New Zealand Flashcards
New Zealand is situated 1200 miles ____ of Australia
east
primary topographic feature of New Zealand
Southern Alps
Why are most vineyards in NZ located on the eastern side of the islands?
Southern Alps provide RS on SI - there are some shorter mountain systems + several high volcanic mountains on the NI that provide similar function
__% of production is white wine
80
t/f: SB accounts for 65% of plantings
true
top 3 white grapes of NZ
Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
top 2 red grapes
PN, Merlot
New Zealand’s Geographical Indications (excluding the 3 enduring indications) must be renewed after the first _ yrs, and every __ years after
5; 10
New Zealand wine requirement for stated variety, vintage, origin
85%
largest grower of PN
Marlborough
Methode Marlborough
traditional method
the 3 unofficial subregions of Marlborough
Wairau Valley
Awatere Valley
Southern Valleys
NZ’s 2nd most productive wine region
Hawke’s Bay
Chardonnay capital of New Zealand
Gisborne
More than half the vines in Wairarapa are planted to…
Pinot Noir
Most import subregion of Wairarapa
Martinborough
highest elevation wine region
Central Otago
Where is the Waipara Valley situated?
Waipara Valley - official subregion of North Canterbury
Nelson has one of the ______ climates in New Zealand
sunniest
Vines were first planted in NZ in ____; first wine produced in the late ___
1819 - late 1830s
What were some of the factors that crippled NZ’s wine industry in the 20th century?
Restrictive alcohol laws
Hybrids constituted the major plantings
Marlborough’s first commercial vineyards wasn’t established until ___
1973
When did Marlborough blow up on the international radar?
1985 - courtesy of Cloudy Bay Vineyards
Why is mechanical harvesting more common than hand harvesting?
cheap labor is scarce in NZ - sparsely populated
t/f: NZ has a higher price per bottle than any other country in the world
true - no mass production zones in NZ
t/f: over 85% of New Zealand’s wines utilize screwcaps
true
t/f: there are no laws governing enrichment, acidification, pruning, yields, or irrigation techniques
true
Specialty of Auckland
Merlot/Cab Sauv blends
Auckland is sandwiched between….
Northland and Waikato/Bay of Plenty
traditional center of wine business
Auckland
Where is Waiheke Island and what does it specialize in?
Subregion of Auckland - Bordeaux Blends
Gisborne aka _______ Bay
Poverty
the dominant grape of NZ’s Bordeaux blends
Merlot
NZ’s oldest winery
Mission Estate (1851) - started by Catholic missionaries from France
soils of Hawke’s Bay
Alluvial soils that progressively get more stony, gravelly, and rocky as you get closer to the coast
96% of NZ’s wineries are certified by this 1994 initiative
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
Waitaki Valley is known for its _____ soils
Limestone
t/f: NZ Chard typically sees oak
true
two prominent subregions of Auckland
Weiheke Island
Kumeu
1st wine region in world the see the dawn
gisborne
sparkling wine is a specialty of this region
Gisborne
lead red of Gisborne
Merlot
Gisborne is primarily known for Chardonnay, but _______ varieties grow well here as well
aromatic; eg viognier, gewurtztraminer
white grapes of Hawke’s Bay
SB, Chard, PG
Gimblett Gravels is known for Bordeaux varieties and _____
Syrah
capital of NZ, and which island
Wellington - N Island
Wairau vs Awatere expressions of SB
Wairau: warmer, more tropical
Awatere: cooler, more herbaceous
Waipara Valley is known for these two varieties
PN and Riesling
Where is extremely high quality Riesling made?
Waipara Valley
Where is Waipara Valley?
Subregion of Canterbury
What is unique about the ozone layer above Central Otago
the ozone layer is particularly thin above Central Otago; allowing more concentrated sunlight to hit the grapes
Wanaka, Gibbston, Bannockburn, Alexandra, Bendigo, Cromwell are all subregions of…
Central Otago
How does Gisborne benefit from being at the widest part of the country?
westerly winds are warmed as they cross the island; these winds push Chardonnay here to the tropical spectrum of aromas and flavors
primary soils of New Zealand
very mixed; greywacke, schist, and volcanic (north island)
