Australia Flashcards
Cool to moderate regions in Oz (4)
Geelong, Mornington Peninsular, Yarra Valley, Tasmania
Hunter Valley Semillons. Key factors in making the wine (harvest, fermentation, maturation)
Semillon grapes are picked early
Therefore low sugar levels and high acidity
Contact with O2 is kept to a minimum and fermented using inert vessels
Therefore light in ABV and little flavour
Develop honey and toast given bottle age - 10 years plus.
Reisling from Australia has unique flavour profile… and when aged has typical notes of…
Pronounced citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit) With bottle age: toast, honey, petrol.
Australian Classics:
Classic Pinot from:
Classic Reisling from:
Classic Chardonnay from:
All of the wines:
Geelong, Yarra Yarra, Mornington Peninsular
Reisling includes Clare and Eden Valleys and Tasmania
What is a useful purpose of the Oz ‘super zone’?
It covers
South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria
Therefore… grapes can be selected from anywhere within the area
(Usually large volumes of not such good wine)
A wine made from grapes drawn from all over the South Eastern Australia super-zone will be identifiable how?
They are labelled “South Australia”
What’s the difference between a wine labelled “Barossa” and one labelled “Barossa Valley”?
Just “Barossa” is a Zone that includes Eden Valley.
“Barossa Valley” is just the region of Barossa Valley.
Barossa Valley climate?
Known for which wines?
Warm, dry
Old vines
Adjacent to cool, moderate Eden Valley
Known for hot grapes: Cab Sauv, Grenache, Shiraz
Eden Valley climate?
Known for which wines?
Cool to moderate by virtue of altitude
Adjacent to hot, warm Barossa Valley
Reisling
Clare Valley climate?
Good for which wines?
Warm climate, cool breezes and cold nights
Also has altitude
Reisling (at altitude)
Shiraz, Cab Sauvignon
Adelaide Hills climate?
Known for which wine(s)?
Moderate climate by virtue of altitude (>400m)
Good for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
McLaren Vale climate? Best wine(s)?
Warm.
Tempered by afternoon breezes
Shiraz, Grenache, Cab Sauv, Merlot
GSM
Coonawarra climate?
What’s noteable about the soil?
Known for which wine(s)?
Moderate maritime thanks to cold Antartic current.
Summer moderated by cloud cover
The soil is red (terra rossa) over limestone.
Cabernet Sauv - concentrated cassis and eucalyptus
Victoria climate?
Coolest Zone on Oz mainland.
Great Dividing Range Mountains offer many Regional possibilities for aspect.
Yarra Valley climate?
Known for which wine(s)?
Cool to moderate, maritime with ocean breezes
Pinot Noir (rich in fruit: strawb, plums, cherries)
(Ripe, soft tannin)
