32. New Zealand Flashcards
What is New Zealand’s latitude range and to what city in the northern hemisphere does Marlborough correspond?
1) 36-46 degrees south
2) Rome
New Zealand’s climate is predominantly what except for which region?
1) Maritime
2) Central Otago - sheltered on all sides by mountains with a semi-continental climate
How does the North Island’s temperatures differ to the South’s?
More moderate.
Most of New Zealand’s vineyards are found on which side of the island except for which two?
1) East
2) Nelson & Auckland
What protects the south island’s vineyards from wind and rain off the Tasman with the exception of Nelson?
The Southern Alps
Why is it thought that New Zealand has a higher UV level than places of a similar latitude in the northern hemisphere? (2)
1) A hole in the ozone layer
2) Low levels of air pollution
What can high UV levels contribute to New Zealand’s wines?
Enhance the development of colour and tannin
What makes grape growing possible in areas of the south island it would otherwise be too cool for?
Extended daylight hours increase viable ripening period
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)
1) High levels of UV
2) 2,000+ sunshine hours
3) Relatively fertile soils
For what two reasons do New Zealand’s grape growers tend to train vines higher than those of a similar latitude in the northern hemisphere?
1) High sunlight hours mean vines do not need reflected solar energy
2) Higher fruiting zones makes hand harvesting easier
What are four viticultural hazards in NZ and why?
1) Fungal disease due to high rainfall and humidity
2) Birds due to very few predators
3) Sunburn due to high UV
4) Cyclonic winds disrupting flowering/fruit set
Why is irrigation practiced in some areas despite high rainfall? (2)
1) Due to free-draining alluvial soils
2) High winds that increase evapotranspiration
What two costs are associated with protecting against birds?
1) Bird scarers
2) Netting
What variety accounts for 62% of New Zealand’s plantings?
Sauvignon Blanc
Why is experimentation with different winemaking techniques common in New Zealand
Due to no GI-specific regulations
What might be added at bottling to ensure freshness? (2)
1) Ascorbic acid (an antioxidant)
2) SO2
Describe the common winemaking process for NZ Sauvignon Blanc in four steps
1) Low temperatures
2) Neutral vessel to retain primary fruit
3) Cultured yeasts to increase aromatics
4) MLC, maturation and lees contact are avoided
For which variety is cold maceration commonplace and why?
Pinot Noir to extract colour and aroma
What are the four main regions of the North Island?
1) Greater Auckland
2) Gisborne
3) Hawke’s Bay
4) Wairarapa
What are the five regions of the South Island?
1) Nelson
2) Marlborough
3) Canterbury
4) Central Otago
5) Waitaki
What are the three sub-regions of Greater Auckland?
1) Waiheke Island
2) West Auckland
3) Matakana
What are the two main varieties of Waiheke Island?
1) Cabernet Sauvignon
2) Syrah
Why can mid- to late-ripening varieties ripen fully on Waiheke?
The surrounding water leads to a relatively low diurnal range
What is the topography of Waiheke Island?
Gently undulating thus allowing growers to find sheltered positions for their vineyards
What two factors mean Waiheke Island’s wines are often premium priced?
1) Expansion and proximity to Auckland
2) Transport costs to the island
Two significant producers of Waiheke Island?
1) Stonyridge
2) Man O’ War
Why is land under vine likely to decrease in West Auckland?
The high cost of land and increasing urbanisation meaning many wineries based here already source fruit from other parts of New Zealand
Why is Gisborne one of the first regions to harvest each year?
The moderate maritime climate with high hours of sunshine and warming breezes from the north
Where are the majority of vineyards planted in Gisborne versus the more premium sites? (2)
1) Flat, fertile floodplain consisting of clay, loam and silt
2) On hillsides where the soils are poorer (premium)
What are the main two varieties planted in Gisborne?
1) Chardonnay
2) Pinot Gris
High precipitation and fertile soils in Gisborne mean grape growers need to do what? (2)
1) Choose devigorating rootstocks
2) Precise canopy management to prevent excessive canopy growth
Name a significant producer based in Gisborne
Milton Vineyards
Hawke’s Bay is similar in climate to what French wine region?
Bordeaux - moderate maritime with good sunshine and rainfall
What are the two key sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay?
1) Gimblett Gravels
2) Bridge Pa
Name two key producers in Hawke’s Bay
Craggy Range & Te Mata
What are the main varieties of Hawke’s Bay (3)
1) Bordeaux varieties (Merlot is dominant as Cabernet can fail to ripen in cooler years)
2) Syrah
3) Chardonnay
Describe the soils of Gimblett Gravels (2)
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
How do the soils of Bridge Pa differ to Gimblett Gravels?
Alluvial gravel but has a deeper topsoil with more sand and clay loam aiding water retention
What is a viticultural hazard in Hawke’s Bay
Frost due to little moderating influence from the coast
What is the main sub-region of Wairarapa?
Martinborough
What are the two key varieties of Wairarapa?
1) Pinot Noir
2) Sauvignon Blanc
Two significant producers in Wairarapa?
1) Dry River
2) Ata Rangi
Why might Wairarapa see low yields and greater tannin presence than other areas of the country? (2)
1) Strong winds coming from the cook Strait during flowering and fruit set
2) Resulting in thicker skins creating wines of higher tannins
What are the soils of Wairarapa?
Free-draining alluvial gravel terraces with silt loam and loess, which heat slower thus slowing ripening
What is the clone of Pinot Noir found in Martinborough thought to have been propagated from a DRC cutting
Abel clone
Why is the Abel Clone suited to Wairarapa’s climate?
It flowers late and so misses from of the worst weather periods that could reduce yields
What two factors mean Marlborough requires irrigation?
1) Annual rainfall is low to moderate s the region is protected by surrounding mountain ranges
2) Free-draining alluvial soils
Why is machine harvesting in Marlborough commonplace? (2)
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
What are the three main valleys in Marlborough?
1) Wairau
2) Awatere
3) Southern Valleys
Describe the orientation and climatic influences of the Wairau
Runs east to west with lessening degrees of ocean influence further inland resulting in greater diurnal range
Why are Wairau vineyards nearer the coast able to produce higher yields than those further inland? (2)
1) The soils are more fertile
2) The water table is higher
What is the orientation of the Southern Valleys?
North-south
How do the soils of the Southern Valleys differ from the rest of the region?
More clay leading to greater water retention
Why does Pinot Noir thrive in the Southern Valleys?
Harvest can be up to two weeks later than in the Wairau due to the cooler clay soils
Describe the location and terroir of Awatere Valley (2)
1) South of Wairau over the Wither Hills
2) Cooler and windier than Wairau due to higher elevation and proximity to the coast
Why is Awatere Sauvignon Blanc more herbaceous than the rest of the region?
Awatere is the coolest sub-zone with the latest harvest date
Why is Awatere Pinot Noir often deeper in colour than Wairau?
The conditions are windier leading to berries with thicker skins
Besides Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc what are two other key varieties grown in Marlborough?
1) Chardonnay
2) Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir destined for early drinking tends to come from which Marlborough sub-region and why?
1) Wairau
2) Due to the free-draining alluvial soils and marginally warmer conditions
Why does Nelson have a similar number of sunshine days but higher rainfall compared with Marlborough? (2)
1) It is not as protected from the cool, wet winds from the west
2) Its rainfall tends to fall in sudden, heavy storms
Name a producer in Marlborough
Cloudy Bay
What are the two sub-regions of Nelson?
1) Moutere Hills
2) Waimea Plains
What are the soils of Moutere Hills?
Clay-based gravel with sandy loam topsoil - low nutrient but good water retention
How do the wines of Moutere Hills compare with Waimea Plains?
Fuller bodied and more concentrated
What are the two key varieties grown in Nelson?
1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Pinot Noir
What are Canterbury’s two sub-regions?
1) North Canterbury
2) Canterbury Plains
Why are North Canterbury’s daytime summer temperatures warm despite its latitude?
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
Why is irrigation often necessary in Canterbury? (2)
1) Hot winds from the north-west increase evapotranspiration
2) Rain shadow of the Southern Alps
What are two sub-regions of North Canterbury
1) Waipara Valley
2) Waikari
What are Canterbury’s main three varieties?
1) Pinot Noir
2) Riesling
3) Sauvignon Blanc
Name two significant Canterbury producers
1) Bell Hill
2) Pegasus Bay
Why is Waipara Valley slightly warmer than the rest of North Canterbury?
Due to the Teviotdale Hills that protect it from the cold, easterly winds
Why is Central Otago a good location for organic viticulture?
The Southern Alps protect it from rain-bearing westerly winds mitigating fungal disease pressures
What gives Central Otago its high diurnal range? (2)
1) Southerly latitude (warm, long days) and high UV
2) 300m elevation
What are the two main viticultural hazard in Central Otago?
1) Spring frost - helicopters
2) Sunburn - grapes shaded on the west
What viticultural hazard can be found in Otago and how is it managed?
1) Frost due to cold nights
2) Helicopters (cost)
Why are cover crops and compost widely used in Central Otago?
The soils are low in organic matter
What are the seven sub-regions of Otago (Central and North)?
1) Alexandra
2) Gibbston
3) Bannockburn - warm, dry
4) Cromwell, Lowburn, Pisa
5) Bendigo
6) Wanaka
7) Waitaki (North)
What is Central Otago’s furthest south sub-region?
Alexandra
What is Central Otago’s highest and coolest sub-region?
Gibbston
What is the most intensively planted sub-region in Central Otago?
Bannockburn
What is Central Otago’s hottest sub-region?
Bendigo - Syrah can ripen here
What is Central Otago’s most northerly sub-region?
Wanaka
Why are Bannockburn’s wines intensely concentrated? (3)
1) Semi-arid
2) Continental climate
3) Poor stony, free-draining soils
Produce low yields
Where is most of New Zealand’s wine sold
Export - USA, UK, Australia
Name an Otago producer
Rippon
What soil can be found in Waitaki that’s not found in the rest of (Central) Otago?
Limestone
Where is most NZ wine sold?
Exported to USA, UK, Aus
How are NZ wines seen on the world stage?
High quality, sustainable and environmentally friendly (Sustainable Wine New Zealand, SWNZ)
