Australia

Question 1

How would you generally describe Australia’s climate categories?

Answer 1

Cool maritime to warm Mediterranean to hot and arid.

Generally it has a hot and dry interior and is cooler near coast

Question 1

Australia is a large country.

It is about the same size as which other country?

Answer 1

The continental United States

Question 2

Despite the general warm climate in South Australia, the region can make some zingy Rieslings thanks to what?

Answer 2

Elevation, particularly in Adelaide Hills.

Question 3

Australia has a few ocean currents, and the one that cools down the southern coast of Australia and Tasmania comes from where?

Answer 3

Antarctica, or the Southern Ocean

You don’t have to know their names for the exam, but you can read more about the 4 ocean currents that affect Australia HERE.

Question 4

Terra Rossa is commonly found in what South Australian wine region?

Answer 4

Coonawarra

While not unique to Coonawarra, this well-drained red terra rossa topsoil provides optimal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 5

Why is Australia so keen on blending?

Answer 5

• It can help regulate/assure quality and a sense of brand consistency by blending over vast tracts of land, often spread over several states.
• This blending philosophy is seen in mass-market wines to the highest levels of quality in Australia, including the iconic Penfolds Grange, a Shiraz introduced by Max Schubert in 1951 as Grange Hermitage.

Unlike most luxury wines, Grange, a renowned wine and one of the first New World collectible bottlings, is generally blended from many vineyards across several regions—a testament to the Australian style.

Question 6

True or False.

100+ year old vines exist in Australia.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Australia’s interior is hot and arid.

Is irrigation even allowed in the country’s interior?

Answer 7

Yes - irrigation is necessary in the country’s. interior

Question 8

Where are Australia’s “best” vineyards located?

Answer 8

Near the cooler coast.

Question 9

“Traditional” Australian wines are blended across regions and states, often with which type of oak?

Answer 9

American oak

Question 10

“Modern” Australian wine is focused on a Single GI/site using which type of oak?

Answer 10

French oak

Question 11

Rutherglen is best known for what style of wines?

Answer 11

Fortified wines

In particular its Muscat.

Question 12

What are the 5 most common white grape varieties in Australia?

Answer 12

1. Riesling
2. Chardonnay
3. Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend
4. Semillon (Hunter)
5. Muscat

Question 13

What are the 3 top red grape varieties found in Australia?

Answer 13

1. Shiraz
2. Grenache
3. Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 14

Australia uses the GI wine classification system, and the GIs refer to what?

Answer 14

A geographic place of origin only.

There are no other wine laws in Australia.

Question 15

Fill in the blank.

Australia follows the ____% rule if they put the grape variety, vintage, and origin on the label.

Answer 15

85%

Question 16

In descending order, how is Australia’s GI wine classification system structured?

Answer 16

• Australia
• State
• Zone
• Region
• Sub-Region

More specificity as the region gets smaller.

Question 17

In Australia, what is the name of the high-volume Super Zone that allows producers to blend freely from across several states?

Answer 17

South Eastern Australia GI

Encompasses all of Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, along with the winegrowing areas of South Australia and Queensland.

Question 18

What are the 4 major Australian GIs you need to know for the exam?

Answer 18

1. New South Wales GI
2. Victoria GI
3. South Australia GI
4. Western Australia GI

Question 19

Where is Tasmania GI?

Answer 19

150 miles off the southern coast of Australia.

Question 20

In South Eastern Australia GI, which 2 nested GIs do you need to know?

Answer 20

1. Riverina GI
2. Murray Darling GI

Both are heavily irrigated and focus on bulk wine production (Murray Darling more so on inexpensive fortified wines).

Question 21

Which nested GI in New South Wales GI do you need to know?

Answer 21

Hunter Valley GI

Question 22

What white grape variety is Hunter Valley GI known for?

Answer 22

Semillon

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 makes an iconic one.

Question 23

Which nested GI within Australia’s Victoria GI do you need to know?

Answer 23

Yarra Valley GI

Question 24

Which nested GI within Western Australia GI do you need to know?

Answer 24

Margaret River GI

Question 25

Name 2 famous wine producers in Margaret River GI.

Answer 25

1. Vasse Felix 2. Leeuwin Estate

Question 26

Which 5 nested GIs in South Australia GI do you need to know for the exam?

Answer 26

1. Barossa Valley GI 1. McLaren Vale GI 1. Clare Valley GI 1. Eden Valley GI 1. Coonawarra GI

Question 27

What is arguably Australia's most famous wine?

Answer 27

Penfold's Grange ## Footnote A Shiraz introduced by Max Schubert in 1951 as Grange Hermitage.

Question 28

The first vines in Australia were planted when and where?

Answer 28

* 1788 * Near Sydney

Question 29

Economic recession and phylloxera befell Australia in the latter half of the 19th century, harming the wine industry, but officials took strict and immediate measures to combat the spread of phylloxera by confining it to which areas?

Answer 29

Victoria and a portion of New South Wales.

Question 30

What style of wine dominated Australia's production until the late 20th century?

Answer 30

Sweet/fortified wines

Question 31

Screwcaps, also known as STELVIN® closures, were developed and produced by which French company in Burgundy, France?

Answer 31

Le Bouchage Mécanique

Question 32

When Yellow Tail launched, it followed what's called a Blue Ocean Strategy. What is Blue Ocean Strategy?

Answer 32

A business strategy methodology to explore uncontested marketplaces – ‘blue oceans’, where there is plenty of open space.

Question 33

What food pairs best with a ripe Australian Shiraz?

Answer 33

Intense grilled or barbecued meat.

Question 34

When food and wine pairing, most Clare or Eden Valley Rieslings can be swapped in for Sauvignon Blancs from this country.

Answer 34

New Zealand

Question 35

Which North American AVA's Pinot Noirs parallel Yarra Valley Pinot Noir?

Answer 35

Willamette Valley

Question 36

Which North American AVA's Chardonnays parallel Yarra Valley Chardonnay?

Answer 36

Sonoma Coast

Question 37

# Fill in the blank. Margaret River Bordeaux blends are elegant like wines from \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 37

Bordeaux

Question 38

Which producer in Clare Valley GI makes benchmark Australian Riesling?

Answer 38

Grosset

Question 39

Describe a describe Barossa/McLaren Vale Shiraz.

Answer 39

* Rich, textural, full body and tend toward jam or dried fruit flavors. * Opaque, dense, heavily extracted, and full of dark fruit and chocolate. ## Footnote Keep these descriptors handy when talking about red wines from Barossa and McLaren Vale.

Question 40

Name 2 iconic Shiraz from McLaren Vale.

Answer 40

1. D’Arenberg 'Dead Arm' Shiraz 1. Clarendon Hills 'Astralis' Shiraz

Question 41

Name 2 iconic Grenache from McLaren Vale.

Answer 41

1. Yangarra 'High Sands' Grenache 1. Drew Noon Grenache-based 'Eclipse'

Question 42

Name 2 iconic Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Answer 42

1. Wolf Blass 'Platinum Label' Medlands Vineyard Shiraz 2. Tomfoolery 'Artful Dodger' Shiraz

Question 43

Name 2 regions known for bulk wine in Australia.

Answer 43

1. Murray Darling GI 2. Riverland GI

Question 44

Name 2 premium wine regions in South Australia.

Answer 44

1. Coonawarra GI 2. McLaren Vale GI