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
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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
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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%
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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