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Approximately how many wineries are there in Australia?
1,100
Which winery didn’t feature as one of James Halliday’s ‘dark horses’ in his Australian Wine Competition 2010:
Bobtail Ridge Wines
Bobtail Ridge Wines featured in the ten of the ‘best new wineries’ category. The ten ‘dark horses’ are: Chrismont, Eden Springs, Glen Eldon Wines, Helm, Oranje Tractor, Poacher’s Ridge, Smallfry Wines, Warrarong Estate, Watershed Wines, Wills Domain.
How much wine do Australians consume each year?
500 million litres of wine
There is a history of small amounts of wine being made by Aboriginal people in Oz.
False. Vines aren’t native to Australia.
Who was Australia’s first vigneron?
Captain Arthur Philip, RN
Captain Arthur Philip, RN later the first governor, was in command of the penal colony in New South Walse and was in effect Autralia’s first vigneron. The First Fleet, which Phillip led to New South Wales, comprised eleven small ships totalling 3890 tons, and carried an extremely disparate group numbering just over 1000 men, women and children- convicts and free men. The hazardous voyage took eight months with stops at Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope, where supplies for the new settlement were taken aboard. Included in these supplies were vine cuttings and grape seeds which were to be planted on arrival.
What was described as ‘the AIDS of grapevines’?
Phylloxera.
Phylloxera vastatrix, a parasitic aphid which lives on and destroys grapevines, was discovered at the village of Fyansford in the Geelong area. This marked the beginning of one of the great natural disaster of Australian winemaking history. Phylloxera came from North America, which had its own indigenous grapevines which are resistant to the embrace of the louse. It was presumably transported across the Atlantic in soil, probably around the roots of vine carried from America. It spread like wildfire among grapevines unable to cope with it. They were weakened by its effects, which did not kill the vine itself, but it poisoned the roots of the vines, welcoming the attack of other predators and disease. The Victorian Government ordered the destruction of all Geelong vines. This was unsuccessful as the disease spread anyway and the vineyards of Geelong were totally ruined. The phylloxera could wreak yet more havoc on Australia’s vineyards. Careless planting and interstate transfer of grapes, agricultural machinery and cuttings could well trigger a new disaster.
“Australian wine has a different problem to Bordeaux [when it comes to the DWWA].” Hugh Johnson said in his column for Decanter. What is this problem?
It is judged in the UK by its entry-level wines
Hugh Johnson says in May 2011 column for Decanter Magazine, “It is judged in the UK by its entry-level wines, seen mostly in supermarkets and regularly discounted. How would Bordeaux fare if all we saw were big brands and petits chateaux? £9 for an Aussie wine looks a lot; £29 a fortune.
How many biodynamic producers are there in Australia?
110
Which Australian winemaker won the most gold/silver and bronze awards at this year’s DWWA?
Yalumba
Although the other two wine makers also won awards, Yalumba won the most with 11 awards: 2 golds, 5 bronzes and 4 silvers.
Which of the following is not an Australian winery name:
Diggers Dog
The vineyard Diggers Dog isn’t an Australian winery. The wines called Watch Dog, Top Dog and Stray Dog belong to a winery called Diggers Bluff. (But Digger is the name of the hound!)
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