Southern Hemisphere Specialty Class

This 2-session program is ideal for wine enthusiasts curious about the exploding wine industries of Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina, but also South Africa, Chile, and newly emergent Uruguay.

Australia today sells more wine in London than France does. The South African wine industry is a hundred years older than either the Australian or the Californian industries. The highest vineyard in California is 3,600 feet ~ Argentines routinely plant above 4,000 feet, and have two wineries with vineyards over 11,000 feet. New Zealand has taken the world by storm with Sauvignon Blanc, and is threatening to do the same with cold climate Pinot Noir. All these countries are making unique wines of extraordinary value, but equally important they are beginning to also produce consistent, world-class, artistic efforts which toy with triple-digit retail prices. Come see the whole range.

Bruce Cass has worked the crush in Australia and in South Africa. He has traveled extensively in New Zealand and South America as recently as the last two years. He will entertain you with personal vignettes, and open your eyes to some extraordinary new wines.

Begins with a compare-and-contrast discussion about the important Southern Hemisphere wine producing regions as far as history, labor cost and expertise, topography, and climate. These factors are also explained in comparison to California and Europe. Then maps and slides are used to illuminate differences between districts in South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. Important producers are highlighted, and personal vignettes provide color to the lecture on lifestyles and local market conditions.

The tasting will not only show top examples of unique local specialties such as the varieties Torrentes, Carmenere, Tannat, Malbec, and Pinotage, but will also sample world-class, artistic versions of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Recommendations on touring and accommodations will be provided.

This session will focus on Australasia; the recent explosion of interest in Australia and New Zealand.

There will be a brief discussion about the unique technical expertise these producers have created in light of their need to export and their limited domestic labor pool. Then the large climatic and soil differences between districts will be examined, for instance: the near-hydroponic growing conditions of the Gimblett Gravels in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand; and the virtually-constant 70°F temperatures of Margaret River in Western Australia. These are regional characteristics which can be tasted in their wines.

We’ll cover unique local specialties such as Liqueur Muscats and bottle-aged Hunter Valley Semillons. Then we will finish with a crescendo of old-vine Shiraz, including at least one 10-yr-old example.

Schedule

• Session 1: Southern Hemisphere Specialty Class - Fall 08 - Session 1
• Session 2: Southern Hemisphere Specialty Class - Fall 08 - Session 2

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