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WSET dip New World > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

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1
Q

Figures for decline of importance of Swan River region.

A

1970 90% of WA wine made from grapes grown in Swan district.

1980 59%.

2003 less than 11%

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2
Q

Describe Swan Valley.

A

Hottest wine region in Australia; harvest begins in January.

Houghton (part of Hardys) is dominant.

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3
Q

What does Houghton get up to in WA?

A
  • produces Houghton White Burgundy (HWB) from Verdelho, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grown in Swan Valley and at Gingin (to the north);
  • has large vineyards at Frankland in the Great Southern;
  • is major buyer of grapes throughout Great Southern and Margaret River;
  • its ultra premium Jack Mann and Gladstones red wines are among Australia’s best full-bodies wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
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4
Q

How many wineries are there in Australia?

A

Just over 2,500.

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5
Q

The 20 largest companies in Australia account for what % of the national crush?

A

87%.

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6
Q

Name the top 5 companies in Australian wine production and name some of their subsidiaries.

A

TREASURY (Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Wynns, Rosemount, Yellowglen, Lindemans).

ACCOLADE (Hardys, Houghton, Banrock Station, Bay of Fires).

PERNOD RICARD (Jacob’s Creek, Wyndham Estate, St Hugo).

AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE (McGuigan, Nepenthe, Tempus Two).

CASELLA (Yellow Tail).

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7
Q

Outline the history of the Australian wine industry.

A

No native vines.

  • vines arrived with 1st Fleet
  • between 1820 and 1840 commercial viticulture established in all colonies
  • Italian immigrant influence in Riverland and Riverina
  • Silesians in Barossa and Clare Valleys
  • Dalmatians in Swan Valley
  • Swiss in Geelong and Yarra Valley
  • 1877 phylloxera found near Geelong
  • removal of trade barriers at Federation and other factors saw SA usurp Victoria’s dominant position
  • by 1930 75% of production from SA
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8
Q

Talk about James Busby.

A

1801 - 1871

  • born in Edinburgh
  • studied viticulture in France prior to going to Australia
  • 1830 published ‘A Manual of Plain Directions for Planting and Cultivating Vineyards and for Making Wine in New South Wales’.
  • 1831 returned to England and went to Europe for 4 months to collect cuttings
  • 680 cuttings, not all different, shipped to Sydney and planted in Botanic Gardens
  • 1833 appointed to post in NZ and was 1st to make wine there
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9
Q

Describe climate of Hunter Valley.

A
  • prone to getting too much of annual rainfall during harvest
  • dry in winter and spring
  • redeeming feature is humidity and afternoon cloud cover
  • cloud cover reduces stress on vines and reduces impact of region IV heat load
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10
Q

Which areas of Australia have never had phylloxera?

A

South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
most of NSW

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11
Q

The warm or hot climates of many of Australia’s growing regions are tempered by what?

A

Proximity to either the Southern or Indian Ocean or the Murray-Darling River system.

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12
Q

Talk about Shiraz in Australia.

A

Australia’s principal grape variety of either colour.

  • grown widely in most regions
  • hot (e.g. Hunter Valley) and warm (e.g. Barossa) regions can produce full-bodied, very fruity wines, often with earthy, spicy notes showing leather aromas with age
  • in such areas many winemakers making more restrained styles with less extraction from skins
  • leaner more peppery style made in cooler regions such as Heathcote and Geelong
  • such qualities may be combined in a multi-regional blend
  • Shiraz also used to give softness to Cabernet Sauvignon, playing similar role to Merlot in Bordeaux
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13
Q

Talk about Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia.

A
  • generally darker, with higher tannins and acidity than Shiraz
  • ripe black fruit (black cherry, blackcurrant), often underpinned by oak
  • Coonawarra and Margaret River are classic regions
  • Merlot often blended with it (or Shiraz)
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14
Q

Talk about Pinot Noir in Australia.

A

The best grown in cooler regions such as Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, and Tasmania.

  • medium bodied with medium alcohol, medium to high acidity and cherry and strawberry flavours
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15
Q

Hot regions in Australia are perfect for which late ripening varieties?

A

Grenache
Petit Verdot
Mataro (Mouvèdre)

These 2 also now popular:
Sangiovese
Tempranillo
(suit high temperatures and limited water supply)

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16
Q

What is the most planted white grape in Australia?

A

Chardonnay.

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17
Q

Talk about Chardonnay in Australia.

A

The most planted white grape in Australia. Made in wide range of styles.

Basic: often blend of fruit from different regions; unoaked to give peachy flavours or with staves/chips to add toast and vanilla.

High quality from cool/moderate regions such as Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, and warmer regions such as Margaret River - fresh vibrant fruit balanced by careful use of lees, MLF and/or oak maturation.

18
Q

Talk about Sauvignon Blanc in Australia.

A

International and domestic popularity of Sauvignon Blanc has led to widespread planting. Adelaide Hills the benchmark - concentrated passion fruit along with high acidity

19
Q

Talk about Semillon in Australia.

A

Distinct Australian style.
- widely planted but Hunter Valley the classic region.

Hunter Valley: harvested early with low sugar and high acid; inert vessels for fermentation and storage; neutral in flavour and light in alcohol when first bottled; extraordinary flavours of honey and toast develop in bottle; the best can age for 20 years or more.

WA: a much more herbaceous style closer to Sauvignon Blanc.

Barossa Valley: traditionally a fuller-bodied, softer style but now more being made in early picked, unoaked style.

20
Q

Talk about Riesling in Australia.

A

Distinct Australian style.
- pronounced citrus notes (lime, lemon, grapefruit)
- develop rapidly into toast, honey and petrol with age
- unoaked; high levels of acidity; usually dry or slightly off-dry
- Eden and Clare Valleys are classic regions.
Tasmania and Frankland River (in WA) developing reputations for high quality riesling, but more floral and less citrus.

21
Q

Talk about Australian wine laws.

A

Hierarchy of Zones, Regions and Sub-Regions.
Zones: e.g. South East Australia, South Australia, Barossa (zones can overlap).
Regions: e.g. Coonawara, Clare Valley, Margaret River - must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighbouring zones.
Sub-Regions: must fall within one region

22
Q

What is the South Eastern Australia Zone?

A

Covers all GIs within South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland and Tasmania - grapes can be mixed from across the zone.

Most labelled SE Australia are high volume brands. Allows the high yield grapes of Riverland, Murray-Darling and Riverina to be mixed together. Better quality stuff from areas such as the Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale can be added to improve blends.

23
Q

Which region in Australia specialises in the production of botrytised wines?

A

Riverina. Semillon.

- autumn mists and fogs encourage noble rot

24
Q

What are the six Regions of South Australia?

A 
Barossa Valley
Eden Valley
Clare Valley
Adelaide Hills
McLaren Vale
Coonawara
25
Q

Talk about Barossa Valley.

A

To north of Adelaide

  • warm, dry climate
  • old bush vines producing Shiraz, Cab Sav and Grenache
  • Classic Barossa Shiraz: full-bodied, soft tannins, ripe black fruit, sweet American oak; leather and spice with age.
  • Semillon most notable white variety. Increasingly made in fresh, unoaked style.

[Wines marked just ‘Barossa’ come from the Barossa zone and can be made from grapes from Barossa Valley and Eden Valley]

26
Q

Talk about Eden Valley.

A

Adjoining and to east of Barossa Valley Region and part of the Barossa Zone.

Cool to moderate climate; varies with altitude.

Riesling made in cooler vineyards
- intense lime and grapefruit notes and steely character
- the best have longevity displaying marmalade and toast characters after 10 years
Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet also grown with success

27
Q

Talk about Clare Valley.

A

To north west of Barossa Valley

  • many high altitude vineyards (300 to 400 m)
  • Riesling dry, intense citrus and lime, high acid. Bottle age can give honey and toast.

Clare Valley Shiraz is fragrant, powerful and structured.

Cab Sav also produced

28
Q

Talk about Adelaide Hills.

A

To east of Adelaide.

  • moderate climate
  • all vineyards above 400 metres
  • rain mainly falls in winter, soil holds little of it and irrigation thus often necessary in growing season
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay with high natural acidity and pronounced citrus and peach aromas
  • Pinot Noir grown for still red wine and for sparkling blended with Chardonnay
29
Q

Talk about McLaren Vale.

A

On the coast, due south of Adelaide.

  • warm climate tempered by proximity to sea
  • mainly red wine produced
  • Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache - often with dash of dark chocolate in makeup
  • 126 producers in 2014
  • high alcohol levels - rarely less than 14.5% and sometimes over 15%
30
Q

Talk about Coonawara.

A
  • narrow inland strip on border with Victoria
  • 15 km long
  • distinctive red, terra rosa soil over limestone subsoil
  • moderate maritime climate, influenced by cold currents from the antarctic
  • cloud cover moderates summer temperatures
  • Cabernet Sauvignon predominates - concentrated and structured with cassis, eucalyptus/menthol characteristics. The best ages very well.
  • Shiraz, Merlot and Chardonnay also widely planted
31
Q

Name five wine regions in Victoria.

A 
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsula
Geelong
Heathcote
Goulburn Valley
32
Q

Talk about Yarra Valley.

A

Broadly cool to moderate and maritime, but varied with a wide range of altitude and aspects.

  • Pinot Noir the speciality
  • Yarra Valley PN rich in fruit, strawberry, plum and dark cherry flavours/aromas
  • tannins ripe and soft; careful oak handling adds complexity
  • Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon made in range of styles - but none with the weight of warmer areas
33
Q

Talk about Mornington Peninsula.

A

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the specialities.

  • cool to moderate maritime climate
  • lots of small boutique estates
  • bad weather at flowering and harvest can make vintages vary
  • best years have long growing season
  • Chardonnays reflect cool growing conditions and have aromas of citrus, pear and apple plus high acidity which is usually softened by MLF
34
Q

Talk about Geelong.

A
  • quality Chardonnay, tends to be complex, concentrated and full bodied
  • Pinot Noir and Shiraz the main red grapes
  • Pinot Noir can take on earthy aromas
  • Shiraz generally fresh and peppery
35
Q

Talk about Heathcote.

A

In centre of Victoria

  • cooling influences from altitude
  • Shiraz produced that has firmer structure and fresher fruit than the warmer regions
  • Chardonnay and Cab Sav also planted, plus Sangiovese and Tempranillo
36
Q

Talk about Goulburn Valley.

A
  • heat mitigated slightly by lakes and creeks of Goulburn river
  • Shiraz the most widely planted
  • but Marsanne is the speciality of the area: produces wine of citrus fruit in youth and honeyed aromas with bottle age
37
Q

Talk about Hunter Valley.

A

NSW

  • hot, humid
  • ameliorated by high cloud cover and ocean breezes at summer height
  • unsettled wet weather at harvest time
  • good canopy management essential to minimise rot
  • Semillon the main grape - light bodied, high acidity, low alcohol wines that age
  • Chardonnay widely planted - both oaked and unoaked styles
  • Shiraz - making wines with black fruit character (blackberry, cherry) and soft tannins, medium body and ‘earthy undertone’.
38
Q

Talk about Margaret River.

A

200 km south of Perth

  • warm maritime climate
  • rainfall high but most of it is in winter
  • Cabernet Sauvignon widely planted, often blended with Merlot
  • various styles of Cab Sav produced ranging from restrained to fruity and powerful
  • Chardonnays show concentrated stone fruit aromas - different styles using barrel ageing, MLF
  • Sauvignon Blanc widely planted and often blended with Semillon - resulting in wine with gooseberry and tropical fruit aromas and high acidity
39
Q

Talk about Great Souther Region.

A
  • includes sub regions of Mount Barker and Frankland River
  • deep coloured Cab Sav
    elegant, peppery Shiraz
  • floral Riesling
40
Q

What are the main varieties of Tasmania?

A 
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
and some Cabernet Sauvignon
41
Q

What is the only Riesling planting in the Hunter Valley?

A

That at Pokolbin Estate.

WSET dip New World (5 decks)

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