Australia

Question 1

What are the most important Australian varietals?

Answer 1

• Shiraz
• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sémillon
• Riesling

Question 2

What’s the name of the government program that manages Australian wine?

Answer 2

The Label Integrity Program controls regional, varietal and vintage labeling.

Question 3

Where are the famous regions located in Australia?

Answer 3

• Hunter Valley
• Along the southern coast with cold southern oceans
• Mountainous areas where altitude leads to lower temps

Question 4

Where is Shiraz grown?

Answer 4

• Hot climates: Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale- Moderate climates: Heathcote, grown throughout Aust

Question 5

Where is Chardonnay grown?

Answer 5

• Yarra Valley
• Adelaide Hills
• Margaret RiverLike Shiraz, it’s very widely grown.

Question 6

Where is Pinot Noir grown?

Answer 6

• Yarra Valley

- Mornington Peninsula

Question 7

Where is Cab grown?

Answer 7

• Margaret River

- Coonawarra

Question 8

Where is Sauvignon Blanc grown?

Answer 8

• Adelaide Hills

Question 9

Where is Sémillon grown?

Answer 9

• Hunter Valley

Question 10

Where is Riesling grown?

Answer 10

• Clare Valley

- Eden Valley

Question 11

All are moderate climates except for three regions, what are those?

Answer 11

• Barossa Valley
• Hunter Valley
• McLaren Vale

Question 12

What are characteristics of Hunter Valley Sémillon?

Answer 12

• Dry
• Light in body
• Light in alcohol
• High in acidity
• Delicate citrus aromas in youth, verging on neutrality
• With age, it builds layers of complex toast, honey and nut flavors

Question 13

What are Sémillon wines from other areas like?

Answer 13

• Medium body to simple citrus to intensely vegetal and pungent

Question 14

What are the characteristics of the “South Eastern Australia” wines? What is the climate?

Answer 14

• From hot, inland areas with irrigation waters supplied by the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee rivers
• Allows blending across most of Australia’s wine producing regions
• the higher price ones have a higher proportion of fruit from the premium regions