READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Yalumba: vine age, barrel age, maturation period.
A producer in South Australia who has worked on Viognier cultivation and winemaking. In The Virgilius, made from Eden Valley Viognier, grapes from different planting years are combined with used French barrels.
Organize the figures for The Virgilius 2021 by vine age, vessel, and wine aging period.
Questions for this course
When 'old' is mentioned, does it refer to the vines or to the barrels?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
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To explanation task notes ↓Yalumba / Learn from the Producer
Australia / South Australia / Eden Valley
Alternate names & notations: Yalumba
Updated: 2026-10-06
Two planting dates
Of the 2021 raw materials, about two-thirds come from vines planted in 1980, and about one-third from vines planted in 2004. The materials indicate these are 41 years and 17 years old respectively. If you update the vine age to the present year, it is no longer an explanation about 2021 raw materials.
Fermented in used barrels
100% Viognier is fermented with natural yeast in used French puncheons. The note on old barrels does not mean only old vines are used as raw material. Vessels and vines should be considered separately.
Another period of 10 months
In 2021, 10 months are spent on fermentation and maturation in barrel. If you distinguish between the number of years since planting, barrel usage history, and the period the wine spends in containers, you can organize the multiple timeframes that may appear within the same sentence.
What to align and what to compare.
Vine age
- Conditions to standardize
- 2021 raw materials
- Conditions for comparison.
- 41 years and 17 years
- Additional points to confirm
- Reference year for vine age
Vessel
- Conditions to standardize
- Viognier winemaking
- Conditions for comparison.
- Barrel usage history and vine age
- Additional points to confirm
- Years for different subjects
Period
- Conditions to standardize
- 2021 wines
- Conditions for comparison.
- Fermentation and maturation for 10 months
- Additional points to confirm
- Differentiate from the number of years since planting.
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Yalumba document analysis: vine age, barrel age, and maturation period.
Check and compare the region, raw materials, and process from the materials, and explain what can be learned from the comparison.
Comparative tables are based on the source’s target year and the explanation at the time of verification. Descriptions without year specifications are not treated as specifications common to all harvest years or shipped portions.
| Comparison items | Grapes planted in 1980 | Raw material from vines planted in 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Vine age in 2021 materials | 41 years | 17 years |
| Proportion of grapes | About two thirds | About one third |
| finished wine | Used French puncheon | Fermentation and maturation in 2021 is 10 months. |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What does '41 years' refer to?
Of the 2021 raw materials, about two-thirds come from vines planted in 1980, and about one-third from vines planted in 2004. The materials indicate these are 41 years and 17 years old respectively. If you update the vine age to the present year, it is no longer an explanation about 2021 raw materials.
What about puncheon?
100% Viognier is fermented with natural yeast in used French puncheons. The note on old barrels does not mean only old vines are used as raw material. Vessels and vines should be considered separately.
What is 10 months?
In 2021, 10 months are spent on fermentation and maturation in barrel. If you distinguish between the number of years since planting, barrel usage history, and the period the wine spends in containers, you can organize the multiple timeframes that may appear within the same sentence.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Check and compare the region, raw materials, and process from the materials, and explain what can be learned from the comparison.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Grapes planted in 1980 | Raw material from vines planted in 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Vine age in 2021 materials | 41 years | 17 years |
| Proportion of grapes | About two thirds | About one third |
| finished wine | Used French puncheon | Fermentation and maturation in 2021 is 10 months. |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please explain the 41 years, 17 years, and 10 months in the 2021 materials, specifying what each number refers to.
Check after writing
- Maintain the reference year for vine age.
- Separate information on grapes and containers.
- Indicate the time periods corresponding to each process.
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