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WSET Diploma 3 Wines of the World > Australia > Flashcards

Australia Flashcards

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1
Q

When did vines arrive in Australia?

A

1788 with the first settlers

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2
Q

When and where did wine first spread commercially in Australia?

A
  • 1st half of 19th C
  • in all the states that produce significantly today: New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia
  • developed largely from European vine cuttings brought to Australia by Scot James Busby in early 1830s (and then European immigrants)
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3
Q

Phylloxera in Australia

A
  • Australia started exporting wine in 1850s, but phylloxera in Europe gave huge boost, esp exports to UK
  • when phylloxera eventually arrived in Australia (late 1800s in Victoria) strict quarantine kept most areas free (notably S Aus)
  • therefore Australia has some of oldest Shiraz, Cab-Sav and Grenache still grwoing on own roots
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4
Q

As Europe’s vineyards recovered from phylloxera, what wines did Australia make for domestic market?

A
  • fortified wine from Muscat Gordo Blanco (Muscat of Alexandria), Shiraz and Grenache
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5
Q

When did dry, non-fortified wine take off in Australia?

A
  • Demand after WW2 from waves of European immigrants & Aussie tourists returning from Europe
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6
Q

Australian wine in the 1950s

A
  • beginning of companies that dominate today
    • Orlando (now Jacob’s Creek)
    • Lindeman’s
    • Hardys
    • Pendfolds
  • Modernisation, stainless steel tanks, temperature control
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7
Q

When did Australia start planting/ re-planting in cooler regions?

A

1970s (and the dawn of the boutique winery movement)

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8
Q

When and how did Australia become the world’s fifth biggest exporter of wine?

A
  • by early 2000s
  • in late 80s turned to exports
  • Wine Australia (generic body) developed completely new (modern advertising) approach to marketing wine
  • labelled by variety with taste descriptors for consumers
  • wines were accessible - ripe fruits, vanilla, coconut
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9
Q

Australian vineyard area in 1990, 2007 and 2018

A
  • 1990: 59,000 ha
  • 2007: 170,000 ha
  • 2018: 146,000 ha
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10
Q

Why have Australian vine plantings decreased by 15% since 2007?

A
  • huge over-supply, as other non-European countries followed Australia’s model, increasing competition
  • 2008 financial crisis strengthened Aussie dollar, making their wines much more expensive than Chile/ Argentina
  • large Aussie producers forced down price of grapes to keep retail prices, competitive, droughts made (essential) irrigation expensive, forcing many growers out of business
  • BUT now focus on smaller prodcution, higher priced wines, so Australia still strong on export market
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11
Q

Rainfall in Australia’s wine-producing areas

A
  • low - drought is a constant threat, esp in recent years (even rivers of Murray-Darling basin, vital to vineyards in the interior, have run low)
  • the Great Dividing Range protects many S-E Aus vineyards from tropical weather from NE Pacific
    • Riverland in rainshadow 135mm in growing season
    • Hunter Valley (only area to East of mountains) 500mm and has hot and humid climate
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12
Q

Latitude of vineyards in Australia

A
  • 6th largest country, mainly desert/rainforest: too hot
  • vineyards in S-E (South Aus, Victoria, NSW) and west (Western Aus) between 30o and 37oS (eg N Africa/ S Europe in N Hemisphere)
  • therefore intense sunlight
  • inland, vast Murray-Darling Basin hot, continental
  • most others have cooling influences, esp coast
  • Tasmania is 41-42oS (like Porto and central Italy)
  • a few vineyards in Queensland to the north
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13
Q

How many levels of zones exist in Australia’s system of Geographical Indications (GIs) and what are they?

A
  • 3 (though strictly 4)
    • Zones are the largest areas (eg states; S Eastern A covers several), some eg S Aus subdivided into further zones eg Barossa, Mount Lofty Ranges & Fleurieu, and these 3 also make up Adelaide ‘super zone’. Only Barossa regularly used on label.
    • Regions (65 as of 2017) eg Coonawarra, Margaret River. Size varies - need consistent/distinct qualities
    • Sub-Regions (14 to date) of particular climate topography/soil eg Polkolbin in Hunter Valley
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14
Q

If grapes are grown in the Eden Valley Region, what are the GI labelling options?

A
  • Eden Valley
  • Barossa (a sub zone)
  • Adelaide (a super sub zone)
  • South Australia (a zone)
  • South Eastern Australia (the biggest zone)
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15
Q

When did Australia develop its system of GIs?

A

in the 1990s, but still developing

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16
Q

What rules are there around Australia’s GI zones?

A
  • none
  • none even regarding boundaries, shared geographic or climatic characteristics
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17
Q

what rules are there around Australia’s (65) wine regions?

A
  • must have consistent and distinct qualities
  • rule of 5 : must produce
    • at least 500 tonnes grapes pa
    • across at least 5 differently owned vineyards
    • of at least 5 ha each
18
Q

What is unusual about Tasmania’s GI status

A

It’s a region, not a zone

19
Q

Aims and rules governing Australian wine labelling

A
  • governed by LIP (Label Integrity Programme)
    • aim ensure labels reflect truthfully bottle contents
  • if GI, vintage or grape variety mentioned 85% of the grapes must conform
  • if multiple varieties, list in descending order of size
20
Q

How are Australian wine laws upheld?

A
  • growers, producers & suppliers must keep detailed records
  • regularly audited by Australia Grape & Wine Authority (trading as Wine Australia) which oversees LIP
  • there are no GI-based rules regarding grape growing and wine-making
21
Q

How many wineries were there in Australia in 2018 and is this more or less than ten years ago?

A
  • 2250 (many small vineyards use contract winemaker)
  • 2500 + 10 years ago, because smaller wineries have stopped production to become grape growers
    • often contracted to sell grapes to larger companies
  • but small producers still the norm
    • _​_80% crushed 250 tonnes or less in 2018
    • 12 producers crushed over 20,000 tonnes
22
Q

Which 5 companies dominate Australian wine production and how much do they produce?

A
  • 87% of all exports
  • Accolade Wines (owned by Carlyle US )
    • Hardy’s, Kumala (S Africa), Echo Falls
  • Casella Family Brands (Yellowtail), Peter Lehmann
  • Treasury Wine Estates (ex Foster’s brewery)

Penfolds, Beringer, Lindeman’s, 19 Crimes, Blossom Hill, Wolf Blass

  • Pernod Ricard (French) Jacob’s Creek, Campo Viejo
  • Australian Vintage McGuigan
23
Q

Who are Wine Australia?

A
  • Australian government authority: funds and coordinates R&D valuable to wine industry, income partly from levy on grape growers
  • controls export of wine from Australia
  • promotes Australian wine through marketing/ education domestic and abroad
  • key aims are to increase demand for, competitiveness of and quality image of Australian wine
24
Q

Top 5 export markets for Australia by volume

A
  1. UK
  2. China
  3. USA
  4. Canada
  5. Germany
25
Q

Australia’s top 5 export markets by value

A
  1. China
  2. USA
  3. UK
  4. Canada
  5. New Zealand
26
Q

Key facts and figures about Australia’s wine export business

A
  • from zero in 80s to 5th largest in world
  • 2/3 total production (last 5 years ranged from 7-8.6mh/L)
  • China biggest in value
    • free-trade agreement direct to China not via HK
    • despite volume decrease ‘18 to ‘19, value up 20%
  • UK biggest volume and still increasing
27
Q

Domestic wine sales in Australia

A
  • 1/3 of total production, risen v slowly this century
  • cellar doors v important (esp smaller wineries)
    • 50% in South Australia (where most large wineries)
    • 70-80% Vic, NSW, W Aus, Tasman (smaller wineries)
    • better margins & immediate payment
  • wine tourism big near cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide) but also Margaret River
  • producer websites important sales
  • less common grapes now popular, but tricky to export as i) expensive (small production) ii) made in other countries
28
Q

Topography of Eden Valley

A
  • Series of rolling hills rather than a valley
  • part of Mount Lofty Ranges, gradient can limit mechanisation
  • vineyards up to 600m (cooler)
29
Q

Why is dry farming more common in Eden Valley than neighbouring Barossa Valley?

A
  • higher, exposed vineyards (up to 600m) get 230mm rain in growing season
  • cooler with altitude (though some strong winds)
  • soils varied, but most good water-retention
  • also old vine plantings of Riesling and Shiraz (and Grenache) with deep roots
30
Q

Climate of Barossa Valley

A
  • 60km inland from Adelaide, on a plain protected on west by low hills, on east by Eden Valley on south by Adelaide Hills
  • Warm climate. Hot, sunny days, cooler nights
  • Low rainfall (160mm in growing season), so irrigation usually necessary, but disease pressure low
  • most vineyards 270-350m
  • ideal for ripe, full-bodied reds
  • valley sides cooler, making fresher style (some producers blend valley and valley side grapes)
31
Q

vines in Barossa Valley

A
  • first planted in 1840s, no phylloxera, so some of world’s oldest, notably Shiraz and Grenache
32
Q

One slide on South Eastern Australian zone

A
  • “super zone” covering all GIs in South Australia, Victoria, NSW & Queensland & Tasmania so allows blends of grapes or wines from most of Australia’s wine areas.
  • tend to be high volume brands sourcing from fertile, irrigated Riverland in South Aus, Murray-Darling in Victoria and Riverina in NSW
  • blending in components from quality Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale may enhance these wines (depends on style, price point etc)
  • Riverina also make botrytised Semillon
33
Q

One slide on the Murray-Darling Basin

A
  • 1m km2 Murray and Darling Rivers and tributaries
  • hot, continental climate, some moderation from rivers
  • ideal for consistent high, healthy yields Shiraz & Chardonnay (& Semillon in Riverina)
  • med body, high alcohol, low acidity, ripe fruit flavours (may blend from other regions for balance/complexity)
  • 3 regions
    • Riverland (along Murray R in S Australia)
    • Murray-Darling along both rivers (In Vict & NSW)
    • Riverina on Murrumbidgee River (off Murray River)
  • Australia’s biggest producers based here
34
Q

Why have some growers gone out of business in Riverland?

A
  • Riverlands is in rain shadow of the Great Dividing Range
  • rainfall 135mm, sandy soils, so irrigation essential
  • recent droughts mean rivers low, water prices rise, grape prices already low
35
Q

What style of wines are made in the Big Rivers Zone and how are they sometimes improved?

A
  • Big Rivers Zone is Murray-Darling and Riverina in South Eastern Australia Zone
  • hot, contin climate ideal high yield, ripe, healthy grapes
  • med body, high alcohol, lowish acidity, ripe fruit flavours
  • may blend from other regions for balance/complexity
36
Q

Name the regions where these producers are based

  1. Casella Family Brands
  2. De Bertoli
  3. Australian Vintage
  4. Lindeman’s (p/o Treasury Wine Estates)
A
  1. Casella Family Brands (Yellowtail) are in Riverina
  2. De Bertoli are in Riverina
  3. Australian Vintage are in Riverland
  4. Lindeman’s (p/o Treasury Wine Estates) in Murray Darling
37
Q

Riverina grows mainly high volume Shiraz and Chardonnay. What better quality wine is it kown for and why?

A
  • Excellent, lusciously sweet, botrytised Semillon from Griffith area in Riverina
  • Dry, hot summers, but autumn rain brings humidity and morning mists and warm, sunny aftrenoons ideal for noble rot. Tend to be labelled with prodcuers name, not South Eastern Australia (eg De Bertoli’s Noble One)
38
Q

Are there any high quality wines made in the Murray-Darling Basin?

A
  • Yes
    • botrytised Semillon in Griffith area Riverina
    • some low yielding Shiraz and Chardonnay
    • varieties better suited to heat eg Petit Verdot, Nero d’Avola, Montepulciano (also Viognier, Vermentino)
39
Q

one slide overview of South Australia

A
  • 50% of national crush, covers whole state
  • mainly too hot, so concentration in SE near coast
  • but varied climate, topography, soil from fresh whites like Clare Valley Riesling, Adelaide Hills Sauvignon to full bodied Barossa Valley Shiraz
  • best known zones are Barossa, Mount Lofty Ranges (incl Clare Valley & Adelaide Hills), Fleurieu (incl McLaren Vale), Limestone Coast (incl Coonawarra)
  • wines often blended across zone eg Penfolds Grange labelled South Australia
40
Q

flavour profile of unoaked Hunter Valley Semillon

A
  • when young:
    • dry, light-bodied,
    • high acidity, low in alcohol (10-11.5%)
    • medium(-) delicate citrus (llemon, lime, grapefruit)
  • can age for decades in bottle (best often not released for 5 years)
    • complex hay, toast and honey, lanolin, wet wool

WSET Diploma 3 Wines of the World (39 decks)

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