Australia Flashcards
(67 cards)
Australia History
- First vineyards were planted in New South Wales in the late 18th century
- Commercial viticulture established in multiple areas across the south between 1820 and 1840
- Phylloxera caused serious setbacks in Victoria
- Recovered quickly but shifted towards foritfied wines from warm regions
- Fine wine gained in prominence with advent of temperature-controlled fermenters in the mid 1950s
Australia Climate
- Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent with a hot desert interior that is inhospitable to viticulture
- Most wine regions are clustered in the southeastern part of the continent in temperatre latitudes near the major cities
Australia Soil Type
Ancient, eroded and nutrient-poor soils with great diversity
Australia Grape Varietals
White:
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Riseling
Red:
- Shiraz
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Grenache
- Pinot Noir
Australia Viticulture
- Vine growing is concentrated in cooler coastal areas moderated by the Southern and Indian Oceans. Vineyards are also planted in cooler high-elevation areas
- Irrigation is imperative, especially for turning vast interior Outback into land hospitable for vine growing
- The warm, dry climate tends to produce very ripe grapes. It is important–though often difficult–to maintain adequete natural acidity for achieving balance in finished wines
- The combination of artisanal and industrial wineries is an important factor in Australian wine production
Australia Vinification
- Australia’s wine industry has long been a world leader in technological development, partly due to a strongly innovative culture and partly because expansion could only be achieved through mechanization due to labor shortages
- Emphasis on technical precision has also manifested itself in a braod tendency to produce wines in a very clean, fruit-driven style
- Oak aging: Traditionally, American oak was prevalent, but use of French barriques has become increasingly common
- Acidification is often employed to counterbalance the effects of the country’s warm climate
- Australia has long been a global leader in alternative packaging and closures, from bag-in-box to screw caps for still wines and crown caps for sparkling wines
Australia and Large Scale Blending
Vineyards and wineries in Australia are often widely separated. Graped are frequently trucked hundreds of miles to a winery for vinification. many wines are blending from multiple growing sites far removed from one another, with the objective of attaining consistent flavors from year to year. This practice is not limited to bulk production. Indeed, some of the Australia’s most esteemed wines are made by this method, including the iconic Penfolds “Grange”. Blending grapes and regions is crucial to the consistency and quality of Australian wine.
Australian Labeling Laws
The Label Integrity Program of Australia requires an 85% minimum across the board
- 85% stated grape variety on label
- 85% stated vintage on label
- 85% stated region on label
Australian Appellation System
Geographic Indications (GI) -Australian GIs define geographical areas much like AVAs of the United States
GI Categories:
- Country Australia
- South-Eastern Australia
- State of Origin
- Zones
- Regions
- Sub-Regions
New South Wales Geography
Eastern Australia near Sydney
New South Wales Climate
Cooler and wetter near the coast, dry and arid inland
New South Wales Topography
The Great Dividing Range runs north to south, separating the wet coastal regions from the dry interior
New South Wales Important GIs
- Hunter Valley - Hunter GI
- Riverina GI
Hunter GI Geography
North of Sydney
Hunter GI Cliamte
- Hot and humid; among the warmest climates in Australia
- Moderated by wind and the cooling effect of the sea
Hunter GI Topography
Gentle, flat river valley
Hunter GI Grape Varieties
White (60% of production):
-Semillon
Riverina GI Geography
Far inland on the western side of the Great Dividing Range in the fertile river lands. Riverina is the largest wine region in Australia
Riverina GI Climate
Hot and very humid in some areas
Riverina GI Grape Varietals
White:
- Semillon
- Chardonnay
Red:
- Shiraz
- Merlot
Riverina GI Viticulture
- Riverina represents 50% of Australian wine production
- Irrigation from nearby rivers is required for viticulture in this area to succeed
Riverina GI Vinification
Riverina is most known for bulk table wine production but also produced foritfied wines and botrytis-affected dessert wines
Victoria Geography
Southeastern Australia, with Melbourne being the most important metropolis
Victoria Climate
A broad range, extending from cool, coastla maritime to continental, which can be very hot when remote from the Southern Ocean
