What are the main growing regions for sparkling wines in Australia?
- Tasmania
- Yarra Valley
- Adelaide Hills
- Apline regions of Victoria and New South Wales
Which Australian wine region is the leader in quality driven sparkling wines?
Tasmania
How much of Tasmania’s total grape production goes to sparkling wine?
40%
What are the 3 growing regions on Tasmania?
- Tamar Valley
- Pipers River
- Coal River Valley
What makes the regions on Tasmania unique from each other?
- Tamar Valley is warmer than Pipers River since it is sheltered from the Southern Ocean
- While the southern end of the island is much cooler than the north, Coal River Valley is the warmest area
True or False,
Most of the large producers in on the Island of Tasmania are only sourcing fruit from whichever region they are in?
False, most of them are actually sourcing fruit from all over the island to get the volumes necessary and for blending purposes
What are some of the climate and disease factors that growers on Tasmania need to be on the look out for
- Spring Frost
- High rain
- Coulure in the early part of the growing season
- Botrytis later on after the rains
Fruit for inexpensive sparkling wine comes from which areas on mainland Australia?
- Riverland
- Riverina
- Murry-Darling
Are the red grapes grown for sparkling red wines grown in cooler sites as well? (Australia)
No, they are grown in the warmer regions like Victoria, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.
So if the red grapes are grown in the warmer regions in Australia, they are picked earlier, right?
No, the style of sparkling red wines requires richness and intensity of flavor. Thus the grapes are generally picked at the same time as those destined for still wines.
What is something unique some of the producers growing grapes on Tasmania do with their base wines?
Not all of the producers growing grapes on Tasmania actually finish producing the wine on the island. Most of the larger producers ship their base wine/juice across the sea to mainland Australia
What are the common tasting notes for traditional method sparkling wines from Tasmania?
- Med (+) to high acid
- Medium Alcohol
- Med (-) to Med (+) body and flavor (depending on style and lees aging)
- Wines may undergo MLC (winery dependent)
- Lighter styles will have softly fruity
- Fuller bodied styles will be more autolytic
Inexpensive to mid-range Australian sparkling wine may be made by what methods?
- Carbonation
- Tank
- Transfer
What are the main grape varietals for Transfer/Tank/Carbonation method wines in Australia?
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Moscato
- Glera/Prosecco
True or False,
Sparkling Shiraz is made using the Traditional Method, Transfer Method, Ancestral Method and Carbonation?
False, while it can be made using the Traditional, Transfer and Carbonation methods, it is not made using the Ancestral Method.
How much sugar generally in the final wine for sparkling shiraz? why?
There is generally about 20 g/l of residual sugar.
This is done to balance out the tannins and high alcohol on the palate
What is the growing sector for sparkling wines in Australia?
Sparkling Moscato, especially Sparkling Pink Moscato
How are high quality sparkling Moscato made vs inexpensive to mid-priced sparkling Moscato?
- High quality sparkling Moscato is made using the Tank Method
- Inexpensive to mid-priced Moscato is made using Carbonation
What is the rapidly growing and important segment of the wine market in Australia?
Australian Prosecco
Where is the main region of production for Australian Prosecco?
King Valley
How much of the domestic market for wines in Australia is made up by sparkling wine?
11%
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Standard Options in Sparkling Wine Making33
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Champagne97
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Othere Traditional Method Sparkling Wines in France4
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Cremant d'Alsace20
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Cremant de Bourgogne17
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Loire Valley22
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Cava51
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Sparkling Wines in Italy6
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Franciacorta21
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Trentodoc23
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Prosecco42
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Asti28
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Lambrusco26
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Germany33
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England and Wales17
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USA24
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Chile8
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Argentina18
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South Africa16
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Australia21
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New Zealand10
