Australia

Question 1

What is Australia’s coolest winemaking region?

Answer 1

Tasmania

Question 2

What is the Great Dividing Range?

Answer 2

A complex of mountain ranges running along the north-south axis of eastern Australia

Question 3

The first vintage of Penfolds Grange was released in ______ (year).

Answer 3

1951

Question 4

Bush fires in the Adelaide Hills caused some smoke-tainted wines in what recent year?

Answer 4

2015

Question 5

Describe the 2011 growing season in South Australia.

Answer 5

Wet with a lot of botrytis and mildew

*One of the toughest vintages in 25 years

Question 6

Western Australia:

What is the “Golden Triangle”?

Answer 6

Coined by James Halliday, the Golden Triangle comprises the Leeuwin Estate, cape Mentelle, and Voyager Estate

*Home to top Australian Chardonnay for two decades

Question 7

Where would you find the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge?

Answer 7

Western Australia

*Rolling hills running 90km north-south from Cape Naturaliste to Augusta

Question 8

Thomas Waters planted Western Australia’s first vineyard in ______ Valley in 1829.

Answer 8

Swan Valley

*Thomas Waters and other European settlers pickup up pre-phylloxera cuttings on their voyage around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and planted Cabernet Sauvignon near Perth

Question 9

Some producers of the Margaret River GI are moving to Bernard (Dijon) clones, though the ______ clone provides the base for the region’s classic style of rich, phenolic wines with taut acidity and peach/lime flavors.

Answer 9

Gingin

• A hen-and-chicken Chardonnay clone named after a town north of Perth
• Better known as Mendoza elsewhere

Question 10

Stuart Pym introduced this Graves-like blend to Western Australia.

Answer 10

SSB/SBS | Sauvignon Blanc-Sémillon Blends

Question 11

Where in Western Australia would you likely find karri loam soils?

Answer 11

Pemberton GI, Poronogurup GI

*karri loam is a fertile red soil

Question 12

Which GI surrounds the north and east side of Perth?

Answer 12

Swan District GI

Question 13

These producers are collectively known as the “first five”.

Answer 13

Leeuwin Estate, Cullen, Cape Mentelle, Vasse Felix, Moss Wood

Question 14

GIs of the Port Phillip Zone.

Answer 14

Geelong GI
Macedon Ranges GI
Mornington Peninsula GI
Sanbury GI
Yarra Valley GI

Question 15

Many producers in the Yarra Valley focus on what Pinot Noir clones?

Answer 15

Dijon clones (667, 777, MV6)

Question 16

Describe Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley

Answer 16

Stony and mineral-driven, rather than fat and tropical

Question 17

What are the main grapes cultivated in the Yarra Valley?

Answer 17

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

*still and sparkling

Question 18

What is special about the soil found in the Heathcote GI?

Answer 18

Greenstone: Cambrian Era alkaline volcanic soil, rich in copper and calcium

Question 19

Rutherglen GI is found in this Zone.

Answer 19

North East Victoria Zone

Question 20

Heathcote GI is found in this Zone.

Answer 20

Central Victoria Zone

Question 21

What river would you find in the Rutherglen GI?

Answer 21

Murray River (on the northern boundary)

Question 22

Grapes of Rutherglen?

Answer 22

Shiraz
Brown Muscat (Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains)
Durif
Muscadelle
Chardonnay
Marsanne

Question 23

What style(s) of wine is produced in Rutherglen?

Answer 23

Table wine

Fortified wine

Question 24

What are “stickies”?

Answer 24

Sweet, fortified wines

Question 25

Rutherglen GI is found in this Zone.

Answer 25

North East Victoria Zone

Question 26

What is the 4-tier classification of Rutherglen Muscat?

Answer 26

Basic Level
- shows orange and rosy aromatics of young Muscat
Classic
- shows intense varietal aroma, with concentration and slight rancio tones
Grand
- more oxidative tones with more mature rancio characteristics
Rare
- should taste as though it is at least 20 years old (and will often be much older)

Question 27

What is topaque? (Rutherglen)

Answer 27

Fortified wine made with Muscadelle

• Same categories (classic, grand, etc.) as Muscat
• Typically 30-40 g/L RS less than Muscat

Question 28

Swan Hill GI is found in this Zone.

Answer 28

North West Victoria Zone (Victoria)

Big Rivers Zone (New South Wales)

Question 29

Great Western GI is a subregion of ______ GI.

Answer 29

Grampains GI

Question 30

The Henty GI produces sparkling wines of these grapes.

Answer 30

Mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay