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Intro Sommelier Exam > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

Australia History

A
  • First vineyards were planted in New South Wales in the late 18th century
  • Commercial viticulture established in multiple areas across the south between 1820 and 1840
  • Phylloxera caused serious setbacks in Victoria
  • Recovered quickly but shifted towards foritfied wines from warm regions
  • Fine wine gained in prominence with advent of temperature-controlled fermenters in the mid 1950s
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2
Q

Australia Climate

A
  • Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent with a hot desert interior that is inhospitable to viticulture
  • Most wine regions are clustered in the southeastern part of the continent in temperatre latitudes near the major cities
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3
Q

Australia Soil Type

A

Ancient, eroded and nutrient-poor soils with great diversity

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4
Q

Australia Grape Varietals

A

White:

  • Chardonnay
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillon
  • Riseling

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Grenache
  • Pinot Noir
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5
Q

Australia Viticulture

A
  • Vine growing is concentrated in cooler coastal areas moderated by the Southern and Indian Oceans. Vineyards are also planted in cooler high-elevation areas
  • Irrigation is imperative, especially for turning vast interior Outback into land hospitable for vine growing
  • The warm, dry climate tends to produce very ripe grapes. It is important–though often difficult–to maintain adequete natural acidity for achieving balance in finished wines
  • The combination of artisanal and industrial wineries is an important factor in Australian wine production
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6
Q

Australia Vinification

A
  • Australia’s wine industry has long been a world leader in technological development, partly due to a strongly innovative culture and partly because expansion could only be achieved through mechanization due to labor shortages
  • Emphasis on technical precision has also manifested itself in a braod tendency to produce wines in a very clean, fruit-driven style
  • Oak aging: Traditionally, American oak was prevalent, but use of French barriques has become increasingly common
  • Acidification is often employed to counterbalance the effects of the country’s warm climate
  • Australia has long been a global leader in alternative packaging and closures, from bag-in-box to screw caps for still wines and crown caps for sparkling wines
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7
Q

Australia and Large Scale Blending

A

Vineyards and wineries in Australia are often widely separated. Graped are frequently trucked hundreds of miles to a winery for vinification. many wines are blending from multiple growing sites far removed from one another, with the objective of attaining consistent flavors from year to year. This practice is not limited to bulk production. Indeed, some of the Australia’s most esteemed wines are made by this method, including the iconic Penfolds “Grange”. Blending grapes and regions is crucial to the consistency and quality of Australian wine.

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8
Q

Australian Labeling Laws

A

The Label Integrity Program of Australia requires an 85% minimum across the board

  • 85% stated grape variety on label
  • 85% stated vintage on label
  • 85% stated region on label
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9
Q

Australian Appellation System

A 
Geographic Indications (GI)
-Australian GIs define geographical areas much like AVAs of the United States

GI Categories:

  • Country Australia
  • South-Eastern Australia
  • State of Origin
  • Zones
  • Regions
  • Sub-Regions
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10
Q

New South Wales Geography

A

Eastern Australia near Sydney

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11
Q

New South Wales Climate

A

Cooler and wetter near the coast, dry and arid inland

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12
Q

New South Wales Topography

A

The Great Dividing Range runs north to south, separating the wet coastal regions from the dry interior

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13
Q

New South Wales Important GIs

A
  • Hunter Valley - Hunter GI

- Riverina GI

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14
Q

Hunter GI Geography

A

North of Sydney

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15
Q

Hunter GI Cliamte

A
  • Hot and humid; among the warmest climates in Australia

- Moderated by wind and the cooling effect of the sea

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16
Q

Hunter GI Topography

A

Gentle, flat river valley

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17
Q

Hunter GI Grape Varieties

A

White (60% of production):

-Semillon

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18
Q

Riverina GI Geography

A

Far inland on the western side of the Great Dividing Range in the fertile river lands. Riverina is the largest wine region in Australia

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19
Q

Riverina GI Climate

A

Hot and very humid in some areas

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20
Q

Riverina GI Grape Varietals

A

White:

  • Semillon
  • Chardonnay

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Merlot
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21
Q

Riverina GI Viticulture

A
  • Riverina represents 50% of Australian wine production

- Irrigation from nearby rivers is required for viticulture in this area to succeed

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22
Q

Riverina GI Vinification

A

Riverina is most known for bulk table wine production but also produced foritfied wines and botrytis-affected dessert wines

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23
Q

Victoria Geography

A

Southeastern Australia, with Melbourne being the most important metropolis

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24
Q

Victoria Climate

A

A broad range, extending from cool, coastla maritime to continental, which can be very hot when remote from the Southern Ocean

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25
Q

Victoria Vinification

A

Victoria produces a wide range of wine styles depending on location and climate

  • Sparkling
  • Still
  • Fortified
  • Dessert
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26
Q

Victoria Important GIs

A
  • Yarra Valley GI
  • Rutherglen GI
  • Murray-Darling GI
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27
Q

Yarra Valley GI Geography

A

East adjacent of Melbourne

28
Q

Yarra Valley GI Climate

A

Cool, humid, maritime-moderated by the Southern Ocean

29
Q

Yarra Valley GI Grape Varietals

A

White:
-Chardonnay

Red:

  • Pinot Noir
  • Shiraz
30
Q

Yarra Valley GI Vinification

A

Still and sparkling wine production

31
Q

Rutherglen GI Geography

A

North east of Yarra Valley, adjacent to the Murray River

32
Q

Rutherglen GI Climate

A

Continental with very hot summers

33
Q

Rutherglen GI Grape Varietals

A

White:
-Muscadelle

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Brown Muscat (Muscat Roughe a Petits Grains)
34
Q

Rutherglen GI Vinification

A
  • Still wine production

- Fortified dessert wines, often referred to locally as “Stickies”

35
Q

Murray-Darling GI Geography

A

Northwestern Victoria - this GI is partly in New South Wales

36
Q

Murray-Darling GI Climate

A

Very hot

37
Q

Murray-Darling GI Viticulture

A
  • Riverland planting

- Irrigation is essential

38
Q

Murray-Darling Vinification

A

-An important region for bulk wine production

39
Q

South Australia Geography

A

Southern Australia, with Adelaide being the most important metropolis

40
Q

South Australia Climate

A
  • Broad range of climates
  • Warm, dry and Mediterranean moderated by cool breezes from the Southern Ocean
  • Cooler climates at higher elevations
41
Q

South Australia Important GIs

A
  • Barossa Valley GI
  • Eden Valley GI
  • McLaren Vale GI
  • Clare Valley GI
  • Coonawarra GI
42
Q

Barossa Valley GI Geography

A

Near the city of Adelaide

43
Q

Barossa Valley GI Climate

A

Mediterranean

44
Q

Barossa Valley GI Grape Varietals

A

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Grenache
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
45
Q

Barossa Valley GI Viticulture

A

Extremely old vines due to the prevention of phylloxera from reaching this area

46
Q

Eden Valley GI Geography

A

South and slightly east adjacent to Barossa Valley

47
Q

Eden Valley GI Climate

A

Cooler, higher elevation

48
Q

Eden Valley GI Grape Varietals

A

White:

  • Riesling
  • Chardonnay

Red:
-Shiraz

49
Q

Eden Valley GI Viticulture

A

High altitude helps retain acidity in the grapes

50
Q

Eden Valley GI Vinification

A

Riesling vinified dry

51
Q

McLaren Vale GI Location

A

South of Adelaide

52
Q

McLaren Vale GI Cliamte

A

Warm, yet moderated by cool ocean air

53
Q

McLaren Vale GI Grape Varietals

A

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Grenache
54
Q

McLaren Vale GI Viticulture

A

Vineyards slope down toward the sea to maximize exposure to cool breezes

55
Q

Clare Valley GI Geography

A

60 miles north of Adelaide

56
Q

Clare Valley GI Climate

A
  • Warm continental

- Hot days and cool nights

57
Q

Clare Valley GI Topography

A

1,200-1,800 feet elevation

58
Q

Clare Valley GI Grape Varietals

A

White:
-Riesling

Red:

  • Shiraz
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
59
Q

Clare Valley GI Viticulture

A

High altitude and cool nights help retain acidity in the grapes

60
Q

Clare Valley GI Vinification

A

Dry Riesling production

61
Q

Coonawarra GI Geography

A

Southern strip of land near the sea

62
Q

Coonawarra GI Climate

A

Cool, Mediterranean climate

63
Q

Coonawarra GI Soil Type

A

Best vineyards are on a single, narrow, 9-mile strip with Terra Rossa soil; a vivid red soil over limestone base

64
Q

Coonawarra GI Grape Varietals

A

Red:

-Cabernet Sauvignon

65
Q

Margaret River GI Geography

A
  • Important GI of Western Australia

- Perth being the most important metropolis

66
Q

Margaret River GI Cliamte

A

Warm maritime, with the moderating influences of the Indian Ocean

67
Q

Margaret River GI Grape Varietals

A

White:

  • Chardonnay
  • Semillon
  • Sauvignon Blanc

Red:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Shiraz
  • Merlot

Intro Sommelier Exam (12 decks)

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