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WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World > D3 - Australia 2: Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania > Flashcards

D3 - Australia 2: Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania Flashcards

Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

1
Q

Select the correct answer.

Vineyards in Victoria’s Port Phillip Zone are some of the mainland’s:

a. Coolest
b. Warmest

A

a. Coolest

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2
Q

The hottest vineyards in Victoria are found in this smaller zone within Victoria.

Where is it, and what region is included in this smaller zone?

A
  • North West Victoria Zone;
  • Runs along the southern border of New South Wales;
  • Includes the Murray-Darling region.
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3
Q

What area does the Port Phillip Zone cover?

A

The area around Melbourne and the coast of Port Phillip Bay.

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4
Q

What are the cooling influences in Port Phillip Zone?

A
  • Proximity to the water;
  • Elevation.
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5
Q

Which four GIs within the Port Phillip Zone do you need to know for the exam?

A
  1. Yarra Valley;
  2. Mornington Peninsula;
  3. Geelong;
  4. Macedon Ranges.
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6
Q

Yarra Valley

  1. What is its climate?
  2. What is it split into?
A
  1. Cool to moderate climate;
  2. Split into Upper Yarra Valley and Lower Yarra Valley.
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7
Q

How do the Upper and Lower Yarra Valleys differ (temperature, location, elevation, and soils)?

A

Upper Yarra Valley

  • Cooler, higher altitude sites in the southeast;
  • Deeper, more fertile volcanic soils which can be dry-farmed;

Lower Yarra Valley

  • Warmer, lower altitude sites in the northwest;
  • Well draining loamy clay soil low in fertility (irrigation often necessary).
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8
Q

The Yarra Valley is an actual valley. What do its hills provide?

A

Variety of subtly different microclimates.

In cold years, frost can be a hazard for valley floor vineyards due to cold air sinking from the hills above.

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9
Q
  • How much rainfall does Yarra Valley get during the growing season?
  • What effects does this have on vineyards?
A
  • 450-550mm during growing season;
  • Humidity, so fungal disease is a risk.
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10
Q

Explain the different styles of Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley and how winemaking affects those styles.

A
  1. Lighter Pinot Noirs come from the higher, cooler vineyards; whole bunch fermentation is increasingly used to enhance perfumed fruity aromas (strawberry, red cherry and plum);
  2. Medium bodied Pinot Noirs come from warmer sites and show riper fruit character; a mixture of new and used oak vessels used for maturation, with producers increasingly favoring larger barrels (500 L), and occasionally foudres, over barriques.
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11
Q

Name two important Yarra Valley producers.

A
  1. Mount Mary;
  2. Yarra Yering.
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12
Q

Mornington Peninsula

  1. What two bodies of water surround it?
  2. What is the climate?
A
  1. Port Phillip Bay + Bass Strait;
  2. Cool to moderate climate.
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13
Q

What are the two climate influencers of Mornington Peninsula and how does each affect viticulture?

A
  1. Bodies of water have moderating effect which extends the growing season;
  2. Windy conditions have a cooling effect which keep afternoon temperatures low, mitigate frost, and reduce disease pressure (the wind can inhibit flowering, though).
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14
Q
  • How much rain does Mornington Peninsula see and when does it fall?
  • Does it ever inhibit or threaten anything?
A
  • 320 - 390mm, falls mainly in winter and spring;
  • Can inhibit flowering and threaten harvest.
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15
Q

What is the topography of Mornington Peninsula?

A

Mostly flat with a ridge down the center of it called Red Hill, with elevations up to 250m.

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16
Q

What is the significance of Red Hill in Mornington Peninsula?

A
  • Ridges provide variety of microclimates;
  • Fertile red basalt soils that retain water well (no irrigation necessary, vines are vigorous so careful canopy management is necessary).
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17
Q

What are the soils like away from Red Hill?

A

Free-draining clay and sand (irrigation often necessary).

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18
Q

As Mornington Peninsula is a cool to moderate climate, what winemaking techniques might winemakers use to enhance their Pinot Noirs?

A
  • Cold soaking to extract more color;
  • Whole bunch fermentation or stem inclusion to add complexity and tannins;
  • Use of French oak to add oak-related flavors.
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19
Q

As Mornington Peninsula is a cool to moderate climate, what winemaking techniques might winemakers use to enhance their Chardonnays?

A
  • Lees aging + oak aging to add complexity;
  • Malo to make a more rounded, creamy style and add flavor complexity.
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20
Q

Name two important Mornington Peninsula producers.

A
  1. Yabby Lake;
  2. Paringa.
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21
Q

Geelong

  1. What is its climate?
  2. Rainfall is higher or lower than Yarra Valley?
  3. What reduces its humidity and disease pressure?
A
  1. Cool climate;
  2. Rainfall lower than Yarra Valley (500-600mm);
  3. Winds from the southwest.
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22
Q

Which grapes are planted where in Geelong?

A
  1. Pinot Noir + Chardonnay planted in cool sites;
  2. Shiraz + Cabernet Sauvignon planted in warmer sites.
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23
Q

Name two significant producers from Geelong.

A
  • Paradise IV Wines;
  • Wines By Farr.
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24
Q

Macedon Ranges

  1. What is its elevation?
  2. What is its climate?
  3. What are its soils?
A
  1. 300-800m;
  2. Cool climate (one of the coolest on the mainland);
  3. Shallow, granitic sandy loams on hillsides (naturally reduces yields); deep loams on the lower slopes.
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25
Q

What are the three significant regions in the Western Victoria Zone?
What are their climates?

A
  1. Grampians (moderate climate);
  2. Pyrenees (warm moderate climate);
  3. Henty (cool climate).
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26
Q

What are the elevations (and the differences) between Grampians and Pyrenees?

A
  • Grampians – 240-440m, large diurnal range (helps with acidity retention), slopes reduce frost risk;
  • Pyrenees – lower than Grampians with more gentle slopes, warmer.
27
Q

What are the soil types found in Grampians and Pyrenees?

Hint: they’re the same soils.

A

Sandy, loamy soils

  • Retain water so many vineyards don’t need irrigation;
  • Some soils are acidic which can reduce vigor + yields unless treated with lime.
28
Q

Which grape variety are Grampians and Pyrenees best known for?

A

Shiraz

  • Fresher, redder fruits from elevation areas;
  • Intense, concentrated black fruits from lower, warmer areas.
29
Q

Name one significant producer from Grampians and one from Pyrenees.

A
  • Mount Langi Ghiran (Grampians);
  • Dalwhinnie (Pyrenees).
30
Q

Why is Henty one of the coldest growing areas on the Australian mainland?

A

Cold Antarctic winds.

31
Q

Henty

  1. What is its elevation range?
  2. What is its signature grape, and why does it do so well here?
A
  1. Sea level to 460m;
  2. Riesling, which sees high number of sunshine hours (ripeness).
32
Q
  • What is the predominant climate of North East Victoria Zone?
  • What are the two significant regions in North East Victoria Zone?
A
  • Continental climate;
  • King Valley and Beechworth.
33
Q

Select the correct answer.

The topography and rainfall of King Valley is:

a. Totally flat with low rainfall
b. Gentle hills with moderate rainfall
c. High elevation with high rainfall

A

c. High elevation with high rainfall (which increases disease pressure).

34
Q

What changes in King Valley as you go down in elevation and how does that affect the styles of wine made?

A

Temperatures rise (though the river provides a moderating effect), so higher elevation wines are lighter bodied and lower elevation wines are fuller bodied.

35
Q

Name two significant producers in King Valley.

A
  • Pizzini;
  • de Bortoli.
36
Q

Describe the varied conditions of the Central Victoria Zone, the regions within them, and the styles of wine produced.

A
  1. Warm, flat plains → Goulburn Valley, Bendigo (ripe, full bodied wines);
  2. Cooler areas in foothills of Great Dividing Range → Upper Goulburn, Heathcote (high quality whites and reds).
37
Q

At what elevations are vineyards planted in Heathcote?

A

160 - 320m

38
Q

Heathcote

  1. What moderates the temperatures?
  2. Rainfall - how much and when does it fall?
A
  1. Elevation + southerly winds;
  2. 250mm, falls throughout the year.
39
Q

Why is dry farming common in Heathcote?

A

Calcareous red soil is made up of weathered greenstone (good water retention makes dry farming possible).

40
Q

Name two significant producers in Heathcote.

A
  • Jasper Hill;
  • Heathcote Estate.
41
Q

Briefly describe Gippsland Zone and what affects its climate.

A
  • Huge zone with varied regions spread across coastal flats and hillside slopes;
  • Climate affected by weather systems from the west and wet tropical weather from the north.
42
Q

How much rainfall does Gippsland Zone receive during its growing season?

A

420–530mm rainfall during growing season.

43
Q

What are the three main zones of New South Wales?

A
  1. Hunter Valley Zone;
  2. Central Ranges Zone;
  3. Southern New South Wales Zone.
44
Q

What is the climate in Hunter Valley?

A

Sub-tropical, though nights are relatively cool.

45
Q

How is the Lower Hunter different from the Upper Hunter?

A

Lower Hunter is cooler than Upper Hunter because:

  • it’s nearer to the coast;
  • it gets sea breezes.
46
Q
  • When does the majority of the rain fall in Hunter Valley?
  • What issue does this impose on the vines?
A
  • During the growing season (~500mm)
  • High fungal disease pressure
47
Q

With Hunter Valley’s warm climate, what does that mean for grape ripening and harvest?

A

The warmth ripens grapes early so they can be harvested early.

48
Q

How is Hunter Valley Semillon generally made?

A
  • Picked early;
  • Gently pressed without skin contact (avoids extraction of phenolic compounds, e.g. tannins);
  • Fermented at moderate temperatures in stainless steel;
  • Finished wine is bottled shortly after;
  • Rarely sees any oak.
49
Q

Name two significant Hunter Valley producers.

A
  1. Tyrrell’s;
  2. Mount Pleasant.
50
Q

What grapes is Hunter Valley known for besides Semillon?

A
  1. Chardonnay – made in various styles, bodies;
  2. Shiraz – usually matured in wood.
51
Q
  • What are the three regions of Central Ranges Zone from north to south?
  • On which side of the Great Dividing Range are they, and what is their general climate?
A
  • Regions:
    1. Mudgee;
    2. Orange;
    3. Cowra.
  • On the western (inland) side, continental climate
52
Q

What are the factors that allow Mudgee wines to achieve full ripeness while retaining high acidity?

A
  • Continental climate;
  • Elevation (cooling influence, large diurnal range, spring frost risk so site selection is important);
  • Intense sunshine.
53
Q

What factors make wines from Orange region in Australia so distinctive?

A
  • Vineyards 600-900m asl on slopes of Mount Canobolas (ancient volcano);
  • Soils are deep red volcanic basalt, yellow/brown clay loams, and shallow gravels;
  • Windy – helps mitigate spring frosts (but can also affect fruit set);
  • It’s generally cooler than Mudgee and Cowra.
54
Q

Southern New South Wales Zone

  1. What is the climate?
  2. What are the three most significant regions within this zone?
A
  1. Continental;
  2. Canberra, Hilltops, Tumbarumba.
55
Q

What factors in Canberra make the wines deep in color with ripe black cherry flavors, high ripe tannins, and high acidity?

A
  • Elevation – vineyards planted 500 – 850m (cool nights);
  • Intense sunshine;
  • Continental climate (warm summer days);
  • Dry summers;
  • Large diurnal range.
56
Q

Name two significant producers in Canberra.

A
  1. Clonakilla;
  2. Ravensworth.
57
Q

How are Hilltops and Tumbaruma similar?

How are they different?

A
  • Similar – both have a range of elevations and continental climates (warm days/cool nights); both grow Chardonnay;
  • Different – Hilltops grows Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon; Tumbarumba grows Pinot Noir.
58
Q

What is the general climate of Tasmania?

A

Cool maritime.

59
Q

What factors make Tasmania so cool?

A
  • Southerly latitude;
  • Cool winds off the Southern Ocean.
60
Q

Where does the rain mostly fall in Tasmania?

A

West coast – points east are sheltered somewhat by mountains.

61
Q

Describe the southern and northern growing areas of Tasmania and what makes each distinctive.

A
  • Southern – cooler, though lower latitude means longer sunshine hours (help ripening); drier and less humid than north;
  • Northern – higher rainfall, increased risk of fungal disease, spring frosts a threat.
62
Q

What are some commonly used winemaking techniques employed in Tasmania to enhance these cooler climate wines?

A
  • Full malo for Chardonnay (soften acidity, enhance texture);
  • Barrel fermentation (small portion new so doesn’t mask delicate flavors and structure).
63
Q

Name two significant producers on Tasmania.

A
  1. Tolpuddle;
  2. Tamar Ridge.

WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World (47 decks)

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