AUS General

Question 1

When and where did Phylloxera hit Australia?

Answer 1

The mid- to late-1800’s, mostly confined to Victoria and parts of New South Wales.

Question 2

What is Australia’s largest region by production?

Answer 2

South Australia, with over 50% of production

Question 3

What two major Australian wineries were founded during the Australian Gold Rush of the 1850’s?

Answer 3

Penfolds and Lindemans

Question 4

What are the four cornerstones of Australian Winemaking?

Answer 4

Technical Proficiency
Mechanical Harvesting
Irrigation
Blending

Question 5

What do many of Australia’s luxury bottlings have in common?

Answer 5

They are frequently made from old vine parcels - because of Australia’s success in isolating phylloxera, there are many very old vineyards (150+), planted on their own rootstocks.

Question 6

What vintages were terribly affected by drought in the 2000’s?

Answer 6

2003
2006
2007
2008
2009

Question 7

What is the purpose of Wine Australia?

Answer 7

To oversee the wine industry: regulate label language, define wine regions, moderate export and trade, and promote the wine.

Question 8

What is the original name of Wine Australia? When was it founded, and when did the name change?

Answer 8

The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, founded in 1981 to define GI’s and oversee the Register of Protected Names. The name changed in 2010.

Question 9

When was the Label Integrity Program introduced, and what does it do?

Answer 9

1990
Currently, if stating vintage, varietal, or region, 85% of the wine must comply.
If listing a multi-vintage wine, all vintages must be listed, in descending order of importance.
If listing a blended wine, only the grapes making up 85% must be listed, but the others can, as long as no listed variety makes up a smaller percentage than the rest.
If listing a wine blended across regions, all regions must be listed in descending order of importance.

Question 10

What changed in the Label Integrity Program in 2010?

Answer 10

Previously, all grapes must be listed, regardless of %.

Question 11

When does the Southern Hemisphere harvest occur in relation to the Northern Hemisphere harvest?

Answer 11

6mos EARLIER, so the new release of SH wines will always hit the shelves first.

Question 12

Wine regions in Australia are defined as what?

Answer 12

Geographical Indications (GIs), and listed on the Register of Protected Names

Question 13

What are the requirements for a GI, and what are the relative sizes?

Answer 13

Divided into Zones, Regions, and Subregions. Each must comprise five independently owned vineyards of at least 5ha each, with a minimum output of 500tons annually.

Question 14

What is South Eastern Australia?

Answer 14

A “superzone” encompassing Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and parts of South Australia and Queensland, formed as a response to the EU directive that varietal wines have a single place of origin.

Question 15

If a wine is labeled as Australia, may the producer include vintage or varietal for export to the EU?

Answer 15

NO

Question 16

Queensland: official and unofficial GI’s

Answer 16

(clockwise from 11:00)
South Burnett GI
Sunshine Coast & Hinterlands
Brisbane & Scenic Rim
Gold Coast & Hinterlands
Granite Belt GI
Darling Downs

Question 17

Granite Belt: climate and natural features

Answer 17

Subtropical but very high altitude (700M+), fraught with spring frosts and rain at harvest.
Great Dividing Range
Granite Belt (200 year old granitic intrusion, running down into New England Australia, sometimes called the New England Tableland)

Question 18

South Burnett: climate and natural features

Answer 18

Subtropical and continental, with more growing season rainfall than any other continental climate in the country.
Burnett River (north)
Blackbutt, Brisbane, and Coast Ranges (east)
Great Dividing Range (south)

Question 19

What is Australia’s coolest growing region?

Answer 19

Tasmania

Question 20

What is Tasmania’s most notable product?

Answer 20

Traditional Method sparkling wine

Question 21

Northern Tasmania Unofficial Subzones

Answer 21

(west to east)
North West Coast
Tamar Valley (generally achieves ripeness earlier, making it more suitable for late ripening varieties)
Pipers River (within Tamar, better for early ripening varieties)

Question 22

Where is Jansz, who founded it, and who owns it now?

Answer 22

Jansz is in Pipers River (northern Tasmania)
Founded as a collaboration between Heemskerk (Tassie) and Louis Roederer, now owned by Hill-Smith Family Vineyards (Yalumba).

Question 23

What is the relationship between Michael Hill Smith and Robert and Sam Hill Smith?

Answer 23

They are second cousins. Robert and Sam own Yalumba; Michael took the buy-out check when they took over and founded Shaw + Smith.

Question 24

Southern Tastmania Unofficial Subzones

Answer 24

(west to east)
Huon Valley
Derwent Valley
Coal River/Richmond (longer sunlight hous, can ripen later maturing varieties)
East Coast

Question 25

What major European wine regions can Tasmania be compared to?

Answer 25

Champagne and the Rheingau

Question 26

When was Langton’s Classification published, and what does it classify?

Answer 26

1990
Specific bottlings (as opposed to producers); must be made for 10 vintages, and is based heavily on the wine’s value on the secondary market.

Question 27

Top five varieties, by planting:

Answer 27

Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Merlot
Semillon

Question 28

What term replaces Sherry?

Answer 28

Apera

Question 29

What is dekkera bruxellensis, and when and where was it mapped?

Answer 29

Brettanomyces; isolated by the Australian Wine Research Institute in 2011.

Question 30

What is Regulated Deficit Irrigation?

Answer 30

RDI is a system that creates water stress during key periods of the vine’s development by lower the total amount of applied water; limits vegetative growth, lowers yields, and encourages fruit coloration and smaller berries. Good for red wines. Minor water savings.

Question 31

What is Partial Rootzone Drying?

Answer 31

A system that alternates the application of water from one side of the rootzone to the other, reducing water use by 50%. Similar results in terms of heightened grape quality, but does not lower yield in the same way.

Question 32

What is significant about Australia’s federation in 1901?

Answer 32

It removed interstate trade barriers, allowing wineries access to all major cities, leading to SA’s taking the lead in production and several other regions shrinking or ceasing in production as a result.

Question 33

Who are the four largest producers in Australia?

Answer 33

Accolade (Constellation AUS/Hardy’s)
Treasury
Casella
Pernod Ricard