29. New Zealand

Question 1

overview

Answer 1

• Mainly cool, maritime climate
• Refreshing, strongly varietal white wines
• Sauvignon Blanc is the standout grape -> unoaked, dry, tropical fruit
• Latitudes 36°– 46°S and high sunshine -> range of red wines
• High ultraviolet levels for this latitude -> tannins and anthocyanins
• PN, Chardonnay, PG, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, CS, Gewurz
• High-volume (inexpensive) and small batches (premium prices)

Question 2

North Island

Answer 2

Greater Auckland
§ Waiheke Island
* Reds from CS or Syrah
* Small batches
§ West Auckland
* Few producers still have vineyards
§ Matakana
* Wines from a range of grapes

Gisborne
§ Most planted grape -> Chardonnay (more than 50%)
§ PG -> second most planted
§ High-volume (inexpensive) and small batches (premium
prices)

Hawke’s Bay
§ Moderate maritime climate
§ Gravelly and alluvial soils as Médoc
§ Bordeaux-inspired, Merlot-dominant blend
§ Syrah -> 75% of total plantings in NZ here
§ Chardonnay -> most planted white grape
§ Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa -> two best-known
subregions
§ High-volume (inexpensive) and small batches (premium
prices)
50

Wairarapa
§ Most southerly region (North Island) à focused on premium
wines
§ Martinborough is the most renowned subregion
§ Cool maritime climate -> affected by strong winds
§ PN grapes tend to be small with thick skins
* More than 50% of plantings
§ SB -> most planted white
§ Small batches of premium-priced wines

Question 3

South Island

Answer 3

Marlborough
§ Largest grape growing region à over 2/3
§ High levels of sunshine + dry growing season à more hang
time
§ Very intensely flavoured fruit, less fungal diseases
§ Machine harvesting à commonplace due to flat landscape
§ Wairau (largest), Awatere and Southern Valleys
§ Whites à SB (70% of plantings), Chardonnay and PG
§ PN à 10% os plantings
§ High-volume (inexpensive) and small batches (premium
prices)

Nelson
§ Cool maritime climate
§ Nelson focuses on small-scale production
§ Moutere Hills (high-quality) and Waimea Plains (lighter)
§ SB, PN, Chardonnay, PG, Riesling, Gewurz
§ Small batches of mid to premium-priced wines
o Canterbury
§ Open plain facing the Pacific Ocean
§ North Canterbury (90% of vines) and Canterbury Plains
§ PN, Riesling, SB, PG, Chardonnay
§ Small batches of premium-priced wines

Central Otago
§ One of the most southerly wine regions in the world (46˚S)
§ Semi continental climate à surrounded by Southern Alps
§ Most vines are above 300 m + shelter à high diurnal range
§ Pinot Noir à dominates Central Otago, 70% of all plantings
§ Next most planted grapes à Pinot Gris and Riesling
§ Small batches of premium-priced wines

Waitaki Valley (North Otago)
§ Long hang times and fully ripe flavours and tannins
§ Signature grapes à Pinot Noir and whites, such as Pinot
Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer
§ Small batches of mid to premium-priced wines