Australia and New Zealand Flashcards
When phylloxera hit Australia it was confined to which areas, decimating the wine regions, but allowing __________ to emerge as the continent’s largest region of production?
Phylloxera was confined to Victoria and a portion of New South Wales.
Paved the way for the rise of South Australia
South Australia produces _____% of Australia’s total wine.
50%
Is chapitalization allowed in Australia?
No, but the grapes really don’t need it because they ripen so well.
What organization governs the wine industry in Australia?
Wine Australia
What does Australia’s Label Integrity Program mandate?
Wines labeled:
- varietally must contain 85% of the stated grape
- vintage–must contain a min 85% of the stated year
- regionally must contain a min 85% of the stated region
How does Wine Australia define wine regions?
Geographical Indications (GIs)
What are the 6 states of Australia that produce wine?
New South Wales Victoria South Australia Western Australia Queensland Tasmania
What GI is one of Australia’s most important regions in New South Wales?
Hunter GI
What is Hunter GI known for?
White wines made from Semillon (also known as “Hunter Riesling”)
What other grapes grow in Hunter?
Verdelho, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the climate in Hunter?
Subtropical–one of the warmest climates in Australia
What is the smallest and coolest state on the Australian mainland?
Victoria
What grape grows well in Port Phillip due to the cool maritime climate?
Pinot Noir
The Port Phillip zone is located _____ and includes these 3 regions:
Port Phillip is in Victoria, on the coast.
Yarra Valley
Morington Peninsula
Geelong
Gippsland
What is Victoria’s oldest GI?
Yarra Valley
Coastal Victoria is primarily known for ______ but also produces elegant styles of these grapes.
Primarily Pinot Noir
Also:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Shiraz (but often co-fermented with viognier and then called Syrah)
What GI is the coldest within coastal Victoria and therefore these grapes thrive?
Morington Peninsula in Port Phillip
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
South Australia is divided into ________ zones, but production is concentrated in the __________.
8 zones
Southeast section of the state sees most of the production
What GI produces what is often considered as Australia’s best Cabernet Sauvignon, with a telltale note of eucalyptus?
Coonawarra (located in the Limestone Coast zone in South Australia)
What soil type is famously associated with Coonawarra?
Terra rossa
What are the 8 zones of South Australia?
Limestone Coast Lower Murray Fleurieu Barossa Mount Lofty Ranges Far North Zone The Peninsulas South Eastern Australia
What is Fleurieu’s most famous and warmest GI? What is it known for?
McLaren Vale–predominately red wine focusing on cabernet sauvignon and Rhone varieties.
What grapes are common in McLaren Vale
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Grenache
Mourvedre (known as Mataro)
Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plaines, and Clare Valley are GIs within what zone in what state?
Mount Lofty Ranges zone in South Australia
Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plaines are known for what grape varietals?
Sauvignon blanc
Chardonnay
Pinot noir
(And their sparkling wines)
Clare Valley, located in __________, is recognized for producing ________’s most classic and age-worthy interpretation of Riesling.
Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia is known for producing the best Riesling in Australia.
What zone is known for making premium Shiraz?
Barossa zone
Along with Hunter Valley, _________ GI is celebrated as one of Australia’s top wine regions, producing Shiraz.
Barossa Valley GI
What are the blending requirements for Barossa Valley GI?
No specific requirements, but co-fermenting with Viognier in the style of Cote-Rotie is becoming more and more common.
Where is Margaret River GI?
Western Australia, within the South West Australia zone.
What grapes are grown in Margaret River
Pretty much an even split between red and white production.
Chardonnay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Cabernet Suavignon Bordeaux style reds, in general
Although Western Australia is the country’s largest state, most of the wine production is concentrated within these 2 zones.
South West Australia
Greater Perth
What is the hottest appellation in Australia? Where is it located?
Swan Valley is the hottest, located in Greater Perth in Western Australia
What is Australia’s coolest wine appellation and what grapes are grown?
Tasmania is the coolest.
Chardonnay and Riesling outnumber, but also Pinot Noir and some Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasmania’s cold climate makes it very suitable for what style of wine–perhaps the best efforts in the category?
Sparkling wine
What is the world’s eastern most and southernmost winemaking country?
New Zealand
What are the major wine regions of the North Island?
Northland Auckland Waikato/Bay of Plenty Gisborne Hawkes Bay Wairarapa
What are the major wine regions of the South Island?
Nelson
Marlborough
Canterbury
Central Otago
New Zealand wines must contain a minimum of ______% of a stated varietal or vintage
85%
The majority of wine production on the North Island is concentrated in the central and southern regions of ________.
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Wairarapa
Despite these 2 grape varietals leading the plantings, Hawkes Bay is NZ’s largest producer of red wine–primarily this.
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay lead plantings.
Merlot leads red plantings
What region produces over half of NZ’s wine?
Marlborough on the South Island
Marlborough is synonymous with what?
Sauvignon blanc and screw caps
What is the world’s southernmost wine region and what is produced?
Central Otago (South Island, NZ)
Pinot Noir
