Australia Flashcards
Describe Australia’s wine law
there is a hierarchy of GIs incorporating zones, regions, and sub regions
what is a zone in Australia
a large area without any particular qualifying attributes
what can a zone be in Australia
either states (south Australia) or cover several states (south eastern Australia)
what type of zone is rarely seen on a label in Australia?
ones that make up part of a state - except for Barossa
Give some examples of regions in Australia?
Clare Valley, Coonawarra, and Margaret River
Describe a region in Australia
smaller than zones and can vary in size, they must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighboring regions.
When are regions split into sub regions in Australia
if there are notable areas that have distinct and unique qualities
Although a sub region must fall within one region explain zones ? and give an example
some regions are covered by several zones
Eden valley is a region within Barossa zone which is within the zone of south Australia which is in turn within the zone of South Eastern Australia
what has Australia been successful at
taking international grape varietals and crafting them into unique new styles.
Give examples of some of most famous varietals Australia has crafted new styles for?
lime flavored Rielsings, full bodied Shiraz, elegant Cabernets, and subtle Semillons that evolve for decades
What is Australia’s principle grape of either color
Shiraz - grown in most regions
What type of regions can produce full bodied intensely fruit flavored Shiraz in Australia
hot regions such as Hunter Valley and warm regions such as Barossa Valley
What are the characteristics of a Shiraz from Australia
earthy or spicy notes and develop leather aromas as they age.
Describe the climate of Australia
the land mass is similar to USA and larger than Europe giving a diverse set of climates, but due to latitude the main growing regions have hot or warm climates. most regions have low rainfall and irrigation in the growing season is essential.
Most of regions in Australia are tempered by what?
either the Indian or Southern Oceans or the Murray River system
what regions are cooled by altitude in Australia?
Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills
what is a major problem in Australia
drought - even years where the Murray RIver which supplies irrigation can be low
what else is a problem in Australia caused by hot summers and dry conditions?
bush fires even the smoke of the fires can cause a pungent taint in the wines
where have planting increases in Australia
higher altitudes on the mainland and in Tasmania which is more southerly in latitude
Wine makers are beginning to make more restrained styles of Shriaz in AUstralia - describe them
leaner more peppery - made in cooler regions such as Geelong and Heathcote. these are often combines with blends
What does Shiraz do when blended with Cab Sauv
gives a softness and body - similar to a Merlot in Bordeaux
Describe an Australian Cab Sauv
usually darker with firmer tannins and higher acidity than Shiraz displaying black fruits (black currant, black cherry) often underpinned with toasty oak notes.
what are classic regions in AUstralia for Cab Sauv
Coonawarra and Margaret River Valley.
Where is Merlot typically found in Australia
blended with Cab Sauv to prove plummy fleshy fruit and body
Where are the best PInot Noirs found in Australia
in cooler or moderate regions such as Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania
Describe characteristics of best PInot Noirs in Australia
med bodied, with med alcohol, med-high acidity, and typical flavors of cherry and strawberry.
What varietals is perfect to ripen in Australia’s hot regions
Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Mataro (mourvedre) - Tempranillo and Sangiovese have recently become popular as well due to the hot climate
what is the most planted white grape variety in Australia?
Chardonnay - made in a range of styles
Describe a basic Australian Chardonnay
a blend of fruit from different regions, produced unoaked to give peachy flavors or with the aid of oak chips or staves to add vanilla or hints of toast.
Describe a high end Chardonnay from a cool or moderate climate In regions such as Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley or Margaret River
often beautifully balanced with fresh vibrant fruit complemented by subtle flavors from careful use of lees, MLF and oak Maturation.
What region is the benchmark of Sauvignon Blanc In Austrailia?
Adelaide Hills.
Describe a Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills
concentrated passion fruit with refreshingly high acidity.
What is the classic region for Semillon in Australia
Hunter Valley - although widely planted
Describe characteristics of Semillon wine from Hunter Valley
has distinctive style. harvested early, with low sugar levels and high acidity. contact with oxygen is kept at a minimum and inert vessels are used for fermentation and storage. resulting wines are light in alcohol, and almost neutral in flavors when first bottled, but develop extraordinary flavors with age of honey and toast.
How long can the best Semillon wines from HUnter Valley be aged in the bottle
20 years or more.
Describe a Semillon from Western Australia
more herbaceous style made which can be mistaken for Sauvignon Blanc
Describe a Barossa Valley style Semillon
fuller body softer style traditionally, but early picked unoaked versions now also being produced
Describe Riesling from Australia
style unique to Australia having pronounced citrus aromas (lime, grapefruit, lemon) in youth that quickly develop into toast, honey and petrol as the wine ages. typically unoaked with high acidity and are usually dry or off dry. although some sweet ones are made
what are classic regions for Rieslings in Australia
Eden and CLare Valleys, in South Australia. Tasmania and the Frankland River sub regions are also developing a reputation for reislings that are less citrus and more floral.
Describe the South eastern australian zone
“super zone” in Australia that covers all the GIs within south australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland which allows for blending across of most of AUstralia’s ergions.
Wines labeled with South Eastern Australian zone are what kind of brands
high volume brands which take advantage of sourcing fruit from Riverland, Murray-Darling and Riverina, which have high yields of healthy grapes but lack the flavor concentration from high quality areas
How is wine enhanced that is made in high quantities but low qualities in AUstralia
blending components from regions such as Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLAren Vale.
What does Riverina also speciailze in
Semillon made from botrytised grapes - morning fogs and mists help with development of noble rot
Where is the majority of Austraila’s wine produced
South Australia
where are the vineyards concentrated in South Australia
south east of the state
What is the heartland of wine production in Australia
BArossa Valley which is to the north of Adelaide
What kind of climate is seen in BArossa
warm dry climate that uses bush vines
What varieties are produced in outstanding quality in BArossa
Shiraz, CAbernet Sauvignon, and Grenache
Describe a classic SHiraz from Barossa
full bodied, with soft tannins, ripe black fruit complemented by sweet american oak. as it ages it develops aromas of spice and leather