Victoria Flashcards
Zones of Victoria
Northwest Victoria
Western Victoria
Central Victoria
Port Phillip
North East Victoria
Gippsland
Australia’s most important wine are in the 1800s
Victoria
Main grapes of Murray Darling and Swan Hill GIs
North West Victoria Zone
Big Rivers Zone (shared)
Chardonnay/Shiraz
Where is Tahbilk located
Nagambie lakes subregion of Goulburn Valley in Central Victoria
When were Tahbilk’s flagship Syrah vines planted
1860
Where are the oldest Marsanne vines in Australia and possibly the world
Tahbilk
Goulburn Valley GI Central Victoria Zone
1927
GIs of central Victoria Zone
Bendigo GI
Goulburn Valley GI
Heathcote GI
upper Goulburn GI
Strathbogie Ranges GI
gIs of North East Victoria Zone
Alpine valleys GI
Beechworth GI
Glenrowan GI
king valley GI
Rutherglen GI
GI regions of northwest Victoria Zone
Murray Darling GI
Swan Hill GI
both shared with New South Wales State and Big Rivers Zone
Australia’s oldest wine region
Yarra Valley
what year was Domaine Chandon founded in Australia
1987
“Topaque” from Rutherglen GI (North East Victoria Zone) is made from this grape
Muscadelle
members of the muscat of Rutherglen Network distinguish their wines with this mark
Stylized “R” logo on label
main soil type of Heathcote GI in Centro Victoria zone
Greenstone (Cambrian era alkaline volcanic soil rich in copper or calcium era alkaline volcanic soil rich in copper or calcium)
where can “black dog” soil be found (fine sandy loam)
Victoria State
North East Victoria zone
Rutherglen G.I.
hottest zone: north west Victoria central Victoria or North East Victoria
North West Victoria
Muscat of Rutherglen quality classifications
Muscat: Base classification. The wines should be a younger style showing fresh fruit characters and integration of spirit. 3-5 years
Classic: A maturing style exhibiting raisined fruit flavour, cask aged flavour and the beginnings of rancio character. The palate shows balanced lusciousness, richness on the mid-palate from cask ageing and some concentrated characters. 6-10 years
Grand: A mature style exhibiting aged fruit flavour, rich cask aged character and rancio character. The palate shows balanced lusciousness, rich mid-palate from cask ageing, concentrated flavours from ageing and rancio flavours. 11-19 years
Rare: A rancio style showing all the flavours of prolonged cask ageing – lusciousness, extreme rancio and concentration. 20+ years
Gippsland zone to the east of Port Phillip is coastal and known for this variety
Pinot Noir
Central Victoria Zone encompasses these GIs and is known for these varietals
Red grapes, particularly Shiraz, thrive in the Bendigo, Heathcote, and Goulburn Valley GIs.
This soil type of Rutherglen is preferred for fortified styles
“Rutherglen” loam (preferred for fortified styles)
“Black Dog” fine sandy loam is the other soil type
Dominant winery of King Valley GI (North East Victoria Zone)
Brown Brothers of Malawa
Sparkling wine “Patricia”
(Pinot noir and Chardonnay from The Whitlands High Plateau)
Dal Zotto (Prosecco pioneer)
De Bortoli (Based out of Riverina)
This GI in North Eastern Victoria is still plagued by phylloxera
Alpine Valleys GI
(Victorian Alps Wine Company is a major Producer: Gapsted Label)
Producers of Beechwood GI (North East Victoria)
Chardonnay from Giaconda
Castagna (Shiraz and Viognier)
Sorrenberg (Gamay)
Western Victoria “Great Western” producers
Grampians GI: Seppelt and Bests
Pyrenees GI: Taltarni and Dalwhinnie
Henty: Seppelt (Called the region “Drumbourg”
First vines planted in Victoria
1838
This producer popularized Sparkling Burgundy in Australia
Victorian Producer Great Western
First European settlement in Victoria (convict)
1803
What year was the British Colony of Victoria founded
1851
Where was gold first discovered in Victoria
Ballarat
Bendigo
in the 1860s, this region was the most prodigious in all Australia
Geelong (West of Melbourne and Southeast of Gold fields of Ballarat)
Between 1860-1875, Australia exported 145,600 cases of wine to Britain annually. Most of it was from here
Victoria
What was Geelong’s “death by extinction?”
Victorian government ordered every vine in Geelong uprooted after Phylloxera hit
This region usurped Geelong as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wine region by the time Phylloxera struck its vineyards in 1899
Rutherglen
When did Phylloxera hit Bendigo
1893
Not a vine remained
When did Phylloxera hit Yarra Valley
Much later
2006
Though in 1930s, the vines were grubbed up anyway to make room for pastureland
These factors affected development of Victorian wine industry in 20th century
Only Rutherglen fared even remotely well
temperance movement
World Wars and shortage of manpower
Economic Depression
Competition from South Australia with removal of interstate trade barriers
What year was Idyll Vineyard planted in Geelong
1966
as of 2013, there are _ wineries in Victoria and _ GI regions
775 Wineries
21 GI regions
This river marks the state of Victoria’s border with NSW
Murray
The Southernmost extremity of the Great Dividing range is at this GI
Grampians GI
(Western Victoria)
Australia’s most densely populated State
Victoria
Second and third most planted red grapes of Yarra Valley
Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
more restrained styles, french oak
Winemaker for DeBortoli
Steve Webber
Top regions for Chardonnay in Australia
Yarra Valley
Margaret River
When did Phylloxera hit Heathcote and Bendigo in Central Victoria Zone?
1891
1893
(Both red wine producing GIs)
Heathcote GI in Central Victoria has become known for this style of wine
Full bodied Shiraz
Main “blockbuster” Shiraz producer of Heathcote GI
Jasper Hill
Heathcote GI experiences diurnal shift because of the ridgelines of this mountain range (central Victoria, greenstone)
Mount Camel Range
This GI of Central Victoria is Northeast of Bendigo and Heathcote, and has original vines planted in 1860
Goulburn Valley GI
This much of the original vineyard planted in 1860 by Tahbilk exist today:
.5 hectares
Why did the original vines planted in 1860 Goulburn GI survive?
Sandy soils, thanks to the Goulburn river
Most important grape of Goulburn Valley GI
Shiraz
This subregion GI is where Tahbilk and most of the best wineries today are located in Goulburn GI
Southern Subregion of Nagambie Lakes GI
Strathbogie Ranges GI and Upper Goulburn GI are higher elevation, cooler GIs of Central Victoria, and are known for these grapes (600-800m elevation)
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
This river forms the Northern border of Rutherglen GI
Murray River
Climate of Rutherglen GI
Warm Continental
FIrst winery in Rutherglen GI to achieve critical acclaim
All Saint’s Winery
1864
First winery in Rutherglen
Morris Wines
1859
These styles of Rutherglen fortified Muscat “stickies” gained popularity mid century
“Sherry”
“Tawny”
“Tokay”
In the 1960s, more than half of Victoria’s wineries were here
Rutherglen
Today, Rutherglen has 800 ha of vineyard land. What are the main red grapes for table wines there?
Shiraz and Durif/Petit Sirah
Most important wines of Rutherglen
Muscat and Topaque
Rutherglen Muscat is released as a blend of vintages: T/F?
True
What year was the Muscat of Rutherglen Network established?
1995
Basic Level of Rutherglen Muscat
Rutherglen Muscat: orange and rosy, saccharine and mouthcoating
Second level of Rutherglen Muscat
“Classic” Rutherglen Muscat
Intense varietal aromatics but slight rancio tones
Third level of Rutherglen Muscat
Grand: More oxidative tones and mature rancio character
Highest level of Rutherglen Muscat
Rare: Should “taste as if it were 20 years old”
Synonyms for Brown Muscat in Rutherglen GI
Muscat Rouge a Petit Grains
Preferred Soil type of Brown Muscat
Rutherglen Loam
What does Botrytis do to Brown Muscat
Ruins the varietal
Very undesirable
This viticultural technique is essential to the concentration of sugar in Brown Muscat
Passerillage
Brix levels for Rutherglen Muscat can exceed this
36 brix
What is Anzac day
April 25 in Rutherglen “It never rains until it rains on the March”
Step One of Producing Rutherglen Muscat
short fermentation on the skin, Brown Muscat of Rutherglen consumes 20-40g/l of sugar over the course of one to two days
Second step in Rutherglen Muscat production
Wine is pressed and immediately fortified with neutral 96 proof grape spirit, added in a one to four ratio (same as port)
Third step in Rutherglen Muscat production
Wine matures for years or even decades in various formats of old wood: 225 L Barriques, 300 L Hogsheads or 500 L Puncheons or even larger oval casks
Step 4 in Muscat of Rutherglen production (after aging)
Evaporation sends a share to the angels, 5% per year, and greater concentration of Sugar, acid and alcohol in remaining wine. Some producers use a solera system.
wineries today produce fortified Muscat Wines in Rutherglen
Stanton and killeen
Campbell’s
Chambers
All Saints
Morris
Pfeiffer
Buller
Rutherglen Muscat is made from this varietal
Brown muscat (Muscat Rouge a Petit Grains)
Only eight producers make fortified Muscat wines:
All Saints
Morris
Campbell’s
Chambers
Stanton&Killeen
Rutherglen Estates
Buller
Pfeiffer
What is “Topaque”
Fortified wine made with Muscadelle grapes
Uncommon aromatic variety found in Bordeaux and Southwest France
Which concentrates more sugar on the vine: Brown Muscat (Muscat de Frontignan) or Muscadelle?
Brown Muscat. Muscadelle hangs on vine till April sometimes, accrues less sugar
How is Topaque different from Rutherglen Muscat?
Topaque is Made from Muscadelle
Rutherglen Muscat made from Muscat rouge a petit grains
Processes are the same, and categories Classic, Grand, Rare, are the same. Topaque has 30-40 g/l less RS than Muscat wines of the same category.
Descriptors for Topaque of Rutherglen (Chris Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer winery)
Topaque is less sweet with 30-40g/l less sugar in the same category as rutherglen muscat
Honey
Cold Tea
sardine oil
seaweed
Which is a better wine for the table: Topaque or Rutherglen Muscat?
Topaque, higher acid and less sweet.
What is Apera
The term for “sherry” in Australia
Glenrowan GI (North East Victoria Zone) produces similar styles to this GI
Dry Reds and Fortified wines of Rutherglen GI
Elevation of these three GIs, from lowest to highest in N.E Victoria:
Alpine Valleys
Beechwood
King Valley
- Alpine Valleys
- Beechwood
- King Valley
Alpine Valleys, Beechworth and King Valley GIs are all in the foothills and low ranges of this Mountain range
Victorian Alps (Part of the Great Dividing Range)
In King Valley GI, much of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit becomes blending material for this
Sparkling wine
What is the Northernmost point of King Valley
Wangratta
700m difference in elevation between highest point in Rutherglen and here
Victoria’s warmest Wine Regions
Murray Darling GI
Swan Hill GI
(NW Victoria Zone)
92% of wines produced in Swan Hill and Murray Darling GIs carry this monniker
“South Eastern Australia GI”
Sell for less than 5 Australian dollars per liter
Single GI subregion of Grampians GI (Western Victoria)
Great Western GI
Grampians GI lies at the West end of this Geological Formation at 440 Meters elevation
Great Dividing Range
Grampians GI, being cool and very dry, developed a historical reputation for this kind of wine
Sparkling Wine
Who Founded Great Western Winery in 1865?
Joseph Best
(Now under Seppelt name)
In 1890, this man made Australia’s first traditional method sparkling wine at Great Western Winery
Charles Pierlot
Trained at Pommery
What style of wine did Hans Irvine, Pierlot’s boss, show in 1894 at a Melbourne Wine Show?
“Sparkling Burgundy”
Great Western
Under this winemaker, Great Western shepherded Australia’s Sparkling Burgundy style through the depression era of the 1930s
Colin Preece
(Legendary winemaker)
Red grapes in Grampians GI account for this % of harvest
80%
Led by Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Grampians GI is primarily this kind of wine production
Still Red
Grampians GI highest quality producer
Best’s
Pyrenees GI, adjacent to NE border of Grampians GI, (Western Victoria) is named for this Range
Pyrenees: one of the last ranges within the Great Dividing Range
Stylistic focus of Pyrenees GI (Western VIctoria)
Still red wines based on Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Stylistically, which wines are richer: Pyrenees GI or Grampians GI (Western Aus)
Pyrenees
Grape Varieties of Henty GI (Western Victoria)
Genuinely cool region! Closer to Coonawarra, on the coast
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling
Largest producer in Henty GI (Western Victoria)
Seppelt, Same as Grampians GI
Name of the 100ha vineyard owned by Seppelt In Henty GI (Western Victoria)
Drumborg
Planted 1964, accounts for 2/3 of Henty’s total vine acreage
Gippsland Zone (NO GIS) is here
Eastern side of Coastal Victoria
Eastward from Yarra Valley along the Bass Strait coastline to the Great Dividing Range, south of King and Alpine Valleys
Most vineyards in Gippsland Zone are concentrated here
West Gippsland, Bass Phillip is a producer there
abuts Yarra Valley
South Gippsland
Most planted grape in Gippsland zone
No GIs!!! (Eastern coastal Victoria state)
Pinot Noir
Where is Bass Phillip, Gippsland Zone’s best producer (gippsland: zone of western Victoria with No GIs)
South Gippsland
Why isnt Gippsland Zone capable of having a GI
only 190ha under vine in 2019
To be GI, one needs **500 tonnes **annually and its just not large enough