Australia Flashcards
What climates do the main Australian wine growing regions have?
(2 points)
Warm or Hot
Which 3 main bodies of water temper of the climates of many Australian growing regions?
1) Indian Ocean
2) Murray River system
3) Southern Ocean
What cools regions such as the Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley?
Altitude
Why is irrigation essential in most Australian growing regions?
Annual rainfall is low
What is the most significant climatic problem in Australia?
Drought
Name the significant risk created by hot, dry conditions which is unique to Australian vineyards.
Bush fires
What are the two main risks to grape growing caused by bush fires?
1) Damage to or destruction of the vineyard area
2) Smoke from the fires coming into contact with the grapes and causing a pungent taint in the wines
Why does Tasmania have a cooler climate than the other Australian growing regions?
It has a more southerly latitude
What is the principal grape variety of either colour in Australia?
Shiraz
Which grape is widely grown in most Australian regions?
Shiraz
What climate does the Hunter Valley have?
Hot
What climate does the Barossa Valley have?
Warm
- What style of Shiraz do regions such as Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley produce?
(2 points)
- Other than fruit, name 2 common aromas in these wines.
- What is a typical aroma of these wines with age?
- Full-bodied and intensely fruity
- Earth and spice
- Leather
How do some winemakers make more ‘restrained’ styles of Shiraz in the hotter regions of Australia?
By controlling the level of extraction in the winemaking process
- Name two Australian regions which make a leaner, more peppery style of Shiraz.
- Why is this style prevalent there?
- Geelong and Heathcote
- Their climates are on the cooler side
What is a common way of balancing bolder, fuller styles of Shiraz with leaner, more austere styles in Australia?
By combining them in a multi-regional blended wine
In Australia, which grape is often used to bring softness and body to blends with Cabernet Sauvignon?
Shiraz - it performs a similar role to Merlot in Bordeaux
Name the Australian grape variety:
- Dark
- Firm tannins
- High acidity
- Ripe black fruit character (blackcurrant, black cherry)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Name the two main classic regions for Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
1) Coonawarra
2) Margaret River
True or False: Merlot is usually used for unblended, varietal wines in Australia.
False: Merlot is typically found in blended wines, most often with Cabernet Sauvignon - it adds body and fleshy, plummy fruit.
Name the 3 regions which arguably produce the best Pinot Noir in Australia.
Why does it grow so successfully in these places?
- Yarra Valley
- Mornington Peninsula
- Tasmania
They are cool/moderate regions
Name the Australian variety:
- Medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Medium-high acidity
- Cherry and strawberry flavours
High-quality Pinot Noir
What is the Australian name for Mourvèdre?
Mataro
Name 3 late-ripening varieties which thrive in Australia’s hot regions.
- Grenache
- Petit Verdot
- Mataro (Mourvèdre)
Name an example of a variety from:
1) Italy
2) Spain
which has gained in popularity in Australia in recent years.
1) Sangiovese
2) Tempranillo
Why are some Mediterranean grape varieties now popularly grown in Australia?
(2 points)
They are well adapted to:
- High summer temperatures
- Limited water supply
Name the 3 categories of Australian GI, from largest to smallest geographical area.
Zones - Regions - Sub-regions
What type of Australian GI can cover either part of a state, a whole state or several states?
Zones
Are zones usually named on Australian wine labels?
2 points
No - but the notable exception is Barossa
Coonowarra, Clare Valley and Margaret River are all examples of which type of Australian GI?
Regions
What naturally defines a ‘region’ in the Australian GI system?
It must have consistent and distinct qualities to other neighbouring regions.
Why might an Australian region be split into sub-regions?
If there are notable areas that have distinct and unique qualities.
What quirk of the Australian GI system, regarding regions and zones, gives producers a variety of options when making up their blends?
Some regions are covered by several zones - e.g. Eden Valley region is in the Barossa zone, which is within the zone of South Australia, which is turn is within the zone of South Eastern Australia.
Name the 8 largest ‘zones’ in Australia.
- Western Australia
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- South Eastern Australia
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Tasmania
What is the most planted white grape in Australia?
Chardonnay
Which Australian wine is being described?
- Blend of fruit from different regions
- Either unoaked for peachy flavours, or oaked with chips or staves to give toast and vanilla hints
Basic, mass-produced Chardonnay
