WSET Diploma Australia Flashcards
Northern Tasmania’s climate is similar to that of which 2 regions?
Champagne / Rheingau
Which global wine company owns Penfolds?
What 2 other large brands do they own?
Treasury Wine Estates.
Lindeman’s in Australia, Beringer in California.
Name 3 top producers from Coonawarra:
Penley Estate
Belnaves
Parker
Which style of wine was the major focus of the Australian wine industry in the 1950s?
Fortified Wines
What 5 grapes are predominant in Margaret River?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
Which state is the Blackwood Valley GI located in?
Who is a key producer?
What grapes are mainly cultivated (2 red / 3 white)?
Western Australia.
Blackwood Crest.
Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon
Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc / Chardonnay
What 3 zones does the Adelaide Superzone include?
Barossa / Fleurieu / Mt. Lofty Ranges
Where is Goulburn Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
East of Heathcote
Warm, mitigated slightly by lakes and creeks
Shiraz is the most planted, but Marsanne is the speciality; citrus fruit in youth developing honey aromas with age
List the 4 classifications of Rutherglen Muscat from lightest to fullest, and their general stylistic differences:
Rutherglen Muscat: the foundation of the style; fresh raisin aromas, rich fruit, clean. Average age 3 - 5 years. Residual sweetness 180 - 240 grams per litre.
Classic: greater level of richness and complexity, blending of selected parcels of wine, often matured in various sizes of oak cask to impart the distinctive dry ‘rancio’ characteristics. Average age 6 - 10 years. Residual sweetness 200 - 280 grams per litre.
Grand Rutherglen: new level of intensity, depth and concentration of flavour, mature rancio characteristics. Average age 11 - 19 years. Residual sweetness 270 - 400 grams per litre.
Rare Rutherglen: the pinnacle Rutherglen muscats - fully developed, the very richest and most complete wines in the cellar, only bottled in tiny quantities each year. Minimum age 20+ years. Residual sweetness 270 - 400 grams per litre.
Match the Australian GI with its most famous style of wine:
Eden Valley Dry Riesling
Yarra Valley Dry Semillon
Barossa Valley Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Hunter Valley Bold Shiraz
Margaret River Chardonnay
Coonawarra Muscat-based sweet wine
Rutherglen Cabernet Sauvignon
Clare Valley Pinot noir
McLaren Vale
Eden Valley: Dry Riesling
Yarra Valley: Pinot Noir
Barossa Valley: Bold Shiraz
Hunter Valley: Dry Semillon
Margaret River: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends.
Coonawarra: Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherglen: Muscat-based sweet wine.
Clare Valley: Dry Riesling
McLaren Vale: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
On which city is the Western Australia wine region centered?
What are the most and second-most prominent wine regions in Western Australia?
1 Margaret River
Perth
In which Australian GI is the producer Torbreck located?
They focus entirely on ____ varieties.
Their top 3 wines are:
Barossa Valley GI
Rhone Varieties
RunRig Shiraz
The Laird Shiraz
Descendent Shiraz
What grape variety is used to produce Australian Topaque?
What type of wine is this?
What was this wine formerly known as?
- Muscadelle
- Sweet, fortified wine.
- “Tokay”
Besides Riverina, what is the main wine producing region in New South Wales?
Hunter Valley
What is the style of quality Australian Chardonnay and what is the climate like in the best regions?
Fresh, vibrant fruit, subtle lees, MLF and/or oak
Cool, moderate (Adelaide Hills, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra) or just warm regions (Margaret River)
In which GI would you find the sub-region of Nagambie Lakes?
Name a top producer from there:
Goulburn Valley GI
Tahbilk
In which GI is the wine pictured produced?
What is the name of this wine and what variety is used?
McLaren Vale
Astralis Syrah
Name the 3 major regions (and their states) for high-volume production in the South Eastern Australia ‘Super Zone’
Riverland / S.Australia
Murray-Darling / Victoria and NSW
Riverina / NSW
Where, specifically, is the Yalumba winery based?
3 notable facts about this winery:
What is their top bottling?
Eden Valley, South Australia.
- The oldest family-run winery in Australia.
- Has its own on-site nursery that supplies vines and rootstocks to much of Australia.
- Has its own cooperage that uses imported American, French and Hungarian staves to construct its own barrels.
- Top Bottling: The Octavius, Old Vine Shiraz from Barossa Valley.
What is the most important GI for fine wines in the Limestone Coast?
Coonawarra GI
Which GI in northeastern Victoria, besides Rutherglen, specializes in fortified dessert wines?
Glenrowan GI
What is it that allows vineyards in the state of Victoria produce high quality wines?
Some of the coolest vineyards in Australia, cooled by ocean breezes.
The Great Dividing Range provides aspects and altitude
Name a top producer / wine of Hunter Valley Semillon.
What is the aging potential of this wine?
How does the wine start off in its youth, and what is its profile as it ages?
Tyrell’s “Vat 1”
Can age for over 2 decades.
Austere and grassy in its youth; Richness, honey, and buttered toast tones over time.
What is the style of Australian Vintage Fortified wines?
What is their aging potential?
What 4 regions are ideal for its production?
What varietals are typically used?
Vintage Fortifieds are made from grapes grown in one single designated year (vintage). Bottled after only a short time in barrel, about two years, they’re made to be aged in the bottle for a minimum of 5 years, but ideally 20, to ensure all the aged characters fully develop.
Like Tawnys, Fortifieds are most commonly made in warmer regions like Rutherglen, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and the Riverland.
The most common grape variety used to make Vintage is Shiraz, with Touriga, Tempranillo and Mataro also featuring.
What are the No.1 black and white grapes in Australia?
Shiraz and Chardonnay
For the following Australian GIs, identify the closest major market:
A. Yarra Valley
B. Hunter Valley
C. Margaret River
D. Barossa Valley
E. Tasmania
A. Melbourne
B. Sydney
C. Perth
D. Adelaide
E. Hobart
Where is Coonawarra, what’s the climate like, what grape is it most renowned for and what does it taste like?
Narrow strip 400km SE of Adelaide
Moderate Maritime cooled by current from the Antarctic and cloud cover.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Concentrated, structured, Cassis, Eucalyptus or menthol
How many wines were classified as “Exceptional” in the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine VI?
Name 4 of them, including their region:
21
Penfolds “Bin 95 Grange” Shiraz, S. Australia
Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley
Clarendon Hills “Astralis” Syrah, McLaren Vale
Jim Barry “The Armagh” Shiraz, Clare Valley
What is the style of the better Australian Sauvignon Blancs and what are the best sites?
Concentrated Passion Fruit with hi acidity
Moderate temp regions (Adelaide Hills)
What are the climate risks in Hunter Valley?
What are some natural / human factors that help mitigate these?
RISK: Rainy weather often at harvest
RISK: Hot climate can cause grapes to over-ripen
RISK: Rot from humid conditions
- Good canopy management essential
- Prevailing northeast winds from the Pacific help to cool the vineyards.
- Cloud cover helps to shield vines from the sun.
- Early harvesting can help alleviate high sugar levels.
Where is Eden Valley, what’s the climate like and what white wine is it renowned for making and what does it taste like?
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
Where is Geelong, how does its climate compare to Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
West of Melbourne
Cool~Moderate Maritime, but warmer than Yarra Valley / Mornington Peninsula
Very high quality Chardonnay; complex, concentrated with a full body
Also good earthy Pinot Noir, and fresh and peppery Shiraz
In which zone of South Australia would you find the Mount Benson GI?
Limestone Coast GI
List 4 unofficial sub-regions of Barossa Valley:
Seppeltsfield
Rowland Flat District
Barossa Foothills
Western Ridge
Name 4 Premium wines from the McLaren Vale GI
D’Arenberg “Dead Arm” Shiraz
Yangarra “High Sands” Grenache
Drew Noon “Eclipse” Grenache-based blend
Clarendon Hills “Astralis” Shiraz
In which GI would you find the Para River?
Barossa Valley
What famous Northern Rhône producer established a winery in Mount Benson?
Name one of their top Shiraz wines:
Michel Chapoutier
“Ergo Sum”
Who produces and edits the annual Australian Wine Companion?
James Halliday
What are the 4 main fortified wines produced in Australia?
- Tawny
- Vintage Fortified
- Muscat
- Topaque
Wines labelled “Barossa” may source their fruit from which regions?
Barossa Valley and Eden Valley
What are the 3 main rivers that are used for irrigation in South Eastern Australia?
Murray
Darling
Murrumbidgee
What’s that soil in Coonawarra called and what is it made up?
Where else in the world is this soil found?
“Terra Rossa”
Red clayey topsoil over a limestone subsoil
La Mancha, Spain
Where is McLaren Vale, what’s the climate like, what grapes does it mostly grow, vinified in what style?
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
Where is Barossa Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most famous for producing, and what does it taste like?
North of Adelaide
Warm, dry climate
Old Bush vine Shiraz, Cab Sauv, and Grenache - Full body, soft tannin, ripe Black fruit with sweet American oak
In which Australian GI is the producer Cullen located?
What is their top bottling?
What grapes are used, and which unofficial sub-region does it come from?
Margaret River GI, Western Australia
“Diana Madeline”
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Wilyabrup
In which GI is the producer Campbells located?
What wines do they specialize in?
Rutherglen GI
Rutherglen Topaque / Rutherglen Muscat
What is the style of Australian Liqueur Muscat?
What varietal is used?
What is the most famous region for this wine?
What are some tasting notes for this wine?
Much like Tawny, it is aged in barrel for extended periods, which concentrates the power and richness of the wine. They are also released in bottle ready to drink and can be cellared, but will not improve at all.
Often referred to as Brown Muscat, it is made from the Muscat a Petits Grains Rouge, which means, “Muscat with little red berries” grape.
Muscats are produced in the warmer regions across Australia, but the most famous region is Rutherglen.
Sweet and luscious, Muscat is one of the richest and most powerful wines in the world with classic aromas and flavours of dried fruits, espresso coffee, tobacco leaf and chocolate.
In which South Australian GI are the producers Jim Barry and Wendouree located?
Clare Valley GI
Where is Yarra Valley, what’s the climate like, what is it most renowned for producing and what does it taste like?
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