Ch.21 – New Zealand Flashcards
1
Q
One card on New Zealand Sparkling
A
- Cool climate and plentiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir give NZ huge potential for quality sparkling
- However the success of its still wines, esp Sauvignon Blanc means sparkling only 0.5% of exports in 2017
- Trad method dominate mid-premium sector
- med intensity yellow apple and lemon fruit with lightly toasty autolytic notes and high acidity
- good to very good, some outstanding
- typically Brut
2
Q
Where are grapes for NZ sparkling grown?
A
- Sourced from both islands, but cooler climes of South Island better suited to elegant and crisp
- Marlborough (2/3 NZ’s vineyards) highest production
- Central Otago ambitious Pinot Noir producers
- North Island’s Gisbourne large volume brands with fuller body, lower acidity and less finesse
3
Q
Advantages of Marlborough as growing area for NZ sparkling
A
- Low risk of late frost or hailstorms
- Prevalent N-W wind dries out moisture quickly after rain, reducing fungal risk
- Adequate rainfall, but need irrigation
- free draining alluvial soil
- strong N-W wind = high land/vine transpiration
- But good access to clean water from constant underground water table
- Harvest 2 weeks before still wines avoiding Autumn rains and tail end of tropical cyclones
- Grapes picked pot alcohol 10-11%
4
Q
Sparkling wine-making in New Zealand
A
- Most Chardonnay, Pinot Noir blend
- best traditional method, but biggest producers also transfer method. Cheap wines are carbonated
- Larger producers own vineyards and brought in grapes (long contracts with other growers)
- Quality producers hand-pick, whole bunch press, cultured yeast in stainless steel for purity of fruit,
- Usually malo to reduce acidity and avoid risk of happening in bottle. Some block it to preserve acidity.
- Trad & transfer us 18mths on lees (some longer)
- Some use reserve wines in NV some don’t.
5
Q
What challenges do smaller sparkling wine-makers have in New Zealand?
A
- Use own fruit, but don’t have equipment, so send blended wine to contract winemaker for addition of tirage.
- Bottled wine returned for second fermentation and ageing.
- Sent away again for disgorgement and dosage.
6
Q
Dosage levels in NZ sparkling
A
- Brut vary from 6g/l to 12g/l, though zero dosage made
- eg pioneering No 1 Family Estate founded by champagne family Daniel Le Brun
- cheapest min 18 mths lees, final sweetness 9g/L
- finest cuvées much longer lees, lower/zero dosage
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7
Q
Non champagne grapes making sparkling wines in New Zealand
A
- Following record 2008 harvest, oversupply led to carbonated method of sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
- Less than 60,000 litres exported globally in 2017
- This style is med(+) intensity primary green capsicum and passion fruit notes, no autolytic character, high acidty, med(-) length.
- Some carbonated Pinot Gris sold in domestic market, rarely exported.
8
Q
Wine Law and Business in New Zealand Sparkling
A
- Sparkling is a small proportion of NZ’s wine production and 0.5% of NZ’s exports.
- Producers incl large cos like Oyster Bay, who also make high volume still wines.
- Also specialist firms (eg No 1 Family Estate) who make both their own wines and carry out specialist second fermentation phase of considerable amounts for other wineries.