Wine Educate: Wine Lessons, Travel & WSET Study Prep

Episode 137: Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 4 - Margaret River and Australia in the Wine World Today
Host: Joanne Close
Episode Length: 9:30
Release Date: November 10, 2026
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Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle
If you are working through the Australian regions for WSET Level 2, the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you exam-style practice questions to check what you know before exam day. It is a simple way to spot the gaps in your knowledge of regions, grapes and wine styles, and to get comfortable with the format of the real exam.
https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout
Episode Description
The Australian series wraps up in Western Australia with Margaret River, a small region with a big reputation. Joanne puts Western Australia in perspective first, including just how far it is from the rest of the country, then pulls together the four places Margaret River appears in the WSET Level 2 book so you have everything in one spot.
You'll hear how a region known for dairy farming and timber became a quality wine region once scientists identified it as well suited to grape growing, and how the Indian Ocean shapes its climate. Joanne covers the grapes you need to know for Level 2: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The second half looks at Australia's contribution to wine research, focusing on smoke taint after the Black Summer bushfires of 2019 and 2020. Joanne explains what smoke taint is, why it happens and what winemakers can do to reduce it, then closes with where Australia ranks among the world's top wine producing countries.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Western Australia in Perspective
Western Australia covers about one third of Australia's land mass, with around 3 million people, 2.3 million of them in and around Perth
Adelaide to Perth is about 3 hours and 20 minutes by plane, or around 28 hours by car without stops
Margaret River is a further three hours' drive from Perth
Margaret River Wine Region
About 5,840 hectares under vine, almost exactly the same size as Chablis
Accounts for roughly 2% of Australia's wine grape production
Vines were planted in the Swan Valley near Perth from 1829, but Margaret River was known for dairy farming, timber and agriculture
Serious planting began in the 1960s and 1970s after scientists recognised the region's potential, with rapid growth between 1967 and 1984
Margaret River Climate
Warm climate moderated by cooling sea breezes from the Indian Ocean
Breezes extend the growing season
Substantial winter rainfall
Conditions that support ripeness and consistently high quality
Margaret River Grapes and Wine Styles
Chardonnay: medium to full bodied, ripe stone fruit such as peach, and tropical fruit such as pineapple
Sauvignon Blanc: made as a single varietal or, more commonly, blended with Semillon, with concentrated, herbaceous, grassy aromas and sometimes oak contact
Cabernet Sauvignon: well known for quality, sometimes blended with Merlot, with ripe black fruit and subtle oak
Merlot: high quality, like the other grapes grown here
Smoke Taint and Australian Wine Research
The Black Summer fires of 2019 and 2020 burned 10 million hectares and affected 18 wine regions
About 3% of Australia's national wine grape crush was lost, rejected or downgraded due to fire and smoke
Smoke contains volatile phenols, which give smoky, ashy and medicinal characteristics
Grapes absorb these compounds, and many of them sit in the grape skins
Gentle pressing, reduced skin contact and activated carbon treatments can reduce smoke taint
Australian smoke taint research began in 2003 and gained urgency after the Black Summer fires
Australia's Place in Global Wine Production
According to the OIV, Australia ranked fifth among wine producing countries in 2025
The top four: Italy, France, Spain and the United States
Episode Highlights and Quotes
"It turns out that Margaret River is almost exactly the same size as Chablis. I didn't plan that."
"This is a really small but mighty region."
"Although there's no guaranteed cure for smoke taint, research helps protect against risk and helps winemakers make better decisions and reduce their loss."
Margaret River Quick Reference
Topic Key Facts Location Western Australia, about three hours from Perth Size About 5,840 hectares, roughly the size of Chablis Climate Warm, moderated by Indian Ocean breezes, substantial winter rainfall White grapes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon Black grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Signature blends Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot
Resources Mentioned
Regions: Margaret River, Swan Valley, Hunter Valley, Clare Valley
Wines to try: Hunter Valley Semillon and Clare Valley Riesling
International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) - 2025 world wine production rankings
Episode 135: Barossa Valley and Coonawarra
Episode 136: Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley and Clare Valley
Episodes 86 and 87: Beaujolais Nouveau
Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle - exam-style practice questions to help you prepare for WSET Level 2. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout
Coming Up Next
Episode 138: Gamay for WSET Level 2
With Thanksgiving coming up, the next two episodes head to Beaujolais, starting with the Gamay grape for Level 2 students and followed by the history and laws of Beaujolais. In December, the show takes a lighter turn with interesting wine regions that should be on your radar, chosen by newsletter readers.
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
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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 share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show.
About Wine Educate
Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.
Episode 137 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate
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Episode 136: Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 3 - Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley and Clare Valley
Host: Joanne Close
Episode Length: 8:26
Release Date: November 3, 2026
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Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle
If you are studying the Australian regions for WSET Level 2, the Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle gives you exam-style practice questions so you can test what you know before exam day. It is a simple way to find the gaps in your knowledge of regions, grapes and wine styles, and to get comfortable with the format of the real exam.
https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout
Episode Description
The Australian series continues with four regions that sit around the city of Adelaide in South Australia. Joanne starts with some context on Adelaide itself and the Mount Lofty Ranges, which run just outside the city and bring the elevation that shapes so many of the wines made nearby.
From there she covers Adelaide Hills for Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, McLaren Vale for old vine Grenache, and the two Riesling regions of Eden Valley and Clare Valley. Along the way you will hear where some of these names came from, including why McLaren Vale is a "vale" and not a valley, and the story of a carved tree that gave Eden Valley its name.
Each region is put into perspective by comparing its vineyard area to Chablis, and Joanne walks through the typical wine styles you need to know for WSET Level 2. This is a quick, focused episode that is well suited to Level 2 revision.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, on the coast at Gulf St Vincent, with a population of about 1.5 million
The Mount Lofty Ranges run north to south around the city, about 15 kilometres from the centre, reaching around 727 metres
Why this elevation matters for the surrounding wine regions
Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
The closest region to Adelaide, about 20 to 45 minutes by car
Around 3,900 hectares of vineyard, roughly two-thirds the size of Chablis
Sauvignon Blanc: high acidity, citrus through to tropical fruit, often fermented cool in inert vessels
Chardonnay: medium to high acidity, peach, sometimes pineapple and banana, with oak maturation sometimes used for complexity
McLaren Vale Grenache
About 40 kilometres south of Adelaide, around 7,500 hectares, roughly 1.3 times the planted area of Chablis
Why it is called a "vale" instead of a valley
Warm Mediterranean-type climate moderated by sea breezes
Old vine Grenache with ripe red fruit, spice, high potential alcohol and medium tannins, sometimes blended with Shiraz and Mourvèdre
Eden Valley Riesling
Neighbour of the Barossa Valley, sharing the Barossa wine zone
In the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, from around 200 to 630 metres
How altitude helps Riesling keep its acidity
The carved tree behind the Eden Valley name
Clare Valley Riesling
About two hours from Adelaide, further north and west than Eden Valley
Around 5,000 hectares, a little smaller than Chablis
Named by Edward Burton Gleeson in 1840 after his ancestral home of County Clare in Ireland
The Australian Riesling Style
Typically dry with high acidity, unlike German Riesling which can range from dry to sweet
Lime, citrus, peach and floral notes in youth
Petrol, honey and toast with bottle age
Cool fermentation in inert vessels to preserve fruit character
Episode Highlights and Quotes
"Vale is the old English word meaning valley, and it just stuck."
"In my mind as a Level 2 student, I would lump Clare Valley and Eden Valley together. I call them the sister valleys."
"All these amazing wine regions are just right there."
Quick Reference: Wine Regions Around Adelaide
Region Key Grape Size Notes Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay About 3,900 ha Elevation, 20 to 45 minutes from Adelaide McLaren Vale Grenache About 7,500 ha Warm Mediterranean climate, sea breezes Eden Valley Riesling Not given 200 to 630 m, Barossa zone Clare Valley Riesling About 5,000 ha About two hours north of Adelaide
Resources Mentioned
Regions: Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Margaret River
Adelaide Fringe - the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, held in February and March
Episode 135: Barossa Valley and Coonawarra - the previous episode in the Australian series
Level 3 Prep Program - six Zoom sessions with assigned study groups and essay question workshops for students starting WSET Level 3 in 2027. Email Joanne with questions at joanne@wineeducate.com
Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle - exam-style practice questions to help you prepare for WSET Level 2. https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout
Coming Up Next
Episode 137: Margaret River and Modern Australian Wine
The Australian series wraps up in Western Australia with Margaret River, and a look at why Australian researchers are at the forefront of so much interesting work in modern wine.
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 share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show.
About Wine Educate
Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.
Episode 136 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate

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
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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 elevation
The five states that account for the principal wine producing regions
How Australian wine law uses Geographical Indications (GIs)
South Eastern Australia GI and Volume Wine
Why this vast GI is behind many familiar supermarket wines
Australia exports more than half its production, 613 million litres in 2025
Riverland alone covers 22,000 hectares, about four times the size of Chablis
Shiraz 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 vine
Old vines dating back to the 19th century, with Shiraz making up half of plantings
The key Barossa Shiraz style: full body, high ripe tannins, cooked blackberry and black cherry, black pepper, vanilla and coffee from oak
Grenache, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and the GSM blends shared with the Southern Rhône
Semillon in both lighter and full-bodied, oak-matured styles
Penfolds Grange as the benchmark premium Shiraz blend
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Location in the Limestone Coast zone, around 37.3 degrees latitude
Moderate climate with cooling maritime influence, and the Bordeaux comparison
Terra rossa, the iron-rich red clay loam sitting over limestone
Why good drainage matters for Cabernet Sauvignon
The Coonawarra Cabernet style: black currant, herbal mint, smoke and coffee from oak, with ageing potential
Shiraz 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 Valley Coonawarra Latitude Around 35 degrees Around 37.3 degrees Hectares under vine About 11,600 About 5,800 Climate Warm, dry summers Moderate, maritime influence Key grape Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Other grapes Grenache, Mataro, Semillon Shiraz, Merlot Key feature Old vines from the 19th century Terra rossa over limestone Typical style Full body, ripe tannins, cooked black fruit, pepper, oak Black currant, mint, smoke, coffee, ageing potential
Resources Mentioned
Penfolds Grange - premium Barossa Shiraz blend
Yellow Tail - an example of South Eastern Australia volume wine
WSET Level 2 textbook
Coonawarra Vignerons, source for the terra rossa measurements: https://coonawarra.org/our-landscape/
Level 2 Mock Exam Bundle - exam-style practice questions to help you prepare for the WSET Level 2 exam: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/offers/xeXeiyop/checkout
Coming Up Next
Episode 136: Australian Wine Regions for WSET Level 2 Students: Part 3 - Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale
Joanne continues the Australia series with the regions best known for white wines, plus McLaren Vale and its Grenache.
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 share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show.
About Wine Educate
Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.
Episode 135 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate

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
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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 scene
How big it is: about 2,600 hectares under vine, less than half the size of Chablis
How it escaped phylloxera, so some old vines still grow on their original rootstocks
James Busby's role in bringing vines from France
The two key grapes, Semillon and Shiraz
Hunter Valley Semillon
Why thin-skinned Semillon faces fungal disease risk in a warm, humid climate with harvest rain
How early harvesting avoids that problem and gives light body, high acidity and 10 to 11.5% alcohol
How it changes with age: subtle lemon and citrus when young, then toast, honey and nut after 10 or more years in bottle, with no oak
Why 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 age
Barossa 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 degrees
Five 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 planted
Elevation up to about 400 metres as the main cooling influence
Its history: commercial wine production stopped by 1921, most vineyards were pasture by 1937, and the region revived with post-war European migration
Key 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 Chablis
No vineyard more than 7 kilometres from the sea, with maritime breezes moderating summer temperatures
How the modern industry took off in the 1970s with Melbourne's demand for premium dry table wines
Key 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 Valley Yarra Valley Mornington Peninsula Nearest city Sydney, about 2 hours north Melbourne, about 1 hour east Melbourne, about 1.5 hours south Latitude About 33 degrees About 38 degrees About 38 degrees Size About 2,600 ha About 2,800 ha Just under 1,000 ha Climate Warm and humid, harvest rain Cool, from elevation (up to about 400 m) Cool, maritime Key grapes Semillon, Shiraz Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Pinot 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 series continues in South Australia, where Joanne covers Barossa Shiraz and the regions around it.
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 share it with fellow wine lovers. Reviews are the best way to help other WSET students find the show.
About Wine Educate
Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.
Episode 134 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate

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
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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 Languedoc
Episode 81 - The Rhône Wine Laws
Episode 82 - The Northern Rhône, Part 1: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu & Château Grillet
Episode 83 - The Northern Rhône, Part 2: Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Cornas
Episode 84 - The Southern Rhône
Episode 85 - Exploring Five Key Southern Rhône Crus: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and Tavel
Episode 131 - Australian Wine History: The Convicts Who Planted Australia's First Vines and the Wine Nerd Who Laid the Foundations
Episode 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 Iran
James Busby's 1831 vine-collecting expedition and Syrah's arrival in Australia in 1832
The early names and spellings, including Hermitage, a nod to the Northern Rhône vines Busby collected
Why Shiraz became Australia's preferred name
What DNA Revealed
Parentage established in 1998 through DNA fingerprinting
Syrah's parents: Mondeuse Blanche, a white grape, and Dureza, a black grape
Syrah is French, originating in southeastern France, not Persia
Grape Characteristics (WSET Level 2)
Small berries with thick skins, producing deeply colored wines
Medium to high tannins and acidity
Blackberry, black cherry and distinctive black pepper
Climate and Style
Syrah prefers warm to moderate climates and does not do well in cool climates
Moderate climates (Northern Rhône, cooler sites in Victoria): medium body, fresh black fruit, more pronounced pepper
Warm 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 tannins
Oak adds smoke, spice, vanilla and coffee
With 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 tannins
Hunter Valley, New South Wales: warm, but moderated by cloud cover and sea breezes, giving medium-bodied wines that develop earth and meat with age
South Eastern Australia GI: the warm inland regions of Riverland, Riverina and Murray Darling, home to large-volume, inexpensive Shiraz
Shiraz 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-Rôtie
Côte-Rôtie's steep slopes and why everything there is done by hand
Hermitage, a single hillside making concentrated wines, and Crozes-Hermitage, the surrounding land making a generally lighter style
How the Languedoc moved from high-yield Carignan, Aramon and Cinsault to quality plantings including Syrah in the 1980s and 90s
Syrah as a blending partner for Grenache, adding body, structure and color
Minervois AOC blends and varietal Syrah under the IGP
Beyond France and Australia
Syrah and Petite Sirah are not the same grape
Australia's sparkling Shiraz
Episode Highlights and Quotes
"Shiraz was the name that gained popularity, and so that is why the grape is called Shiraz today."
"So Syrah does not have its origins in Persia. It is French."
"You can see just how steep these slopes are. You have to do all this work by hand. There's no way you're getting a tractor up and down those slopes."
Syrah/Shiraz Quick Reference
Grape: Black grape, small berries, thick skins, deep color
Structure: Medium to high tannins, medium to high acidity
Primary flavors: Blackberry, black cherry, black pepper
Parents: Mondeuse Blanche (white) x Dureza (black), confirmed by DNA in 1998
Moderate climate style: Medium body, fresh black fruit, pepper (Northern Rhône, cooler sites in Victoria)
Warm climate style: Full body, cooked black fruit, licorice, higher alcohol, riper tannins (Barossa Valley, Languedoc, Napa Valley)
Oak: Smoke, spice, vanilla, coffee
Bottle age: Dried fruit, leather, meat, earth
Australian regions for Level 2: Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, South Eastern Australia GI
French regions for Level 2: Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Southern Rhône blends, Minervois AOC, Pays d'Oc IGP
Resources Mentioned
James Busby and his 1831 European vine-collecting expedition
Château Camplazens, Joanne's family vineyard in the Languedoc, where Syrah is the most widely planted grape: https://www.camplazens.com/
Level 1 and Level 2 quizzes, Level 3 essay questions and wine tips are available on a weekly basis through the Wine Educate newsletter. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss a quiz: https://mailchi.mp/6648859973ba/newsletter
WSET Level 3 Prep, including an upcoming Shiraz module for Level 3 students: https://joanne-close.mykajabi.com/level-3-prep-landing-page-1
Previous Wine Educate episodes on the Rhône, the Languedoc and Australian wine history (see Related Episodes above)
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
Joanne wraps up the Australian series with a look at modern Australia and what the Australian wine industry looks like today.
Connect with Wine Educate
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About Wine Educate
Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.
Episode 133 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2026 Wine Educate