New South Wales Flashcards
What zones are in New South Wales?
Northern Slopes Zone
Northern Rivers Zone
Hunter Valley Zone
Central Ranges Zone
Southern New South Wales Zone
South Coast Zone
Western Plains Zone
Big Rivers Zone
What GIs are in the Northern Slopes Zone?
New England Australia GI
What GIs are in the Northern Rivers Zone?
Hastings River GI
What GIs are in the Hunter Valley Zone?
Hunter GI
What GIs are in the Central Ranges Zone?
Cowra GI
Mudgee GI
Orange GI
What GIs are in the Southern New South Wales Zone?
Canberra District GI
Gundagai GI
Hilltops GI
Tumbarumba GI
What GIs are in the South Coast Zone?
Shoalhaven Coast GI
Southern Highlands GI
What GIs are in the Western Plains Zone?
None
What GIs are in the Big Rivers Zone?
Murray Darling GI
Perricoota GI
Riverina GI
Swan Hill GI
Murray Darling GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographical features
- Producers
Murray Darling GI
- State: Victoria, New South Wales
- Big Rivers Zone
- Major Towns: Mildura
- Total Hectares Under Vine 19,800 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
— 7,130 ha of Murray Darling GI are located in New South Wales
Grapes
- Red Grapes (47%): Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- White Grapes (53%): Chardonnay, Muscat Gordo Blanco
- Soil Types: Calcareous earth
- Murray River
- Key Producers: Lindemans (Karadoc), Zilzie Wines, Deakin Estate
Perricoota GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographical Features
- Producers
Perricoota GI
- State: New South Wales
- Big Rivers Zone
- Major Towns: Moama
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 510 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (67%): Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- White Grapes (33%): Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
- Soil Types: Variable alluvial soils (sand, gravel, clay)
- Major Natural Features: Murray River
- Key Producers: St. Anne’s Vineyards
Riverina GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographic Features
- Producers
- First planting
Riverina GI
- State: New South Wales
- Big River Zone
- Major Towns: Griffith
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 20,700 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (46%): Shiraz, Merlot
- White Grapes (54%): Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Gris
- Fortified Wines and Botrytis-affected dessert wines are produced in Riverina
- Soil Types: Variable alluvial soils (sand, gravel, clay)
- The Riverina Plain, Murrumbidgee River
- Key Producers: De Bortoli, Casella Wines (Yellow Tail), McWilliam’s
- First Commercial Plantings: 1913 (McWilliam’s)
Swan Hill GI
- State
- Zone
- Town
- Size
- Grapes
- Soil
- Producers
Swan Hill GI
- State: Victoria, New South Wales
- Big Rivers Zone
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 19,800 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (47%): Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- White Grapes (53%): Chardonnay, Muscat Gordo Blanco
- Soil Types: Calcareous earth
- Murray River
- Key Producers: Andrew Peace Wines, Buller Wines
Cowra GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographic Features
- Producers
Cowra GI
- State: New South Wales
- Central Ranges Zone
- Major Towns: Cowra
Grapes
- Red Grapes (58%): Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- White Grapes (42%): Chardonnay, Semillon, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc
- Soil Types: Brown loamy sand to clay loam, with red clay subsoils
- Great Dividing Range, Lachlan and Belubula Rivers
- Key Producers: Cowra Estate (first planted the regions in 1973) , Windowrie Estate
Mudgee GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographic Features
- Key Producers
- First planting
Mudgee GI
- State: New South Wales
- Central Ranges Zone
- Major Towns: Mudgee, Rylstone
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 2,110 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (79%): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
- White Grapes (21%): Chardonnay, Semillon
- Soil Types: Brown sandy loam
- Major Natural Features: Great Dividing Range
- Key Producers: Montrose, Simon Gilbert Wines
- First Commercial Plantings: 1858
Orange GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Minimum Altitude
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producers
-
Orange GI
- State: New South Wales
- Central Ranges Zone
- Major Towns: Orange
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 1,760 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (66%): Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot
- White Grapes (34%): Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
- Minimum Altitude: 600 meters above sea level
- Soil Types: Extremely variable, including red-brown clays derived from basalt, yellow-brown clays of mixed origin, red-brown clay loam interspersed with gravel, terra rossa
- Major Natural Features: Mount Canobolas
- Key Producers: Bloodwood, Canobolas-Smith, Word of Mouth, Borrodell on the Mount
Hunter GI
- State
- Zone
- Subregions
- Unoffocial Subregions
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producers
- First planting
- Degree Days
Hunter GI
- State: New South Wales
- Hunter Valley Zone
Subregions
- Upper Hunter Valley GI (est. 2010)
- Pokolbin GI (within Lower Hunter, between Singleton and Cessnock, est. 2010)
- Broke Fordwich GI (within Lower Hunter, west of Pokolbin, est. 1997)
- Unofficial Subregions: Allandale, Belford, Dalwood, Rothbury (all located in the Lower Hunter)
Towns
- Upper Hunter Valley: Muswellbrook
- Lower Hunter: Singleton, Maitland, Cessnock
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 2,640 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (43%): Shiraz, Merlot
- White Grapes (57%): Semillon, Chardonnay, Verdelho
Soils
- Upper Hunter Valley GI: Black silt loam, dark clay loam
- Lower Hunter: Friable loam, red friable duplex soils
- Hunter and Goulburn Rivers
- Key Producers: Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood, Yarraman Estate, McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant, Keith Tulloch Wine, Wyndham Estate, Rosemount Estate
- First Commercial Plantings: 1830 (James Busby’s “Kirkton” estate)
- Degree Days (°C): 2070 (Region IV)
Hastings River GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Grapes
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- First Commercial Planting
- First Modern Planting
Hastings River GI
- State: New South Wales
- Major Towns: Port Macquarie
Grapes
- Red Grapes (50%): Chambourcin, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
- White Grapes (50%): Semillon, Chardonnay
- Soil Types: Rich alluvial soils and red volcanic soils
- Broken Bago Range, Pacific Ocean, Hastings River
- Key Producers: Bago Vineyards, Cassegrain
- First Commercial Plantings: 1837
- First Modern Plantings: 1980 (Cassegrain planted the region’s first vineyard 60 years after viticulture ceased in the early 20th century)
New England Australia GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Grapes
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producers
- First Commercial Planting
New England Australia GI
- State: New South Wales
- Northern Slopes Zone
- Major Towns: Inverell, Armidale, Glen Innes, Tenterfield
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 150 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (63%): Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- White Grapes (37%): Chardonnay, Semillon
- Soil Types: Rich alluvial soils in the south near Tamworth, granite and basalt at higher elevations to the north, terra rossa soils exist at high altitudes
- Geographic Features
- Great Dividing Range, Black Mountain (home to Australia’s highest altitude vineyard, at 1320 meters above sea level), Peel, Gwydir, and Severn Rivers, Moonbi Hills
- Key Producers: New England Estate, Blickling Estate, Jilly Wines
- First Commercial Plantings: 1841 (George Wyndham’s Bukkulla estate)
Shoalhaven Coast GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Grapes
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producers
Shoalhaven Coast GI
- State: New South Wales
- South Coast Zone
- Major Towns: Kiama, Nowra
Grapes
- Red Grapes (45%): Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chambourcin
- White Grapes (55%): Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc
- Soil Types: Red and brown earth, variable between alluvial valleys and hillsides
- Pacific Ocean
- Key Producers: Cambewarra Estate, Coolangatta Estate
Southern Highlands GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Grapes
- Soil
- Geographic Features
- Producers
- First Commercial Plantings
- First Modern Plantings
Southern Highlands GI
- State: New South Wales
- South Coast Zone
- Major Towns: Bowral, Mittagong
Total Hectares Under Vine: 200 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (58%): Tempranillo, Shiraz, Pinot Noir
- White Grapes (42%): Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
- Soil Types: Basalt- and shale-derived red and brown earth
- Major Natural Features: Great Dividing Range
- Key Producers: Centennial Vineyards, Cuttaway Hill Estate
- First Commercial Plantings: 1870s
- First Modern Plantings: 1983 (Joadja Vineyards was established in this year, ending a three-decade long period in which all viticulture had ceased)
Canberra District GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Unoffocial Subregions
- Size
- Grapes
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producers
- First commercial plantings
Canberra District GI
- State: New South Wales (with a portion also located in the Australian Capital Territory)
- Southern New South Wales Zone
- Major Towns: Canberra (Australia’s national capital), Queanbeyan
- Unofficial Subregions: Murrumbateman/Yass, Bungendore/Lake George, Hall/ACT
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 340 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (64%): Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot
- White Grapes (36%): Riesling
- Soil Types: Brown clay loams
- Great Dividing, Range Lake George
- Key Producers: Clonakilla, Lark Hill, Brindabella Hills, Helm
- First Commercial Plantings: 1971 (Viticulture has existed on a small scale since the 1840s, but this was the year when Lake George Winery and Clonakilla, within Murrumbateman, were established, marking the beginning of Canberra’s modern wine industry.)
Gundagai GI
- State
- Zone
- Unoffocial Subregions
- Grapes
- Size
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Producer
- First Plantings
Gundagai GI
- State: New South Wales
- Southern New South Wales Zone
- Unofficial Subregions: South-East (Tumut), North (Cootamundra), West (Junee)
Grapes
- Red Grapes: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
- White Grapes: Chardonnay
- Soil Types: Red earth and red podzolics
- Major Natural Features: Snowy Mountains, Murrumbidgee River
- Key Producers: Paterson’s Gundagai Vineyard
- First Commercial Plantings: 1840s
Hilltops GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Grapes
- Soils
- Producers
- First planting
Hilltops GI
- State: New South Wales
- Southern New South Wales Zone
- Major Towns: Young
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 600 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (82%): Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
- White Grapes (18%): Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
- Soil Types: Rich, dark red granite clays with basalt
- Key Producers: Chalkers Crossing, Grove Estate, Barwang Vineyard
- First Modern Commercial Plantings: 1969 (Barwang Vineyard)
Tumbarumba GI
- State
- Zone
- Towns
- Size
- Soils
- Geographic Features
- Key Producers
Tumbarumba GI
- State: New South Wales
- Southern New South Coast Zone
- Major Towns: Tumbarumba
- Total Hectares Under Vine: 250 ha (2012, Wine Australia)
Grapes
- Red Grapes (46%): Pinot Noir
- White Grapes(54%): Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris
- In 2012, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir accounted for 89% of the total harvest, and the majority of the region’s wines are sparkling
- Soil Types: Gritty mountain soils derived from granite and basalt
- Major Natural Features: Snowy Mountains
- Key Producers: Tumbarumba Wine Estates, Excelsior Peak
What major mountain range is in eastern Australia?
What states does it touch?
Great Dividing Range
Queensland and New South Wales
What mountain range is the backdrop of Canberra GI ?
Snowy Mountains
Which GI overlaps part of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)?
Canberra GI
What lake is within Canberra GI?
Lake George
While viticulture has been practiced in the area since the mid-1800s, the modern region was born in 1971, when Edgar Riek planted vines on the shores of Lake George and John Kirk planted his Clonakilla vineyard in Murrumbateman
Describe the climate of Canberra GI
mild, continental climate—not unlike the Northern Rhône Valley
- Snowy Mountains are a ski resort
- Clonakilla produced Canberra District’s first commercial vintage in 1976, and the winery’s Shiraz-Viognier, a moderate-bodied, pretty medley of red fruit, flowers and spice modeled on Côte-Rôtie
What caused a rise in small producer in Canberra GI?
Hardys moved into Canberra District in 2000, immediately doubling vineyard acreage, but withdrew from the region 2007. The vacuum left in Hardys’ wake has been filled by a growing number of smaller producers, emboldened by critical praise for their wines. Elegant styles of Shiraz, high-quality dry Riesling, and increasingly good examples of Bordeaux blends and Pinot Noir are being produced. One emergent producer, Lark Hill, has even planted Australia’s first Grüner Veltliner vineyard, and is achieving some critical success with the grape.
What river flows through Gundagai GI?
Murrumbidgee River
What regions lies in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains?
What is most planted there and produced?
Tumbarumba GI
- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
- Sparkling wine
Tumbarumba GI, south of Gundagai, lies within the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and has a measurably cooler climate, well suited for the production of sparkling wines. In 2012, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir accounted for almost 90% of the total grape harvest in the GI. Several of Australia’s larger producers value the crisp acidity Tumbarumba fruit lends to sparkling wine blends, but few are willing to risk ownership of vineyards in its frost-prone mountain climate. Thus, most of Tumbarumba’s two-dozen growers remain small, and sell the majority of their fruit
Describe the climate of New South Wales
- The major climatic features in New South Wales include the Pacific Ocean and the Great Dividing Range.
- In the coastal zones of South Coast, Hunter, and Northern Rivers, humidity is high and summer rainfall is especially common, particularly as one moves north, where the water warms and lingering effects of the Indo-Australian monsoon season’s impact are felt.
- The Great Dividing Range, a complex of mountain chains running along the entire coastline of NSW, blocks western areas from rainfall and cooling maritime breezes—the inland zones of Big Rivers and Western Plains are especially arid and progressively hotter as one moves north.
- The highest mountains in Australia are the Snowy Mountains, an alpine sector of the Great Dividing Range located within the Southern New South Wales zone.
- In the highlands of this range and the ranges running north and south of it, climate becomes continental and temperatures cool with elevation.
What are the subregions of Hunter GI?
Upper Hunter Valley GI
Broke Fordwich GI - lower Hunter
Pokolbin GI - Lower Hunter
Who takes credit for the first varietal Chardonnay in Australia?
Tyrrell’s in Hunter Valley takes credit for the country’s first varietal bottling of Chardonnay, the 1971 “Vat 47 Pinot Chardonnay.”
- Since that year, Chardonnay has become an important variety in the Hunter Valley, comprising over a quarter of its total plantings; however, winemakers typically do not consider it a top variety in the region, and prefer to plant Semillon and Shiraz in top sites
- The historic Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay remains at the vanguard of the Australian chardonnay genre. Sourced from the cane-pruned, dry-grown Short Flat vineyard (based around an original vineyard planted in 1968 with material from Penfolds HVD Vineyard) fruit is hand harvested and 100% basket pressed. After partial vinification in stainless steel, the wine completes fermentation in small new (20%) and seasoned French oak barriques and puncheons followed by 10 months maturation. Lemon curd, grapefruit and flinty aromas, mid-palate creaminess and mineral acidity typify the style.
What Portuguese grape is grown in Hunter?
The Portuguese grape Verdelho is also common, perhaps feeling as welcome in the Hunter as it does in its other subtropical home, Madeira. The grape’s naturally thick skins lend a measure of protection against mold—a constant worry in Hunter’s humid climate. Verdelho offers an alternative to Semillon, yielding generous wines of tropical fruit character, often finishing with a degree or so more alcohol than Semillon
What producer began producing Shiraz and Shiraz-Pinot blends in Hunter in the early 1900s?
Mount Pleasant
Maurice O’Shea was the winemaker
What is most grown in Mudgee GI?
Chardonnay
What was the first estate in Mudgee GI?
Craigmoor founded in 1858
- The Craigmoor Chardonnay selection came to the vineyard by way of one Kaluna Vineyard near Sydney, which was likely planted with cuttings from Kirkton—James Busby’s estate in Hunter
When was Chardonnay first planted in Mudgee GI?
Craigmoor—the first winery established in Mudgee, in 1858—cultivated Chardonnay for half a century prior to Tyrrell’s first release, although it was not identified as such until the late 1960s. Craigmoor winemaker Pieter van Gent made Chardonnay in the 1971 vintage, paralleling Tyrrell’s first release, but the winemaker concedes that there was not enough wine to warrant bottling
What is the highest elevation GI in Australia?
Orange GI, the Central Ranges’ youngest, coolest, and potentially most exciting region. - It is also the highest region overall in the entire country: Orange GI begins at the 600-meter line of elevation, and its vineyards rise up the slopes of NSW’s central highlands, past the 1000-meter mark.
The highest point in the appellation is Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano and the source of the region’s richest, basalt-derived soils
Where does the Hasting River fall on the Winkler Scale?
Region V on Winkler’s Scale—and it experiences more rainfall during the growing season than any other region in Australia
What is the Shoalhaven Coast GI best known for?
Chambourcin—a red French hybrid
What is most planted in the Southern Highlands GI?
Tempranillo
- nestled in the hills of the Great Dividing Range, and has greater potential to produce quality wines
Who is this producer?
Brokenwood
Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley
- With a very low-yield of two-and-a-half tonnes per hectare, typically the berries have a high skin-to-juice ratio, resulting in saturated colours and intense flavours. Matured in new (30-40%) and seasoned French oak barriques and puncheons for up to 14 months.
The vines are descendants of colonial stock, including the James Busby collection, and are located on heavy red clay over loam with some pockets of ironstone, with a mean and shallow topsoil.
The first vintage of Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz was made in 1983, and comprises a meticulous selection of the best parcels, mostly from the oldest plantings.
TOP VINTAGES
2014, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1993,
1991, 1990, 1989, 1986, 1983.
Not made in 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2008 and 1992.
Bottled under screwcap since the 2002 vintage.
Who is this producer?
Clonakilla
Shiraz Viognier, Canberra GI
- Traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques are applied to showcase the fruit flavours. Post vinification the wine is matured in new (33%) and seasoned French oak for around one year.
Doctor John Kirk planted a vineyard at Murrumbateman near Canberra in 1971. Kirk also planted a small plot of viognier in the mid 1980s, and the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier came about in 1992 when Kirk’s fourth son, Tim Kirk, co-fermented the viognier fruit with shiraz. He also included a tiny amount of pinot noir and mataro in the early trial blend.
Who is this producer?
Tyrrell’s
Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter Valley
- First vintaged in 1963 and originally called Hunter River Riesling, the now Vat 1 Semillon originates from the dry-grown Short Flat Vineyard, with vines dating back to 1923. Early picked, stainless steel fermented and aged on lees for up to 10 weeks, this wine is the classic reference point for a Hunter Valley semillon. It is typically quite tight and lemony when young, with clean, steely backbone. With age it develops a golden colour, honeyed, straw aromas and a soft, immensely complex and flavoursome palate.
Who is this producer?
Brokenwood
IRL Reserve Semillon
- initials of Brokenwood’s chief winemaker (Iain Leslie Riggs). Whether the wine is a blend or single-vineyard is vintage dependent. Released after five years of bottle age. Inaugural vintage 1992.
Who is this producer?
Tyrell’s
Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter Valley
- First vintaged in 1963 and originally called Hunter River Riesling, the now Vat 1 Semillon originates from the dry-grown Short Flat Vineyard, with vines dating back to 1923. Early picked, stainless steel fermented and aged on lees for up to 10 weeks, this wine is the classic reference point for a Hunter Valley semillon. It is typically quite tight and lemony when young, with clean, steely backbone. With age it develops a golden colour, honeyed, straw aromas and a soft, immensely complex and flavoursome palate.
Top Vintages
2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1987, 1986, 1984, 1979, 1977, 1976, 1974, 1972.
Who is this producer?
Brokenwood HBA Shiraz
- Blend of Graveyard Vineyard and McLaren Vale fruit. Released after 10 years
