valley
Produced from Shiraz

42
Q

Penfolds and Lindemans are owned by what major company?

A

Treasury Wine Estates

43
Q

In what year did vines first arrive to Australia? With what company? (people not co.)

A

1778 with the First Fleet of British prisoners

44
Q

Lenswood and Picadilly Valley are subregions of what Region? What are the other two regions in that zone? What is the zone?

A

Subregions of Adelaide Hills

Other two regions in Mount Lofty Ranges:
Adelaide Plains
Clare Valley

45
Q

The Muscat of Rutherglen Network was established in 1995 and developed a four tier classification system? What is each tier based on?

A

Age, sweetness, and complexity

46
Q

What are the 8 zones of South Australia?

A 
Barossa
Limestone Coast
Fleurieu
Mount Lofty Ranges
Lower Murray
Far North
The Peninsulas
Adelaide Superzone
47
Q

At the turn of the twentieth century, what styles of wine dominated?

A

focus was largely turned to sweet, fortified wine production then

48
Q

What producer lays claim to the oldest Marsanne vines in the world? What subregion is this located in? Region? Zone?

A

Tahbilk

Nagambie Lakes subregion of Goulburn Valley Region within the Central Victoria Zone of Victoria.

49
Q

What are the 6 Regions of the Limestone Coast Zone?

A 
Coonawarra 
Robe 
Wrattonbully
Mount Benson
Mount Gambier
Padthaway
50
Q

What percentage of the national output of wine is produced in South Australia?

A

50%

51
Q

Hunter’s climate is subtropical, but despite this most of the wine is white. What mitigates the heat of the climate?

A

Mitigated by high amounts of humidity, rain, and wind

52
Q

Riverina along with what Region in South Australia accounts for nearly 40% of Australia’s wine production? What zone is that Region located in?

A

Riverland

Lower Murray Zone

53
Q

The Mount Lofty Ranges is comprised of what three regions?

A

Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Plains
Clare Valley

54
Q

Which Australian state is said to experience a cool maritime climate around its coast where winter average temperatures are lower than Bordeaux and Burgundy?

A

Victoria

55
Q

How do GIs in Australia differ from geographic indications from the old world?

A

Purely geographic in scope; there are no restrictions on grape varieties, yields, etc.

56
Q

What are the 5 regions of the Port Phillip Zone?

A 
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsula
Macedon Ranges
Sunbury 
Geelong
57
Q

What are the top three Academic/Research institutions in Australia that are all located in Adelaide?

A

Australian Wine Research Institute

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)

University of Adelaide

58
Q

Great Western is a subregion of what Region? What are the other two regions in that zone? What is the zone?

A

Grampians
Henty
Pyrenees
The zone is Western Victoria

59
Q

What four principles make up the core of Australian winemaking philosophy?

A

Technological proficiency
Mechanical Harvesting
Irrigation
Blending

60
Q

What are the only three countries in the world that export more wine than Australia?

A

Italy, France, and Spain

61
Q

What are the two zones of Queensland?

A

Granite Belt

South Burnett

62
Q

What are the Regions of the South Coast Zone? (2)

A

Shoalhaven Coast

Southern Highlands

63
Q

Who makes Hill of Grace? Where are they located? Grape?

A

Henschke
From Eden Valley within Barossa Valley
Made from Shiraz

64
Q

What is the star grape of Hunter Valley? What is its synonym here?

A

SemillonHunter Riesling is the synonym here

65
Q

What cool climate grape is counterintuitively successful planted alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in the Mount Barker subregion? What Region is this located in? What are the other four subregions of this region? What zone are all of these located within? What are the other regions in this zone?

A

Riesling

Great Southern is the Region

Other subregions of Great Southern: 
Denmark
Franklin River
Albany
Porongurup

Located in the South West Australia Zone in the State of Western Australia

Other Regions of South West Australia Zone:
Blackwood Valley
Geographe
Manjimup
Margaret River
Pemberton
66
Q

Wines made in the manner of Spanish Sherry are known in Australia as what?

A

Apera as of 2010

67
Q

Which Region is considered Australia’s finest for most ageworthy expressions of Riesling? What are the five subregions here? Who is the best producer and considered the master of the style?

A

Clare Valley is the Region

Unofficial Subregions are:
Polish Hill River
Watervale
Auburn
Sevenhill
Clare

Grosset is best producer

Other Producers:
Kilikanoon
Jim Barry
Sevenhill Cellars

68
Q

When was Wine Australia established? What was its original name? What four contributions did the association contribute to furthering wine quality in Australia?

A

1981
Originally as Australia Wine and Brandy Corporation.
Regulation of label language, Definition of geographical boundaries, Moderation of Export and Trade, Promotion of the production at home and abroad

69
Q

What are the Regions of Southern New South Whales Zone? (4)

A

Tumbarumba
Canberra District
Hilltops
Gundagai

70
Q

What region within Fleurieu is famous for its high quality wines produced form Rhone varieties?

A

McLaren Vale

71
Q

What is the oldest wine region in Victoria? What zone is this located in? What other four regions are located in this zone?

A

Yarra Valley located within the Port Phillip Zone.

Other four regions:
Geelong
Sunbury
Mornington Peninsula 
Macedon Ranges
72
Q

What did the Label Integrity Program implemented in 1990 mandate in regards to labeling by varietal, vintage, or region? What if multiple varietals are listed on the label?

A

Required that any wines labeled by variety, vintage, or region to contain 85% of stated grape, year, or region in the bottle.If multiple varieties are listed on the label, the grapes must be listed in order of proportion in the blend. All components making up a minimum of 85% of the blend must appear on the label. No listed grape may be present in lower proportion than any unnamed variety.

73
Q

What are the two main soil types of Rutherglen? Which is preferred for fortified wine grapes?

A

Grey/Brown Rutherglen Loam (preferred)

Black Dog, Lighter Sandier Soils following the Murray River

74
Q

In 2009, which wine producing area was heavily affected by forest fires and was recognized as one of the worst natural disasters in Australian history?

A

Yarra Valley

75
Q

What are the four unofficial subregions of Southern Tasmania?

A

Coal River/Richmond
The East Coast
Derwent Valley

76
Q

Who makes RunRig? Where are they located? Grape?

A

Torbreck

Produced from Shiraz with a little Viognier From Barossa Valley

77
Q

Which vintages of the 2000s have been most heavily affected by drought?

A

‘03, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, and ‘09

78
Q

What Region is famous for its Fortified wines made from Brown Muscat? What variety of Muscat is this grape synonymous with? What zone is this located in?

A

Rutherglen in North East Victoria

Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge

79
Q

What region in the Southern New South Whales Zone is notable for their sparkling wines produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?

A

Tumbarumba

80
Q

What are the four Regions of the Big Rivers Zone? (4) Which two are shared with Victoria?

A

Riverina
Swan Hill (shared)
Murray Darling (shared)
Perricoota

81
Q

Where is Clonakilla located (Region,Zone,State) and what wine that they produce has rapidly risen to the ranks of Australia’s finest?

A

Canberra District Region of Southern New South Wales Zone of the state of New South Wales
Clonakilla Canberra District Shiraz, cofermented with a small percentage of Viognier

82
Q

Which subregion is known as the hottest appellation in Australia? What region is this located in? What Zone?

A

Swan Valley

Swan District is the Region

Greater Perth is the Zone

Western Australia is the State

83
Q

What is the region of Lower Murray?

A

Riverland

84
Q

What are the 8 zones of New South Whales?

A 
Northern Slopes
Northern Rivers
Big Rivers
Central Ranges
Hunter Valley
South Coast
Southern New South Wales
Western Plains
85
Q

The following are Geographical designations for Australian wine. List them in order from largest to smallest.RegionStateSubregionZone

A

State
Zone
Region
Subregion

86
Q

What style is Musact of Rutherglen produced in? What character must it show? What does this mean?

A

Sweet, aged, and fortified style
Must show rancio character when mature.
Rancio refers to a oxidative maderized character

87
Q

What are the 5 regions of the Fleurieu Zone?

A 
McLaren Vale
Southern Fleurieu
Kangaroo Island
Currency Creek
Langhorne Creek
88
Q

What was Muscat from Rutherglen and Glenrowan previously known as?

A

“Topaque” and before that “Tokay”

89
Q

Name three major producers in Barossa Valley

A

Peter Lehmann
Rockford
Penfolds

Master Sommelier Exam (55 decks)

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