32. New Zealand Flashcards

1
Q

What is New Zealand’s latitude range and to what city in the northern hemisphere does Marlborough correspond?

A

1) 36-46 degrees south
2) Rome

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2
Q

New Zealand’s climate is predominantly what except for which region?

A

1) Maritime
2) Central Otago - sheltered on all sides by mountains with a semi-continental climate

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3
Q

Most of New Zealand’s vineyards on found on which side of the island except for which two?

A

1) East
2) Nelson & Auckland

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4
Q

What protects the south island’s vineyards from wind and ran off the Tasman?

A

The Southern Alps

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5
Q

Why is it thought that New Zealand has a higher UV level than places of a similar latitude in the northern hemisphere? (2)

A

A hole in the ozone layer and due to low levels of air pollution

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6
Q

What can high UV levels contribute to New Zealand’s wines?

A

Enhance the development of colour and tannin

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7
Q

What makes grape growing possible in areas of the south island it would otherwise be too cool for?

A

Extended daylight hours increase viable ripening period

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8
Q

Why is canopy management particularly important in many of New Zealand’s wine regions? For these same reasons yields are also high despite low density planting (3)

A

1) High levels of UV
2) 2,000+ sunshine hours
3) Relatively fertile soils

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9
Q

For what two reasons so New Zealand’s grape growers tend to train vines higher than those of a similar latitude in the northern hemisphere?

A

1) High sunlight hours mean vines do not need reflected solar energy
2) Higher fruiting zones makes hand harvesting easier

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10
Q

What are three viticultural hazards in NZ and why?

A

1) Fungal disease due to high rainfall and humidity
2) Birds due to very few predators
3) Sunburn due to high UV

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11
Q

Why is irrigation practiced in some areas despite high rainfall? (2)

A

1) Due to free-draining alluvial soils
2) High winds that increase evapotranspiration

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12
Q

What two costs are associated with protecting against birds?

A

1) Bird scarers
2) Netting

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13
Q

What variety accounts for 62% of New Zealand’s plantings?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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14
Q

Why is experimentation with different winemaking techniques common in New Zealand

A

Due to no GI-specific regulations

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15
Q

What might be added at bottling to ensure freshness? (2)

A

1) Ascorbic acid (an antioxidant)
2) SO2

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16
Q

Describe the common winemaking process for NZ Sauvignon Blanc in four steps

A

1) Low temperatures
2) Neutral vessel to retain primary fruit
3) Cultured yeasts to increase aromatics
4) MLC, maturation and lees contact are avoided

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17
Q

For which variety is cold maceration commonplace and why?

A

Pinot Noir to extract colour and aroma

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18
Q

What are the four main regions of the North Island?

A

1) Greater Auckland
2) Gisborne
3) Hawke’s Bay
4) Wairarapa

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19
Q

What are the

A

1) Nelson
2) Marlborough
3) Canterbury
4) Central Otago
5) Waitaki

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20
Q

What are the three sub-regions of Greater Auckland1

A

1) Waiheke Island
2) West Auckland
3) Matakana

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21
Q

What is Greater Auckland’s climate?

A

Maritime with high humidity and fungal disease pressure

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22
Q

What are the two main varieties of Waiheke Island?

A

1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Syrah

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23
Q

What separates Waiheke Island from the rest of Auckland?

A

It is slightly warmer and the surrounding water leads to a relatively low diurnal range helped mid- to late-ripening varieties fully ripen

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24
Q

What is the topography of Waiheke Island?

A

Gently undulating thus allowing growers to find sheltered positions for their vineyards

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25
Q

What two factors mean Waiheke Island’s wines are often premium priced?

A

1) Expansion and proximity to Auckland
2) Transport costs to the island

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26
Q

Two significant producers of Waiheke Island?

A

1) Stonyridge
2) Man O’ War

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27
Q

Why is land under vine likely to decrease in West Auckland?

A

The high cost of land and increasing urbanisation meaning many wineries based here already source fruit from other parts of New Zealand

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28
Q

Why is Gisborne one of the first regions to harvest each year?

A

The moderate maritime climate with high hours of sunshine and warming breezes from the north

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29
Q

Why did land under vine shrink between 2009-2019 in Gisborne?

A

Farmers could get higher prices for other fruit i.e. Apples and kiwi fruit

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30
Q

Where are the majority of vineyards planted in Gisborne versus the more premium sites? (2)

A

1) Flat, fertile floodplain consisting of clay, loam and silt
2) On hillsides where the soils are poorer (premium)

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31
Q

What are the main two varieties planted in Gisborne?

A

1) Chardonnay
2) Pinot Gris

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32
Q

High precipitation and fertile soils in Gisborne mean grape growers need to do what? (2)

A

1) Choose devigorating rootstocks
2) precise canopy management to prevent excessive canopy growth

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33
Q

Name a significant producer based in Gisborne

A

Milton Vineyards

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34
Q

Hawke’s Bay is similar in climate to what French wine region?

A

Bordeaux - moderate maritime with good sunshine and rainfall

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35
Q

What are the two key sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay?

A

1) Gimblett Gravels
2) Bridge Pa

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36
Q

Name two key producers in Hawke’s Bay

A

Craggy Range & Te Mata

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37
Q

What are the main varieties of Hawke’s Bay (3)

A

1) Bordeaux varieties (Merlot is dominant as Cabernet can fail to ripen in cooler years)
2) Syrah
3) Chardonnay

38
Q

Describe the soils of Gimblett Gravels (2)

A

1) Stony topsoil warms during the day and releases heat into the evening aiding ripening
2) Free-draining meaning irrigation is necessary despite high rainfall

39
Q

How do the soils of Bridge Pa differ to Gimblett Gravels?

A

Alluvial gravel but has a deeper topsoil with more sand and clay loam aiding water retention

40
Q

What is a viticultural hazard in Hawke’s Bay

A

Frost due to little moderating influence from the coast

41
Q

What are the three sub-regions of Wairarapa?

A

1) Martinborough
2) Gladstone
3) Masterton

42
Q

What are the two key varieties of Wairarapa?

A

1) Pinot Noir
2) Sauvignon Blanc

43
Q

Two significant producers in Wairarapa?

A

1) Dry River
2) Ata Rangi

44
Q

What is Wairarapa’s climate?

A

Cool maritime with warm summer days but cool nights slowing ripening and aiding acidity retention

45
Q

Why might Wairarapa see low yields?

A

Strong winds coming from the Cok Strait during flowering and fruit set also resulting in thicker skins creating wines of higher tannins

46
Q

What are the soils of Wairarapa?

A

Free-draining alluvial gravel terraces with silt loam and loess, which slows ripening

47
Q

What is the clone of Pinot Noir found in Martinborough thought to have been propagated from a DRC cutting

A

Abel clone

48
Q

Why is the Abel Clone suited to Wairarapa’s climate?

A

It flowers late and so misses from of the worst weather periods that could reduce yields

49
Q

Describe Marlborough’s climate

A

Cool with moderately warm summers and mild winters

50
Q

What two factors mean Marlborough requires irrigation?

A

1) Annual rainfall is low to moderate s the region is protected by surrounding mountain ranges
2) Free-draining alluvial soils

51
Q

Why is machine harvesting commonplace? (2)

A

1) Flat landscape
2) Research has shown that machine harvesting promotes the flavour precursors that generate passionfruit and green bell pepper aromas associated with the region’s Sauvignon Blanc due to the short period of maceration on skins that happens when machine harvested vs hand harvest

52
Q

What are the three main valleys in Marlborough?

A

1) Wairau
2) Awatere
3) Southern Valleys

53
Q

Describe the orientation and climatic influences of the Wairau

A

Runs east to west with lessening degrees of ocean influence further inland resulting in greater diurnal range

54
Q

Why are Wairau vineyards nearer the coast able to produce higher yields than those further inland? (2)

A

The soils are more fertile and the water table is higher

55
Q

What is the orientation of the Southern Valleys?

A

North-south

56
Q

How do the soils of the Southern Valleys differ from the rest of the region?

A

More clay leading to greater water retention

57
Q

Why does Pinot Noir thrive in the Southern Valleys?

A

Harvest can be up to two weeks later than in the Wairau due to the cooler clay soils

58
Q

Describe the location of Awatere Valley

A

South of Wairau over the Wither Hills; cooler and windier due to higher elevation and proximity to the coast

59
Q

Why is Awatere Sauvignon Blanc more herbaceous than the rest of the region?

A

Awatere is the coolest sub-zone with the latest harvest date

60
Q

Why is Awatere Pinot Noir often deeper in colour than Wairau?

A

The conditions are windier leading to berries with thicker skins

61
Q

Besides Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc what are two other key varieties grown in Marlborough?

A

1) Chardonnay
2) Pinot Gris

62
Q

Pinot Noir destined for early drinking tends to come from which Marlborough sub-region and why?

A

1) Wairau
2) Due to the free-draining alluvial soils and marginally warmer conditions

63
Q

What’s Nelson’s climate?

A

Cool maritime with cooling ocean breezes during the day but relatively warm nights

64
Q

Why does Nelson have a similar number of sunshine days but higher rainfall compared with Marlborough? (2)

A

1) It is not as protected from the cool, wet winds from the west
2) Its rainfall tends to fall in sudden, heavy storms

65
Q

What are the two sub-regions of Nelson?

A

1) Moutere Hills
2) Waimea Plains

66
Q

What are the soils of Moutere Hills?

A

Clay-based gravel with sandy loam topsoil - low nutrient but good water retention

67
Q

How do the wines of Moutere Hills compare with Waimea Plains?

A

Fuller bodied and more concentrated

68
Q

What are the two key varieties grown in Nelson?

A

1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Pinot Noir

69
Q

What are Canterbury’s two sub-regions?

A

1) North Canterbury
2) Canterbury Plains

70
Q

Why are North Canterbury’s daytime summer temperatures warm despite its latitude?

A

It is sheltered from cooler weather by the Southern Alps with a high number of sunshine hours and hot, dry winds from the north-west

71
Q

Why is irrigation often necessary in Canterbury?

A

1) Hot winds from the north-west increase evapotranspiration
2) Rain shadow of the Southern Alps

72
Q

What are two sub-regions of North Canterbury

A

1) Waipara Valley
2) Waikari

73
Q

What are Canterbury’s main three varieties?

A

1) Pinot Noir
2) Riesling
3) Sauvignon Blanc

74
Q

Name two significant Canterbury producers

A

1) Bell Hill
2) Pegasus Bay

75
Q

Why is Waipara Valley slightly warmer than the rest of North Canterbury?

A

DUe to the Teviotdale Hills that protect it from the cold, easterly winds

76
Q

Why is Central Otago a good location for organic viticulture? (2)

A

1) The Southern Alps protect it from rain-bearing westerly winds
2) Low rainfall mitigates fungal disease pressures

77
Q

What gives Central Otago its high diurnal range?

A

1) Southerly latitude (long days) and high UV
2) 300m elevation

78
Q

What are the two main viticultural hazard in Central Otago?

A

1) Spring frost - helicopters
2) Sunburn - grapes shaded on the west

79
Q

Why are cover crops and compost widely used in Central Otago?

A

The soils are low in organic matter

80
Q

What are the six sub-regions of Central Otago?

A

1) Alexandra
2) Gibbston
3) Bannockburn - warm, dry
4) Cromwell, Lowburn, Pisa
5) Bendigo
6) Wanaka

81
Q

What is Central Otago’s further south sub-region?

A

Alexandra

82
Q

What is Central Otago’s highest and coolest sub-region?

A

Gibbston

83
Q

What is the most intensively planted sub-region in Central Otago?

A

Bannockburn

84
Q

What is Central Otago’s hottest sub-region?

A

Bendigo - Syrah can ripen here

85
Q

What is Central Otago’s most northerly sub-region?

A

Wanaka

86
Q

Why are Bannockburn’s wines intensely concentrated? (3)

A

1) Semi-arid
2) Continental climate
3) Poor stony, free-draining soils

Produce low yields

87
Q

Name a significant producer in Waitaki

A

Ostler

88
Q

What soil type can be found in Waitaki that’s not found in the rest of Central Otago?

A

Limestone

89
Q

Where is most of New Zealand’s wine sold

A

Export - USA, UK, Australia

90
Q
A