Grapes and wines of Australia Flashcards
Describe the climate of the main growing regions of Australia.
List important moderating factors.
Most are warm or hot. Low rainfall (irrigation essential during growing season, huge drought risk), bushfires can destroy vineyards or cause pungent taint in wines.
Tempered by proximity to Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, Murray River system (Murray-Darling, Riverina, Riverland), altitude (Adelaide Hills, Eden Valley, Heathcote), latitude (Tasmania)
What is Australia’s principal grape variety of either colour? Describe typical styles with respect to two examples of warm regions and two of cooler regions.
Shiraz
Warm regions: Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley. Full-bodied, intensely fruity, display earthy or spicy notes and develop leather aromas with age. Can be made in more restrained styles by controlling extraction.
Cooler regions: Geelong, Heathcote. Leaner, more peppery.
Can also have multi-regional blends to combine qualities across regions, and blend with Cabernet Sauvignon to give softness and body.
Describe typical Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, giving two examples of regions producing premium examples. Describe styles in each region.
Darker, firmer tannins than Shiraz, with ripe black fruit character (blackcurrant, black cherry), underpinned by toasty oak notes.
Coonawarra: concentrated and structured, characteristic cassis and eucalyptus or menthol aromas. Best examples age very well.
Margaret River: often blended in Bordeaux-style blends i.e. with Merlot, ranges from elegant and restrained to fruitier and powerful.
Describe the role of Merlot in Australia
Typically blending partner to Cabernet Sauvignon, provides body and fleshy plummy fruit.
Describe style of Pinot Noir, giving three notable regions.
Medium-bodied, medium alcohol, medium to high acidity, typical flavours of cherry and strawberry.
Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania (also sparkling wine use)
Give examples of late-ripening varieties (aside from CS) that are well-suited to Australia’s hot regions.
Grenache Petit Verdot Mataro (Mourvedre) Sangiovese Tempranillo
What is Australia’s most widely planted white variety?
Give examples of notable regions from basic to high-quality wine styles.
Chardonnay
Basic styles: Riverina, Riverland, Murray-Darling = high-yields of branded wines. Blended wines, can be unoaked to produce peachy flavours or oak chips/staves can be added to impart hints of toast and vanilla.
High-quality: Adelaide Hills (citrus and peach), Mornington Peninsula (citrus, pear, apple), Yarra valley , Margaret River (conc. stone fruit). Beautifully balanced, vibrant fruit complemented by subtle flavours from careful use of oak/MLF/lees.
Describe typical Sauvignon Blanc style, giving an example of a region.
Concentrated passion fruit flavours alongside refreshing high acidity. Can be blended with Semillon e.g. in Margaret River (gooseberry and tropical fruit)
Adelaide Hills - high acidity, pronounced citrus and peach aromas.
Describe typical Semillon style, giving examples of notable regions.
Distinctive in Australia
Hunter Valley - early harvest i.e. low sugar and high acid. High acid, low alcohol, neutral flavours in youth which develop aromas of honey and toast with bottle age (can age 20y or more). Made protectively.
Western Australia: more herbaceous style, similar to Sauvignon Blanc. Often blended with SB e.g. in Margaret River.
Barossa Valley: softer style with fuller body, but now earlier picking with unoaked styles.
Sweet botrytised Semillon: Riverina.
How is Riesling unique to Australia? Give four notable regions.
Pronounced citrus fruit aromas and flavours (lime, lemon, grapefruit) in youth, develop rapidly into toast, honey, petrol notes with age. Unoaked, high acidity, dry or off-dry, some sweet examples.
Eden Valley (lime, grapefruit, steely), Clare Valley (lime, citrus), Tasmania, Frankland River (more floral, less citrus).
What is the heartland of fine wine production in Australia? Which wines are best known?
Barossa Valley - warm, dry climate.
Produces wines from old bush vine Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz (use American oak), Semillon (fresh, unoaked).
Describe the soils of the Coonawarra region
Terra rossa soils: distinctive red soil over a limestone subsoil.
List the key regions producing premium sparkling wines in Australia. What method do they use, and which styles are produced?
Yarra Valley
Mornington Peninsula
Tasmania
Traditional method using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: non-vintage, vintage, blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs, rose.
Where are inexpensive sparkling wines produced? How are they produced?
Riverina: tank method or carbonation
Fruity style with range of sweetness levels, can use many different varieties.
Give examples of sparkling red wines.
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Inexpensive versions via tank method or carbonation. Better examples via transfer method or traditional method.
Full-bodied, red berry fruit, smooth tannins, some rs.
