AUSTRALIAN WINE

MADE OUR WAY

C A B E R N E T
S A U V I G N O N
AND BLENDS
AUSTRALIAN WINE
MADE OUR WAY

Australia’s unique climate and

landscape have fostered a fiercely
independent wine scene, home
to a vibrant community of growers,
winemakers, viticulturists, and
vignerons. With more than 100
grape varieties grown across 65
distinct wine regions, we have the
freedom to make exceptional wine,
and to do it our own way. We’re not
beholden by tradition, but continue
to push the boundaries in the pursuit
of the most diverse, thrilling wines
in the world. That’s just our way.
 Beauty is so much more than
skin-deep with Cabernet
Sauvignon, despite this deeply
coloured black grape variety
being so striking. Under the
surface, Cabernet Sauvignon
boasts lots of tannin, bright
acidity and easily recognisable
aromas.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON:
A TRUE AUSTRALIAN
CLASSIC
TODAY
- History of Cabernet

WE’LL
Sauvignon
- How it’s grown
- Techniques influencing
style
- Blending
- Where it’s grown
- Characteristics and
flavour profiles

COVER… - Cabernet Sauvignon

by numbers
THE HISTORY
OF AUSTRALIAN
CABERNET 1886
SAUVIGNON What are believed to
be the world’s oldest
productive Cabernet
Sauvignon vines are
planted at Penfolds Block
42 Kalimna.

1832 1966
Cabernet Sauvignon arrives Cabernet Sauvignon
on Australian shores in the accounts for only 620
collection imported by wine tonnes of the grapes
pioneer James Busby. crushed in Australia.
2016
50 years later, through innovation and
craftsmanship – and to meet demand
for the popularity of this special style
– Australia crushes 255,000 tonnes of
Cabernet Sauvignon.

TODAY
Winemakers across Australia
respect and honour the variety’s
rich history while striving to make
the best possible wines, crafting
delicious Cabernet Sauvignons
that reflect a sense of place.
 Site selection
Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in warm
to cool, dry regions with a maritime
influence. A site with plenty of
sunshine and the right soil type are
key.

Yield
Though Cabernet Sauvignon vines
can yield a lot of fruit, overcropping is
VITICULTURE: a risk.

HOW CABERNET The vine

SAUVIGNON Cabernet Sauvignon vines are hardy
and can produce vigorous yields.

IS GROWN - Small to medium clusters with

medium-long peduncles (stalks)
- Small, round blue-black grapes
- Thick skins
- Medium-sized leaves
Irrigation
Viticulturists may irrigate Cabernet
Sauvignon vines to introduce water
during periods of inadequate rainfall
and to help produce sufficient yields.

Harvest
As a late-ripening variety, Cabernet
Sauvignon harvesting typically starts
later in the season.

Pruning
Especially important to control
excessive growth. A variety of
canopy management techniques
can be used to ensure the canopy
is balanced and the fruit zone is
appropriately shaded, avoiding
sunburn and excessive ripeness.
WINEMAKING:
TECHNIQUES INFLUENCING
CABERNET SAUVIGNON STYLE
GRAPES
TYPICALLY
DE-STEMMED

FERMENTATION MACERATION OAK MATURATION BOTTLING AND

AGEING
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
AND BLENDING
MERLOT MALBEC
adds fleshiness, richness typically brings weight
CABERNET to the middle palate, to the palate, dusty
SAUVIGNON smoothness, characters tannins, dark-fruit
of violet and plum flavours and deep colour
lends firm structure,
plentiful tannins,
‘doughnut’
(hollow mid-palate)

PETIT VERDOT
CABERNET
adds fragrance,
FRANC brings aromatic lift, SHIRAZ rich, dark-fruit
spice, red berry and brings upfront fruit on flavours and colour
pepper characters the mid-palate, softness
AUSTRALIAN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
REGIONS
NORTHERN
TERRITORY

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH
AUSTRALIA

MARGARET NEW SOUTH WALES

RIVER
CLARE VALLEY

EDEN VALLEY VICTORIA YARRA

VALLEY
McLAREN VALE
LANGHORNE CREEK
0 500
COONAWARRA TASMANIA
Kilometres
 ADELAIDE

SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
COONAWARRA
C O O N AWA R R A
- Maritime influence
- Australia’s famous terra rossa soil
- Strong winemaking heritage
- Cabernet is king
- A tradition of blending

COONAWARRA
CRUSH CABERNET
SAUVIGNON G R AP E T Y P E

8 =53 %
8 92 % %
OF AUSTRALIA’S
% TOTAL CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
CRUSH OF COONAWARRA’S
TOTAL CRUSH WHITE RED

C O O N AWA R R A S N A P S H O T
C L I M AT E ALT I T U D E
GROWING

MARITIME S E AS O N
R AI N FAL L LOW
MEAN JANUARY
TEMPERATURE
HEAT DEGREE
DAYS 260MM ALTITUDE
50m/164ft
MODERATE MEDIUM LOW
19.6°C/67.3°F 1,430
 Cabernet Sauvignon has seen

SOIL
great success from grape vines
planted in Coonawarra’s famed
terra rossa soil – thin, iron-oxide-
based topsoil over limestone.
 PERTH

WESTERN
AUSTRALIA
MARGARET
RIVER
MARGARET RIVER
- Gourmet paradise
- Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s
hero wine
- Stand-out blends
- Innovative, experimental outlook

MARGARET
RIVER
CRUSH

OF AUSTRALIA’S CABERNET

1.1 % TOTAL GRAPE

CRUSH
SAUVIGNON G R AP E T Y P E

OF AUSTRALIA’S
=22.2 %
50 50 % %
1.6% TOTAL CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
OF MARGARET RIVER’S
TOTAL CRUSH WHITE RED
CRUSH

MARGARET RIVER SNAPSHOT

C L I M AT E ALT I T U D E
GROWING

MARITIME S E AS O N
R AI N FAL L LOW
MEAN JANUARY HEAT DEGREE ALTITUDE
TEMPERATURE DAYS 275MM 40–90m
MODERATE HIGH LOW /131–295ft
20.4°C/68.7°F 1,690
SOIL
Margaret River soils are
predominantly gravelly loam
on granite and gneiss, with low
overall water-holding capacity.
VICTORIA

YARRA
VALLEY
YARRA VALLEY
- Victoria’s first major
wine-growing district
- Cool-climate style
- Renowned for classic styles
and, more recently, a growing
number of alternative varieties

YARRA
VALLEY
 CRUSH CABERNET G R AP E T Y P E
SAUVIGNON

0.2 =5.8 35 65 % %
OF
% AUSTRALIA’S
TOTAL GRAPE
CRUSH
%
OF YARA VALLEY’S
TOTAL CRUSH WHITE RED

YA R R A VA L L E Y S N A P S H O T
C L I M AT E ALT I T U D E
GROWING

C O N T I N E N TA L S E AS O N
R AI N FAL L
LOW
MEAN JANUARY
TEMPERATURE
HEAT DEGREE
DAYS 400–550MM ALTITUDE
50–350m
COOL MEDIUM MEDIUM /164–1,148ft
18.7°C/65.7°F 1,352
SOIL
The Yarra Valley’s northern side feature soils of
grey to grey-brown on the surface, and from loamy
sand to clay loam in consistency with red-brown
clay subsoils, often filled with rock. The other major
soil type is the immensely deep and fertile red
volcanic soil on the southern side of the valley.
 CLARE
VALLEY

EDEN VALLEY

ADELAIDE

McLAREN VALE
LANGHORNE
CREEK

BEST OF THE REST

CHARACTERISTICS
AND FLAVOUR PROFILES
CHARACTERISTICS
FLAVOURS
COLOUR
Cabernet Sauvignon - Black cherry
- Blackcurrant
Light Medium Full - Mint
BODY - Eucalyptus
- Capsicum (bell pepper)
Dry Medium dry Sweet - Cassis
SWEETNESS
Low Medium High
TANNIN OAK FLAVOURS
ACIDITY with notes of
toast or vanilla
8% 13.5–15.5%17%
ALCOHOL
FOOD
PAIRINGS

FATTY MEATS BEEF CUTS BEEF STEW DUCK BREAST

such as lamb such as ribs and
chops scotch fillet
 UNITED
KINGDOM CHINA
7% 38%
EXPORT
MOST D E S T I N AT I O N S

PLANTED HONG
VARIETY CANADA
5%
KONG
4%
IN THE WORLD UNITED
STATES
25%

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
BY NUMBERS
EXPORTS T O P 3 R E D VA R I E T I E S PLANTINGS
Approx.

130 MILLION LITRES

(roughly 34,342 gallons)
47 12 % % 26 % 24,682
=16%
OF AUSTRALIAN
WINE EXPORTS
SHIRAZ MERLOT CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
=18%
AUSTRALIAN TOTAL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON:

AUSTRALIA’S
COMPLEX GEM
THANK YOU