D3 - Australia 1: Overview + South Australia

Question 1

In what year did vines first arrive in Australia?

Answer 1

1788

Question 2

Who was James Busby?

Answer 2

A native Scotsman who is considered to be the father of Australian wine. He brought over vines from Europe on his first trip to Australia in the early 1830s.

Question 3

Vineyards in Australia are spread over a large area and have a wide range of different climates.

What are the latitudes of most vineyards in Australia?

Answer 3

30° – 37°S, the equivalent to southern Europe in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 4

What is the climate of Murray-Darling?

Answer 4

Hot continental

Question 5

Outside of Murray-Darling, most vineyards in Australia are situated closer in relation to what?

Answer 5

Cooling influences – Pacific and Indian Oceans, and altitude where available.

Question 6

What is the name of the mountain range that runs from Queensland to western Victoria?

Answer 6

The Great Dividing Range

Question 7

Name a pro and a con regarding the cool ocean breezes that affect Australian vineyards.

Answer 7

• Pro: reduce risk of frost
• Con: can disrupt fruit set

Question 8

The Great Dividing Range protects many of southeastern Australia’s vineyards from what?

Answer 8

Tropical weather systems that come from the Pacific and the northeast.

Question 9

Why is Australia a favorable place to grow wine grapes generally?

Answer 9

It has intense sunshine, relatively low rainfall, and in most areas, low humidity (which means low disease pressure).

Question 10

What are the two main environmental threats to Australia’s winegrowing regions?

Answer 10

• Drought
• Bush fires

Question 11

Select the correct answer:

Most of Australian viticulture is:

a. Hand-harvested only
b. Heavily mechanized

Answer 11

b. Heavily mechanized

Question 12

What are the advantages of mechanized harvesting in Australia?

Answer 12

• Cuts down on labor costs
• Covers big areas in short amount of time
• Easily done at night
• Grapes can arrive at winery quickly

Question 13

Cite 3 reasons why an Australian winemaker would hand harvest even though most vineyards are flat enough to machine harvest.

Answer 13

1. Limit grape splitting and crushing
2. Maintain whole bunches
3. Greater selection at time of picking

Question 14

• What is the issue many soils have in Australia?
• How can this issue affect vines?

Answer 14

• High salinity – not enough rainfall to wash it away
• Saline soils make it challenging for vines to get the nutrients it needs → reduced vine growth and possibly vine death

Question 15

• Which areas of Australia have remained free of phylloxera?
• In which areas is phylloxera present?

Answer 15

• Phylloxera-free: South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania
• Phylloxera present: Victoria, New South Wales

Question 16

Name four areas/regions in Australia that have high humidity.

Answer 16

1. Adelaide Hills
2. Southern Victoria
3. Hunter Valley
4. Parts of Tasmania

Question 17

What are the main vineyard pests in Australia?

Answer 17

• Birds
• Kangaroos

Question 18

Select the correct answer:

Due to the climate of Australia, most grape varieties achieve optimum ripeness:

• In a narrow window of time
• In a wide window of time

What does that mean for harvesting timing?

Answer 18

• In a narrow window of time
• Harvest must be done as quickly and efficiently as possible (machine harvesting helps with this a lot)

Question 19

What are the five key red grape varieties in Australia?

Answer 19

1. Shiraz
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
3. Merlot
4. Pinot Noir
5. Grenache

Question 20

Name the six most crushed white grape varieties in Australia.

Answer 20

1. Chardonnay
2. Sauvignon Blanc
3. Pinot Gris
4. Semillon
5. Muscat Gordo Blanco (Muscat of Alexandria)
6. Colombard

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Question 21

• Higher alcohol, fuller-bodied Shiraz notably come from these two hotter regions in Australia.
• Medium alcohol, less full-bodied Shiraz comes from these two cooler regions in Australia.

Answer 21

• Hotter regions: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale
• Cooler regions: Yarra Valley, Grampians

Question 22

What winemaking techniques are Australian winemakers using to make less intense, more approachable styles of Shiraz?

Answer 22

• Reducing amount of extraction
• Whole-bunch fermentation
• Using less oak

Question 23

How does Cabernet Sauvignon taste different from Shiraz?

Answer 23

Cabernet Sauvignon will be higher in acidity and tannins than Shiraz, with ripe black fruit aromas of cherry and blackcurrant.

Question 24

What winemaking techniques do Australian winemakers use to enhance the complexity, balance, and texture of their Chardonnays?

Answer 24

• Using ambient yeasts
• Leaving a high level of solids in fermentation
• Barrel fermentation and/or barrel maturation (typically French oak)
• Lees aging
• Malolactic depends on the climate where the grapes were grown and the style of wine desired (hotter region may block malo whereas cooler regions may encourage it)

Question 25

Pinot Grigio in Australia can be found in the neutral, Veneto-style and in the riper, Alsatian-style. How can you tell which style the wine is just by looking at the label?

Answer 25

The label will read either ‘Pinot Grigio’ (Italian style) or ‘Pinot Gris’ (Alsatian style) to reflect the style of wine that's in the bottle.

Question 26

What is the hierarchy of Australia's winegrowing areas (GIs)?

Answer 26

From largest to smallest: **Zones**: large areas which can cover a state or several states with similar climatic conditions (e.g. South Eastern Australia). **Regions**: smaller than zones in size, but wines must demonstrate consistent and recognizable traits that differ from nearby regions (e.g. Margaret River, Clare Valley). **Subregions**: smallest in size, these areas must be within one region and have distinct traits, such as climate, topography, or soil (e.g. Polish Hill River subregion within Clare Valley).

Question 27

If an Australian wine is labeled with a GI and has a stated vintage or grape variety, what percent of the stated vintage and grape variety must be in the bottle?

Answer 27

85%

Question 28

What regions does the South Eastern Australia Zone cover?

Answer 28

The entirety of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania along with the south-eastern corners of South Australia and Queensland.

Question 29

# Select the correct answer: The majority of wines that come from the South Eastern Australia Zone are: * Inexpensive, high-volume wines * Mid-priced, medium-volume wines * Premium, small-volume wines Where do most of the wines come from?

Answer 29

**Inexpensive, high-volume wines** from the **Murray-Darling Basin**.

Question 30

What are the three main winemaking regions that are nested in the Murray-Darling Basin?

Answer 30

1. Riverland 2. Murray-Darling 3. Riverina

Question 31

What are the two main grapes grown in the Murray-Darling Basin?

Answer 31

1. Shiraz 2. Chardonnay

Question 32

* What is the predominant soil type in the Murray-Darling Basin? * Is irrigation allowed here or no?

Answer 32

* Predominantly sandy soils * Yes, irrigation is allowed and essential here

Question 33

* What is the name of the area in Riverina known for making sweet, botrytized Semillon? * If Riverina is so hot, how does botrytis set in?

Answer 33

* **Griffith** is the area * Griffith's **autumns bring rainfall, humidity, and morning mists but its afternoons stay warm and sunny**, setting up for successful botrytis conditions.

Question 34

Which Australian state is the largest wine-producing state by volume?

Answer 34

**South Australia** – it produces ~50% of the total weight of harvested fruit across the country

Question 35

Where within the state of South Australia are most wineries found?

Answer 35

In the southeastern corner near the coast.

Question 36

The state of South Australia is its own Zone (South Australia Zone) – what are four of its well known, nested smaller zones?

Answer 36

1. Barossa Zone 2. Mount Lofty Ranges Zone 3. Fleurieu Zone 4. Limestone Coast Zone

Question 37

The Barossa Zone is split into two regions:

Answer 37

1. Barossa Valley (valley floor) 2. Eden Valley (hills)

Question 38

Why would a winemaker blend Eden Valley Shiraz into Barossa Valley Shiraz when you'd think it would be more prestigious to make the wine just from Barossa Valley?

Answer 38

Eden Valley Shiraz brings elegance and higher acidity to the intensity and bigger bodied Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Question 39

Why does Barossa Valley get so warm?

Answer 39

It's protected by hills on three sides: 1. Low hills to the west 2. Eden Valley hills to the east 3. Adelaide Hills to the south

Question 40

# Select the correct answer: In Barossa Valley, both rainfall and disease pressure are: a. Low b. Moderate c. High

Answer 40

a. Low

Question 41

What is the general profile of Barossa Valley Shiraz, and what flavors emerge as it ages?

Answer 41

* Full-bodied * High in alcohol * High levels of soft tannins * Pronounced ripe (cooked or dried) black fruits * As it ages, spicy, leathery aromas emerge

Question 42

Name two important Barossa Zone producers.

Answer 42

1. John Duval 2. Glaetzer Wines

Question 43

How is Eden Valley different from Barossa Valley in regards to topography, rainfall, and wind?

Answer 43

Eden Valley: * has **higher rainfall** * is **hilly and more exposed** * the **wind in those exposed sites can be strong enough to affect flowering and fruit set** (sites on the valley sides are more sheltered)

Question 44

Name two important producers in Eden Valley.

Answer 44

1. Henschke 2. Pewsey Vale

Question 45

Briefly describe an Eden Valley Riesling.

Answer 45

* Dry * High acidity * Medium alcohol * Fermented in stainless steel to preserve purity of citrus (lemon and lime) and floral aromas

Question 46

What are the two important regions of the Mount Lofty Ranges Zone?

Answer 46

1. Adelaide Hills 2. Clare Valley

Question 47

What are the characteristics of the Adelaide Hills region?

Answer 47

* Variety of soil types and aspects (mechanization restricted, site selection important) * Moderate Mediterranean climate * Proximal to the ocean * Low latitude means intense sunlight → riper fruit flavors

Question 48

What is the rainfall in Adelaide Hills, and how does it affect the grapes?

Answer 48

* High rainfall during growing season (280-320 mm) * Higher rainfall = humidity levels are relatively high, making fungal diseases and rot a concern

Question 49

Which white grape variety is Adelaide Hills known for?

Answer 49

**Sauvignon Blanc – tends to have ripe fruit aromas** more than herbaceous aromas

Question 50

What environmental factors make grape growing so successful in Clare Valley?

Answer 50

* Warm climate with hot summers tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights (**wide diurnal range**) * Vineyards planted **300 – 500 m** * Valleys with ridges produce a **variety of microclimates**

Question 51

What are the two areas within Clare Valley known for their Rieslings? What are the soils like in each area?

Answer 51

1. Polish Hill – slate soil 2. Watervale – limestone soil

Question 52

Name two important producers in Clare Valley.

Answer 52

1. Jim Barry 2. Wendouree

Question 53

Why is the maritime influence in Fleurieu Zone so strong? What exactly is the influence?

Answer 53

**Two bodies of water surround Fleurieu Zone**, which is a peninsula: 1. **Gulf St Vincent (north)** 2. **Southern Ocean (south)** Influence is **cooling breezes that temper the warm Mediterranean climate**.

Question 54

* What is the most famous appellation within Fleurieu Zone? * What is its most planted grape?

Answer 54

* McLaren Vale * Shiraz

Question 55

What are McLaren Vale Shirazes like? Give a brief description.

Answer 55

* Deeply colored * Full-bodied * High alcohol * Pronounced dark fruit flavors * Earthy and spicy notes * Many have oak spice characteristics * Hotter, lower sites exhibit cooked or jammy flavors while higher elevation wines exhibit higher acidity and tannins

Question 56

Explain the diversity of microclimates found in McLaren Vale.

Answer 56

* **Proximity to the water** influences vineyard climate; * **Elevation**: vineyards are planted between sea level (hotter) to ~350 m (cooler); * **Different soils** – poorer in north, more fertile in south (hence higher yields).

Question 57

# Select the correct answer: Which one is McLaren Vale dominated by? a. Large vineyards b. Smaller-scale producers How does each approach harvesting, especially considering Shiraz and Grenache are vigorous?

Answer 57

* Large vineyards * Larger vineyards planted on flatter land allow machine harvesting (at night when grapes are cooler; higher yields) * Smaller-scale producers will hand pick (selection, whole cluster, smaller yields)

Question 58

Important McLaren Vale producers include:

Answer 58

* Hardys * Yangarra * Mollydooker

Question 59

With McLaren Vale being a warm to hot growing region that relies on irrigation, combined with Australia generally suffering from lack of rain for several years, what sorts of **innovations** are winemakers pushing forward in the vineyards?

Answer 59

Sourcing water from sustainable resources: dams, boreholes and recycled wastewater from Adelaide.

Question 60

_Limestone Coast Zone_ 1. What is its climate? 2. What moderates the temperature here? 3. Is it mostly hilly or flat?

Answer 60

1. **Cooler climate**, but summers can still be warm and some days can be occasionally hot 2. **Sea breezes and cool nighttime temps** moderate the climate 3. **Mostly flat**, so there is still **some maritime influence** that extends inland

Question 61

What is the most significant appellation within Limestone Coast Zone?

Answer 61

Coonawarra

Question 62

_Coonawarra_ 1. What is its climate? 2. Is it flat or hilly? 3. What moderates its temperatures?

Answer 62

1. Mediterranean climate 2. Flat 3. Afternoon sea breezes and cloud cover moderate temps

Question 63

# Select the correct answer. Rainfall in Coonawarra is: a. Low (~260 mm/year) b. Moderate (~600 mm/year) c. High (~1200 mm/year) Is Coonawarra irrigated?

Answer 63

* Low * Irrigation is widely used (source: underground aquifers)

Question 64

What are 3 environmental hazards found in Coonawarra?

Answer 64

1. Rain at flowering (affects fruit set) 1. Strong winds (can affect flowering) 1. Spring frost

Question 65

What comprises the terra rossa soils of Coonawarra?

Answer 65

**Free-draining iron-rich loam; ~50cm/20" deep, over hard limestone base** (roots at times struggle to penetrate, which restricts water access).

Question 66

# Select the correct answer: Coonawarra's terra rossa soils are: a. Slightly acidic b. Slightly alkaline

Answer 66

b. Slightly alkaline ## Footnote This restricts uptake of several nutrients.

Question 67

What effect does Coonawarra's terra rossa soils – being slightly alkaline and hard to penetrate – have on the grapes?

Answer 67

**Grapes are concentrated** and grow at **lower yields**.

Question 68

Describe a typical Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Answer 68

* Medium to full bodied * Medium alcohol * High levels of firm tannins * Concentrated aromas of dark fruit (cassis, plum) * Mint and eucalyptus notes * Oak spice

Question 69

Name two important producers in Coonawarra.

Answer 69

1. Wynns 2. Katnook

Question 70

Regions in the rain shadow of The Great Dividing Range receive **very low levels or very high levels** of rainfall?

Answer 70

Very **low** levels

Question 71

What are the 2 principal black grape varieties grown in Clare Valley?

Answer 71

1. Shiraz (35%) 1. Cabernet Sauvignon (21%)

Question 72

Why would a winemaker in Australia label a Syrah 'Syrah' instead of 'Shiraz'?

Answer 72

1. Some winemakers feel that the name Syrah offers a **more accurate description of what’s in the bottle** 2. For others, it’s a marketing choice, as **some feel that Syrah has a better reputation than Shiraz**.

Question 73

In Australia, what are 6 key winemaking considerations that producers keep top of mind when crafting a warm-climate Shiraz (vs. a cool-climate Syrah)?

Answer 73

1. **Age of vines** - older vines may be better able to adapt + withstand extreme conditions while maintaining balance 2. **Picking time** - many winemakers are looking for grapes with mature tannins, but that are not starting to shrivel to keep freshness 3. **Extraction management** - many are using gentler extraction techniques to create elegance 4. **Blending** - many are blending with sites that offer brighter acidity and spice notes 5. **Oak usage** - the amount of oak can vary according to the power of the fruit 6. **Alcohol level** - many winemakers are dialing back alcohol levels by adjusting picking times and blending

Question 74

In Australia, what are 6 key winemaking considerations that producers keep top of mind when crafting a cool-climate Syrah (vs. a warm-climate Shiraz )?

Answer 74

1. **Longer growing season** - in cooler regions, harvest can be up to a month later than in warmer regions 2. **Picking time** - some winemakers are harvesting earlier, rather than chasing over-ripeness in cool regions (Syrah does not struggle to ripen in Australia’s cooler regions) 3. **Site selection** - within cooler regions some sites may be warmer or cooler, resulting in different flavor profiles for blending or style options 4. **Whole bunch fermentation** - some are using this technique to emphasize Syrah’s peppery aromatics 5. **Co-fermentation** - as in the Northern Rhône, some wines are co-fermented with white grapes to increase the aromatic complexity 6. **Oak usage** - new oak is less common as winemakers prioritize grape aromatics over oak flavors