South Australia Flashcards
True or False,
South Australia is the largest wine producing state in Australia?
True, it accounts for roughly 50% of the weight of harvest fruit
The Barossa Zone is made up of what two regions?
- Barossa Valley
- Eden Valley
What are the 3 things protecting the Barossa Valley?
- Low hills in the west
- Eden Valley on the east
- The steeper parts of the Mt. Lofty ranges in the south
What is the climate like in Barossa Valley?
Warm climate with hot summer days and cool nights with relatively low rainfall
Is irrigation needed in the Barossa Valley?
Yes, the region receives low average rainfall (around 160mm/6.3) making irrigation necessary
When were vines first planted in the Barossa Valley?
in the 1840s
Did phylloxera destroy the original vines in the Barossa Valley?
No. While some parts of Australia were harmed by phylloxera, Barossa was not. Meaning that some of the oldest Shiraz and Grenache vines in the world are in the Barossa Valley
What is the Barossa Old Vine Charter, and when was it established?
It is an organization that was established to record, promote and preserve all of the old vines in the Barossa Valley. The Charter also established a number of categories that are tied to the age of the vines.
It was established in 2009
What is the signature grape of the Barossa Valley?
Shiraz, which accounted for 66% of the harvest weight in 2019
Is Eden Valley actually a valley?
No, it is a series of rolling hills that is apart of the Mt. Lofty Ranges, and in some places the gradient is steep enough to limit the use of machines
What grape varieties have old vine plantings in the Eden Valley?
- Riesling
- Shiraz
- Grenache
Riesling accounts for what percentage of the plantings in the Eden Valley?
1/3 or 33%
What are two classic producers from Eden Valley?
- Henschke
- Pewsey Vale
What are two significant producers from Barossa Valley?
- John Duval
- Ben Glaetzer
- Torbeck
What two regions are located within the Mount Lofty Ranges Zone?
- Adelaide Hills
- Clare Valley
Adelaide Hills is characterized by what geographic features? How does this affect vineyard management
Valleys and steep hillsides, which limits the use of mechanization in the region
What is the climate in Adelaide Hills?
Cool to Moderate Maritime depending on elevation
How does the latitude affect Adelaide Hills as a whole?
Being at such low latitudes, they have more exposure to intense sunlight, leading to riper flavors than what may be expected, especially from whites grown at higher altitudes
What two sub-regions are found in Adelaide Hills?
- Piccadilly Valley
- Lenswood
When does most of the rain fall in Adelaide Hills?
Mainly in the winter and spring, and sometimes late enough to affect fruit set.
What is something unique about how Adelaide Hills collects some of the water for irrigation?
It collects the winter and spring rains in dams, but there are underground sources as well
White varieties accounted for ___% of the total harvest weight in 2019, with Sauvignon Blanc making up ____% on its own (Adelaide Hills)
- 64%
- 28%
What is the most planted black grape variety in Adelaide Hills?
Pinot Noir
What are most of the vineyards in the Clare Valley planted at?
300-500m/1,000-1,650ft
Clare Valley is a region with many _____, ______ owned wineries
- Small
- Family-Owned
Riesling made up what percentage of the total harvested fruit weight in Clare Valley in 2019?
35%
Due to the lower latitudes, what is one of the canopy management techniques used for Riesling in the Clare Valley? Why?
Due to the lower latitude and more direct/prolonged sun light, growers will have thicker canopies on the western side to protect the grapes from sunburn
What two bodies of water surround the Fleurieu Peninsula?
- Gulf St Vincent
- Southern Ocean
Name the best known region in the Fleurieu Zone
McLaren Vale
How many ha does the McLaren Vale cover?
On average its 50-250m, but some vineyards are planted up to 350m
What are the top 3 planted red grapes in the McLaren Vale?
- Shiraz
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Grenache
What are all of the GI’s found in the Limestone Coast?
- Coonawarra
- Padthaway
- Mount Benson
- Robe
- Wrattonbully
- Mount Gambier
Coonawarra has a similar climate to which old world region?
- Bordeaux
How do producers in Coonawarra battle spring frost?
With the use of sprinklers
What is Terra Rossa?
It is the red, free draining, and iron rich loam that is native to Coonawarra. It sits on top of limestone
The best wines are considered to come from these soils
Cabernet makes up how much of the plantings in Coonawarra?
Over 50%
