WSET 3 Australia

Question 1

Simply summarise the Australian GI hierarchy system

Answer 1

Zones - Can be huge, can be states or several states e.g. South Australia

Regions - e.g. Coonawara, Clare Valley, Margaret River They must have consistent and distinct qualities from neighbouring regions.

Sub-regions - Notable areas with distinct and unique qualities

Question 2

Generally Australia is pretty hot name three sources of cooling

Answer 2

Southern or Indian oceans

Murray River System

Altitude

Question 3

What are the No.1 black and white grapes in Australia?

Answer 3

Shiraz and Chardonnay

Question 4

What are the traditional and modern styles of Australian Shiraz, name regions of each

Answer 4

Warm/Hot - Full body, very fruity, earthy, spicy, leather with age (Barossa/Hunter)

Cool - Leaner more peppery style (Geelong/Heathcote)

Question 5

What is the common style of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 5

Darker, firmer tannins with higher acidity than Shiraz.
Ripe Black fruit; Blackcurrant, Black Cherry, with toasty oak

Question 6

Where does the best Australian Pinot Noir come from and what is its style?

Answer 6

From cool ~ moderate sites (Yarra, Mornington Peninsula, and Tasmania)

Medium body, med alc, med~hi acidity, Cherry and Strawberry

Question 7

What is the style of quality Australian Chardonnay and what is the climate like in the best regions?

Answer 7

Fresh, vibrant fruit, subtle lees, MLF and/or oak

Cool, moderate (Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra) or just warm regions (Margaret River)

Question 8

What is the style of the better Australian Sauvignon Blancs and what are the best sites?

Answer 8

Concentrated Passion Fruit with hi acidity

Moderate temp regions (Adelaide Hills)

Question 9

What is Semillon like

Youthful

With age

When is it picked?

How is it fermented?

Which region has made it its own grape?

Answer 9

Youthful - Light body, neutral taste

With age- Develops honey and toast, can age 20 years

Harvested early with low sugar levels and high acidity

Fermented protectivly, SO2 and Stainless steel all the way

Hunter Valley

Question 10

What is the predominant style of Australian Riesling and in which two regions is it most famous?

Answer 10

Citrus - Lime, lemon and grapefruit with high acidity.
It rapidly develops notes of toast, honey and petrol. Usually dry or slightly off-dry

Eden and Clare valleys

Question 11

Where will you find Botrytised Semillon produced?

Answer 11

Riverina in New South Wales

Question 12

Where is Barossa Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most famous for producing, and what does it taste like?

Answer 12

North of Adelaide

Warm, dry climate

Old Bush vine Shiraz, Cab Sauv, and Ggrenache - Full body, soft tannin, ripe Black fruit with sweet American oak

Question 13

Which regions make up the Barossa Zone?

Answer 13

Barossa Valley + Eden Valley

Question 14

Where is Eden Valley, what’s the climate like and what white wine is it renowned for making and what does it taste like?

Answer 14

In the hills East of Barossa valley

Cool~moderate varying with altitude

Outstanding Riesling - Lime, grapefruit and steely
After 10 years in bottle can develop marmalade and toast

Question 15

Where is Clare Valley, what’s the climate like and what white wine is it renowned for making and what does it taste like?

Answer 15

NW of barossa Valley

Warm with cool afternoon breezes and cold nights, altitude 300~400m but can reach 570m

Riesling - Dry, intense citrus and lime with hi acidity
with bottle age, honey and toast

Question 16

Clare Valley is renowned for Riesling but which 2 black grapes does it do well with and what do they taste like?

Answer 16

Shiraz - Fragrant, powerful with structure

Excellent Cab Sav - Diff styles depending on vineyard location

Question 17

Where are the Adelaide Hills, what’s the climate like and what is it renowned for growing?

Answer 17

25km E of Adelaide

Moderate, all vineyards above 400m. Only rains in the Winter so irrigation often needed.

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Pinot Noir

Question 18

Where is McLaren Vale, what’s the climate like, what grapes does it mostly grow, vinified in what style?

Answer 18

Coast S of Adelaide

Warm climate tempered by afternoon breezes

Mainly black grapes; Shiraz, Cab Sav, Merlot and Grenache being intensely flavoured with dark fruit aromas and soft, ripe, tannins.

Old vine Shiraz and Grenache too

Question 19

Name the four major regions in the South Eastern Australia ‘Super Zone’

Answer 19

Riverland

Murray-Darling

Riverina

Tasmania

Question 20

What’s that soil in Coonawarra called and what is it made up?

Answer 20

Red Terra Rossa over a limestone subsoil

Question 21

Where is Coonawarra, what’s the climate like, what grape is it most renowned for and what does it taste like?

Answer 21

Narrow strip 400km East of Adelaide

Moderate Maritime cooled by current from the Antarctic

Cabernet Sauvignon - Concentrated, structured, Cassis, Eucalyptus or menthol

Question 22

What is it that allows vineyards in the state of Victoria produce high quality wines?

Answer 22

Some of the coolest vineyards in Australia, cooled by ocean breezes. The Great Dividing Range provides aspects and altitude

Question 23

In the state of Victoria what is generally grown

On the higher slopes?

On the lower slopes?

Answer 23

Higher - Elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc

Lower - Shiraz and Cab Sav in fresher, lighter styles

Question 24

Where is Yarra Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 24

NE of Melbourne

Cool~moderate maritime. Varied by altitude and aspects

Pinot Noir - Rich fruit; strawberries, plums and dark cherries. Careful use of oak adds complexity

Question 25

Where is Mornington Peninsula, what’s the climate like, what two grapes is it most renowned for producing and what do they taste like?

Answer 25

South of Melbourne

Cool~Moderate Maritime. Vintages can vary due to cool, wet and windy weather around flowering and harvest

Pinot Noir - light, delicate and structured displaying pure fruit characteristics

Chardonnay - Citrus, pear, apple with hi acid usually softened with MLF

Question 26

Where is Geelong, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 26

West of Melbourne

Cool~Moderate Maritime. Vintages can vary due to cool, wet and windy weather around flowering and harvest

Very high quality Chardonnay; complex, concentrated with a full body

Also good earthy Pinot Noir, and fresh and peppery Shiraz

Question 27

Where is Heathcote, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 27

Centre of Victoria

Moderate with cooling at altitude

Shiraz - Firm structure, fresher and fruitier than warmer regions

Question 28

Where is Goulburn Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 28

East of Heathcote

Warm, mitigated slightly by lakes and creeks

Shiraz most planted but Marsanne is the speciality; citrus fruit in youth developing honey aromas with age

Question 29

Where is Hunter Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 29

North of Sydney in NSW

Hot and humid, cloud cover and ocean breezes mitigate

Semillon - Light body, low alc, high acidity, neutral flavour

With age - Toast, nuts and honey

Also Chardonnay with/without oak and

Shiraz - Black fruit; blackberry, black cherry, soft tannin, med body and earthy

Question 30

What are the climate risks in Hunter Valley and how can one of them be mitigated?

Answer 30

RISK: Rainy weather often at harvest

RISK: Rot from humid conditions, good canopy management essential

Question 31

What is the only wine producing region in New South Wales?

Answer 31

Hunter Valley

Question 32

On which city is the Western Australia wine region centered and what are the two wine regions in Western Australia?

Answer 32

Perth

Margaret River

Great Southern region including Frankland River and Mount Barker regions

Question 33

Where is Margaret River, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 33

200km South of Perth

Warm Maritime with fairly high rainfall

Cab Sav, mainly blended with Merlot in a Bordeaux style
ranges from elegant and restrained to fruity and powerful

Chardonnay - Concentrated stone fruit with natural high acidity. Barrel ageing and MLF used variously.

Sauvingnon Blanc often blended with Semillon giving gooseberry and tropial fruit with hi acidity

Question 34

What 5 grapes are predominant in Margaret River?

Answer 34

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Semillon

Question 35

What are the two regions making up the Great Southern Region. Name the two black grapes and one white grown there

Answer 35

Frankland River and Mount Barker

Deep coloured Cab Sav and Peppery Shiraz

Floral Riesling

Question 36

Where is Tasmania, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?

Answer 36

An island south of Victoria.

Cool maritime climate with cooling westerlies from Southern Ocean

Pinot Noir, Cab Sav

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris

Tastes like wine.

Question 37

South Australia wine regions are based around which city and name the 6 regions

Answer 37

Centered around Adelaide

Barossa Valley

Eden Valley

Clare Valley

Adelaide Hills

McClaren Vale

Coonawara

Question 38

Name the 5 wine regions of Victoria state and the state capital city

Answer 38

Yarra valley

Mornington Peninsula

Geelong

Heathcote

Goulburn Valley

State capital city, Melbourne

Question 39

List the 4 Human factors of wine

Answer 39

Grape Growing

Wine Making

Maturation

Market Forces