South Australia - Barossa Zone - Barossa Valley
5 important questions on South Australia - Barossa Zone - Barossa Valley
Describe the geography and climate of Barossa Valley
- One of the largest wine regions of Australia.
- The protected plain gives it a warm hot climate with cooler nights
- Protected by:
- West: low hills
- East: Eden Valley
- South: steep parts of Mount Lofty Ranges aka Adelaide Hills
- Rainfall low, irrigation needed
- Disease pressure is low
- Most vineyards at 250-370m; ripe full bodied red wines
- on valley side it is a little cooler
Describe the soil and main grapes of Barossa Valley
- Complex variety of soils
- North: Ironstone layer good for water retention, for most age worthy wines
- Lack of phylloxera
- signature variety is Shiraz, 60%: dry farmed, low yielding bush vines
- World's oldest vines, also Grenache
- 2nd most planted is Cabernet Sauvignon
- 10% is white
What makes Barossa Valley Shiraz so unique?
- Planted in 1840, world's oldest vines
- Bush vines, dry farmed, own rootstock
- 60% of the harvest
- Full bodied, high %abv, high tannins, pronounced ripe black fruit
- Many aged in new American oak, but trend moving towards French oak
- Two styles: also fresher more elegant style.
- Can age, developing spicy, leathery aromas.
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Next to Shiraz, what other black grape varieties are important in Barossa Valley, why?
Grenache (old and new vines); for Rhône style blends
Barossa Valley has 10% of white plantings, which are they? What style of wine do they produce?
- Chardonnay: high quality, warm climate style; full bodied, ripe tropical fruit
- Semillon: distintive style; higher alcohol, lower acidity, more body vs Hunter Valley
- Premium wines are fermented and aged in French oak
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