New Zealand Flashcards

1
Q

Geography

A

36-46 degrees S latitude

High sunshine hours

North and South Islands, separated by Cook Strait

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2
Q

Climate

A

Moderating factors: Pacific Ocean, large diurnal range, long sunshine hours, high UV levels

Southern Alps create rainshadow for east of South Island

Cool on the South Island, Moderate on North Island

Maritime (except Central Otago)

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3
Q

Canopy Management

A

Sufficient rainfall, high sunshine hours, fertile soils –> high vigour, too much shading

VSP with two cames

Large trellising systems like Scott Henry for high volume producers, but can be hard to ripen

Vines trained high as don’t need sunshine reflected from ground.

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4
Q

Yields

A

High yields, 70 hL/ha normal

Machine harvest

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5
Q

Hazards

A

Fungal disease from humidity/high rainfall

Birds

Irrigation needed bc of free draining soils & high evotranspiration

Tropical cyclones disrupt flowering & fruit set

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6
Q

Classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Methods

A

Vineyard:

  • high light level, sufficient water, canopy management
  • high diurnal range
  • sunny side of canopy for tropical flavours, shaded side for herbaceous
  • slightly early picking for herbaceousness
  • mechanical picking, some skin contact from berries crushed in transit

Winery:

  • Reduction of O2 contact
  • Low fermentation, neutral vessel, cultured yeast, no MLF or oak, minimal lees, ascorbic acid and SO2 to preserve freshness after bottling
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7
Q

Red wines

A

Mid range fermentation temps, cultured yeasts, neutral vessels for high volume

Premium: cold maceration commonplace

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8
Q

Sweet wines

A

Noble rot for Semillon

Long hang times in vineyards

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9
Q

Greater Auckland

A

North Island

3 sub regions: Waiheke Island, West Auckland, Matakana

moderate maritime climate, high humidity

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10
Q

Greater Auckland, Waiheke Island

A

red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah

warmer than most of Auckland

low diurnal range

Medium to full body, black fruit with oak

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11
Q

Greater Auckland, West Auckland

A

Expensive, so vineyard land is decreasing

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12
Q

Gisborne

A

North Island, eastern tip

Vines on flat, fertile plain of clay, loam, and silt

Chardonnay 50% of plantings, Pinot Gris, SB, Gewurz, Viognier. Some Merlot, not much.

moderate maritime, high sunshine, warming breezes, not much frost risk, earliest harvesting region

1000mm rainfall, less irrigation but vigour an issue and rainfall can fall at harvest

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13
Q

Hawke’s Bay

A

Moderate Maritime, similar to bdx.

1000mm rainfall

Gravel, alluvial soils similar to Medoc

Merlot-dominant bdx blends

Syrah: 75% of NZ’s Syrah plantings

Chardinnay

Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa

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14
Q

Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa

A

Sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay

Inland, warm but frost risk

Alluvial terraces with gravelly soils,

Gimblett Gravels: stony topsoil helps ripen Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet

Bridge Pa: deeper topsoil of sandy and clay loam which helps with water retention.

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15
Q

Hawke’s Bay Syrah

A

Ripe blackberry, black pepper, floral, medium to medium (+) body, medium (+) acidity

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16
Q

Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay

A

range of styles

Struck match character

Medium to full, medium acidity

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17
Q

Wairapa

A

Most southerly region of North Island, mostly premium wines

Sub regions: Masterton, Gladstone, Martinborough

Cool Maritime with large diurnal range and winds from Cook Strait

Thicker skinned Pinot Noir and low yield SB

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18
Q

Wairapa Pinot Noir

A

Medium (+) acidity, red and black fruit, spice, concentrated, medium to medium (+) tannin

Abel clone from DRC, flowers late and misses bad weather periods

Dijon 667 and 777 clones

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19
Q

Wairapa Sauvignon Blanc

A

More restrained than Marlborough with high acidity

20
Q

Marlborough

A

South Island, cool with warm summers and mild winters, protected from rain by mountains.

650mm

2410 shunshine hours

Free-draining alluvial soils

Machine harvest common (promotes passionfruit and bell pepper)

vineyards between Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley

21
Q

Wairau Valley

A

Western edge of Marlborough along Wairau River to mouth of Cloudy Bay

Inland is more continental, frost risk

Valley is a former riverbed with gravel, silt, sand, loam, clay soils

SB most planted, PN, Chard, PG

22
Q

Southern Valleys

A

north-south running valleys in Marlborough, south of Wairau plain

Vineyards on hillsides, with more clay to retain water and cool

Pinot Noir - long enough season for aromatics, flavour, tannin

23
Q

Awatere Valley

A

south of Wairau, cooler and windier as it is closer to coast and higher elevation

Later harvest

SB more herbaceous, high acidity

Windy weather leads to smaller berries with thick skin for Pinot Noir

24
Q

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

A

Dry, high acidity, intensely aromatic: floral, tropical fruit, herbaceous, passionfruit

25
Q

Marlborough Pinot Noir

A

10% all plantings, 3 styles:

light, juicy, red fruit for early drinking from alluvial plains of Wairau

Intense fruit, red cherry, plum, medium to full bodied, aged in oak, from clay and loess slopes of Southern Valleys

Thick skinned, deeper coloured, floral and herbal and red fruit from windy Awatere Valley

26
Q

Marlborough Chardonnay

A

medium with simple stone fruit and citrus, but some premium examples

27
Q

Marlborough Pinot Gris

A

light, youthful, fresh or full bodied, riper fruit and barrel maturation

28
Q

Nelson

A

Northwest corner of South Island

not as protected as Marlborough from wind and raim, 970mm in heavy storms –> still high sunshine hours

cool maritime climate, cooling sea breezes and warm nights

Sub regions: Moutere Hill and Waimea Plains

SB: restrained

Pinot Noir: fresh and fruity from Waimea and fuller from Moutere

29
Q

Moutere Hills

A

Sub region of Nelson

Clay-based gravel soils with sandy loam topsoil, gentle slopes, water-retaining

50-150m

Fuller bodied and riper, more concentrated than Waimea Plains

High quality

30
Q

Waimea Plains

A

Riverbed of alluvial soils with fine silt and clay loams, moderately fertile. Free-draining soil

Lighter in body

31
Q

Canterbury

A

On flat, open plain facing Pacific.

Sub regions: North Canterbury & Canterbury Plains

32
Q

North Canterbury

A

cool climate, sheltered by Southern Alps, high sunshine hours and warm summer temps

Cool nights, spring frosts, hot northwest winds (high evapotranspiration)

Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris in varying styles

33
Q

Waipara Valley

A

In North Canterbury

warmer, protected by Teviotdale Hills

Flat valley floor on gravelley sandy loam -> lighter wines

Northwest slopes on clay loams and limestone are more intense

34
Q

Waikari

A

In North Canterbury

Clay-limestone soils

Premium, critical acclaim for Pinot Noir

35
Q

Central Otago

A

one of world’s most southerly wine regions.

Surrounded by Southern Alps, so is semi-continental, spring frosts - helicopters

360mm rainfall

Warm, dry, long daylight hours and high UV, need to shade on west side

300m altitude, high diurnal range

range of soils, gravel, clay, schist as parent rock. Low in organic matter so compost/cover crops

Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling in varying styles

Six sub-regions: Alexandra, Gibbston, Bannockburn, Cromwell/Lowburn, Pisa, Bendigo, Wanaka

36
Q

Alexandra

A

Central Otago Subregion

furthest south, but hottest, with cool nights and high diurnal range

37
Q

Gibbston

A

Central Otago Subregion

highest and coolest, 320-420m on north facing slppes of Kawarau Gorge. Later ripening, fresh and high acidity

38
Q

Bannockburn

A

Central Otago Subregion

lower altitude on the southern banks of Kawarau River

Warmest and driest part, ripe and concentrated wines

39
Q

Cromwell/Lowburn/Pisa

A

Central Otago Subregion

from Cromwell in south to west of Lake Dunstan. Semi-arid, fans, and terraces on the Pisa mountains.

Warm climate

40
Q

Bendigo

A

Central Otago Subregion

warmest sub region, Syrah can grow on north facing slopes

Semi arid, poor stony, free draining soil and continental climate

41
Q

Wanaka

A

Central Otago Subregion

smallest and most northerly

Between Lake Wanaka and town on Luggate

290-320m, cooler climate, lake moderates

42
Q

Central Otago Pinot Noir

A

70% of plantings

good to outstanding, premium to super premium

high UV levels lead to deep colour and full bodied, but good acidity, ripe tannins, plum and cherry

43
Q

Waitaki

A

North Otago

east of Southern Alps, northerly regions.

Remote, so not many vineyards

Limestone

Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chard, Gewurz

44
Q

Geographical Indications Act

A

2017

18 registered names (Marlborough, Martinborough, Hawke’s Bay for example)

45
Q

Production

A

3 million hL per year

500% increase between 2000 and 2019

46
Q

Domestic Sales

A

only 1/6th sales

Supermarket, hospitality, then specialist stores

85% use cellar door sales and digital sales

47
Q

Exports

A

$1.8 billion NZD

USA, UK, Australia

Bulk shipping (1/3 exports)