Ch 39 Flashcards
How does the Benguela Current influence climate and grape growing in South Africa?
The cold Benguela Current flows up from the Antarctic running past the tip and up the west coast of Africa, thus cooling coastal areas.
The strong south-easterly summer winds (known as the Cape Doctor) magnify the effect of the Benguela Current bringing air cooled by the ocean further inland and can reduce temperatures by a couple of degrees in some areas.
What is the other defining feature, other than the Benguela Current that influences wine growing?
The prominent mountain ranges that run throughout the wine regions produces a dramatic range of different altitudes and aspects, as well as a number of different soils. This results in a range of different site climates.
Which is the most widely planted black variety in South Africa and what style wine is produced?
Cabernet Sauvignon is most widely planted and is blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc for Bordeaux-style blends.
Describe the Syrah grown in South Africa.
Syrah is widely planted and in the hot climate produces rich, full-bodied reds often high in alcohol and display ripe, black fruit flavors, sometimes with a meaty, earthy character.
Syrah is also grown in cooler areas and produces less full-bodied peppery examples.
Describe South African grown Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir is less tolerant of the hot climate and is planted in small amounts in the coolest coastal areas.
The vast majority of premium wines are matured in oak, with at least a proportion of new barrels to give toasty aromas.
Describe Pinotage.
Pinotage, a crossing of Pinot Noir X Cinsault, is the only other significant planted black variety. the crossing was developed in South Africa and is hardly grown outside South Africa.
Describe the styles of Pinotage wines made.
Pinotage is sometimes blended with international varieties to make a ‘Cape Blend’.
Pinotage can be made in a light fruity style with red berry flavors and wines from old bush vines may be very full-bodied, with rich, spiced, berry fruit.
When fermented and/or stored with heavily toasted oak staves, it can take on intense coffee or chocolate aromas. Are often marketed to highlight their unique style and are very popular with some consumers.
Margaret River- describe climate?
Western Australia –> ______
- south of Perth
- Coastal warm, Maritime, high rain in winter
Margaret River - what grows here?
CAB SAUV- sometime Bordeaux blend, -produces elegant, retrained to fruity CHARD - displays stone fruit -can be oaked and MLF SAUV BLANC SEMILLON
Great Southern - what sub regions does this include?
Western Australia –> _______
-includes Mont Barker
Frankland River
Great Southern - what grows here?
CAB SAUV- for color
SHRIZ - peppery
RIESLING- Floral
Tasmania- what is the climate
- cool maritime climate
- cooled by westerly winds from the southern ocean
- generally free from extremes
- prime source of sparkling wine
Tasmaia- what is this know for?
- prime source of sparkling wines for Australia
- PN, Chard, Sauv Balnc and P Gris
Heathcote - where is this?
Victoria –> ____
Center of Victoria
-influenced here is from Altitude
Heathcote- what grows here?
SHIRAZ- firmer structure, fresh fruity flavor CHARD CAB SAUV Sangiovesee Temprinillo
Goulburn Valley - where is this and what grows here
Victoria –> ____
east of Heathcote
-heat is mitigated by lakes and creeks associate w/ ______ river
Shiraz and Marsanne
Hunter Valley- where is this and what is climate?
New south Wales –> ____
- hot humid
- high cloud cover and ocean breeze
- suffers rain at harvest
- good canopy mgt essential
What are grapes grown in Hunter Valley?
SEMILLON- lt body, L ABV, H Acid, netural flavor, young
aged- toast, nut, honey
CHARD- oaked and not oaked
SHIRAZ- black fruit, soft tannin, M body, earthy
Western Australia
these are the only wines not part of the Supper Zone
- Margaret River
- Great Southern
Morning Peninsula- where is this, climate, what grows here?
Victoria-->\_\_\_\_ -south of Melborn -moderate maritime climate -cool wet, windy weather at flowering and often at harvest -can vary vintage to vintage PN and CHARD
Geelong- where is this?
Victoria–> ____
- west of Melborn
- moderate maritime climate
Geelong - what grows here
CHARD- high quality, complex, concentrated fruit
PN - earthy
SHIRAZ- fresh, peppery
PN and CHARD - sparkling
Yarra Valley- where is this- what climate
Victoria–> _____
- North of Melborn
- cool maritime
- varied region w/ varied altitude
Yarra Valley - what grows here?
-high quality table wine
-quality sparkling wine
PN- Rich, fruity, strawberry plum, dk cherry
-soft tannin, lt oak
CHARD-
SHIRAZ
CAB SAUV
list regions in Victoria
Yarra Valley Mournington Peninsula Geelong Heathecote Goulburn Valley
Describe Victoria
- some of the coolest vineyards locations
- ocean breeze influences Melborn and Porr Phillip
- PN and CHARD for sparkling
Great Dividing Range
- altitude and aspcts
- Macedon Ranges and upper Goulburn
Coonawarra - where is this and what is the climate?
South Australia –___
- SE of Adelaide
- narrow strip of land
- Distinctive red terra rossa soil over limestone subsoil
- Cold Antartic current influences the maritime climate
- could cover moderate
- summer temp moderate
Coonawarra - what grows here
CAB SAUV- cassis and eucalyptus and menthol
SHIRAZ
MERLOT
CHARD
McLaren Vale- where is this and what climate?
South Australia –> ______
- on coast, south of Adelaide
- afternoon breeze from ocean temper warm climate
McLaren Vale- what grows here
SHIRAZ, CAB, MERLOT, GRENACHE
- know for intense flavors w/ dark fruit aromas
- soft ripe tannin
- old vine Shiraz and Grenache blend = depth and complex
Adelaide Hills -where is this and what climate?
South Australia –> ____
- moderate climate
- winter rain
- soil has limited winter holding capacity
Adelaide Hills - what grows here
Still:
SAUV BLANC, CHARD, PN
Sparkling:
CHAR , PN
Eden Valley- where is this and what climate
South Australia –> ______
- East of Barossa
- cool to moderate climate
- varies w/ altitude
Eden Valley - what grows here
RIESLING- intense lime, grapefruit,
-age = marmalade, toasty
also grown here: SHIRAZ, CHARD, SAUV
Clare Valley- where is this and what is climate
South of Australia –_____
NW of Barossa
-cooling afternoon breeze and cold nights
Clare Valley - what grows here?
RIESLING- dry style, citrus lime
age= develops honey and toast
SHIRAZ- fragrant, powerful, structure
CAB
Shiraz from Barossa valley describe?
- full body
- soft tannin
- ripe black fruit
- sweet AM oak
- AGE= softens, develops leathering and spice
- ____ zone can be made from fruit of ____ valley and Eden Valley
Barossa Valley - where is this and what is climate
South Australia - ____
- heartland of fine wine
- warm dry
- old bush vine
Barossa Valley - what grows here
Cab suav
shiraz
garanache
semillion
List the South Australia sub regions
Barossa Valley Eden Valley Clare Valley Adelaide Hills McLaren Vale Connawarra
South Eastern Australia Zone - what areas does this include, and what quality of wine?
Super zone which includes:
- South Australia
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- Queensland
high volume brands have this label
Australia wine laws: Sub-regions
Notable area w/ distinct unique qualities
-a ____ must fall with in one region
Australia wine law: Region
eg: Coonawarra, Clare Valley, Margarete River
- vary in size
- must have consistent and distinct qualities
- some ___ cover several zones
Australian wine law: Zone
Large area w/o particular qualifying attributes
- be either states: South Australia
- can be several states: SE Australia
- part of a state: Barossa
- rarely seen on labels
What is Australia’s GI system
Zones
Regions
Sub- Regions
Riesling in Australia
-pronounced citrus fruit aroma
-young lime, lemon, grapefruit
aged= toast, honey, petrol
-unoaked
-H acid
-dry to off dry
Where do you find Riesling in Australia?
Eden Clare Valley South Australia Tasmania Frankland River
Semillion in Australia?
-harvest early w/ low sugar and H acid
-oxygen contact minimal
-wines are ligh in alcohol, almost neutral in flavor
-age= honey and toast, bottle age
best 20 years
where do you find Semillion in Australia
- Hunter Valley
- Western Australia-where it was confused with Sauv Blanc
- Barossa- more full bodied
Sauv Blanc in Australia
found in Adelaide Hills
grown for both domestic and exports
-concentrated passion fruit and H acid
Premium Chard in Australia is found where and what characteristics?
Adelaide Hills
mornington Peninsula
Yarra Valley
Margarate River
- Beautiful balance, vibrant fruit
- careful use of lees, MLF, or Oak
Basic Chard in Australia
most planted white grape in Australia
- often blended from fruit of different regions
- unoaked, peach
- if oaked then toasted vanilla
Key white grapes in Australia
Chard
Sauv Blanc
Semillon
Riesling
Pinot Noir in Australia is found where in Australia
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsula
Tasmania
Cab Sauv in Australia
Generally darker w/ firm tannin
H acid (more than Shiraz)
-ripe bk fruit- black current, cherry, toasty oak
PN in Australia has what characteristics?
M to H acid
Body M
Flavor - cherry, strawberry
M alcohol
Cab Sauv in Australia is found where?
Coonawarra
Margaret River
-often blended with Merlot which provides body, fleshy plummy fruit
Shiraz in Australia - hot region where and what characteristic?
Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley
-earthy spicy, full body, intensely fruity
Age= leather
Shiraz in Australia - cool region where and what characteristic?
Geelong and Heathcote
leaner in style, peppery
-softness in body,
-blends w/ Cab
-performs similar role to Merlot in Bordeaux
*where cab struggles to ripen, Merlot fills in the blend’s missing parts
Black grapes grown in Australia
Shiraz Cab Sauv merlot PN Granache
Australia Climate
due to latitude, most growing regions are warm and hot climate
-tempered by Southern and Indian oceans
-cooled by altitude in areas: Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley
Australia grape growing?
many regions - rainfall is low irrigation is essential drought is a problem -Murry River provided water but can be low *Riverland and Murry Darling areas
-fires is a risk- smoke damage
New South Wales
Key main regions: Hunter Valley -inland from Sydney on Western slops of Great Dividing range -altitude -CHARD concentrated SAUV - structured
