New South Wales Australia Flashcards
Oldest winery in Hunter Valley?
George Wyndham founded Australia’s now-oldest continuously operating winery (Wyndham Estate) in 1828
Who is the “father” of the Australian wine industry?
Scottish-born botanist named James Busby (1801-1871)
When did Phylloxera hit Sydney?
In 1884
What is the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and when was it established?
A massive project delivering water from the Murrumbidgee (a major tributary of the Murray River) to the otherwise dry and drought-prone farmlands in the Riverina region west of the Great Dividing Range, provided a seemingly limitless new frontier for food and wine grape production.
Who were some of the first to plant vineyards in Riverina?
McWilliams 1923
Penfolds 1918
De Bortoli was established near the town of Griffith in 1928.
Major climatic features in New South Wales?
Pacific Ocean and the Great Dividing Range
What is the Great Dividing Range and how does it impact New South Wales?
It is a complex of mountain chains running along the entire coastline of NSW, blocks western areas from rainfall and cooling maritime breezes
What are the highest mountains in Australia?
Snowy Mountains, an alpine sector of the Great Dividing Range located within the Southern New South Wales zone.
In the highlands, climate becomes continental and temperatures cool with elevation.
What other Gi’s are inside of Hunter Valley zone?
Hunter Gi region, which in turn encompasses three GI sub-regions: Upper Hunter Valley, Broke Fordwich, and Pokolbin. The two latter known as Lower Hunter Valley
Name the six sub regions of Lower Hunter?
Pokolbin, Broke Fordwich, Allandale, Belford, Dalwood, and Rothbury—but only the first two have earned sub-region GI status to date.
Describe the climate of Hunter Valley Gi?
Warmest and wettest climates, It is sub-tropical and humid, and the Lower Hunter averages over 20 inches of rain during the growing season. Region IV DD.
What impact does the climate have on the grapes in Hunter Valley zone?
Ripening comes early in the Hunter Valley through the region’s warm summer nights. Autumn also arrives early, and comes a near-constant cloud cover. Ripe fruit character develops early in the season, when pH is still relatively low, but sugar ripening slows early as well, as vines transition to producing carbohydrates for dormancy in the early fall.
Major grapes in Hunter Valley zone?
Red grapes: 30% Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
White grapes: 70% Chardonnay. Semillon, Verdelho
What type of soil is in Hunter Valley zone?
Upper Hunter Valley GI: Black silt loam, dark clay loam
Lower Hunter: Friable loam, red friable duplex soils
Key producers in Hunter Valley zone?
Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood, Yarraman Estate, McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant, Keith Tulloch Wine, Wyndham Estate, Rosemount Estate
Major natural features in Hunter Valley zone?
Hunter and Goulburn Rivers
Most planted grape in Hunter Valley zone and its characteristics?
Semillon. Low in alcohol (frequently in the 10-12% range) and incredibly acidic (pH levels remain around 2.9) Classic Hunter Semillon never sees oak and there is no emphasis on lees stirring, aged by its makers for several years prior to release, gaining notes of browned toast and crème caramel—expanding on the simple lemon and slight grass notes of its extreme youth.
Top bottling’s of Hunter Valley zone Semillon?
Top bottlings include Tyrrell’s “Vat 1” and Brokenwood’s “ILR Reserve,” which are released five and six years after the vintage, respectively.
