Australia

Question 1

What climates do the main Australian wine growing regions have?

(2 points)

Answer 1

Warm or Hot

Question 2

Which 3 main bodies of water temper of the climates of many Australian growing regions?

Answer 2

1) Indian Ocean
2) Murray River system
3) Southern Ocean

Question 3

What cools regions such as the Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley?

Answer 3

Altitude

Question 4

Why is irrigation essential in most Australian growing regions?

Answer 4

Annual rainfall is low

Question 5

What is the most significant climatic problem in Australia?

Answer 5

Drought

Question 6

Name the significant risk created by hot, dry conditions which is unique to Australian vineyards.

Answer 6

Bush fires

Question 7

What are the two main risks to grape growing caused by bush fires?

Answer 7

1) Damage to or destruction of the vineyard area

2) Smoke from the fires coming into contact with the grapes and causing a pungent taint in the wines

Question 8

Why does Tasmania have a cooler climate than the other Australian growing regions?

Answer 8

It has a more southerly latitude

Question 9

What is the principal grape variety of either colour in Australia?

Answer 9

Shiraz

Question 10

Which grape is widely grown in most Australian regions?

Answer 10

Shiraz

Question 11

What climate does the Hunter Valley have?

Answer 11

Hot

Question 12

What climate does the Barossa Valley have?

Answer 12

Warm

Question 13

• What style of Shiraz do regions such as Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley produce?

(2 points)

• Other than fruit, name 2 common aromas in these wines.
• What is a typical aroma of these wines with age?

Answer 13

• Full-bodied and intensely fruity
• Earth and spice
• Leather

Question 14

How do some winemakers make more ‘restrained’ styles of Shiraz in the hotter regions of Australia?

Answer 14

By controlling the level of extraction in the winemaking process

Question 15

• Name two Australian regions which make a leaner, more peppery style of Shiraz.
• Why is this style prevalent there?

Answer 15

• Geelong and Heathcote

- Their climates are on the cooler side

Question 16

What is a common way of balancing bolder, fuller styles of Shiraz with leaner, more austere styles in Australia?

Answer 16

By combining them in a multi-regional blended wine

Question 17

In Australia, which grape is often used to bring softness and body to blends with Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 17

Shiraz - it performs a similar role to Merlot in Bordeaux

Question 18

Name the Australian grape variety:

• Dark
• Firm tannins
• High acidity
• Ripe black fruit character (blackcurrant, black cherry)

Answer 18

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 19

Name the two main classic regions for Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

Answer 19

1) Coonawarra

2) Margaret River

Question 20

True or False: Merlot is usually used for unblended, varietal wines in Australia.

Answer 20

False: Merlot is typically found in blended wines, most often with Cabernet Sauvignon - it adds body and fleshy, plummy fruit.

Question 21

Name the 3 regions which arguably produce the best Pinot Noir in Australia.

Why does it grow so successfully in these places?

Answer 21

• Yarra Valley
• Mornington Peninsula
• Tasmania

They are cool/moderate regions

Question 22

Name the Australian variety:

• Medium body
• Medium alcohol
• Medium-high acidity
• Cherry and strawberry flavours

Answer 22

High-quality Pinot Noir

Question 23

What is the Australian name for Mourvèdre?

Answer 23

Mataro

Question 24

Name 3 late-ripening varieties which thrive in Australia’s hot regions.

Answer 24

• Grenache
• Petit Verdot
• Mataro (Mourvèdre)

Question 25

Name an example of a variety from: 1) Italy 2) Spain which has gained in popularity in Australia in recent years.

Answer 25

1) Sangiovese | 2) Tempranillo

Question 26

Why are some Mediterranean grape varieties now popularly grown in Australia? (2 points)

Answer 26

They are well adapted to: - High summer temperatures - Limited water supply

Question 27

Name the 3 categories of Australian GI, from largest to smallest geographical area.

Answer 27

Zones - Regions - Sub-regions

Question 28

What type of Australian GI can cover either part of a state, a whole state or several states?

Answer 28

Zones

Question 29

Are zones usually named on Australian wine labels? | 2 points

Answer 29

No - but the notable exception is Barossa

Question 30

Coonowarra, Clare Valley and Margaret River are all examples of which type of Australian GI?

Answer 30

Regions

Question 31

What naturally defines a ‘region’ in the Australian GI system?

Answer 31

It must have consistent and distinct qualities to other neighbouring regions.

Question 32

Why might an Australian region be split into sub-regions?

Answer 32

If there are notable areas that have distinct and unique qualities.

Question 33

What quirk of the Australian GI system, regarding regions and zones, gives producers a variety of options when making up their blends?

Answer 33

Some regions are covered by several zones - e.g. Eden Valley region is in the Barossa zone, which is within the zone of South Australia, which is turn is within the zone of South Eastern Australia.

Question 34

Name the 8 largest ‘zones’ in Australia.

Answer 34

- Western Australia - Northern Territory - Queensland - South Australia - South Eastern Australia - New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania

Question 35

What is the most planted white grape in Australia?

Answer 35

Chardonnay

Question 36

Which Australian wine is being described? - Blend of fruit from different regions - Either unoaked for peachy flavours, or oaked with chips or staves to give toast and vanilla hints

Answer 36

Basic, mass-produced Chardonnay