Australia Flashcards
Simply summarise the Australian GI hierarchy system
Zones - Can be huge, can be states or several states e.g. South Australia
Regions - e.g. Coonawara, Clare Valley, Margaret River They must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighbouring regions.
Sub-regions - Notable areas with distinct and unique qualities
Generally Australia is pretty hot name three sources of cooling
Southern or Indian oceans
Murray River System
Altitude
What are the No.1 black and white grapes in Australia?
Shiraz and Chardonnay
What are the traditional and modern styles of Australian Shiraz, and what is the most notable winemaking difference
Trad - Full body, very fruity, earthy, spicy, leather with age
Modern - Leaner more peppery style achieved by controlling extraction
What is the common style of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon?
Darker, firmer tannins with higher acidity than Shiraz.
Ripe Black fruit; Blackcurrant, Black Cherry, with toasty oak
Where does the best Australian Pinot Noir come from and what is its style?
From cool ~ moderate sites
Medium body, med alc, med~hi acidity, Cherry and Strawberry
What is the style of quality Australian Chardonnay and what is the climate like in the best regions?
Fresh, vibrant fruit, subtle lees, MLF and/or oak
Cool, moderate or just warm regions
What is the style of the better Australian Sauvignon Blancs and what are the best sites?
Concentrated Passion Fruit with hi acidity
Moderate temp regions
What is Semillon like
Youthful
With age
How is it fermented?
Which region has made it its own grape?
Youthful - Light body, neutral taste
With age- Develops honey and toast, can age 20 years
Fermened protectivly, SO2 and Stainless steel all the way
Hunter Valley
What is the predominant style of Australian Riesling and in which two regions is it most famous?
Citrus - Lime, lemon and grapefruit with high acidity.
It rapidly develops notes of toast, honey and petrol
Where will you find Botrytised Semillon produced?
Riverina
Where is Barossa Valley, what’s the climate like and what is it most famous for producing and what does it taste like?
North of Adelaide
Bush vine Shiraz - Full body, soft tannin, ripe Black fruit with sweet American oak
Which regions make up the Barossa Zone?
Barossa Valley + Eden Valley
Where is Eden Valley, what’s the climate like and what white wine is it renowned for making and what does it taste like?
In the hills East of Barossa valley
Cool~moderate varying with altitude
Outstanding Riesling - Lime, grapefruit and steely
After 10 years in bottle can develop marmalade and toast
Where is Clare Valley, what’s the climate like and what white wine is it renowned for making and what does it taste like?
NW of barossa Valley
Warm with cool afternoon breezes and cold nights, altitude 300~400m but can reach 570m
Riesling - Dry, intense citrus and lime with hi acidity
with bottle age, honey and toast
Clare Valley is renowned for Riesling but which 2 black grapes does it do well with and what do they taste like?
Shiraz - Fragrant, powerful with structure
Excellent Cab Sav - Diff styles depending on vineyard location
Where are the Adelaide Hills, what’s the climate like and what is it renowned for growing?
25km E of Adelaide
Moderate, all vineyards above 400m. Only rains in the Winter so irrigation often needed.
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Where is McLaren Vale, what’s the climate like, what grapes does it mostly grow, vinified in what style?
Coast S of Adelaide
Warm climate tempered by afternoon breezes
Mainly black grapes; Shiraz, Cab Sav, Merlot and Grenache being intensely flavoured with dark fruit aromas and soft, ripe, tannins.
Old vine Shiraz and Grenache too
Name the four major regions in the South Eastern Australia ‘Super Zone’
Riverland
Murray-Darling
Riverina
Tasmania
What’s that soil in Coonawarra called and how is it made up?
Red Terra Rossa over a limestone subsoil
Where is Coonawarra, what’s the climate like, what grape is it most renowned for and what does it taste like?
Narrow strip 400km East of Adelaide
Moderate Maritime cooled by current from the Antarctic
Cabernet Sauvignon - Concentrated, structured, Cassis, Eucalyptus or menthol
What is it that allows vineyards in the state of Victoria produce high quality wines?
Some of the coolest vineyards in Australia, cooled by ocean breezes. The Great Dividing Range provides aspects and altitude
In the state of Victoria what is generally grown
On the higher slopes?
On the lower slopes?
Higher - Elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonna, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc
Lower - Shiraz and Cab Sav in fresher, lighter styles
Where is Yarra Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
NE of Melbourne
Cool~moderate maritimevaried by altitude and aspects
Pinot Noir - Rich fruit; strawberries, plums and dark cherries. Careful use of oak adds complexity
Where is Mornington Peninsula, what’s the climate like, what two grapes is it most renowned for producing and what do they taste like?
South of Melbourne
Cool~Moderate Maritime. Vintages can vary due to cool, wet and windy weather around flowering and harvest
Pinot Noir - light, delicate and structured displaying pure fruit characteristics
Chardonnay - Citrus, pear, apple with hi acid usually softened with MLF
Where is Geelong, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
West of Melbourne
Cool~Moderate Maritime. Vintages can vary due to cool, wet and windy weather around flowering and harvest
Very high quality Chardonnay; complex, concentrated with a full body
Also good earthy Pint Noir, and fresh and peppery Shiraz
Where is Heathcote, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
Centre of Victoria
Moderate with cooling at altitude
Shiraz - Firm structure, fresher and fruitier than warmer regions
Where is Goulburn Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
East of Heathcote
Warm, mitigated slightly by lakes and creeks
Shiraz most planted but Marsanne is the speciality; citrus fruit in youth developing honey aromas with age
Where is Hunter Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
North of Sydney in NSW
Hot and humid, cloud cover and ocean breezes mitigate
Semillon - Light body, low alc, high acidity, neutral flavour
With age - Toast, nuts and honey
Also Chardonnay with/without oak and
Shiraz - Black fruit; blackberry, black cherry, soft tannin, med body and earthy
What are the climate risks in Hunter Valley and how can one of them be mitigated?
RISK: Rainy weather often at harvest
RISK: Rot from humid conditions, good canopy management essential
What is the only wine producing region in New South Wales?
Hunter Valley
On which city is the Western Australia wine region centered and what are the two wine regions in Western Australia?
Perth
Margaret River
Great Southern region including Frankland River and Mount Barker regions
Where is Margaret River, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
200km South of Perth
Warm Maritime with fairly high rainfall
Cab Sav, mainly blended with Merlot in a BDX style
reanges from elegant and restrained to fruity and powerful
Chardonnay - Concentrated stone fruit with natural high acidity. Barrel ageing and MLF used variously.
Sauvingnon Blanc often blended with Semillon giving gooseberry and tropial fruit with hi acidity
What 5 grapes are predominant in Margaret River?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
What are the two regions making up the Great Southern Region. Name the two black grapes and one white grown there
Frankland River and Mount Barker
Deep coloured Cab Sav and Peppery Shiraz
Floral Riesling
Where is Tasmania, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
An island south of Victoria.
Cool maritime climate with cooling westerlies from Southern Ocean
Pinot Noir, Cab Sav
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris
South Australia wine regions are based around which city and name the 6 regions
Centered around Adelaide
Barossa Valley
Eden Valley
Clare Valley
Adelaide Hills
McClaren Vale
Coonawara
Name the 5 wine regions of Victoria state and the state capital city
Yarra valley
Mornington Peninsula
Geelong
Heathcote
Goulburn Valley
State capital city, Melbourne
List the 4 Human factors of wine
Grape Growing
Wine Making
Maturation
Market Forces
