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  • 135. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 2 - Barossa Valley and Coonawarra

    135. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 2 - Barossa Valley and Coonawarra
    2026/10/27
    Episode 135: Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 2 - Barossa Valley and Coonawarra Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 9 minutes 45 seconds Release Date: October 27, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If you are preparing for your WSET Level 2 exam, the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you realistic practice questions that mirror the format of the real test, so you can find your weak spots before exam day. Regions like Australia show up throughout the Level 2 book, and practising with exam-style questions is one of the best ways to push your result from merit to distinction. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, so it is easy to picture its wine coming from somewhere hot and dusty. In this episode, Joanne explains why that picture misses the mark. The country's most celebrated wine regions sit along the coast, at higher elevations, or both, and that is what makes quality wine possible. Joanne starts with the huge South Eastern Australia GI, home to regions like Riverland and Riverina and much of the inexpensive Shiraz and Chardonnay you see on supermarket shelves, including the famous "critter wines." She then contrasts that with Penfolds Grange, one of the world's most collectible Shiraz blends, and travels to the Barossa Valley to explore its warm climate, old vines, Shiraz, Grenache and GSM blends. The episode finishes in Coonawarra, the Cabernet Sauvignon heartland of South Australia. You will learn how its moderate maritime climate and famous terra rossa soil over limestone create Cabernet with black currant, mint and real ageing potential, and why the region is often compared to Bordeaux. What You'll Learn in This Episode Australia's Climate and Wine Geography Why Australia's best wine regions are found along the coast or at elevationThe five states that account for the principal wine producing regionsHow Australian wine law uses Geographical Indications (GIs) South Eastern Australia GI and Volume Wine Why this vast GI is behind many familiar supermarket winesAustralia exports more than half its production, 613 million litres in 2025Riverland alone covers 22,000 hectares, about four times the size of ChablisShiraz and Chardonnay dominate, and the story behind the critter wine labels of the 2000s Barossa Valley Shiraz and GSM Blends Warm climate, dry summers, around 35 degrees latitude and 11,600 hectares under vineOld vines dating back to the 19th century, with Shiraz making up half of plantingsThe key Barossa Shiraz style: full body, high ripe tannins, cooked blackberry and black cherry, black pepper, vanilla and coffee from oakGrenache, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and the GSM blends shared with the Southern RhôneSemillon in both lighter and full-bodied, oak-matured stylesPenfolds Grange as the benchmark premium Shiraz blend Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Location in the Limestone Coast zone, around 37.3 degrees latitudeModerate climate with cooling maritime influence, and the Bordeaux comparisonTerra rossa, the iron-rich red clay loam sitting over limestoneWhy good drainage matters for Cabernet SauvignonThe Coonawarra Cabernet style: black currant, herbal mint, smoke and coffee from oak, with ageing potentialShiraz and Merlot also grown in the region Episode Highlights and Quotes "Australia's most celebrated wine regions are all located either along the coast or have higher elevations or benefit from both." "Remember our Cabernet Sauvignon is very picky, and it doesn't like to get its roots wet. It likes good drainage." "If you master an area like Australia or South Africa or Chile or Argentina, areas that are maybe not on our radar all the time, they will definitely be on the test." A Note on Coonawarra's Terra Rossa Measurements In this episode, Joanne describes the Coonawarra terra rossa strip as approximately 27 kilometres long and 2 kilometres wide. That figure comes from Coonawarra Vignerons, the region's own winemaker association, and it is a credible source. You can read their description at https://coonawarra.org/our-landscape/ However, the WSET Level 3 textbook gives different measurements: 15 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide. If you are studying for a WSET exam, always go with the figures in your WSET textbook. Exam questions are written from the course materials, so that is the answer the examiners will be looking for. Barossa Valley vs Coonawarra Quick Reference Barossa ValleyCoonawarraLatitudeAround 35 degreesAround 37.3 degreesHectares under vineAbout 11,600About 5,800ClimateWarm, dry summersModerate, maritime influenceKey grapeShirazCabernet SauvignonOther grapesGrenache, Mataro, SemillonShiraz, MerlotKey featureOld vines from the 19th centuryTerra rossa over limestoneTypical styleFull body, ripe ...
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    10 分
  • 134. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 1 - Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula

    134. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 1 - Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula
    2026/10/20
    134. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 1 - Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 10:32 Release Date: October 20, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If you are preparing for your WSET Level 2 exam, the Mock Exam Bundle lets you practise with exam-style questions that cover the regions, grapes and wine styles you need to know, including Australia. Working through timed mock exams shows you where the gaps are before exam day, so you can focus your study where it counts. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Australia doesn't get its own chapter in the WSET Level 2 book. Its regions are scattered across the grape chapters, which makes the country hard to piece together. This is the first of three episodes that put modern Australian wine in one place, starting with Hunter Valley in New South Wales and two cool-climate regions near Melbourne, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula. Joanne explains why Hunter Valley Semillon works in a warm, humid climate, and why it can taste like it was oak aged after ten years in bottle even though it never touched a barrel. She also contrasts Hunter Valley Shiraz with the fuller Barossa style. Then she heads south toward Melbourne, where five degrees of latitude makes a big difference. She covers how elevation cools the Yarra Valley and how the sea cools the Mornington Peninsula, and why both regions are known for Pinot Noir and cool climate Chardonnay. What You'll Learn in This Episode Hunter Valley, New South Wales Why the Hunter Valley is called Sydney's backyard, about two hours north of the city, with a strong wine tourism sceneHow big it is: about 2,600 hectares under vine, less than half the size of ChablisHow it escaped phylloxera, so some old vines still grow on their original rootstocksJames Busby's role in bringing vines from FranceThe two key grapes, Semillon and Shiraz Hunter Valley Semillon Why thin-skinned Semillon faces fungal disease risk in a warm, humid climate with harvest rainHow early harvesting avoids that problem and gives light body, high acidity and 10 to 11.5% alcoholHow it changes with age: subtle lemon and citrus when young, then toast, honey and nut after 10 or more years in bottle, with no oakWhy it's so hard to find outside Australia, since most premium production is drunk at home Hunter Valley Shiraz vs Barossa Shiraz Hunter Valley Shiraz: medium body, red and dark fruit, savoury flavours with ageBarossa Shiraz: a fuller-bodied style The Latitude Shift From Sydney to Melbourne Hunter Valley sits at about 33 degrees south, and Yarra and Mornington Peninsula at about 38 degreesFive degrees is about 345 miles, roughly the distance from Naples to Verona Yarra Valley, Victoria About an hour east of Melbourne, with around 2,800 hectares plantedElevation up to about 400 metres as the main cooling influenceIts history: commercial wine production stopped by 1921, most vineyards were pasture by 1937, and the region revived with post-war European migrationKey grapes: Pinot Noir and cool climate Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula, Victoria About an hour and a half south of Melbourne, just under 1,000 hectares, about one-sixth the size of ChablisNo vineyard more than 7 kilometres from the sea, with maritime breezes moderating summer temperaturesHow the modern industry took off in the 1970s with Melbourne's demand for premium dry table winesKey grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris Episode Highlights and Quotes "But then something magical happens in the bottle." "This is Sydney's backyard." "Drink all the good stuff. That's fine." Quick Reference: Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula Hunter ValleyYarra ValleyMornington PeninsulaNearest citySydney, about 2 hours northMelbourne, about 1 hour eastMelbourne, about 1.5 hours southLatitudeAbout 33 degreesAbout 38 degreesAbout 38 degreesSizeAbout 2,600 haAbout 2,800 haJust under 1,000 haClimateWarm and humid, harvest rainCool, from elevation (up to about 400 m)Cool, maritimeKey grapesSemillon, ShirazPinot Noir, ChardonnayPinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris Size benchmark: Chablis has a little under 6,000 hectares planted. Resources Mentioned WSET Level 2 Award in Wines textbook Wine Educate Podcast episodes on Australian wine history Hunter Valley Semillon Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle - exam-style practice for WSET Level 2 students: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Wine Educate newsletter (this week's quiz answer: Alsace, the French region with a legally regulated use of Vieilles Vignes): https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Coming Up Next 135. Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 2 - Barossa Valley, Clare and Eden Valleys, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra The Australia ...
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    11 分
  • 133. Syrah/Shiraz Grape Guide - Same Grape, Different Names: Styles, Regions and Winemaking for WSET Level 2

    133. Syrah/Shiraz Grape Guide - Same Grape, Different Names: Styles, Regions and Winemaking for WSET Level 2
    2026/10/13
    Episode 133: Syrah/Shiraz Grape Guide - Same Grape, Different Names: Styles, Regions and Winemaking for WSET Level 2 Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 10:33 Release Date: October 13, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle Syrah and Shiraz show up all over the WSET Level 2 exam, from Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley to the Northern Rhône and the blends of Southern France. The Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you realistic practice questions in the same format as the real exam, so you can find your weak spots before exam day and walk in feeling prepared. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Related Episodes This episode touches on the Rhône, the Languedoc and the earlier Australian history episodes. If you want to go deeper, these pair well with it: Episode 78 - The LanguedocEpisode 81 - The Rhône Wine LawsEpisode 82 - The Northern Rhône, Part 1: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu & Château GrilletEpisode 83 - The Northern Rhône, Part 2: Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & CornasEpisode 84 - The Southern RhôneEpisode 85 - Exploring Five Key Southern Rhône Crus: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and TavelEpisode 131 - Australian Wine History: The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the FoundationsEpisode 132 - Australian Wine History - Why a "New World" Country Has Some of the World's Oldest Vines Episode Description The Australian wine series has reached the grape at its center. This episode is a full grape guide to Syrah/Shiraz, and it starts with a question students ask all the time: why does Australia call it Shiraz when most of the world calls it Syrah? Joanne explains the old theory that the grape came from the city of Shiraz in Persia, how that theory was circulating when James Busby collected his vines in 1831, and why Shiraz became the name that stuck in Australia. She then covers what DNA testing in 1998 revealed about where Syrah actually comes from. From there, Joanne covers the WSET Level 2 essentials: grape characteristics, how moderate and warm climates change the style in the glass, and what oak and bottle age add. She covers the three Australian regions you need to know for Level 2 (Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and South Eastern Australia) and then heads back to France for the Northern Rhône, the Languedoc's shift from bulk wine to quality, and the role Syrah plays in Southern French blends, including at her family's vineyard, Château Camplazens. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Australia Calls It Shiraz The theory that Syrah originated in the city of Shiraz in Persia, modern-day IranJames Busby's 1831 vine-collecting expedition and Syrah's arrival in Australia in 1832The early names and spellings, including Hermitage, a nod to the Northern Rhône vines Busby collectedWhy Shiraz became Australia's preferred name What DNA Revealed Parentage established in 1998 through DNA fingerprintingSyrah's parents: Mondeuse Blanche, a white grape, and Dureza, a black grapeSyrah is French, originating in southeastern France, not Persia Grape Characteristics (WSET Level 2) Small berries with thick skins, producing deeply colored winesMedium to high tannins and acidityBlackberry, black cherry and distinctive black pepper Climate and Style Syrah prefers warm to moderate climates and does not do well in cool climatesModerate climates (Northern Rhône, cooler sites in Victoria): medium body, fresh black fruit, more pronounced pepperWarm climates (Barossa Valley, Languedoc, Napa Valley): full body, cooked or stewed black fruit, licorice, higher alcohol, riper tannins Winemaking and Maturation Oak aging is common and helps soften tanninsOak adds smoke, spice, vanilla and coffeeWith bottle age: dried fruit, leather, meat and earth Australia's Key Shiraz Regions Barossa Valley, South Australia: warm climate, historic old vines, full-bodied wines with high alcohol and ripe tanninsHunter Valley, New South Wales: warm, but moderated by cloud cover and sea breezes, giving medium-bodied wines that develop earth and meat with ageSouth Eastern Australia GI: the warm inland regions of Riverland, Riverina and Murray Darling, home to large-volume, inexpensive ShirazShiraz is Australia's most widely planted grape and made up 23% of the national crush in 2025 Syrah in France Northern Rhône: 100% Syrah, with Viognier co-fermentation permitted in Côte-RôtieCôte-Rôtie's steep slopes and why everything there is done by handHermitage, a single hillside making concentrated wines, and Crozes-Hermitage, the surrounding land making a generally lighter styleHow the Languedoc moved from high-yield Carignan, Aramon and Cinsault to quality plantings including Syrah in the 1980s and 90sSyrah as a blending partner for Grenache, adding body, structure and colorMinervois AOC blends and varietal ...
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    11 分
  • 132. Australian Wine History - Why a "New World" Country Has Some of the World's Oldest Vines

    132. Australian Wine History - Why a "New World" Country Has Some of the World's Oldest Vines
    2026/10/06
    Episode 132: Australian Wine History - Why a "New World" Country Has Some of the World's Oldest Vines Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: [Insert Duration] Release Date: October 6, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle Barossa Shiraz and Eden and Clare Valley Riesling are classic Australian wines that come up on the WSET Level 2 exam. The Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you realistic practice questions in the same format as the real exam, so you can find your weak spots before exam day and walk in feeling prepared. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description In part two of the Australian wine history series, Joanne follows the vines as they spread out from New South Wales. Australia is roughly the size of the United States, so this part of the story reads more like a migration map: wherever people settled, vines went with them. In Victoria, the 1851 gold rush grew the population sixfold in a decade and created something every wine industry needs, which is customers. In South Australia, a free settler colony attracted farmers, tradespeople and families, including German settlers who brought their viticultural knowledge and their vines. That is why Riesling grows in the Eden and Clare Valleys today. Joanne also tells the story of how the Barossa got its name, typo and all. Then phylloxera arrives. Joanne explains what this tiny insect does to vine roots, why Victoria's wine industry slumped when it hit, and how South Australia's early vine protection laws kept the insect out completely. The result is that a country we've long called "New World" still has 19th century vines in the ground. These vines are now protected by the Barossa Old Vine Charter, and many of them are planted to Shiraz. What You'll Learn in This Episode How Vines Spread Across Australia Why the distances between Australian wine regions matter, from Sydney to Melbourne to AdelaideHow the spread of vines followed patterns of settlement and immigration Victoria and the Gold Rush Victoria becoming a separate colony from New South Wales in 1851How the gold rush increased the population sixfold between 1851 and 1861Why consumer demand has such a big influence on the wine industry South Australia and the German Settlers Why South Australia was founded in 1836 as a free settler colony rather than a penal colonyVines planted near Adelaide by 1837How German settlers brought their agricultural traditions, viticultural knowledge and grapevinesWhy Riesling is grown in the Eden and Clare ValleysHow the Barossa was named after a battle in Spain, and the spelling mistake that stuck Phylloxera in Europe and Australia What phylloxera is and how it damages the roots of Vitis viniferaThe identification of phylloxera in 1868 as European vineyards were devastatedSouth Australia's strict vine protection legislation in 1874, passed before phylloxera reached AustraliaPhylloxera's discovery in Victoria in 1877 and the slump that followed as the gold ran out The Barossa Old Vine Charter Why South Australia remains phylloxera freeThe 2009 Barossa Old Vine Charter and its four categories of old vinesWhy so many of these ancient vines are Shiraz, the grape James Busby brought from France Episode Highlights and Quotes "The gold rush doesn't just create miners, it creates towns, wealth, restaurants, hotels, agriculture, and most importantly for wine producers, customers." "This, friend, is why we have Riesling in the Eden and Clare Valleys." "They survived economic booms and busts. They survived changes in wine fashion, generations of growers, and crucially, they survived phylloxera because it never reached them." Australian Wine History Quick Reference 1836: South Australia established as a free settler colony 1837: Vines being planted near Adelaide 1851: Victoria becomes a separate colony, and gold is discovered 1851 to 1861: Victoria's population increases sixfold 1860s: European vines begin dying from an unknown cause 1868: Phylloxera identified as the cause 1874: South Australia passes strict vine protection legislation 1877: Phylloxera discovered in Victoria 2009: Barossa Old Vine Charter created Barossa Old Vine Charter Categories Old Vine: 35 years or older Survivor Vine: 70 years or older Centenarian Vine: 100 years or older Ancestor Vine: 125 years or older Resources Mentioned Episode 131: Australian Wine History - The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the Foundations Barossa Old Vine Charter James Busby Australian Wine Class at Wine Educate, October 20, at The Independent in New Orleans Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle - realistic practice questions to prepare for the WSET Level 2 exam: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Coming Up Next Episode 133: Australian Wine History - [Insert Title] Joanne turns to the...
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    10 分
  • 131. Australian Wine History: The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the Foundations

    131. Australian Wine History: The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the Foundations
    2026/09/29
    Episode 131: Australian Wine History: The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the Foundations Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 10:28 Release Date: September 29, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle Australia comes up again and again on the WSET Level 2 exam, from Hunter Valley Semillon to Barossa Shiraz. The Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you realistic practice questions in the same format as the real exam, so you can find your weak spots before exam day and walk in feeling prepared. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description This episode kicks off a new series on Australian wine, and Joanne starts at the very beginning. To really understand why Australia grows the grapes it does and makes the styles it makes, you need to know how vines got there in the first place. That story starts in 1788 with the First Fleet, a group of 11 ships carrying convicts, sailors, administrators and their families from England to establish a new settlement. Joanne explains why grapevines were packed alongside food crops and livestock, how the fleet collected vines on stops in Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope, and why those first plantings around Sydney Cove mostly failed. Then she introduces James Busby, who she calls Australia's first wine nerd. His trip through France and Spain brought back thousands of cuttings, including Semillon and Syrah taken straight from the northern Rhône, and helped turn the Hunter Valley into a serious wine region. Along the way, Joanne also looks at why many wine educators are moving away from the terms Old World and New World, and why Australian wine history makes that case so clearly. If you are studying for WSET Level 2 or Level 3, this history gives you a framework that makes Australian regions and grapes much easier to remember. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why "Old World" and "New World" Are Being Phased Out How these terms have traditionally been used in wine educationWhy organizations like the Court of Master Sommeliers have dropped them, citing historical accuracy, cultural bias and blurring stylistic differencesHow Australia's history challenges the idea of a "new" wine country The First Fleet and Australia's First Vines Why England sent convicts to Australia after the American colonies rebelledThe 11 ships that left Portsmouth on May 13, 1787, with around 750 convicts plus mariners, administrators and familiesWhy the grapevine was considered essential for building a European-style agricultural societyVines picked up in Brazil and South Africa, likely including Chenin Blanc, Semillon and Muscat varietiesThe move from Botany Bay to Sydney Cove in Port Jackson, where the first vines were planted Early Struggles Around 8,000 vines planted by 1791Why these early efforts largely failed without any viticultural expertise on board James Busby: Australia's First Wine Nerd His background in Edinburgh and his family's move to New South WalesStudying wine in France and writing a book about wine at age 24Receiving land in the Hunter Valley and becoming the de facto wine expertHis return trip to Europe and the thousands of cuttings he brought back from top vineyard sites in France and SpainIntroducing Semillon to the Hunter Valley and Syrah (Shiraz) from the northern Rhône Setting Up the Rest of the Series How vines spread from New South Wales into Victoria, South Australia and TasmaniaA preview of how phylloxera changed the significance of Australia's vineyards Episode Highlights and Quotes "Europeans didn't merely wanna survive. They're attempting to establish a European agricultural society." "Nobody knew what they were doing. I mean, there was no wine expert on this boat. There was no agricultural expert. They were convicts, administrators, and sailors." "What we really need here is a wine nerd to the rescue, and that is exactly who shows up in the form of James Busby." Australian Wine History Quick Reference 1787: 11 ships leave Portsmouth, England on May 13, stopping at Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope 1788: First vines planted at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson 1791: Around 8,000 vines reportedly planted in the area, most struggling to survive 1820s: Vines being planted in the Hunter Valley, with James Busby as a key early figure Busby's European trip: Thousands of cuttings from France and Spain, including Semillon and northern Rhône Syrah Mid 19th century: Vineyards spread into Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania Key grapes from this era: Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Muscat, Syrah (Shiraz) Resources Mentioned James Busby and his early book on wine and viticulture Court of Master Sommeliers Legend, an importer bringing Australian wines into the New Orleans market Australian Wine Class at Wine Educate, October 20, in the shop in New ...
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    10 分
  • 130. Italian White Grapes for WSET Level 2 Students: Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio, and Fiano

    130. Italian White Grapes for WSET Level 2 Students: Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio, and Fiano
    2026/09/22
    Episode 130: Italian White Grapes for WSET Level 2 Students: Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio, and Fiano Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 11:50 Release Date: September 22, 2026 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle This episode covers all four white grapes on the WSET Level 2 syllabus, which makes it a great time to test yourself with the Mock Exam Bundle. It includes full practice exams with detailed answer explanations so you can see exactly where you stand before exam day. It is one of the most efficient ways to reinforce the grape by grape details covered in this episode. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Joanne wraps up the Italian grape series with a road trip through the four white grapes that show up on the WSET Level 2 syllabus, Cortese, Garganega, Verdicchio, and Fiano. Rather than treating them as a list to memorize, she takes listeners on a roughly 675 mile drive across Italy, starting in Gavi in Piedmont and ending in Avellino in Campania, stopping at each grape's home region along the way. At each stop, Joanne describes the landscape, the local food, and the style of wine, from the crisp, high acid Cortese of Gavi to the richer, riper Fiano d'Avellino grown at elevation in Campania. Along the way she covers Soave and its volcanic soil, the appassimento method behind Recioto di Soave, the fennel note that shows up in Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, and the lees contact and oak that can shape Fiano. This episode closes out the Italian series, and Joanne previews what's coming next, a shift to the Southern Hemisphere with a full series on Australian wine, starting with the history of Australian wine next week. What You'll Learn in This Episode Cortese (Gavi, Piedmont) Dry, light bodied, high acidityAromas and flavors of blossom, lemon, apple, and pearUsually fermented in inert vessels to preserve freshnessGavi sits only 19 miles from the Ligurian Coast and was once a key trade route town for salt Garganega (Soave, Veneto) Dry, medium bodied, high acidityAromas and flavors of apple, pear, lemon, and peachGrown on volcanic soil around the medieval town of SoaveSoave Classico can develop tertiary notes of honey and almondsRecioto di Soave DOCG is made using the appassimento method, the same drying technique used for Recioto della Valpolicella Verdicchio (Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Marche) Dry, high acidity, medium bodyAromas and flavors of apple, pear, and lemon, plus a distinctive fennel noteElevation in the Marche helps preserve acidity despite the warmer latitudeBetter examples can develop tertiary notes of honey and nutsPairs beautifully with olive all'ascolana, stuffed and fried green olives Fiano (Fiano d'Avellino, Campania) Medium acidity, medium to full bodiedRiper aromas and flavors of peach, melon, and mangoGrown inland at elevation, around 300 to 600 meters, giving continental and mountain influenceLees contact can add bread and biscuit character, and oak can contribute smokeBetter examples develop tertiary honey notes with bottle ageLocal pairings include chestnuts, hazelnuts, truffles, and caciocavallo cheese Episode Highlights and Quotes "It's a little place with a surprisingly large wine reputation." "It is the most delicious peach in a glass you have ever had." "We have elevation here, altitude, which helps preserve acidity and therefore freshness in the styles of wines that are made." Quick Reference: The Four Italian White Grapes Cortese: Gavi, Piedmont. Light bodied, high acid, blossom and citrus. Garganega: Soave, Veneto. Medium bodied, high acid, apple, pear, and peach, volcanic soil. Verdicchio: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Marche. High acid, medium body, apple, pear, lemon, and fennel. Fiano: Fiano d'Avellino, Campania. Medium to full bodied, peach, melon, mango, lees and oak influence. Resources Mentioned Cortese, Gavi Garganega, Soave, Soave Classico, Recioto di Soave DOCG Verdicchio, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Fiano, Fiano d'Avellino Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle: full practice exams with detailed answer explanations to help you prepare for your WSET Level 2 exam. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Coming Up Next Episode 131: The History of Australian Wine Joanne kicks off a new series on Australian wine, starting with a look at how Australian wine history shaped the industry we know today. Connect with Wine Educate Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter - sign up for wine tips, quizzes, and episode updates delivered to your inbox every week. Website: https://www.wineeducate.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wineeducate Never miss an episode. Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and ...
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    12 分
  • 129. Montepulciano Grape Guide: Abruzzo, Cerasuolo & Italy's Underrated Red Grape

    129. Montepulciano Grape Guide: Abruzzo, Cerasuolo & Italy's Underrated Red Grape
    2026/09/15
    129. Montepulciano Grape Guide: Abruzzo, Cerasuolo & Italy's Underrated Red Grape Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 12:07 Release Date: September 15, 2026 Wine Educate Trips To learn more about our spring and summer trips, see all the details at https://www.wineeducate.com/trips Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If you are working toward your WSET Level 2 certification, the Mock Exam Bundle gives you practice exams that mirror the real thing, so you know exactly what to expect on test day. It includes detailed answer explanations to help reinforce tricky concepts like the ones covered in this episode. It is a smart way to check your readiness before you sit the actual exam. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Episode Description Joanne continues the series on Italian grape varietals with a grape that rarely gets top billing, but deserves more attention: Montepulciano. Before digging into the grape itself, she clears up one of the most common points of confusion in Italian wine, the fact that there is a grape called Montepulciano and also a town called Montepulciano in Tuscany, and the two have nothing to do with each other. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made from Sangiovese near the town of that name, while Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made from the actual Montepulciano grape, grown mainly in the Abruzzo region. From there, Joanne walks through why Montepulciano has never reached the household-name status of grapes like Sangiovese or Nebbiolo, despite being planted on roughly 30,000 hectares across Italy. She covers its character (deep color, medium acidity, high tannin, black plum and black cherry fruit), its late-budding and late-ripening nature, and the growing regions where it thrives, with a particular focus on Abruzzo. You'll also hear about the dramatic landscape of Abruzzo, from the Apennine Mountains and Corno Grande's glacier to the Adriatic coastline, and why that geography shapes the wine. Joanne also introduces Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, a deeply colored rosé style not covered in the WSET curriculum but well worth knowing, and highlights two producers, Tiberio and Emidio Pepe, who are proving Montepulciano can be far more serious than its commercial reputation suggests. Joanne also shares details on upcoming Wine Educate trips for the spring and summer, along with a live Zoom session where she will answer questions about traveling with her. You can see all the trip details at https://www.wineeducate.com/trips What You'll Learn in This Episode Clearing Up the Name Confusion Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: a Sangiovese-based wine from the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany, where the grape is locally called Prugnolo GentileMontepulciano d'Abruzzo: a wine made from the Montepulciano grape, grown in AbruzzoNo clear historical link found between the town name and the grape name Why Montepulciano Isn't a Household Name Roughly 30,000 hectares planted in Italy, compared to 6,000 to 7,000 hectares of NebbioloConsidered a workhorse grape rather than a noble grapeValued for high yields, deep color, and approachable wines that don't require years of agingOften used to add color and body in blends Grape Characteristics (WSET Level 2) Deeply coloredMedium acidityHigh tanninsBlack fruit flavors, especially black plum and black cherryBest known for producing Montepulciano d'AbruzzoMostly simple, fruity, inexpensive wines, though some are aged briefly in oak Growing Conditions and Key Regions Late budding, which helps avoid spring frostLate ripening, which requires a long, warm growing seasonConcentrated mainly in central Italy and parts of the southKey regions: Abruzzo, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Umbria, and LazioLimited plantings outside Italy, including some in California A Closer Look at Abruzzo Located on the Adriatic side of Italy, at the "calf" of the boot, bordered by the Apennine MountainsHome to Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines at just under 10,000 feet, and the southernmost glacier in EuropeCooling influence from both the mountains and the Adriatic SeaKnown as the Green Region of Europe, with three national parks covering about 270,000 hectaresStrong food culture built around sheep farming, cheese, and lambAbout 90 minutes from Rome by car via the A24, despite feeling like a completely different world Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo A deeply colored rosé made from Montepulciano, more intense than a pale Provence-style roséNamed for its cherry-like colorVersatile with food and easy drinking on its own Producers Worth Knowing Tiberio, led by Cristiana Tiberio, whose single-vineyard Colle Volta shows Montepulciano's potential for seriousness and ageabilityEmidio Pepe, founded in 1964, a longtime champion of indigenous grapes, traditional training, and organic farming in Abruzzo Episode Highlights and Quotes "It is not ...
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    12 分
  • 128. Sangiovese Grape Guide - WSET Notes on Italy's Most Planted Grape

    128. Sangiovese Grape Guide - WSET Notes on Italy's Most Planted Grape
    2026/09/08
    Episode 128: Sangiovese Grape Guide - WSET Notes on Italy's Most Planted Grape Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 8:55 Release Date: September 8 Join the Wine Educate Newsletter Get wine tips, episode updates, and exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle If you are studying for your WSET Level 2 exam, Sangiovese is exactly the kind of grape that shows up on the test, and the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle is built to help you practice recognizing details like this before exam day. It includes practice questions modeled after the real exam format, along with answer explanations so you understand not just what the right answer is, but why. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout Related Episodes If you want to go deeper into Tuscany, two earlier episodes pair well with this one. Episode 76 covers Chianti and Chianti Classico in detail, and Episode 77 covers the Super Tuscans. Both are available wherever you listen: Apple Podcasts: Episode 76 - Chianti vs. Chianti Classico: History, Laws, and Key Differences: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/76-chianti-vs-chianti-classico-history-laws-and-key/id1781687341?i=1000727079473 Apple Podcasts: Episode 77 - Super Tuscans 101: Tuscany's Bordeaux Blends: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/77-super-tuscans-101-tuscanys-bordeaux-blends-and/id1781687341?i=1000727407164 Episode Description Joanne dedicates this episode to Sangiovese, Italy's most widely planted wine grape. She starts with the WSET foundation basics: Sangiovese is a black grape most closely associated with Tuscany, producing dry red wines with high acidity, high tannin, and flavors of red cherry, red plum, and dried herbs. She explains why the grape's thin skins and late ripening make it particular about where it grows, and how it is often matured in oak to soften those tannins while developing savory notes like leather, meat, and game with bottle age. From there, Joanne moves into what makes Sangiovese such a fascinating grape to study: its sheer diversity. She walks through how the same grape shows up under completely different names depending on where in Italy it's grown, using Brunello di Montalcino and Prugnolo Gentile in Montepulciano as examples. To explain how this happened, she breaks down the difference between crossings, hybrids, and clones, and why clonal selection over generations is the reason Sangiovese developed so many regional identities that were once mistaken for entirely separate grapes. She closes with a look at where Sangiovese is heading, including the renewed focus in parts of Tuscany on showcasing indigenous Italian varieties, using Chianti Classico Gran Selezione as an example of that shift in style and philosophy. What You'll Learn in This Episode Sangiovese Fundamentals Grape characteristics: high acidity, high tannin, red cherry and red plum fruit, dried herb notesLate ripening and thin skins, and what that means for growing conditionsAging potential and development of tertiary characteristics like leather, meat, and game Sangiovese in Italy Represents roughly seven to eight percent of Italy's total vineyard area, according to the OIVTuscan appellations where it plays a starring role, including Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti/Chianti ClassicoOther Italian regions where it is significant, including Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Marche, and Lazio Understanding Grape Identity: Crossings, Hybrids, and Clones Crossings: two grapes of the same species combined to create a new variety, such as Cabernet SauvignonHybrids: grapes from two different vine species combined, such as Vitis vinifera crossed with Vitis labruscaClones: vegetative propagation of the same grape variety, which can lead to spontaneous mutations and different attributes over generations Sangiovese's Many Names Brunello in MontalcinoPrugnolo Gentile in MontepulcianoMorellino in MorellinoHow DNA fingerprinting confirmed these were all the same grape Sangiovese Beyond Italy Plantings in Argentina, particularly Mendoza, as well as California and AustraliaWhy its identity remains primarily Italian The Future of Sangiovese Renewed interest in better plant material, site selection, and understanding of the grapeChianti Classico Gran Selezione as an example, requiring a minimum of 90% Sangiovese with the remaining 10% coming from permitted indigenous red varieties Episode Highlights and Quotes "It's still the grape, Sangiovese. They are different clones." "Thanks to the magic of DNA fingerprinting, they have discovered that these are not different grapes, that they all are actually Sangiovese." "The main important question that is being asked is how good can Sangiovese become when we have better plant material, better site selection, and a better understanding of the grape." Quick Reference: Crossings vs. Hybrids vs. Clones Crossing: two grapes from the same species combined to make a brand new variety. Example: ...
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    9 分