SA Flashcards

1
Q

Is Penfolds Grange a site-specific wine?

A

No, it is a blend of vineyards from across several regions - a testament to the Australian style.

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2
Q

Who produces Hill of Grace?

A

Henschke
Single vineyard Shiraz, 8ha planted in the 1860’s
First vintage 1958

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3
Q

What was the first vintage of Mount Edelstone?

A

1952

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4
Q

Who produces Astralis?

A

Clarendon Hills
Shiraz
First vintage for the winery 1990; in 1994 Roman Bratasiuk rebranded his Shiraz as Astralis

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5
Q

Who produces RunRig?

A

Torbreck
Shiraz/Viognier, 120-160 year old vines.
First vintage 1995. Runrig was the first wine to be produced by Torbreck.

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6
Q

Who produces Octavius?

A

Yalumba
Old Vine Shiraz
Called Octavius because of the small octaves (100L) it is aged in.
First vintage 1990 (Shiraz) - single release of Cabernet in 1988

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7
Q

What is Seppeltsfield’s most famous wine?

A

100 year old Para Liqueur

Tawny Port styled wine, released 100 years after the vintage. First release 1978, of the 1878 vintage.

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8
Q

What was the first Australian wine to list for $100/btl?

A

Clarendon Hills Astralis, 1994

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9
Q

What is the climate of the Limestone Coast zone?

A

Cool and maritime

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10
Q

What GI is known for its Terra Rossa topsoil?

A

Coonawarra

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11
Q

What other GI contains patches of Terra Rossa?

A

Padthaway

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12
Q

What is terra rossa?

A

iron oxide-rich friable clay loam over limestone

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13
Q

What grape are Coonawarra and Padthaway most known for?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

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14
Q

What is the climate of the Fleurieu zone?

A

Mediterranean

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15
Q

What is Fleurieu’s most famous GI? And what is it known for?

A

McLaren Vale, known for GSM blends.

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16
Q

What is the local synonym for Mourvèdre?

A

Mataro

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17
Q

Who produces Dead Arm?

A

D’Arenberg

Shiraz (some with Eutypa?)

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18
Q

Who produces Eclipse?

A

Drew Noon

GSM, biodynamic and dry-farmed

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19
Q

Who produces The Laird? What is it, and what was the first vintage?

A

Torbreck - Shiraz from the Gnadenfrei Vineyard in the Marananga subregion of Barossa.
First vintage 2005. “Price tag surpassing even Grange.”

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20
Q

Who produces the Command?

A

Elderton. 100% Shiraz, centenarian vines (vineyard planted in 1894). First vintage 1984.

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21
Q

What are the unofficial subzones of the Clare?

A
North to South
Clare
Sevenhill 
Polish Hill River (slate)
Watervale (limestone)
Auburn
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22
Q

What Southern Australian GI produces great Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling, and why?

A

Adelaide Hills, because of the high acidity preserved by the region’s cooler maritime climate.

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23
Q

What is Australia’s most important region for premium Shiraz?

A

Barossa

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24
Q

Where does Barossa rank in production?

A

It is the largest fine wine region in the country, and the 4th largest overall (behind Riverland, Riverina, and Murray Darling).

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25
Q

Barossa: Climate, aspect, soils

A

Deep, loamy clay
Hot climate, very dry in summer
100-300M in elevation, facing the heat of the outback.

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26
Q

Eden: Climate, aspect, soils

A

Granite outcrops with thin red clay
Cooler than Barossa, especially in the south; viticulture tends to be divided between more red grapes in the north and more white grapes in the south
400-600M elevation

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27
Q

Who is the sole producer in High Eden, and what are they known for?

A

Mountadam, the first commercial chardonnay producer in Australia

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28
Q

What two iconic wineries were founded in Barossa in 1847?

A

Orlando Wines by Johann Gramp in Barossa, which would grow into Jacob’s Creek
Pewsey Vale by Joseph Gilbert in Eden Valley

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29
Q

What is the Barossa Old Vine Charter?

A

A self-regulated classification of vineyard age in Barossa, based on a model developed internally by Yalumba. Formalized in 2009.

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30
Q

What are the age categories of the Barossa Old Vine Charter?

A

Old Vines: 35 years +
Survivor Vines: 70 years +
Centenarian Vines: 100 years +
Ancestor Vines: 125 years +

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31
Q

Barossa Valley: Unofficial subzones

A
Gomersal/Rosedale
Western Ridge (Greenock/Seppeltsfield)
Northern Barossa Valley
Barossa Foothills (Vine Vale)
Light Pass/Stockwell
Southern Barossa Valley (Lyndoch/Williamstown)
Stonewell/Central Tanunda
(Clockwise from northwest)
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32
Q

What range separates Barossa Valley from Eden Valley?

A

Barossa Ranges

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33
Q

What is the Adelaide GI?

A

A Superzone covering the zones of Barossa, Fleurieu, and Mount Lofty Ranges.

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34
Q

Who produces “First Growth?”

A

Parker Coonawarra Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Abbey vineyard (may blend Merlot or Petit Verdot, vintage depending).
First vintage 1988.

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35
Q

What are the zones of South Australia?

A
Adelaide Superzone
The Peninsulas
Far North
Lower Murray
Mount Lofty Ranges
Barossa
Fleurieu
Limestone Coast
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36
Q

What are the 2 regions of Barossa?

A

Barossa Valley

Eden Valley

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37
Q

What is the subzone of Eden Valley?

A

High Eden (southerly, highest in elevation [obviously])

38
Q

What is the region of Far North?

A

Southern Flinders Ranges

39
Q

What are the 5 regions of Fleurieu?

A
McLaren Vale
Langhorne Creek
Currency Creek
Southern Fleurieu
Kangaroo Island
40
Q

What natural features create the boundaries of McLaren Vale?

A
Gulf of Saint Vincent (west)
Adelaide hills (east)
41
Q

What are the seven terranes of McLaren Vale?

A
Ancient Rocks: ancient bedrock
Sand and Sandstone: includes Maslin sands, Pirramimma Sandstone, Ochre Cove Formation (red and yellow sandstone), Semaphore Sand (beach sand)
Limestone Country
Clay Plains of Aldinga
The Piedmont (alluvials)
Talus Slope 
Alluvial Flats
42
Q

What is a terrane?

A

Areas in which one rock or group of rocks is prevalent. Term used in McLaren Vale.

43
Q

What is Scare Earth, and what are the requirements?

A

A project recognizing the hallmarks of individual sites in McLaren Vale.

  • Shiraz
  • Single site wine
  • Vines at least 10 years old
  • May not be excessively shaded by oak, faults, ovver or under ripeness.
  • Wines must be submitted to a tasting panel on an annual basis.
  • Collectively released on May 1st of the year after harvest.
44
Q

Name 3 Scarce Earth wines (2011 vintage)

A
Battle of Bosworth Chanticleer
Shingleback Unedited
Kangarilla Road 
Mr. Riggs 
d'Arenberg Blind Tiger
Chapel Hill The Chosen Road Block
45
Q

McLaren Vale: Major Grapes

A
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grenache
Chardonnay (popular but less suitable)
Roussanne, Fiano, and other Rhone and Italian varieties are more promising, though scarce.
46
Q

What is the second-most significant GI in Fleurieu, and what type of wine does it produce?

A

Langhorne Creek, with over 5,000 planted hectares. Most of the fruit is valley floor - flat, easily farmed and harvested mechanically. Prinicipal source for Jacob’s Creek and other large Aussie companies.

47
Q

Who planted the first vineyard in Langhorne Creek, and when?

A

Arthur Fornby, owner of the Metala estate, in 1890.

Today, Metala is owned by Treasury.

48
Q

What is oeillade?

A

A synonym for Cinsaut popular in Langhorne Creek in the 1960’s.

49
Q

Langhorne Creek: major natural features

A
Angus River (west)
Bremer River (east)
Lake Alexandrina (south)
50
Q

Currency Creek: major natural features

A
Lake Alexandrina (west)
Encounter Bay (south)
Murray River Basin
51
Q

What is the smallest GI in Fleurieu?

A

Kangaroo Island (80ha)

52
Q

What and where is The Islander Estate?

A

A 10ha property (unplanted acreage 300ha) on Kangaroo Island founded by Bordeaux winemaker Jacques Lurton. Signature wine is a cab franc and malbec blend called The Investigator.

53
Q

What body of water separates Kangaroo Island from the mainland?

A

Backstair Passage

54
Q

What is the major factor hampering vineyard expansion in South Australia?

A

Availability (and consequently cost) of water for irrigation

55
Q

What are the 6 regions of the Limestone Coast?

A
Robe
Mount Benson
Padthaway
Wrattonbully
Coonawarra
Mount Gambier
56
Q

Who planted the first vines in Coonawarra?

A

John Riddoch in 1891 at his property The Penola Fruit Colony, renamed Coonawarra in 1897. The winery itself was named Chateau Comaum.

57
Q

Which winery jump started the modern era of wine in Coonawarra, and how much of the appellation do they own today?

A

Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate, founded in 1951 when Samuel and David Wynn purchased John Riddoch’s core property, including Chateau Comaum.
Today they own about half (850ha?) of the appellation.

58
Q

Who owns Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate?

A

Treasury Wine Estates.

59
Q

What are the “Treasure Chest Clarets”?

A

Wines released by Woodley’s (negociant firm) from 1949 to 1956 from Chateau Comaum.

60
Q

Who produces John Riddoch?

A

Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon, named for the founder.
First vintage 1982.

61
Q

When was Coonawarra GI established? What were the circumstances leading up to its inception?

A

2003 (last of Australia’s first tier winegrowing regions to earn GI status)
The original proposal in the 1990’s included only the defined band of terra rossa between Penola and Comaum. Significant legislative battles followed between those included and excluded; at one point a Penola GI was approved (2000) and then scrapped.

62
Q

What critiques were leveled against Coonawarra wines in the last few decades, and how has style shifted In response?

A

Criticized for overt manipulation in the winery and lack of attention in the vineyard.
Today, acidification and tannin additions are more measured/reduced. New oak levels are falling and trend has shifted from American to French.
The once-popular “minimal pruning” trend is over, and migrant labor is replacing mechanization in the vineyard. New emphasis on single-vineyard wines.

63
Q

Name 6 Coonawarra producers

A
Majella
Penley Estate
Balnaves of Coonawarra
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Parker Coonawarra Estate
Zema Estate
64
Q

Coonawarra v. Padthaway: Topography and Climate

A

Coonawarra: cool mediterranean climate (lower degree days than Bordeaux, but drier and with more sunlight hours). “Dead flat.”
Padthaway: very similar to Coonawarra, but warmer (farther into the interior). Rolling hills.

65
Q

Who planted the first vines in Padthaway?

A

Seppelt, 1964.

66
Q

Name 3 Padthaway Producers

A

Padthaway Estate
Stonehaven
Brown’s of Padthaway

67
Q

Padthaway: top three varieties

A

Shiraz
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon

68
Q

What is the most important soil type in Wrattonbully?

A

Terra Rossa - as it sits between Padthaway and Coonawarra, the band runs through ti.

69
Q

Who owns Tapanappa?

A

A consortium of Brian Crozer (formerly Petaluma), Jean-Charles Cazes (Lynch-Bages), and Societe Jacques Bollinger.

70
Q

Wrattonbully: major natural features

A

Stewarts Range, Naracoorte Range, Caves Range, Hynam Range

71
Q

What are the Naracoorte Caves?

A

A network of caves eroded out of the limestone bedrock which have created an especially rich fossil record. Consecrated as a world heritage site in 1994.

72
Q

What Victoria region borders Mount Gambier? What aspects do they share?

A

Henty

Cool, maritime climates. Planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.

73
Q

Mount Gambier: major natural features

A

Blue Lake

Southern Ocean

74
Q

Robe: Major natural features

A

Lake George, Lake Eliza, Lake Saint Clair

Southern Ocean

75
Q

What is the region of Lower Murray?

A

Riverland

76
Q

What is Australia’s second largest family owned winery, and where is it?

A

Kingston Estate

Riverland

77
Q

When was the first winery founded in the Clare?

A

Sevenhill Cellars, founded by jesuit brothers for sacramental wine, in 1851.

78
Q

Where is Wendouree, and when was it founded?

A

Alfred Percy Birks Wendouree was founded in the Clare Valley in 1892.

79
Q

Clare Valley: Climate

A

400-600M in elevation, large diurnal shift.
Weather stations indicate region III climate, but they are low elevation and surrounded by heat sinks - more likely region II.
Low rainfall in the growing season
Susceptible to spring frosts, especially in the southern and eastern sectors

80
Q

Top three grape varieties by acreage in the Clare

A

Shiraz
Riesling
Cabernet Sauvignon

81
Q

Cabernet is generally blended with what variety in the Clare?

A

Malbec

82
Q

Who produces the Armagh?

A

Jim Barry Wines

Shiraz. First vintage 1985

83
Q

Who produces the Attunga 1865 Shiraz?

A

Kilikanoon

84
Q

What are the hills of Adelaide Hills?

A

the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges

85
Q

Who are the largest two producers in the Adelaide Hills?

A

Petaluma

Shaw + Smith

86
Q

When was the first contemporary winery in the Adelaide Hills founded?

A

1976 - Petaluma.
Viticulture existed back into the 1870’s, but due to various climatological and commercial pressures all vines were pulled out by the 1930’s.

87
Q

Adelaide superzone: which region is the coolest and wettest, and which the warmest?

A
Adelaide Hills (cool and wet)
Adelaide Plains (warmest, and nearly driest)
88
Q

Where is Penfolds Magill Estate?

A

Adelaide Plains, now encircled by the city

89
Q

What are the 3 subzones of Mount Lofty Ranges?

A

Clare Valley
Adelaide Plains
Adelaide Hills

90
Q

What are the two subregions of Adelaide Hills?

A

Lenswood

Picadilly Valley

91
Q

What are the top two zones in SA by production?

A

Lower Murray

Limestone Coast

92
Q

What is Goyder’s Line? What wine regions lie outside of it?

A

A line drawn across South Australia by surveyor George Goyder in the 19th century, marking the limits of feasible agriculture.
The line runs through Southern Flinders Ranges. Lower Murray is north of the line.