Australian Sparkling

Question 1

Summarise what Australian Sparkling offers the World

What unique contribution?

Answer 1

Produces a diverse range of Sparklers from Carbonated Muscat > Cool Clmate PN + Chard based Trad Meth to match Champagne.
Also Extensive prodn Transfer and Tank.
With a range of Varietals, Var locations + using all Prodn Meths make wines to meet all Styles, Tastes + Price points
Gave Sparkling Shiraz to the world

Question 2

V Quick History

Answer 2

Until 1950s Most Sparkle Trad Meth Hi price Lo sales

1956 Orlando Winery, Barossa Valley made Aus 1st Tank Sparkle. Method still pop esp for Aromatics

Question 3

Prodn Qty

xx Largest Producer / xx Exporter

Answer 3

90m bottles Sparkle
70m Expt - No.1 NZ + UK, US, Jpn
20m Domestic
7th Largest Producer
5th Largest Exporter

Question 4

Producers

• Volume
• Quality

Answer 4

Volume Pernod Ricard - Jacob’s Creek
Treasury Wine Est - Seppelt
Yalumba - Angas Brut

Quality - LVHM Australia - Domaine Chandon (Green Point) Yarra valley. Won Best Oz Sparkle Chandon Prestige Cuvee 2005
Accolade Wines - House of Arras, Tasmania V.Respect
Yalumba - Jansz (orig Roederer) - Tas 1st Sparkle

Question 5

Tasmania
Location, Climate, Soils, Grapes, V’yard locations
Prodn Qty

Answer 5

150 miles South of Aus Mainland
Mod Maritime climate + Cooling Westerly winds
Just 2k ha
Climate liked to Champs. No Chalk but free Draining
Elegant PN + Hi Acid Chardy - 2 grapes = 70% tot Plantings
Best - Pipers River in North
Huan Valley + Upper Derwent Nr Hobart in SE

Tot 4.7m bott Sparkle = 1/3 Tas wine prodn
Jansz- TAs 1st Sparkle + House of Arras here

Question 6

Mainland Aus - Quality Rgns

Vineyard Locations, Climate, Soils, Grapes,

Answer 6

Yarra Valley - One of Aus coolest rgns- Cooled by Alt to 350m
PN + Chardy Hi Rep.
Domaine Chandon based here

Adelaide Hills - Cooled alt to 550m - Chard + PN are most planted grapes

All good, slow ripen Hi Acid, Lo Sugar

Question 7

Mainland Aus - Volume Rgns

Vineyard Locations, Climate, Grapes,

Answer 7

Hot, Irrigated areas: Riverland, Riverina, Murray-Darling
Usually pick early + Oft acidity
Shiraz also grown here for Sparkle

Question 8

Sparkling Shiraz - Quality Rgns
Vineyard Locations
What is desired for in the Grapes

Answer 8

Quality
Warm areas: Barossa Valley, McClaren Vale, Coonawara, Clare Valley
Grapes have Ripe fruit, Soft Tannins + not overly Phenolic

Question 9

@ The Winery - Not Spkl Shiraz
Premium
Bulk

Answer 9

Prem Spkl - Best Trad Meth + Ex Lees
Transfer also used for Large vol wineries - still = Hi Quality
Most made in Brut Style

Bulk - Must oft Acidify - oft Tank ferm = Fresh + Fruity
Carbonate - Aromatic Vars

Question 10

@ Winery - Sparkling Shiraz
Quality
Bulk
Key producers by type

Answer 10

Lighter styles and Bulk - Tank or Carbonate
Jacob’s Creek, McGuigan Black Label Off Dry + Fruity
Bleasedale Langhorne Creek S. Australia £13
Rockford Black Shiraz Barossa / Seppelt Show Sparkling £50

Question 11

Sparkling Shiraz -Quick History

Answer 11

1881 - 1st - Victorian Sparkling Wine Co, Victoria - More of a Rosé
Called ‘Sparkling Burgundy’
1893 - 1st -With deep colour we know today

Mid 1990s Winemakers adopted name Sparkling Shiraz as Champagne got increasingly litigious