Australian Wines

Question 1

What is Australia’s principal grape variety?

Answer 1

Shiraz- Barossa or Hunter Valleys produce full bodied, intensely fruity Shiraz with earth, spice and develop leather aromas with age.
Used to give softness and body to Cabernet blends.

Question 2

Describe the style and most popular areas where Cabernet Sauvignon is produced?

Answer 2

Cabernet Sauvignon - generally darker with firmer tannins and higher acidity than Shiraz, with ripe black fruit characters(blackcurrant, black cherry) often with toasty oak notes. Coonawara and Margaret River

Question 3

Describe the style and most popular areas where Pinot Noir is produced?

Answer 3

Pinot Noir - best examples come from Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania. Style is medium-bodied, medium alcohol, medium to high acidity with flavours of cherry and strawberry.

Question 4

Describe the style and most popular areas where Chardonnay is produced?

Answer 4

Chardonnay - most planted white grape variety
Basic style - gives peachy flavours or when oaked gives hints of toast and vanilla.
Cool climate styles from Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula or Yarra Valley and even warmer areas such as Margaret River are often beautifully balanced with fresh, vibrant fruit flavours with subtle flavours from lees, MLF and/or oak maturation.

Question 5

Describe the style and most popular areas where Sauvignon Blanc is produced?

Answer 5

Sauvignon Blanc - widely planted due to growing popularity. Adelaide Hills has developed a reputation as the benchmark for the variety. Style: passion fruit flavours with refreshingly high acidity.

Question 6

Describe the style and most popular areas where Semillon is produced?

Answer 6

Semillon (classic region is Hunter Valley) and is used to make distinct wines in a style unique to Australia.
In Hunter Valley it is harvested early, when sugars are low and acids are high. Minimum oxygen contact and inert vessels are used for fermentation and storage. Style: light in alcohol, neutral in flavour when first bottled, develop flavours of honey and toast with bottle age. The best can age for 20 years.
Western Australian style is more herbaceous which is often mistaken for SB.
Barossa valley used to make a fuller-bodied, softer style but not unoaked versions are being produced.

Question 7

Describe the style and most popular areas where Riesling is produced?

Answer 7

Riesling - made in a unique Australian style with citrus fruit aromas and flavours of lime, lemon and grapefruit when youthful that develop into toast, honey and petrol with age. Wines are unoaked with high acidity and are dry/off-dry.
Some sweet wines are made
Classic Riesling Regions are Eden and Clare Valleys in South Australia,
Tasmania and Frankland River sub-region in Western Australia have styles that are less citrusy and more floral.

Question 8

What defines the South Eastern Australia zone?

Answer 8

It covers all GIs within South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland and allowing grape blending from across most regions.

Question 9

What type of wine is made in Riverina?

Answer 9

Riverina specialises in botrytised wines made from Semillon.

Question 10

Describe the Barossa Valley.

Answer 10

North of Adelaide and is the heartland of fine wine production.
Warm, dry climate
Old bush vines produce outstanding Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.
Classic Barossa Valley Shiraz is full-bodied, soft tannins, ripe black fruit with sweet American oak. With development, aromas of leather and spice become noticeable.
Semillon is made in a fresh, unoaked style.
Wines labelled ‘Barossa’ can come from fruit sourced within the Barossa and Eden Valleys.

Question 11

Name the regions within South Australia.

Answer 11

Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale.

Question 12

Describe the wines and location of the Eden Valley.

Answer 12

Eden Valley - located in the hills east of the Barossa Valley.
Cool to moderate climate that varies with altitude.
Outstanding Rieslings are made in the cooler vineyards with intense lime and grapefruit atomas and a steely character. The best have longevity displaying marmalade and toasty characteristics after 10 years.
Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are also grown here with success.

Question 13

Describe the wines and location of the Clare Valley.

Answer 13

Clare Valley - lies NW of the Barossa Valley
Warm climate that is tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights.
Vineyards are planted at altitudes.
Rieslings are dry in style with intense citrus and lime aromas and high acidity. They can develop honey and toast characters with bottle age.
Clare Valley Shiraz is fragrant, powerful and structured.
Excellent Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced with long cellaring potential.

Question 14

Describe the wines and location of the Adelaide Hills.

Answer 14

Adelaide Hills - located 25 km East of Adelaide
Moderate Climate
All vineyards are planted above 400m
Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter and soils have limited water-holding capacity. Irrigation is necessary.
Sauvignon Blanc is the specialty as well as elegant Chardonnays that have high natural acidity and pronounced citrus and peach aromas. Pinot Noir is grown for still red wines and blended with Chardonnay for sparkling wines.

Question 15

Describe the wines and location of the McLaren Vale.

Answer 15

McLaren Vale - located on the coast, south of Adelaide.
Afternoon breezes from the ocean help moderate the warm climate
Red wine - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Grenache. Style: intensely flavoured with dark fruit aromas and soft, ripe tannins. Old vine Grenache and Shiraz are used to create wines with depth and complexity.

Question 16

Describe the wines and location of the Coonawarra.

Answer 16

Coonawarra - lies 400km SE of Adelaide (1.5km wide and 15km long) near the border with Victoria.
Terra rossa soil over a limestone subsoil.
Moderate maritime climate with influence of cold ocean currents from the Antarctic. Cloud cover moderates summer temperatures.
Cabernet Sauvignon which predominates, is made into concentrated, structured wines with cassis, eucalyptus or menthol aromas. Best examples age well. Shiraz, Merlot and Chardonnay are also planted here.

Question 17

Name the regions of Victoria.

Answer 17

Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Heathcote and Goulburn Valley.

Question 18

Describe how the climate and geography impacts the grape varieties grown in Victoria.

Answer 18

It offers some of the coolest vineyard locations on mainland Australia. Regions near Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay benefit from ocean breezes that make conditions cool enough for high-quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and grapes for sparkling wine. The Great Dividing Range provides a range of altitudes and aspects. High altitude sites such as those from Macedon Ranges and Upper Goulburn make elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay as well as aromatic Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Lower slopes grow later-ripening varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are often fresher and lighter in style than those from hotter regions.

Question 19

Describe the wines and location of the Yarra Valley.

Answer 19

Yarra Valley -locate NE of Melbourne.
Cool to moderate and maritime climate.
Pinot Noir is the specialty as well as producing high quality table wines and sparkling wines.
Pinot Noir style - rich in fruit such as strawberries, plums, dark cherries with ripe, soft tannins and careful oak handling adds complexity.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are made here too but without the same weight from warmer areas.

Question 20

Describe the wines and location of the Mornington Peninsula.

Answer 20

Mornington Peninsula - Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also specialties of this area. Located South of Melbourne
Coastal climate with cool to moderate, maritime climate and home to small boutique estates.
Vintages can vary due to chance cool, wet, windy weather.
Pinot Noir style - range from light and delicate to more structured but displays pure fruit characteristics.
Chardonnays reflect cool growing conditions. Have citrus, pear and apple aromas with high acidities that are softened by MLF.

Question 21

Describe the wines and location of the Geelong

Answer 21

Geelong - lies west of Melbourne and has a similar climatic conditions as the Mornington Peninsula
Chardonnay is renowned for its quality and tends to be complex, concentrated and full-bodied.
Pinot Noir and Shiraz are the main red grapes planted here.
Pinot Noir can take on earthy aromas
Shiraz is fresh and peppery.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are used for sparkling wines.

Question 22

Describe the wines and location of the Heathcote

Answer 22

Heathcote - located in the centre of Victoria.
Cooling influences come from altitude giving a moderate climate
Shiraz - firmer structure and fresher fruit flavours than those of warmer regions.

Question 23

Describe the wines and location of the Goulburn Valley

Answer 23

Goulburn Valley - east of Heathcote is warm. Heat is mitigated slightly by the lake and creeks associated with the Goulburn River.
Shiraz in the most planted variety
Marsanne is the speciality of the area producing wines with citrus fruit in youth and honeyed aromas with bottle age.

Question 24

Which area has the longest history of wine production in Australia?

Answer 24

New South Wales

Question 25

Describe the climate and wines of the Hunter Valley.

Answer 25

Hunter Valley (main region) - hot, humid climate.  High cloud cover and ocean breezes reduce the effect of the heat in the peak of summer.  Suffers from unsettled rainy weather at harvest.  Good canopy management is needed to minimise rot.  
Semillon is the most planted grape variety.  Style: light bodied, low alcohol, high acidity and flavours that are initially neutral but evolve into a complex spectrum of toast, nut and honey with bottle age.  
Chardonnay is produced and made in oaked and unoaked styles.  
Shiraz is the black variety with the largest production.  Style: black fruit flavours (blackberry and black cherry), soft tannins, medium body and earthy undertone.

Question 26

Which region is not part of the SE Australia super-zone?

Answer 26

Western Australia -located on the SW tip of Australia. The fruit can be blended together and labelled as Western Australia. Only wines not part of the SE Australia super-zone.

Question 27

Describe the location and climate of Margaret River.

Answer 27

Margaret River - located 200 km south of Perth
Warm maritime climate with high rainfall.
Cabernet Sauvignon is widely planted and often blended with Merlot to create a Bordeaux style blend. Styles: elegant and restrained to fruity and powerful
Chardonnay - concentrated stone-fruit aromas, high acidity, and a range of styles (MLF, barrel ageing) to add complexity.
Sauvignon Blanc is also planted here and the wine has gooseberry, tropical fruit aromas and high acidity.

Question 28

Describe the wines from the Great Southern Region.

Answer 28

Great Southern Region - known for deeply coloured Cabernet Sauvignon; elegant, peppery Shiraz and floral Riesling.

Question 29

Describe the climate and wines from Tasmania.

Answer 29

Tasmania - cool maritime climate cooled by westerly wines off the Southern Ocean. Principal varieties are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris but Cabernet Sauvignon can ripen in the warmest, driest areas.

Question 30

Describe the three distinct ways that Australia’s GIs are divided.

Answer 30

Zones are large areas without any particular qualifying attributes. They can be states or several states. These zones (except Barossa) are rarely seen on labels.
Regions - can vary in size and are smaller than zones. Must have distinct qualities
Sub-regions- if there are notable areas that have distinct qualities.
Eden Valley is a region in the Barossa Zone.

Question 31

Describe the style of a basic Australian Chardonnay

Answer 31

Basic Australian Chardonnay –

This wine would have primary aromas of peach, nectarine, pineapple and mango; secondary aromas of butter, cream and if oaked, vanilla and coconut. There would be no tertiary aromas. It’d be pale lemon colour, with medium intensity on the nose. It’d also be dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol and medium body. The flavour intensity would also be medium but with a short finish.