Australia

Question 1

What are the climate threats within Australia?

Answer 1

• bush fires, even when vineyards are not affected by fires directly, smoke can come into contact with grape and cause a pungent taint I’m the wines.
• drought

Question 2

What’s the style of typical Australian Shiraz?

Can it vary?

Answer 2

Hot regions, e.g. Hunter Valley and warm regions, e.g. Barossa Valley can produce full-bodied, intensely fruity Shiraz. The wines also often display earthy or spicy notes and develop leather aromas as they age. Nowadays, winemakers control the level of extraction in the winemaking process.
I’m cooler regions, e.g. Geelong and Heathcote a leaner, more peppery style is made.

Question 3

What Shiraz contributes to Bordeaux-like blends?

Answer 3

Softness and body.

Question 4

Classic Australian regions for Cabernet Sauvignon and typical style?

Answer 4

Coonawara and Margaret River
Here it’s generally darker, with firmer tannins and higher acidity than Shiraz, displaying ripe black fruit character and toasty oak notes.

Question 5

Pinot Noir producing regions in Australia

Typical style?

Answer 5

Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania
From these regions Pinot Noir tends to be medium bodied with medium alcohol, med/high acid, flavours of cherry and strawberry.

Question 6

Australia’s hot regions are perfect for late-ripening variety….?

Answer 6

Grenache

Question 7

Name for Mourvèdre in Australia?

Answer 7

Mataro

Question 8

Australia’s regions for quality Chardonnay?

Answer 8

Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Margaret River

Question 9

Which region in Australia has reputation for Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 9

Adelaide Hills

Question 10

Typical Sémillon from Hunter Valley?

Answer 10

Hunters Valley is a classic region for Sémillon production. Here it’s harvested early, protective methods are used as well as inert vessels. These methods result in light in alcohol 10%-11% alc. and almost neutral in flavour wine when its first bottled. However, with bottle age they develop flavours of honey and toast. Best examples can age up to 20 years.

Question 11

Other than Hunter Valley, what are the other region that produce Sémillon? What are the styles?

Answer 11

In western Australia more herbaceous examples are produced, that resemble Sauvignon Blanc.
Barossa Valley traditionally made Sémillon in a fuller-bodied softer style, however early-picked unoaked versions now also exist.

Question 12

Classic Riesling regions in Australia?

What is the style?

Answer 12

Classic regions: Eden Valley, Clare Valley in South Australia
Tasmania and the Frankland River sub-regions of Western Australia

The wines typically have pronounced citrus flavours in youth that rapidly develop into toast, honey and petrol notes as the wine age. Made in unoaked style, with high levels of acidity, dry/off-dry, some sweet wines are also produced.

Question 13

What region produces botrytised style of Sémillon?

Answer 13

Riverina in New South Wales. Autumn morning mists and fogs in this region favour development of noble rot.

Question 14

Which regions in Australia tend to produce high yields of grapes for high-volume wines?

Answer 14

Riverland (South Australia)
Murray-Darling (Victoria)
Riverina (New South Wales)

Question 15

For what wine production Barossa Valley is noted?

Answer 15

Old bush vines produce outstanding Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.
Sémillon.

Question 16

Describe typical Shiraz coming from Barossa Valley?

Answer 16

Full-bodied, with soft tannins and ripe black fruit complemented by sweet American oak. It softens and develops aromas of leather and spice as it ages.

Question 17

Why is Eden ideal for Riesling production?

What’s the typical style?

Answer 17

Eden Valley has a cool climate that’s regulated by altitude.
Riesling has intense lime and grapefruit aromas and steely character. Best examples can be aged over 10 years, developing aromas of marmalade and toast.

Question 18

What makes Clare Valley ideal for Riesling production?

What’s the typical style?

Answer 18

In Clare Valley the warm climate is moderated by cool afternoon breezes and nights are cold. Altitudes is another factor, as some vineyards as planted as high as 570m. above sea level.
Rieslings here are dry is style with intense citrus and lime aromas and high acidity. With bottle age they can develop honey and toast aromas.

Question 19

What is Adelaide Hills region noted for?

Answer 19

Sauvignon Blanc
Lean Chardonnays
Pinot Noir for still red wines and blending with Chardonnay for Sparkling wine.

Question 20

What is McLaren Vale’s production ?

Answer 20

Mostly red wines made with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache. Some old vine Shiraz and Grenache are used to create wines with depth and complexity.

Question 21

What are the specifications of Coonawarra region?

What is it best at?

Answer 21

Region has distinctive red, terra rossa soil over a limestone subsoil.
Influenced by cold currents from the Antarctic, the climate is moderate maritime. Cloud cover also moderates temperatures.
Cabernet Sauvignon predominates, and is made into concentrated, structured wines with characteristics cassis and eucalyptus or menthol aromas.

Question 22

What’s specialty of Yarra Valley?

What’s the style of the wine?

Answer 22

Due to its cool to moderate maritime climate and a range of aspects and altitude, Pinot Noir is the specialty of the region.
Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley is generally rich in fruit, with strawberries, plums and dark cherries. Ripe and soft tannins, subtle oak aromas. Best examples can age.

Question 23

What wines are produced in Mornington Peninsula?

Answer 23

Pinot Noir (light and delicate to more structured) and Chardonnay citrus, pear, high acid, often MLF)

Question 24

What does Geelong region produce?

Answer 24

Earthy Pinot Noirs and more fresh and peppery Shiraz.

Question 25

What is the specialty of Goulburn Valley?

Answer 25

Marsanne is the specialty, producing wines with citrus fruit in youth and developing honeyed aromas with bottle age.

Question 26

What does Heathcote produce?

Answer 26

Due to region’s cooling influence coming from altitude, it produces a firmer and fresher style of Shiraz than those of warmer regions.

Question 27

Region within New South Wales, Australia?

Climate and grape growing?

Answer 27

Hunter Valley.
Hot, humid climate moderated by cloud cover and ocean breezes.
The challenging factor: rainy weather at harvest
Good canopy management techniques are essential to minimize rot.
Most planted grape: Sémillon
Also, Chardonnay (oak/unoaked)
Shiraz with black fruit, soft tannins, medium body and an earthy undertone.

Question 28

Sémillon in Australia

Answer 28

General descriptors:

• thin skin (susceptible to botrytis)
• easy to grow
• underripe Sémillon is similar to Sauvignon Blanc

Australian Sémillon

• leaner style of Sémillon than what the rest is producing
• neutral when youthful, developing nutty and honey notes as it ages.

Question 29

Region within Western Australia, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (often blended together, barrel-aged/MLF Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Answer 29

Margaret River

Question 30

Region in Western Australia that has recently opened up for wine production and produces deeply coloured Cabernet Sauvignon, elegant, peppery Shiraz and floral Riesling?

Answer 30

The Great Southern Region.

Question 31

Climate and production of Tasmania?

Answer 31

Cool maritime climate, moderated by winds coming from Southern Ocean
Started as prime source of base wine for Australia’s sparkling wine, but has proven to produce excellent still wines.
Principle varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted in the warmest sites.