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WSET Level 3 RLM > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

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1
Q

What variety is Australia most famous for?

What are other varieties popular in Australia?

A

Full bodied Shiraz;

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Mataro (Mourvèdre)

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon

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2
Q

What is the land mass like?

A

Similar to USA; diverse range of climates

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3
Q

What are the main growing regions climates?

A

Warm or hot;

This is due to altitude

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4
Q

Name the cool regions

A

Victoria; cool vineyard locations

Tasmania; cool maritime

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5
Q

Name the warm regions

A

Western Australia:
o Margaret River; warm maritime

South Australia:
o Clare Valley; cool, afternoon breezes, cold nights
o Barossa Valley; warm, dry
o McLaren Vale; afternoon breezes

VIC:
o Goulburn Valley; warm

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6
Q

Name the hot regions

A

Hunter Valley; hot humid

NSW, above Sydney

Mitigated by high cloud

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7
Q

Regions climate tbc

A

o Riverland, South Australia (high volume, blends)
o Murray-Darling, Vic (high volume blends)
o Riverina, NSW (botrytised Sémillon, high volume blends)
o Great Southern Regions: Mount Barker, Frankland (Cab Sauv, Shiraz, Riesling)

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8
Q

What helps temper regions?

A

Proximity to either the

Southern or Indian Ocean, or

Murray River Southern

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9
Q

What are vineyard considerations

A

Rainfall low; drought significant problem.
Irrigation during growing season essential.

Dry conditions may cause bush fires; damage or destroy; smoke contact causes pungent taint in wines

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10
Q

What climates are generally sought by Australian grapegrowers?

A

Cool or moderate

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11
Q

Where have plantings increased?

A

High-altitude climates on mainland;

Tasmania which has more southerly altitude

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12
Q

What are the main black grape varieties?

A

Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Petit Verdot, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Sangivese, Tempranillo

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13
Q

What are the main white grape varieties?

A

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling

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14
Q

Where is Australia’s ‘Super Zone’?

A

Cover’s all GI’s in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland

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15
Q

Name some of the main regions in the Super Zone

A

Riverland (SA)
Murray-Darling (VIC)
Riverina (NSW);

regions provide high yields of healthy grapes but need blending in from Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale to enhance grapes that lack flavour concentraton.

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16
Q

What does the wine laws hierarchy include?

A

GI’s, incorporating zones, regions and sub-regions

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17
Q

What are Zones?

A

Large areas, no qualifying attributes.
Can be sates (i.e. South Australia);
or cover several states (i.e. South Eastern Australia).
Can also make up part of a state.
Rarely seen on labels, with exception of Barossa.

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18
Q

What are Regions?

A

Vary in size; smaller than zones.
Must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighbouring regions.

I.e. Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margaret River

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19
Q

What are sub-regions?

A

Many regions that are split into sub-regions; if there are notable areas that have distinct and unique qualities.

Must fall within one region; some regions covered by several zones.
Gives producers variety of options for blending.

I.e. Eden Valley region in Barossa Zone, which is in South Australia Zone, which is in South Eastern Australian Zone.

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20
Q

Where is Riverina and what does Riverina specialise in?

A

New South Wales;

Botrytised Semillon

Autumn morning mists and fogs help noble rot

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21
Q

What are the main regions in South Australia?

A

Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra

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22
Q

Where are the majority of Australia’s wines produced?

A

South Australia Zone

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23
Q

Describe Barossa Valley

A

South Australia, its most prestigious growing area, known for its fine wine production

Warm, dry climate;
Old bush vines: outstanding Shiraz, Cab Sav, Grenache

Classic Shiraz: full-bodied, soft tannin, ripe k fruit, American oak; leather and spice as ages

Semillon: unoaked style

Labelled Barossa; fruit can be from Barossa Valley and Eden Valley

Near Adelaide, Phylloxera hasn’t yet infected vineyard soils in Barossa, which means it’s home to some of the oldest living vineyards in the world.

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24
Q

Describe Eden Valley

A

South Australia
Cool to moderate climate; varies with altitude

Outstanding Riesling in cooler; lime, grapefruit, steely, best have longevity of marmalade and toast after 10 years

Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cab Sav

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25
Q

Describe Clare Valley

A

South Australia

Warm climate; cool afternoon breezes, cold nights. High alt vineyards.

Rieslings in dry style; citrus and lime, high acidity, bottle age honey and toast

Shiraz, Cab Sav; best have long cellaring potential

26
Q

Describe McLaren Vale

A

South Australia, on coast, afternoon breezes temper warm climate

Shiraz, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Grenache: intense flavour, dark fruit aromas, soft ripe tannins;
some old vine Shiraz and Grenache - adds depth and complexity

27
Q

Describe Coonawarra

A

South Australia; narrow strip of land (1.5kmwx15kml)
Cold currents from Antarctic; maritime climate, moderate, cloud cover moderates summer temps

Distinctive red terra rossa soil over limestone subsoil

Cab Sauv dominates: concentrated, structured, cassis, eucalyptus/menthol aromas, the best age well.

Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay

28
Q

What is the largest wine production region?

A

South Australia

29
Q

What are the major wine regions by volume?

A

The three major wine regions in Australia by shear volume are South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.
South Australia and New South Wales are known for their warmer climate varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon whereas Victoria is known for cool climate-loving Pinot Noir.

30
Q

Describe Adelaide

A

is the hub of the largest wine growing region in Australia, near Barorssa

31
Q

What to seek in South Australia

A

Old Vine Shiraz: smoky and rich with spice.

Famous producers in the area include Penfolds, Elderton and Rockford.

GSM: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre –The major blending grapes used in French Southern Rhone wines.

32
Q

What is the principle grape variety grown in most regions?

A

Shiraz (Syrah)

33
Q

What are Shiraz wines like when grown in hot or warm regions?

A

I.e. Hunter Valley, or Barossa Valley

Full-bodied, intense fruit, earthy or spicy notes, leather as age

34
Q

What are Shiraz wines like when grown in cooler regions?

A

I.e. Geelong or Heathcote

Leaner, more peppery; combined in multi-regional blends
Used to give softness and body to blends with Cab Sav; same as Merlot does in Bordeaux blends

35
Q

What are Cabernet Sauvignons like

A

Generally darker than Shiraz; firmer tannins, higher acidity, ripe black fruits, toasty oak

36
Q

What are some classic Cab Sauv regions?

A

Coonawarra, Margaret River

37
Q

What are Merlots like?

A

Often used in blends to ad body and fruit

38
Q

What are Pinot Noirs like?

A

Medium bodied, Medium alcohol, medium-high acidity, typical flavours of cherry and strawberry

39
Q

Where are PN’s best grown

A

Cool or moderate climates

Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania

40
Q

What are some hot region varieties?

A

Grenache, Petit Verdot, Mourvèdre (Mataro)

41
Q

Why are Sanviovese and Tempranillo gaining popularity in Australia?

A

Well adapted to high summer temperatures and limited water supply

42
Q

What is the most planted white grape?

A

Chardonnay

Made in a range of styles, grown throughout regions

43
Q

Name the cool to moderate regions

A

South Australia
Eden Valley; cool to moderate varies w/ altitude

Adelaide Hills; (Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley, SE Oz, in NSW); moderate but cooled by altitude

VIC:
Mornington Peninsula; cool to moderate, maritime

Yarra Valley; cool to moderate maritime

Geelong; cool to moderate, maritime

44
Q

Name the moderate regions

A

VIC:
Heathcote; moderate

Coonawarra; moderate maritime (Limestone coast)

45
Q

What is Barossa Valley famous for?

A

Shiraz:

Full-bodied, high tannins, oak=spice, jammy black fruits, chocolate

46
Q

Where is the majority of wine production?

A

South Australia:

Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Riverland

47
Q

What is Coonawarra soil like?

A

Terra Rossa soil, in the Limestone Coast; adds a minty/eucalyptus quality

48
Q

What is Riverina known for?

A

Botrytised Semillon

49
Q

What are the main regions in South Australia?

A

Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Riverland (?)

50
Q

What are the main regions in Victoria?

A

Geelong, Yarra Valley, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen (?)

51
Q

What are the main regions in New South Wales?

A

Hunter Valley, Riverina (?)

52
Q

What does the Murray-Darling River do?

A

Cools and moderates hot temperatures

53
Q

Describe Hunter Valley Semillion

A

High quality, early harvest, inert

54
Q

What are the main regions of Western Australia?

A

Margaret River;

Great Southern regions with sub-regions of: Mount Barker, Frankland River known for Cab Sav, Shiraz and Riesling

55
Q

Describe Tasmania climate

A

Cool, maritime

Westerly wines from Southern Ocean help cool; generally free from extremes

56
Q

What are Tasmania’s principle varieties?

A

PN, Chard, SB, Pinot Gris, Cab Sauv

Started as prime source of base wins for sparklings

57
Q

Describe Australian Chards

A

Made in a range of styles, most planted white variety in Oz in all regions
Can be oaked;
or unoaked; to keep peachy notes

Basic Oz Chard usually a blend from different regions

Cool to moderate regions: Adelaide Hills, Mornington Pen, Yarra Valley
Warm regions: Margaret River: balanced, fresh fruit, subtle oak, lees and/or MLF

58
Q

Describe Australian SB’s

A

Popular in domestic and exports; high demand
Adelaide Hills now benchmark for quality (moderate climate)

Concentrated passion fruit, high acidity

59
Q

Describe Australian Semillions

A

Widely planted; used to make distinct wines in unique styles: pronounced citrus aromas and flavours; lime, lemon grapefruit;
turn to toast, honey, petrol with age;
usually dry or slightly off-dry; some roses

Classic region is Hunter valley (hot climate)
Early harvest, low sugar, high acidity

minimum oxygen;
inert vessels for fermentation and storage
low alcohol
neutral flavours when first bottled; can develop honey, toast w/ bottle age
Best wines can age for 20+ yrs

Often mistaken for SB in Western Oz as more herbaceous;
Barossa Valley traditionally full-bodied, soft; now early picked, unoaked styles becoming popular

60
Q

Describe Hunter Valley

A

Hot humid climate; moderated by high cloud cover and ocean breezes.

Rainy weather at harvest can be issue; good canopy management can reduce rot risk

Semillion specialty here; harvested early when acidity high but sugar low, wine is light body, low alcohol, high acidity, neutral flavours - develop nut, honey, toast with age
Chardonnay - oaked and unoaked
Syrah - medium body, soft tannins, black fruits, earthy undertones

WSET Level 3 RLM (7 decks)

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