CSW Chapter 18- Australia

Murray, Darling , and Murrumbidgee

3 main rivers of Australia

Great Dividing Range

Main mountain range of Australia, parallels the southeastern coast from Melbourne to Brisbane

Tasmania

Coolest wine growing region of Australia

Persia

Where did the name Shiraz come from? Named for a city in which country?

Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Mourvèdre, and Grenache

Top 5 red grapes of Australia

Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Riesling, Semillon, Viognier, Pinot Gris

6 top white grapes of Australia

GI

System of wine classification in Australia. No restrictions on viticultural or winemaking procedures.

114

How many GIs are in Australia?

Wine Australia

Governing body over the GI system

85%

Proportion for:

• % of grapes that have to be grown in a stated appellation

• Vintage dates

• Single grape varieties

Multistate, state, zone, region, subregion

5 layers of GI categorization, from largest to smallest

Region and subregion

2 layers of GI categorization that require some type of viticultural homogeneity

Stickies

Local name for a dessert or fortified wine made in AUS

South Eastern Australia

Multi-state GI encompassing the entirety of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australia Capital Territory- along with a portion of South Australian and a narrow swath of southern Queensland. Covers mainly commercial vineyards.

South Australia

GI responsible for half of the country’s total wine output. Has varying geography and has many subregions, most famously Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, and McLaren Vale to name a few

Clare Valley

• GI of South Australia

• 1300-1640 ft elevation

• Most widely planted grape is Shiraz

• Most known for high quality, intensely flavored and age-worthy dry Riesling

Barossa Valley

• GI of South Australia

• Avoided phylloxera

• Some of the oldest vine and wineries in the county

• Known for powerful reds based on Shiraz

Eden Valley

• GI of Southern Australia

• Higher elevation, cooler climate, but high sunshine and extended growing season

• Shiraz, Cab, and dry Riesling

McLaren Vale

• GI of South Australia

• Near city of Adelaide, stretches from the Gulf of St Vincent to the Mount Lofty Ranges

• Mediterranean climate

• Known for Shiraz, but also grow Cab, Grenache, and Chard

Coonawarra

• GI of South Australia

• Best known of the Limestone Coast Zone, region famous for terra rossa (bright red soil)

• Produces distinctive Cab

Riverland

• GI of South Australia

• One of the largest producing in terms of volume, large wine brands based here

• Shiraz, Chard, Cab, Merlot, Petite Verdot

New South Wales

• state on the east coast of Australia

• Surrounds Sydney

• 1800s- James Busby planted some of the first European vines here

• Home to Wyndham Estate- one of the country’s oldest wineries, established in 1827

• Leading GI subregions include Hunter Valley, Mudgee, and Riverina

Hunter Valley

• GI of NSW, just north of Sydney

• Hot and humid area, but with afternoon sea breezes

• Known for Semillion, aka Hunter Riesling or Hunter Honey

• Other grapes include Verdelho, Shiraz, Cab

Mudgee

• GI of NSW

• Named for Aboriginal name for “nest in the hills”

• 2000 ft elevation, sunny and less humid

• Deep/intense reds from Cab, Shiraz, and Merlot

• One of the first areas in AUS to produce varietal Chard

Riverina

• GI of NSW

• Name means “river-crossed plain”, rivers are Murray and Murrumbidgee

• Largest in land area

• Lots of bulk wine, including Yellow Tail

• Humid, misty mornings with dry, warm afternoons= Semillon-based dessert wines

Victoria

• smallest and coolest climate state of AUS

• 1830s- vines were planted at Yering Station, followed by gold rush.

• 1870s- hit by phylloxera, doesn’t rebound until 1960s

• Famous subregions include Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen, Heathcote, and Murray Darling

Yarra Valley

• GI of Victoria

• Inland of Melbourne and following Yarra River

• Home to Yering Station and first commercial vineyards

• Close to Port Phillip Bay and col climate

• Known for Pinot Noir and Chard

Mornington Peninsula

• GI of Victoria

• Small, seaside region with maritime climate

• 200 small-scale vineyards and boutique wine producers

• 48% Pinot Noir, followed by Chard and Pinot Gris

Rutherglen

• GI of Victoria

• Hot, continental climate

• Leading region for fortified wine: Rutherglen Muscat is intensely sweet, fortified, well-aged, sometimes oxidized, made with Muscat Rouge a Petit Grains (aka Brown Muscat)

• Also makes a fortified wine using Muscadelle, served as an aperitif, called Topaque

Heathcote

• GI of Victoria

• Known for premium Shiraz

• Cool winds from Mount Carmel Ranges allow for extended growing season and optimum phenolic development

• Volcanic greenstone soils

Murray Darling

• GI of Victoria and NSW

• Warm-hot climate in flat/semi-arid plain with the Murray River

• Vermentino, Barbera, Nero d’Avola, and Sangiovese

Western Australia

• Covers only 7% of AUS wine, even though large state

• Surrounds the city of Perth

• Ocean-cooled sections are good for winegrowing

• Famous subregions include Margaret River, Great Southern, Perth Hills, and Swan District

Margaret River

• GI of Western Australia, most acclaimed region

• Sea breezes from Geographe Bay and Indian Ocean

• Cab and Shiraz do well, but known for Chardonnay and SB-Semillon blends

Great Southern

• GI of Western Australia

• 95 miles along the coast

• Riesling and PN best in the cooler areas, Cab/Shiraz/Chard better inland

Perth Hills

• GI of Western Australia

• Inland of Perth and along Darling Scarp, creates many different climates

• Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Chard, Semillon

Swan District

• GI of Western Australia

• Warm/hot Mediterranean climate, cooled by Fremantle Doctor (ocean breezes coming from Indian Ocean)

• Shiraz, Cab, Chard

Tasmania

• southernmost winegrowing area

• Coolest climate in all AUS

• Pinot Noir, Chard, PG, SB, Riesling

• Speciality of the area is sparkling wine

Queensland

• northeast corner of AUS, known for Gold Coast surfing, Great Barrier Reef, and Brisbane

• Small but growing wine industry

• Granite Belt GI- high elevation vineyards of Shiraz, Cab, Verdelho

• South Burnett GI- northernmost GI in the country on 26th parallel