South Australia Flashcards
(32 cards)
Adelaide Super Zone encompasses which zones?
- Barossa Zone
- Fleurie Zone
- Mt. Lofty Ranges Zone
(ASZ represents the centerpiece of S. Aus winemaking)
Barossa Zone GI’s
Barossa Valley GI
Eden Valley GI
High Eden GI- Sub Region of Eden Valley
Worlds oldest Shiraz vine
Langmeil’s “Freedom” Vineyard
Planted 1843
Oldest Cab Sauvignon vines?
Penfolds “Block 42”
Planted 1888
Barossa Old Vine Charter
The charter is designed to promote the preservation and sustainable use of Barossa’s old vineyards.
4 categories of age:
* Old vines - at least 35 years old
* Survivor vines- at least 70 years old
* Centenarian vines- at least 100 years old
* Ancestor vines- at least 125 years old
Barossa Valley GI
- Aus. largest fine wine region and 4th largest region
- First plantings in 1840’s
- Warm and hot continental, significant diurnals
- Shiraz, Cab, Grencahe, Chardonnay, Semillon, Mataro
- Deep loamy clay soils
- Follows the North Para River
- Underground water reserve
- Producers- Penfolds, Peter Lehman, Torbreck, Two Hands, Wolf Blass
Which river cuts through Barossa Valley?
North Para River
True or False: Wines labelled “Barossa” may be a blend of Barossa Valley and Eden Valley grapes
True
South Australia sits at which latitude?
32-36 degree latitude
Name the 2 main gulfs of South Australia
Spencer Gulf (North)
Gulf of St. Vincent (Adelaide)
Barrel aging in South Australia
If wines are oak aged they’re traditionally aged in American oak hogsheads (300 liters) although many producers are now implementing more and more French oak barriques. Co-fermentation with Viognier, in the style of Côte-Rôtie, is on the increase as some look to brighten and lift the wines, fixing color in the process. Puncheons (500L) are also used. The type (American or French) and new percentage varies producer to producer. Certain regions like Barossa are known for having heavier oak where McLaren Vale has strived in recent years to showcase geographical distinction rather than fruit ripeness, oak, etc.
Who owns Mt. Edelstone Vineyard and where is it located?
Henschke - Eden Valley
Planted in 1912
First single vyd. wine produced in 1952
Eden Valley GI
- High Eden GI subregion
- Higher elevation 380-500m
- Soil- Red clay hills. Weathered rocks, gravel in clay, granite outcrops.
- Pewsey Vale planted in 1847 by Joseph Gilbert
- Riesling, Chardonnay, Viognier, Shiraz and Cab
- Reds generally planted in the North at lower warmer elevations and whites in the cooler South (in and around High Eden GI subregion).
- Producers- Henschke, Pewsey Vale, Yalumba, Mountadam
- Pewsey Vale/Mountadam are in High Eden GI
Fleurieu Zone GI’s
- McLaren Vale GI
- Langhorne Creek GI
- Currency Creek GI
- Kangaroo Island GI
- Southern Fleurieu GI
Currency Creek GI
- Maritime climate
- West of Lake Alexandria at the mouth of the Murray River
- Sand or loam over poorly structured clay
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Chardonnnay
- First plantings-1969
- Producers Currency Creek Estate, Angus Wines, Stonemason
Langhorne Creek GI and Currency Creek GI are on which lake?
Lake Alexandria
Kangaroo Island GI
- Across the narrow Backstair Passage
- Soil- Red/brown sand over limestone
- Shiraz, Cab, Sangio, SB, Chardonnay
Langhorne Creek GI
- Flat region on northern side of Lake Alexandria
- Soil: Deep alluvial sandy loam/silt
- First planted 1860
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Chard, Riesling
- Bremer and Angas Rivers
Southern Fleurieu GI
- Peninsula directly south of Mclaren Vale on the Backstair Passage
- Sandy and clay loam over limestone, gravel over limestone
- Southern Ocean and Gulf of St. Vincent
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Chard, SB
McLaren Vale GI
- Directly south of city of Adelaide
- Soil- Red/brown loam is dominant but also known for seven “Terrances” - an area where one rock or groups of rocks is prevelant.
- Warm mediterranean climate with significant variation
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Grenache, Chardonnay. More French oak used than American for Shiraz and Cab.
- First commercial plantings: 1838 Chateau Reynella
- Producers: D’Arenberg, Clarendon Hills, Mollydooker, Kay Brothers, Cht. Reynella
- Grenache in MV performs well in the sandy areas of Blewitt Springs and Kangarilla, mostly raised in 300L hogshead and 500L puncheons.
Mt. Lofty Ranges Zone- GI’s
-
Adelaide Hills GI-
Subregions- Lenswood GI , Piccadilly GI - Adelaide Plains GI
- Clare Valley GI
Adelaide Hills GI
- Mt. Lofty is highest elevation- 727m
- Soil- Grey loamy
- Southern Mt. Lofty Ranges, separate the city of Adelaide from the Adelaide Hills GI
- Wet and cool climate
- PN, Merlot, Sytah, SB, Chard, PG
Adelaide Plains GI
- North of Adelaide city
- Ocean is to the west
- Plains stretch east to Barossa Valley
- Warm climate, hot dry summers
- Soil: Red/brown sandy loam with patches of clay
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, SB, Chard.
- Italian grapes grown due to immigration- Sangio and Moscato
- Producers: Ceravolo, Primo Estate, Penfolds Magill Estate Experimental Grange was made here in 1951 and kept secret until the 1960 vintage
Clare Valley GI
- Higher elevation 400-550m
- North (warmer) part is influenced by warming breezes Spencer Gulf where the south is cooled by Gulf of St. Vincent.
- Mt Lofty Ranges
- Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Riesling, Chard
- Vines first planted 1840 at Hope Farm, but first commercial plantings occurred in early 1850s at Sevenhill Cellars and Spring Vale (now Annie’s Lane)
- Soil: Slate (Polish Hill) and Terra Rossa over limestone (Watervale)
- Producers- Grosset (Polish Hill Vineyard slate), Wendouree, Jim Barry (Florita Vineyard), Petaluma (Hanlin Hill Vineyard)
- First region in Australia to adopt screw caps. Kilikanoon was the first winery to use screw caps on all of its wines
