WINES OF THE WORLD 🇦🇺 Australia Flashcards
Where the vineyards in Australia are located
Much of Australia is covered by desert and tropical rainforests, while vineyards are mainly in the SE (Southern Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania) with some on the opposite side (Western Australia). Relatively flat, with some mountain ranges (the Great Dividing Range). Wide variety of soil types.
Climate of Australia
Inland, the vast Murray-Darling Basing is hot and continental. Most regions benefit from cooling influences (some are close to the Indian or Southern Oceans coast, while others inland have no barriers from the coast). Protection from tropical weather systems by the Great Dividing Range. Many areas have low humidity (exceptions for Adelaide Hills, southern Victoria, Hunter Valley and parts of Tasmania - 2011 was unusually wet).
Hazards in Australia
Spring frost in cooler areas. Drought with the risk of lack of water (historically from the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, but now they started to run low, others bring water from winter rainfall - Adelaide Hills or Margaret River - storing them in dams, others use underground water sources - McLaren Vale and Coonawarra - or use recycled wastewater - suburbs of Adelaide). Soil salinity (not enough rainfall or saline water from deeper aquifers to the surface). Bush fires due to hot and dry summers. Birds and kangaroos.
Main grape varieties of Australia
Old vines of Shiraz and Grenache in South Australia. Mainly black varieties (54%). Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Muscat Gordo Blanco, Semillon, Colombard, Pinot Noir, Riesling.
Harvest for wines from Australia
Mechanical harvest allows one to cover a large area in a short time, which can happen during the night. Hand harvest is usually for premium wines (whole bunch, greater selection, limited grape splitting and crushing). A very narrow window of time, so possibility to pick certain varieties early for logistical.
Key winemaking operations for Shiraz wines in Australia
Trend to reduce the intensity by reducing the amount of extraction, using the whole bunch and/or reducing new oak. Open fermentation tanks with manual or mechanised punch downs to obtain very good or outstanding quality.
Key winemaking operations for Grenache wines in Australia
Traditionally, new oak while now whole bunch or stem inclusion and old/large barrels.
Key winemaking operations for Chardonnay wines in Australia
Tank fermentation, oak flavours (chips or staves) for inexpensive wines. Ambient yeast, high solids in fermentation, barrel fermentation, lees ageing for the higher quality wines. Malo according to style and climate.
Key winemaking operations for Sauvignon Blanc wines in Australia
Stainless steel, also lees contact or barrel fermentation for fuller bodied wines.
Key winemaking operations for Riesling wines in Australia
Stainless steel and bottling soon, premium wines from free-run juice only. Experimenting with pre-fermentation skin contact and lees ageing.
Blending possibilities for Shiraz in Australia
Also used in blends GSM (Mataro) or with Viognier (co-fermentation for premium wines), and with Cabernet Sauvignon (softness and body).
Blending possibilities for Chardonnay in Australia
Blended with Semillon in inexpensive wines.
Blending possibilities for Colombard in Australia
Blended in inexpensive wines, neutral style, often with Chardonnay.
Blending possibilities for Muscat Gordo Blanco in Australia
Cheap blending.
Key maturation practices for wines in Australia
French oak for reds, new oak is reducing.
Finishing operations for wines in Australia
Large use of screwcaps, even on premium wines.
Classification system for wines in Australia
- Zone
- Region
- Sub-region
Zone (classification system in Australia)
The largest areas, no rules regarding the drawing of boundaries and no requirements for shared geographic or climatic characteristics. One zone can cover an entire state while South Eastern Australia covers several. Most states have been divided into a number of further zones (South Australia includes Barossa, Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu). Usually for multiregional blends. 28 zones.
Region (classification system in Australia)
Smaller than zones, 65 regions, vary in size but must have consistent and distinct qualities, must usually produce 500+ tonnes of grapes a year across at least five differently owned vineyards each of at least 5 ha (Tasmania is considered as a region).
Sub-region (classification system in Australia)
Only in some regions (Hunter Valley and Great Southern), 14 sub-regions, they have particular climate, topography or soils.
Label Integrity Programme
LIP is the authority that governs Australian wine labelling. If vintage of single grape, 85+% of the grapes must conform. If multiple varieties, they must be listed in descending order. LIP ensures that labels truthfully reflect what is in the bottle. Detailed records by growers, producers, and suppliers under the control of Wine Australia which oversees the LIP. No GI-based rules on grape growing and winemaking.
Types of businesses that operate in Australia
Important companies started in the 1950s, such as Orlando (Jacob’s Creek), Lindemans, Hardys and Penfolds. Decrease in wineries in the last 10 years, many became grape growers. Mainly small producers. Production volumes (also 87% of export) are dominated by five main companies: Accolade Wines, Casella Family Brands, Treasury Wine Estates, Pernod Ricard and Australian Vintage.
The largest Australian companies
Accolade Wines, Casella Family Brands, Treasury Wine Estates, Pernod Ricard and Australian Vintage.
Wine Australia
The government authority that funds and coordinates research and development valuable to the wine industry. It controls also the export and promotes Australian wines through marketing and educational courses. New approach to marketing wine, labels with taste descriptors, from the 1980s.
Where the South Eastern Zone is located
It covers the whole of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, along with the SE corners of South Australia and Queensland.
Type of soils in South Eastern Zone
Mainly sandy soils.
Climate of South Eastern Zone
Hot continental. Riverland benefits from a slight maritime influence, autumns with greater rainfall and humidity so morning mists and sunny afternoons. Very low rainfall.
Main grape varieties of South Eastern Zone
Shiraz and Chardonnay, Semillon.
Main appellations within South Eastern Zone
Grapes come mainly from the Murray-Darling Basin. The three main wine-producing regions within the Basin are Riverland (South Australia), Murray-Darling (Victoria and New South Wales) and Riverina (New South Wales). Riverland is in the Lower Murray Zone while Murray-Darling and Riverina are in the Big Rivers Zone. They are the three largest wine-producing regions.
Types of wines made in South Eastern Zone
Mainly inexpensive and high-volume wines. Some higher-quality wines, also sweet botrytised Semillon from Riverina (labelled with individual region’s name). Ripe fruit flavours, low acidity, high alcohol, med body.
Types of businesses that operate in South Eastern Zone
Some of the biggest Australian producers such as Casella Family Brands (Yellow Tain) and De Bortoli in Riverina, Australian Vintage in Riverland and Lindeman’s in Murray Darling.
Regions of Barossa Zone
- Barossa Valley
- Eden Valley
Where the vineyards in Barossa Valley are located
Mainly a flat valley floor between low hills to the W, Eden Valley Region to the E and the steeper parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges to the S. One of the largest regions in Australia. Most of the vineyards on the plain at 250-370 m, some on the valley sides (cooler).
Type of soils in Barossa Valley
Ironstone layer with good water retention in the northern part.
Climate ofBarossa Valley
Warm with hot and sunny summer days but cooler nights. Low rainfall during growing season.
Hazards inBarossa Valley
Drought. Low disease pressure.
Main grape varieties ofBarossa Valley
Presence of old vines (Shiraz and Grenache), phylloxera free (ungrafted). Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Chardonnay, Semillon.
Barossa Old Vine Charter
2009, established to record, preserve and promote old vines of Shiraz and Grenache, creating different categories (on the label).
Key elements in the topography ofEden Valley
Area of rolling, exposed hills, forming part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, with some steep slopes.
Climate ofEden Valley
Higher rainfall than Barossa, strong wind. Some areas on the valley sides are drier and slightly warmer.
Type of soils inEden Valley
Shallow and rocky, from loamy sand to clay loams.
Hazards inEden Valley
Strong wind can affect flowering and ripening.
Main grape varieties ofEden Valley
Old vines of Shiraz and Riesling, but also Grenache. Mainly Riesling. Also Shiraz.
Main regions of Mount Lofty Ranges
- Adelaide Hills
- Clare Valley
Key elements in the topography ofAdelaide Hills
Valleys and steep hillsides.
Climate ofAdelaide Hills
Cool to moderate maritime, temperatures according to the altitude and proximity to the ocean, relatively high rainfall. Intense sunlight due to the low latitude.
Hazards inAdelaide Hills
Fungal diseases and rot.
Main grape varieties ofAdelaide Hills
Mainly whites with Sauvignon Blanc. Also Chardonnay, Pinot Noir for both still and sparkling. Small plantings of Shiraz. Experimenting with alternative varieties.
Sub-regions of Adelaide Hills
Piccadilly Valley and Lenswood in the central area.
Key elements in the topography ofClare Valley
The northernmost part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Vineyards at 300-500 m. Shallow valley within a series of ridges and hills, no steep slopes.
Type of soils inClare Valley
Both slate and limestone.
Climate ofClare Valley
Warm, hot summer temperatures, cool afternoon breezes and cold nights. Adequate rainfall, mainly in winter. Low humidity.
Hazards inClare Valley
Low fungal disease pressure.
Main grape varieties ofClare Valley
Mainly Riesling, then Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Key viticulture operations in Clare Valley
Irrigation is used in exceptional circumstances (water collected in dams). Canopy management to provide shading on the W side (intense sunlight due to low latitude). Possibility of mechanisation but some producers chose not to.
Types of businesses that operate inClare Valley
Many small, family-owned vineyards. Jim Barry and Wendouree as significant producers.
Main regions of Fleurieu
- McLaren Vale
Key elements in the topography ofMcLaren Vale
30 km S of Adelaide. Vineyards between 50-250 m.