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WSET 3 - Geoff > C39 - Australia > Flashcards

C39 - Australia Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe Australia’s general climate and grape growing

A
  • Land mass is similar to that of the US and larger than EU so there is a diverse range of climates
  • General climate is Warm or hot (southerly latitude)
  • Many regions are tempered by the Southern or Indian Ocean or the Murray River system
  • Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley tempered by altitude
  • Very low rainfall, so irrigation is necessary
  • Bush fire threat: Low rainfall + high summer temp => can destroy crop or smoke can taint the flavour of resulting wine
  • Many producers in Australia seek sites with Cool or moderate climates
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2
Q

What are the different regions of Australia

A
  • South Australia
  • Victoria
  • New Souh Whales
  • Tasmania
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3
Q

What are the different regions and climates of South Australia

A
  • Barossa Valley - warm, dry, Shiraz, CS, Grenach
  • Eden Valley - cool to moderate, Riesling
  • Clare Valley - warm tempered by cool afernoon breezes and cold nights (400m alt), Riesling, Shiraz, CS
  • Adelaid Hills - mederate, 400m alt, SB, Chardonnay, PN
  • McLaren Vale - warm tempered by cool ocean breezes, Shiraz, CS, Merlot, Grenache
  • Coonawarra - moderate maritime, CS
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4
Q

What are the different regions and climates of Victoria

A
  • Yarra Valley - maritime, cool to moderate, PN,
  • Mornington Penninsula - maritime, cool to moderate, PN, Chardonnay
  • Geelong - maritime, cool to moderate, PN, Shiraz
  • Heathcote - moderate, contiental, Shiraz
  • Goulburn Valley - Shiraz, Marsanne
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5
Q

What are the different regions and climates of New South Whales?

A

Hunter Valley - hot, humid climate, cloud cover, Semillon

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6
Q

What are the different regions and climates of Western Australia?

A

Margaret River - warm maritime, CS, Merlot

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7
Q

What are the different regions and climates of Tasmania?

A

Tasmania - cool maritime, Sparkling, PN, Chardonnay, SB, P

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8
Q

What are the different regions and climates of New Souh Whales

A

Hunter Valley - hot, humid climate, cloud cover, Semillon

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9
Q

What has been the result of the search for cooler climates in Australia?

A

Plantings have increased in high altitude sites and in Tasmania (it has a more southerly latitude)

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10
Q

What is Australia’s principal grape varietyies?

A

Black

  • Shiraz - most planted grapes - Hunter, Barossa Valley
  • Cabernet Sauvignon - Coonawara, Margaret River
  • Merlot - Coonawara, Margaret River
  • Pinot Noir - Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
  • Grenache
  • Petit Verdot
  • Mourvedre (Mataro)

White

  • Chardonnay - most planted white grape - Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula,
  • Sauvignon Blanc - Adelaide Hills
  • Semillon
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11
Q

…is grown widely in most regions of Australia

A

Shiraz

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12
Q

Describe the Shiraz produced in hot/warm and cooler regions of Australia

A

Warm/hot areas:

  • Full-bodied and intensely fruity
  • Often display earthy or spicy notes and develop leather aromas with age
  • Oher style: Producers are making a more restrained style by controlling the level of extraction in the winemaking process
  • Where is the leaner, more peppery style of Shiraz made in Australia?

Cooler regions

  • Geelong and Heathcote
  • Leaner, more peppery style

Shiraz also performs a similar role to Merlot in Bordeaux, adding softness to Cabernet blends

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13
Q

Describe Australian Cabernet

A

Flavours:

  • Generally dark with firmer tannins and higher acidity than Shiraz
  • Ripe black fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry)
  • Toasty oak notes

Regions:

  • Coonawarra
  • Margaret River
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14
Q

Discuss Merlot in Australia

A
  • Typically found in blended wines
  • Often alongside Cabernet, to provide body and fleshy, plummy fruit
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15
Q

Discuss Pinot Noir in Australia

A

Best examples from cool or moderate sites

  • Yarra Valley
  • Mornington Peninsula
  • Tasmania

Wine:

  • Medium body
  • Medium alcohol
  • Medium to high acidity
  • Typical flavours of cherry and strawberry
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16
Q

Which black grape varieties do best in Australia’s hot regions?

A
  • Grenache
  • Petit Verdot
  • Mataro (Mourvedre)
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17
Q

Besides Grenache, Petit Verdot and Mataro, which other varieties have gained in popularity in Australia’s hot regions? Why?

A
  • Varieties from Italy and Spain such as Sangiovese and Tempranillo
  • They are well adapted to high summer temperatures and a limited water supply
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18
Q

What is the most planted white wine grape in Australia? Discuss

A

Chardonnay

Often a blend of fruit from different regions

Unoaked for peachy flavours

Oak chips/staves for toast/vanilla flavours

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19
Q

What are the cool/moderate and warm sources of high quality Chardonnay in Australia?

A

Cool/moderate

  • Adelaide Hills
  • Mornington Peninsula
  • Yarra Valley

Warm

  • Margaret River
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20
Q

Describe top examples of Chardonnay in Australia

A

Beautifully balanced with fresh, vibrant fruit complemented by subtle flavours from careful use of lees, MLF and/or oak maturation

21
Q

Discuss Sauvignon Blanc for Australia

A

Now being planted widely in Australia, thanks to domestic and export market

Benchmark for SB is Adelaide Hills

  • Tend to show concentrated passion fruit flavours as well as refreshing high acidity
22
Q

Discuss Semillon for Australia

A

Australia makes a style which is unique to Australia

Widly planted but classic region is Hunter Valley

  • Harvested early with low sugar levels and high acidity
  • Oxygen contact is kept to a minimum
  • Inert vessels used for fermentation and storage

Hunter Valley SB:

  • Low alcohol
  • Neutral in flavour when first bottled
  • Develop extraordinary flavours of honey and toast
  • Can age for 20 years or more

Western Australia: Herbaceous style, very similar to Sauvignon Blanc

Barossa Valley: Fuller bodied and softer. Some early-picked and unoaked styles being made

23
Q

Discuss Riesling in Australia

A

Slye:

  • Dry/slightly off-dry (some sweet styles are made)
  • High acidity
  • Unoaked
  • Pronounced citrus fruit aromas and flavours of lime, lemon and/or grapefruit in youth
  • Flavours develop into toast, honey and petrol

Regions:

  • Established: Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia
  • Beginning to develop a reputation - Tasmania and the Franklin River sub-region of Western Australia
  • In western Australia they are more floral than citrusy
24
Q

Discuss South Eatern Australia

A

Largest zone - ‘super-zone’ comprised of all the GIs within South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland

Allow blending of grapes or wines from across most of Australia’s wine regions

Majority are high volume brands and take advantage of being able to source fruit from the fertile, irrigated vineyards.

Can produce high yields of healthy grapes but lack lack the flavour concentration of those from other, high-quality areas.

  • Riverland South Australia
  • Riverina - NSW
  • Murray Darling - Vicotria

Lack of concentration can be addressed by blending in components from regions such as Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale.

25
Q

What else does Riverina specialise in?

A
  • The production of botrytised wines made from Semillon
  • Noble rot encouraged by autumn morning mists and fogs
26
Q

In which zone is the majority of Australia’s wine produced?

A

South Australia

Vineyards are mostly concentrated in the south east of the state

Some of Australia’s most prestigious and expensive wines take advantage of the opportunities provided by the GI to label their wines SA to be able to blend their wines

27
Q

Discuss Barossa Valley

A
  • North east of Adelaide - considered the heartland of the country’s fine wine production
  • Warm and dry climate
  • Bush vines
  • Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache
  • Shiraz
    • Full-bodied and soft tannins
    • Ripe black fruit
    • Sweet American oak, develops leather and spice with age
  • Semillon - most planted white variety, increasingly made in a fresh, unoaked style
28
Q

Describe wines labelled Barossa

A

Come from Barossa zone and can be made from fruit sourced from Barossa Valley and Eden Valley

29
Q

Discuss Eden Valley

A
  • Located in the hills to the east of the Barossa Valley
  • Cool to moderate climate that varies with altitude
  • Knowns for Outstanding quality Rieslings
    • Intense lime and grapefruit aromas
    • Steely character
    • The best display marmalade and toasty characters after ten years
  • Also grown: Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
30
Q

Discuss Clare Valley

A
  • Located to the north west of Barossa Valley
  • Warm climate tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights
  • Many vineyards are planted at altitude (300 - 400m) - some as high as 570m
  • Speciality: Riesling - Dry in style Intense citrus and lime aromas High acidity With age, they can develop honey and toast characters
  • Also know for quality Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
31
Q

Discuss Adelaide Hills region

A
  • Located twenty-five kilometres east of Adelaide
  • Moderate climate with rainfall happening mainly in winter
  • Vineyards are planted above 400m
  • Soils have limited water holding capacity => irrigation is often necessary
  • Speciality: Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
  • 3rd grape variety: Pinot Noir, used for still red and for blending with Chardonnay for sparkling wine
32
Q

Discuss McLaren Vale

A
  • Lcoated on the coast to the south of Adelaide
  • Warm climate tempered by afternoon ocean breezes
  • Majority of wine produced are Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Grenache
  • Intensely flavoured dark fruit aromas, soft, ripe tannins
  • Old vine Shiraz and Grenache make deep and complex wines
33
Q

Discuss Coonawarra

A
  • South of Riverland, within the Limestone Coast, 400km south-east of Adelaide
  • Narrow strip of land 1.5 km x 15 km long
  • Distinctive red terra rossa soil over a limestone subsoil
  • Moderate maritime climate
    • ​influenced by cold currents from the Antarctic
    • summer temperatures moderated by cloud cover
  • Main variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
    • ​Concentrated, structured wines, best can age very well
    • Characteristic blackcurrant and eucalyptus or menthol aromas
  • Also grown: Shiraz, Merlot and Chardonnay
34
Q

Discuss the Victoria zone

A

The far southern tip of Australia

It offers some of the coolest vineyard locations on mainland Australia

35
Q

Describe the wine regions around Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay and their grapes

A

Benefit from ocean breezes, giving conditions cool enough to grow high quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and grapes for sparkling wine

36
Q

Name two high altitude areas around Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, what do they produce?

A

Macedon Ranges and Upper Goulburn

Produce:

  • Grow later-ripening black varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Fresher and lighter than those from Australia’s hotter regions
37
Q

Discuss The Yarra Valley

A
  • Directly to the north-east of Melbourne
  • Cool to moderate Maritime
  • Very varied terroir with a wide range of altitudes and aspects
  • Speciality: Pinot Noir
    • Ripe, soft tannins
    • Rich fruit with strawberries, plums and dark cherries
    • Complexity added by careful oak handling
    • Age-worthy when made by top producers
  • Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon (not with same weight compared to regions)
  • Production of high quality table wines and excellent quality sparkling wines
38
Q

Discuss Mornington Peninsula

A
  • Located to the south of Melbourne, on the coast
  • Cool to moderate maritime climate
  • Specility: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir: ranges from light and delicate to more structured - all display very pure fruit characteristics
  • Chardonnay: High acidity ,usually softened by MLF, citrus, pear and apple aromas
  • Vintage varies a lot, due to the chance of cool, wet and windy weather at flowering and often at harvest
39
Q

Discuss Geelong region

A
  • West of Melbourne
  • Climate similar to Mornington Peninsula (Cool to moderate maritime)
  • Renowned for its quality
  • Chardonnay: Complex, concentrated and full bodied
  • Red: Pinot Noir (Can take on earthy aromas) and Shiraz (Fresh and peppery)
  • Sparkling (PN + Chardonnay)
40
Q

Discuss Heathcote

A
  • Located in the centre of Victoria, much further inland than the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong
  • Moderate climate - cooled by altitude rather than the ocean
  • Specility - Shiraz - Firmer fruit structure and fresher fruit than those of other regions
  • Other: Chardonnay and Cabernet - Mediterranean varieties are showing promise e.g. Sangiovese and Tempranillo
41
Q

Discuss Goulburn Valley

A
  • To the east of Heathcote in the Goulburn Valley Region
  • Warm climate - temperature moderated by the lakes and creeks associated with the Goulburn River
  • Most planted: Shiraz
  • Speciality: Marsanne
42
Q

Discuss New South Wales

A

The longest history of wine production in Australia

Main region: Hunter Valley (hot)

Cooler regions -Mudgee, Orange and Cowra

  • At altitude and are capable of producing some very concentrated Chardonnays and structured Cabernet Sauvignons
43
Q

Discuss Hunter Valley

A
  • Hot and humid climate
  • Effect of summer heat reduced by high cloud cover and ocean breezes
  • Hazard: Unsettled rainy weather at harvest
  • Rot minimized with good canopy management techniques
  • Most planted: Semillon
    • ​Light bodied, low alcohol
    • High acidity
    • Neutral flavours that develop into toast, nut and honey with bottle age
  • 2nd most planted: Chardonnay - Both oaked and unoaked
  • Red: Shiraz
44
Q

What is the black variety with the largest production in Hunter Valley?

A

Shiraz

45
Q

Discuss Western Australia

A

Wine regions located in the south-west tip of the state

Largest appelation: Western Australia

  • The fruit or wine from its regions can be blended together
46
Q

Discuss Margaret River

A
  • Located in Western Australia 200km south of Perth
  • Warm maritime climate High rainfall (but falls mainly in winter)
  • Most widely planted red grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, often blended with Merlot
  • Chardonnay:
    • Concentrated stone fruit
    • High levels of natural acidity
    • A range of styles using MLF and barrel ageing
  • Other whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
    • SB often blended with Semillon
    • Attractive gooseberry and tropical fruit aromas with high acidity
  • Great Southern region - new wine area (Mount Barker, Frankland River Deeply)
47
Q

Discuss Tasmania

A
  • Cool maritime - cooled by westerly winds off the Southern Ocean Generally free from extremes
  • Original reputation - prime source of base wine for Australian sparkling wine
  • Main varieties now: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris and some Cabernet Sauvignon (in the warmest, driest areas)
48
Q

What is the hierarchy of GIs in Australia?

A

Zones, regions and sub-regions

Zone:

  • A large area without any particularly qualifying attributes
  • Can be a state or cover several states
  • Zones can also make up part of a state in Australia, but with the exception of Barossa, these are rare

Regions:

  • Vary in size, but are smaller than zones
  • Must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighbouring regions
  • Ex: Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margaret River etc.

Sub-Regions:

  • Main only be part of one region

Some regions are covered by several zones

Eden Valley is in Barossa Zone, which is within South Australia Zone, which is in South Eastern Australia Zone

WSET 3 - Geoff (45 decks)

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