New Zealand Flashcards
When were vines first planted in New Zealand?
By who? From where?
1819
Samuel Marsden
Australia
What group fleeing the Austro-Hungarian empire played a large role in New Zealand’s early wine industry?
Dalmatians from modern day Croatia
They settled in Auckland
What group has banded together to promote Maori contributions to wine?
The TUKU collective
Who was responsible for New Zealand’s first commercially viable Sauvignon Blanc?
Who was responsible for Marlborough’s first commercially available Sauvignon Blanc?
Ross Spence in Auckland
Wayne Thomas of Montana (now Brancott Estate)
What is the most northerly winegrowing region?
What is the most southern winegrowing region?
Northland
Central Otago
On what coast does the majority of winegrowing occur?
WHy?
East Coast
The mountains running down New Zealand (including the Southern Alps) protect the east coast from west, westerly winds.
What is the general EU Standard regarding the minimum ABV of wine?
8.5%
What is the minimum percentage of vintage, variety, and origin for a wine to be labeled?
85%
What are the wine regions of New Zealand?
Northland Auckland Gisborne Hawke's Bay Wairarapa Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Central Otago Waitaki Valley
What separates New Zealand from it’s nearest neighbor?
It is separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea
What is the climate of New Zealand?
Cool Maritime Climate
What is the driest sub-region in New Zealand? In what larger region is it located?
Alexandra, located within Central Otago
New Zealand is the global leader in using what enclosure?
Stelvin/Screwcap
More than 90%
As recently as 1996, what grape was the most prolific grape in New Zealand?
Muller-Thurgau
What is one factor contributing to greater thiol levels in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc?
Machine Harvesting
It leads to crushing and greater levels of maceration
What makes Cloudy Bay’s “Te Koko” different from most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs?
It is fermented in barrel with indigenous yeast and undergoes malolactic fermentation.
Who was the first to introduce malolactic fermentation to New Zealand Chardonnay?
Michael Brajkovich of Kumeau River in 1985
What notable producer of Burgundy has partnered with Prophet’s Rock?
Francois Millet of Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue
What are some of New Zealand’s most expensive wines?
Destiny Bay, “Magna Praemia”
-Bordeaux Blend
Stonyridge, “Larose”
-Bordeaux Blend
Providence, “Private Reserve”
-Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec
In New Zealand, what is “Cellar Door” slang for?
A tasting room
Who is probably the most notable producer of New Zealand Chardonnay?
Where are they located, what are some cuvee names?
Kumeau River
Auckland
Mate’s Vineyard
Hunting Hill
Coddington
What is New Zealand’s oldest winery?
Where is it located?
Mission Estate
Hawke’s Bay
What famous former riverbed is located in Hawke’s Bay?
What is grown there?
How large is the vineyard?
Gimblett Gravels
Syrah and Bordeaux Varieties
800 ha
When is harvest in New Zealand?
late February to mid-April
What is necessary for farming Gimblett Gravels?
Daily irrigation
What area is adjacent to Gimblett Gravels?
Bridge Pa Triangle
2,000ha
More sandy loam leads to fleshier wines
What GI’s are embedded within Wairarapa GI?
Martinborough GI
Gladstone GI
What GI’s are embedded within Auckland GI?
Kumeau GI
Matakana GI
Waiheke Island GI
What is the southernmost GI of New Zealand’s North Island?
Wairarapa GI
How does Marlborough differ from Sancerre?
Much sunnier: 2400 hours of sun vs 1800 hours annually
The average temperature is also very similar to Burgundy
What two valleys constitute Marlborough?
Wairau Valley to the north
Awatare Valley to the south (Awatare is cooler and windier)
The Southern Valleys region is actually between them
Who is the most important wine producer in Nelson GI?
Neudorf
What is the first wine region of the world to see dawn?
Gisbourne GI
What GIs are located within the Canterbury GI?
North Canterbury GI
Waipara Valley GI
What free-draining alluvial soils characterize the valley floor of Waipara?
Glasnevin Gravels
What is the world’s most southerly winegrowing region?
Central Otago
What is the climate of Central Otago?
Semi-continental, unique among New Zealand winegrowing regions.
It is separated from the west coast by three mountain ranges, and there are wide diurnal temperature fluctuations.
What are some viticultural hazards in Central Otago?
Cool-continental climate, so Frost
Sunny and close to ozone hole, so Sunburn
Dry climate with high winds, so Water Stress
70% of Pinot Noir in Central Otago is planted near what feature?
Lake Dunstan
It is a warmer area, and there is ready water for irrigation
What is the smallest growing region in New Zealand?
What characterizes it?
Waitaki Valley GI
It has limestone, very rare for New Zealand
It is also the coldest growing area in New Zealand
What figure has been called the father of New Zealand’s wine industry?
Croatian born Romeo Bragato
In the late 19th/early 20th century, he was New Zealand’s head of viticulture
What was the “six o’clock swill?”
Until 1967, bars were required to close at 6, leading to binge drinking between the end of the work day and closing time.
When did New Zealand allow winemakers to sell single bottles to customers?
1955
What was the first vintage of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc?
1985
