WSET® Level 4 D3 Wines of the World > D3 - Australia 3: Western Australia > Flashcards

D3 - Australia 3: Western Australia Flashcards

Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Western Australia. (19 cards)

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1
Q

Swan Valley is historically known for growing grapes that go into what styles of wine?

A
  • Inexpensive wines
  • Fortified wines
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2
Q

What moderates the South West Australia Zone?

A
  • Ocean breezes
  • Elevation
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3
Q

What are the two regions of South West Australia Zone you need to know for the exam?

A
  1. Margaret River
  2. Great Southern
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4
Q

What bodies of water surround the peninsula of Margaret River?

What effects do they bring to the region and to the wine?

A
  • Indian Ocean + Southern Ocean
  • Indian Ocean not as cool as Southern Ocean so days stay warmer longer and nights don’t cool down as much
  • Wines have ripe fruit flavors
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5
Q
  • What is the annual rainfall of Margaret River?
  • When does it fall?
A
  • High → 1000 mm
  • Winter

The growing season is relatively dry.

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6
Q

Describe the topography of Margaret River.

A
  • Relatively flat with some gentle hills and valleys
  • A low ridge runs down the center of the region which gives shelter to vineyards to the east → slightly warmer conditions
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7
Q

What are the soils of Margaret River?

A
  • Free-draining, gravelly soils (irrigation is essential)
  • Low in fertility which moderates vigor
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8
Q

What are the main red and white grapes of Margaret River?

A
  • Red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
  • White – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
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9
Q

Select the correct answer:

Malo in Margaret River Chardonnays tends to be:

a. Blocked
b. Full

A

a. Blocked

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10
Q

Name two significant producers in Margaret River.

A
  • Leeuwin
  • Moss Wood
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11
Q

What are the various climates found in Great Southern?

A
  • Maritime along the coast
  • Higher elevations north/inland
  • Frankland River is continental with large diurnal range
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12
Q

In Great Southern, many vineyards are dry-farmed or need only minimal amounts of irrigation EXCEPT in this drier region.

A

Frankland River region
* Irrigation may be difficult in low-lying areas due to high salinity levels in the soil, so water is therefore pumped in from further away

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13
Q

Select the correct answer.

Rainfall levels during the growing season in Great Southern are:

a) 800mm
b) 500mm
c) 220-350mm

A

220-350mm
* Denmark sees ~350mm while Frankland River sees ~220mm

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14
Q

What winemaking technique do winemakers in Great Southern use on their Shiraz?

A

Whole bunches to enhance fruit and floral aromas.

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15
Q

Fill in the blank:

The microclimates of Great Southern vary greatly, which means the wine styles from these regions ______.

A

Also vary greatly

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16
Q

Which five companies dominate Australia’s wine production?

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A
  1. Treasury Wine Estates
  2. Accolade Wines
  3. Casella Family Brands
  4. Pernod Ricard
  5. Australian Vintage
17
Q

What areas of the industry does Wine Australia cover?

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A
  • Export
  • Marketing
  • Education
18
Q

What is the clone of Chardonnay used in Margaret River in Western Australia?

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A

Gingin

named after a town in Western Australia

19
Q

Describe the characteristics of the Gingin clone of Chardonnay used in Western Australia.

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A
  1. Small berries
  2. Prone to millerandage
  3. Poor fruit set
  4. Low yields, which contribute to the wine’s unique texture, weight, and body thanks to the higher skin-to-juice ratio.
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