This final Australia episode brings the picture into focus by narrowing the lens. Western Australia produces only a small fraction of Australia’s total wine by volume, yet it plays an outsized role in defining the country’s premium identity. Geography, distance, and climate are not background details here — they are the drivers that explain why quality, style, and pricing look the way they do.
From the maritime precision of Margaret River to the climatic and topographic diversity of Great Southern, this episode traces how ocean influence, soil fertility, clone choice, and rainfall timing translate directly into texture, structure, and ageing potential in the glass. It also closes the loop with wine business realities: producer scale, export volatility, cellar-door economics, and why small producers survive through direct-to-consumer sales rather than volume.
For D3 candidates, this is an episode about synthesis. It shows how a region’s reputation is never accidental — it is the cumulative outcome of climate, viticulture, winemaking decisions, and market access. Listen for the cause-and-effect logic, anchor the numbers, and notice how consistently style and price follow from place.
Looking for all episodes in one place?
I’ve created an evergreen “Start Here” hub for this unit so you can access the full series without inbox overload.
You’ll find the complete list of episodes, organized in syllabus order, here:
https://thesommpour.substack.com/p/wset-diploma-d3-wines-of-the-world
