New Zealand Flashcards
What separates the North and South Islands?
Cook Strait
New Zealand Climate?
Maritime, except continental Central Otago
High UV radiation (hole in ozone layer)
Long sunlight hours
Large diurnal range
Very low air pollution
High rainfall
Humidity
Vineyard management in New Zealand?
Fertile soils
Canopy management crucial - limit vegetative growth and shading
VSP - 2 canes
High yields
Birds
Fungal disease common
Sunburn
Irrigation allowed where needed
Sustainability in New Zealand?
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand Initiative - almost all producers are involved
Less than 5% certified organic
Central Otago 17% organic
Biodynamics popular
Winemaking in New Zealand?
Low fermentation temp
Neutral vessel
Cultured yeast - increase aromatics
No MLF
Chaptalization if needed in cool year
Ascorbic acid + SO2 for freshness
Key components of classic NZ Sauv Blanc?
High light
Adequate water
Careful canopy management
Long growing season
Ripe fruit - sunny side
Early picking for herbaceous notes
Mechanically harvested - skin contact - herbaceous
No oxygenation
Cultured yeast
Low fermentation temp
No malo
Minimal lees aging
Ascorbic acid + SO2
Screwcap
Sweet wines in New Zealand?
Noble rot for premium
Long hang times
Semillon and Riesling
History of screwcap in New Zealand?
New Zealand Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative
Founded in 2001 by multiple producers
Describe Waiheke Island?
Within Greater Auckland, North Island
Cab Sauv and Syrah
Lower diurnal range
Land prices rising
Describe Gisborne?
Area under vine halved
Chardonnay dominant
High precipitation
Fertile soils
Need devigorating rootstock and precise canopy management
Describe Hawkes Bay:
Oldest NZ wine region, 2nd largest
Bordeaux, Merlot blends
Sub regions Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa
Irrigation necessary (Free draining soils)
Craggy Range
Describe Martinborough?
In Wairarapa, southern North Island
Cool maritime
Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc
Free draining alluvial/gravel
Describe Marlborough:
2/3 of all plantings
Current style started in 1973 with Montana (Brancott)
“place with the hole in the cloud”
Protected from rain by mountains
Irrigation needed
Machine harvesting common
Two main valleys: Wairau, Awatere
Describe Wairau:
West of Wairau river
Less moderation from ocean
Frost risk
More fertile soils
Describe Southern valleys in Marlborough:
More clay
Slower ripening
Pinot Noir thrives
Describe Awatere?
Cooler, windier
Close to coast, high elevation
More herbacous SB, less tropical
PN smaller berries with thicker skins, deeply colored
Describe Marlborough Sauv Blanc profile:
High acid
High aromatics
Herbaceous, flora, tropical, passionfruit
Describe Nelson:
High rain
High sunshine hours
Cool, maritime
Subregions: Moutere Hills and Waimea Plains
SB: restrained style
PN: fresh, unoaked
Describe Moutere Hills:
Clay/gravel soils
Low nutrients/retain water
Describe Waimea Plains
Moderate fertility
High rainfall
Free draining soils - still need irrigation
Describe Canterbury:
North Canterbury is 90%, Canterbury Plains remainder
Sheltered by Southern Alps
Spring frost
Hot, dry north-west winds
Moderate rainfall - irrigation needed
Describe Riesling from Nelson?
From sub-region Waipara valley
Very expressive, intense, ripe
High acid
Dry to sweet/late harvest
Describe Central Otago:
Surrounded by Southern Alps - semi-continental climate
Very dry - irrigation necessary
Spring frosts - helicopters
Gravel, clay, etc - low nutrients
Six sub-regions
Pinot Noir dominant; Pinot Gris and Riesling
Sub-regions of Central Otago?
Alexandra - most Southern but coolest
Gibbson - highest and coolest
Bannockburn - most planted, ripe
Bendigo - warmest and semi-arid; stony soils, continental
Wanaka - smallest and most Northern
Describe Central Otago Pinot Noir:
Deeply colored
Med+/Full bodied
Med+ acid
Ripe tannins
Red plum/black cherry
Regional law in New Zealand:
Geographical Indications Act - 2017
18 registered
Appellation Marlborough Wine - 2018 (Sauv Blanc only) - max yields, certified sustainable, bottled in NZ
Wine business in NZ?
Growers dropped 40% - consolidation
3mil hL of wine - 83% export
USA, UK, Australia
Produces 1% of worlds volume but 7th largest exporter in value
Rapid increase in production
Sustainability body in New Zealand:
SWNZ: Sustainable Wine New Zealand
98% of producers participate
Who markets NZ wine?
New Zealand Wine (New Zealand Winegrowers)
