New Zealand Flashcards
Geography
36-46 degrees S latitude
High sunshine hours
North and South Islands, separated by Cook Strait
Climate
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)
Canopy Management
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.
Yields
High yields, 70 hL/ha normal
Machine harvest
Hazards
Fungal disease from humidity/high rainfall
Birds
Irrigation needed bc of free draining soils & high evotranspiration
Tropical cyclones disrupt flowering & fruit set
Classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Methods
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
Red wines
Mid range fermentation temps, cultured yeasts, neutral vessels for high volume
Premium: cold maceration commonplace
Sweet wines
Noble rot for Semillon
Long hang times in vineyards
Greater Auckland
North Island
3 sub regions: Waiheke Island, West Auckland, Matakana
moderate maritime climate, high humidity
Greater Auckland, Waiheke Island
red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah
warmer than most of Auckland
low diurnal range
Medium to full body, black fruit with oak
Greater Auckland, West Auckland
Expensive, so vineyard land is decreasing
Gisborne
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
Hawke’s Bay
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
Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa
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.
Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Ripe blackberry, black pepper, floral, medium to medium (+) body, medium (+) acidity
Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay
range of styles
Struck match character
Medium to full, medium acidity
Wairapa
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
Wairapa Pinot Noir
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