Australia (South Australia & Victoria) Flashcards
When was the first settlers arrived in Australia?
1788
Who brought cuttings of European vines to Australia in 1830s?
James Busby
Which region is phylloxera free?
South Australia
What are the top 6 planted grapes in Australia?
Shiraz
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the general trend of Shiraz’s winemaking styles?
- less intense
- more approachable
- reducing the amount of extraction by using
- whole bunch fermentation and/or reducing the levels of new oak
Where are the 2 leading regions for Cabernet Sauvignon?
Coonawarra and Margaret River
Where are the leading regions for Pinot Noir?
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsula
Tasmania
cool and moderate region
Where are the leading regions of Grenache?
McLaren Vale
Eden Valley
Barossa Valley
(old bush vines)
Where are the leading regions of Riesling?
Clare and Eden Valley
increasingly Great Southern, Canberra and Tasmania
What are the Geographical Indication from large to small?
Zone
Regions
Sub-regions
When did the Label Integrity Program introduced?
1990
What are the requirements for a region?
produce at least 500 tons of grape a year
5 differently owned vineyards each of at least 5 ha
If vintage of grape variety is mentioned on the label, what % of the grapes must confirm?
85%
Who oversees LIP?
the Australia Grape and Wine Authority (Wine Australia), growers, producers and suppliers are required to keep detailed records
What states does South Eastern Australia Zone cover?
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Tasmania
- South-eastern corner of South Australia
- Queensland
What is the climate of South Eastern Australia Zone?
hot and continental
What is the mountain range creates rain shadow effect in South Eastern Australia Zone?
The Great Dividing Range, = rainfall is low
What are the common soil type in South Eastern Australia Zone?
Sandy soil = needs irrigation
What are the main grapes of production in South Eastern Australia Zone?
Shiraz and Chardoonay
What are the biggest producers located in South Eastern Australia?
Casella Family Brands (Yellowtail)
De Bortoli
What are the 3 main producing regions within South Eastern Australia Zone?
Riverland
Murray Darling
Riverina
What % production South Australia account for?
50%
What are the 2 regions within Barossa Zone?
Barossa Valley - the flat valley floor
Eden Valley - the hills to the east
What is the climate of Barossa Valley?
a warm climate with hot, sunny summer days but cooler nights. Rainfall is low during the growing season
What are the elevation of Barossa Valley?
250-370m
What are the soils of Barossa Valley?
ironstone layer in the northern part of the valley
When were the vines planted first in Barossa Valley?
1840s, no phylloxera, the world’s oldest vines of Shiraz and Grenache
What was the organization established in 2009 to record, reserve and promote these old vines in Barossa Valley?
The Barossa Old Vine Charter
Who are the significant producers of Barossa Valley?
John Duval
Glaetzer Wines
What is the elevation of Eden Valley?
600m
What is the most planted variety in Eden Valley?
Riesling
Who are the significant producers in Eden Valley?
Henschke
Pewsey Vale
What are the 2 important regions in Mount Lofty Ranges Zone?
Adelaide Hills
Clare Valley
What is the climate of Adelaide Hills?
cool maritime climate with rainfall
What are the sub-regions of Adelaide Hills?
Piccadilly Valley
Lenswood
What are diseases you find in Adelaide Hills?
fungal diseases and rot
= the higher rainfall, and humidity
How much % white varieties make up the production in Adelaide Hills?
64%
28% Sauvignon Blanc
What is the most planted black grapes of Adelaide Hills?
Pinot Noir
Who are the significant producers of Adelaide Hills?
Shaw + Smith
Penfolds
What is the climate of Clare Valley?
warm but the hot summer temperature are tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights
What are the elevation of Clare Valley?
300-500 m
white grapes are grown at higher altitudes and on more exposed slopes whereas black grapes are grown on lower warmer sites
What are the well-know sub-region in Clare Valley and what are the soil type?
Polish Hills - slate soils
Watervale - fertile soisl
Who are the significant Riesling producers in Clare Valley?
Jim Barry
Wendouree
What is the climate of McLaren Vale?
warm to hot summers, a strong maritime influence, the warm mediterranean
What are the soils of McLaren Vale?
sand to loam to clay
What is the most planted grape of McLaren Vale?
Shiraz
What is the McLaren Vale’s sustainability program?
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Who are the significant producers of McLaren Vale?
Mollydooker
Yangarra
What are the leading regions within Limestone Coast Zone?
Coonawarra
Mount Benson
Padthaway
Wrattonbully
What is the climate of Coonawarra?
a moderate maritime climate, the landscape is so flat that cool afternoon sea breezes can reach this far, 100km inland
What is the threat in Coonawarra?
Spring frost = sprinkler
What is the name of the famous soil in Coonawarra?
Terra rossam red, a free-draining iron-rich loam, over hard limestone base,
What is the most planted grape in Coonawara?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Who are the significant producers of Coonawara?
Wynns
Katnook
When did phylloxera hit in Vitoria?
in the late 1880s, and did not recover till the early 1960s
What are the leading regions in Port Phillip Zone?
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsuala
Geelong
Macedon Ranges
What is the climate of Yarra Valley?
a cool to maderate maritime climate
What are the altitude range of Yarra Valley?
50 - 350 m
What is the annual rainfall in Yarra Valley?
1100 mm, one of the wettest wine regions = fungal diseases
What is the most planted grape in Yarra Valley?
Pinot Noir and chardonnay to follow
Who are the significant producers in Yarra Valley?
Mount May
Yarra Yering
Moet Chandon
Yering Station
What is the body of water separates Tasmania from the mainland?
The Bass Strait
What is the climate of Monrnington Peninsula?
a cool to moderate climate often windy = no frost issue and fungal diseases
What is the soil of Mornington Peninsula?
- red basalt soils,
- retain water = no irrigation,
- fertile soils = need to manage vigor = careful vineyard management (Lyre system)
Identify why drought may cause problems in Australia, even in areas with higher levels of rainfall.
Drought is an issue for Australia, as rainfall is generally very low. With climate change, rainfall patterns have become more unpredictable, with prolonged periods of drought and then floods. Soil type greatly influences water availability to the vine. In higher rainfall areas like Yarra Valley, with over 1100mm per annum, the soils are varied but mostly they are clay loam and free draining results in the need for irrigation.
Which regions experience unusually high humidity levels for Australian wine producing regions? Consider that many regions benefit from being particularly flat, meaning coastal breezes can often reach inland area
Adelaide Hills
Southern Victoria
Hunter Valley
Describe the expected differences between a premium quality Shiraz made in the Barossa Valley and another from the Grampians.
Shiraz from the Barossa Valley will be a deep coloured wine with pronounced primary aromas of black plum, blackberry, black cherry, secondary aromas of vanilla, smoke, cinnamon, cloves, chocolate, charred wood and tertiary aromas of earth and leather. On the palate the wine will be dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) ripe and soft tannins, high alcohol, full body and pronounced flavour intensity. The finish will be long.
The quality will be outstanding and the wine will be suitable for bottle ageing.
A Shiraz from the Grampians will be deep intensity in colour with medium intensity primary aromas of blackberry, red and black cherry, black plum, black pepper spice, secondary aromas of vanilla, smoke, cinnamon and tertiary aromas of leather and earth. On the palate the wine will be dry, with medium acidity, medium, soft tannins, medium alcohol (or high), medium (+) body, medium intensity flavours and a medium (+) finish.
The wine will be very good quality (or outstanding) and will have potential for bottle ageing.
Shiraz is often used in GSM blends in South Africa. What name is often used for Mourvèdre in Australia?
Mataro
Which barrel styles are most suitable for ageing Australian Grenache?
Large oak barrels
Old oak barrels
Explain why malolactic conversion may be used to varying degrees on different styles of Chardonnay across Australia.
Malolactic conversion is the conversion of malic acid to lactic acid which reduces the overall acidity in wine. However, there is a modification of the aromas/flavours in white wine which make a significant difference to the style of the wine. Low aromatic varietals like Chardonnay are suited to these aroma/flavour modifications as they are perceived to add great complexity to the wine.
In Australia, low acidity in grapes at harvest time is not unusual but the aromas associated with malolactic conversion are desired to add greater complexity to the wine. To counter the reduction in acidity, tartaric acid is generally added in the initials stages of production to balance the wine.
In Australia, if multiple varieties contribute to a blend, how must this be conveyed to the consumer on the label?
The different varieties must be listed in descending order of how much they contribute to the blend.
Who are the significant producers of Mornington Peninsula?
- Yabby Lake
- Paringa
- Ten Minutes by Tractor Wine Co.
What are the most planted red and white grapes of Mornington Peninsula?
Pinot Noir (85% of red wine)
Chardonnay
Where was in Australian Phylloxera first discovered? When?
Geelong in mid- 1875
What is the climate of Geelong?
a cool climate with Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait providing moderating influence
Who are the significant producers in Geelong?
- Paradise IV Wines
- Wines By Farr
- Bannockburn
What are the altitude of Macedon Ranges?
300 - 800 m,
(Mount Macedon is over 1000m high)
What are the soils of Macedon Ranges?
Shallow, granitic sandy loams
Who are the significant producers of the Macedon Ranges?
- Bindi Wine Growers
- Curly Flat
What are the leading regions of Western Victoria?
Grampians
Pyrenees
Henty
What are the climate of Grampians and Pyrenees?
a moderate climate moderated by altitude (240-440 m), slopes also reduce the risk of spring frosts
What are the soils of Grampians and Pyrenees?
sandy loamy soils, retain water = no irrigaiton
Who are significant producers in Grampians and Pyrenees?
Grampians: Mount Langi Ghiran
Pyrenees: Dalwhinnie
What is the climate of Henry?
a cool climate, one of the coldest mainland regions, influenced by cold Antarctic wines
What is the altitude of Henty?
460 m
What is the signature variety of Henty?
Riesling
What are the region of North East Victoria?
Rutherglen
King Valley
Beechworth
What is the highest altitude vineyard in King Valley?
860 m
What is the climate of King Valley?
temperatures are very cool and rainfall levels relatively high
What are the soils of King Valley?
well-draining loams with high fertility = vine vigor needs to be managed
What is the most planted grape of King Valley?
Pinot Gris,
Glera/ Prosecco made up almost 1/3
Italian immigrants settled
Who is the significant producers of King Valley?
Pizzini
de Bortoli
What are the regions of Central Victoria Zone?
Goulburn Valley
Bendigo
Upper Goulburn
Heathcote
Strathbogie Ranges
What are the varieties Goulburn Valley is known for?
Viognier
Marsanne
Rousanne
Who is the significant producer of Goulburn Valley?
Tahbilk
What is the subregion GI of Goulburn Valley?
Nagambie Lakes
What is the mountain rage in Heathcote?
the Mount Carmel Range
What are the significant producers of Heathcote?
Jasper Hill
Heathcote Estate