D3 New Zealand & China Flashcards
New Zealand - Features & Climate?
Mainly cool maritime climate
Pacific Ocean offers plentiful moderation
Central Otago an exception as it is sheltered by mountains (Southern Alps), so is semi-continental
Most of South Island is cool, more of North island is moderate (e.g. Auckland and Gisbourne)
Large diurnal range, long hours of sunlight and high UV (due to Ozone hole and low air pollution), aiding development of colour and tannin
High rainfall = disease pressure
Vineyard Risks in NZ?
Disease pressure (mould/fungus) due to wet conditions
Lots of birds
Sunburn due to high UV
Auckland?
Waiheke Island of particular note for Cabernet and Syrah of up to outstanding quality
Gisborne?
Shrinking in size (planting other fruits)
Flat, fertile soils
Moderate maritime
Chardonnay and PG very common, and aromatic varieties to a lesser extent
Hawke’s Bay?
Moderate maritime, a la Bordeaux
Gravelly soils (as in Medoc)
Relatively high (~1000mm) rainfall per year
Merlot-led blends including Syrah and CS
Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa 2 best known sub-regions
Wairarapa?
Elegant Pinot Noirs and aromatic (but not herbaceous) Sauvignon Blanc
Cool Maritime climate, as most Southerly
Low yields influenced by heavy winds
Marlborough?
Wairau River
Cool with low continentality
Nearby mountains provide some degree of relief from rain
Long dry growing seasons as a result
Machine harvesting increases presence of 4MMP/precursors significantly
Nelson?
Cool maritime climate
Some degree of protection from winds/rain, but less so than Marlborough
Canterbury?
North Canterbury includes Waipara Valley and Waikari
Cool climate
Sheltered by Southern Alps, relatively high continentality and diurnal range
Hot dry winds as warming influence
Moderate rainfall together with winds can lead to high evapotranspiration, and the need for irrigation
Low disease pressure allows longer hang times
Riesling popular
Central Otago?
Semi-Continental
Heavily protected by mountains; low rainfall, irrigation necessary as a result but low disease pressure
Long growing season and high UV, high diurnal range due to slight elevation (~300m)
Spring frosts a risk
Pinot Noir dominant, Pinot Gris and Riesling also
Hallmark of NZ Wine Legislation?
No strict appellation laws. Yet
Chinese Grapes?
Heavily focused on red:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenere
Economic Context in China?
Heavily state-run, including in JVs with LVMH etc.
Strong incentives to grow table grapes vs wine grapes
Government owns all land, so innovation is complicated
China Climate?
Highly continental, with very cold and arid winters
Heavy Summer rains
Highly variable across the country
Burying of winter vines vital in some parts
High disease pressure as a result of humidity near coastal areas
Chinese Sparkling Wine?
Ningxia
