New Zealand Flashcards
New Zealand’s northernmost GI?
Northland GI
3 GI’s nested within Auckland GI?
Matakana GI
Kumeu GI
Waiheke Island GI
Martinborough is nesting within what GI?
Wairarapa GI
Southernmost GI on New Zealand’s North Island?
Martinborough GI
2 GI’s are nested within the Wairarapa GI?
Gladstone GI
Martinborough GI
GI nested within the Hawkes Bay GI?
Central Hawkes Bay GI
Which GI’s within the North Island GI do NOT have any nested GI’s within?
Gisborne GI
Northland GI
What are the 5 “main” GI’s on New Zealand’s South Island?
Nelson GI
Marlborough GI
Canterbury GI
Waitaki North Otago/Waitaki Valley GI
Central Otago GI
Central Otago’s sole nested GI?
Bannockburn GI
(Est 2022)
TUKU Collective
Māori led and/or owned winery organization with goal to promote Māori contributions to wine
(there’s only about 6 actual Māori wineries yet there’s 80 Māori related labels)
1st commercially available Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc? What year?
Montana (now known as Brancott Estates)
1979
Marlborough accounts for approximately what percentage of New Zealand plantings?
70%
What is AMW?
Appellation Marlborough Wine
*growers association/promotions collective
*certification scheme for sustainably grown wines produced and bottled in Marlborough, est. and trademarked in 2018
What body of water separates New Zealand from Australia?
Tasman Sea
Only semi-continental region in NZ?
Central Otago
New Zealand % rule for vintage, variety, origin?
85% for all
3 most planted RED varieties in New Zealand?
1 Pinot Noir (~73% of plantings)
#2 Merlot
#3 Syrah
3 most planted white varieties in New Zealand?
1 Sauvignon Blanc
#2 Chardonnay
#3 Pinot Gris
1st Sauvignon Blanc in NZ were planted in?
Auckland GI
(1968 by Ross Spence)
Why is Wayne Thomas important to New Zealand viticulture?
He asked Ross Spence for Sauv Blanc and planted it in Marlborough
1st plantings and commercially available vintage of Marlborough Sauv Blanc?
planting in 1975, wine in 1979
(Montana aka now Brancott Estates)
What year did Sauvignon Blanc become New Zealand’s most planted variety? What was the most planted variety prior?
2002
Chardonnay
(Muller Thurgau 1996 and prior)
1st vintage of Central Otago Pinot?
1987
(From Alan Brady at Gibbston Valley Winery)
Prophet’s Rock
Central Otago
Paul Pujol (winemaker) x Francois Millet of Comte de Vogue collab for “Cuvee Aux Antipodes”
- Rocky Point and Home Vineyard are main sites
- Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris (Pujol says NZ’s Pinot Gris clones are trash.. big bunches, crop too heavy)
Most New Zealand Merlot plantings are found in what GI?
Hawkes Bay (90% approx)
The majority of New Zealand Syrah is planted in what region?
Hawkes Bay (77% approx)
What is the main grape in Ngakirikiri? Who is the producer?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Villa Maria
(Hawkes Bay. The name is Māori referring to the unique soils left when the Ngaruroro changed course)
Magna Praemia - what is the main grape and who makes it?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Destiny Bay
Waiheke Island
***not readily avl in US
How would a winemaker preserve the buttery flavors/aromas produced by malolactic conversion?
Sulfur addition
* Diacetyl is the byproduct - lees consume it. If you hit them with sulfur, you’ll stop them from basically “eating up” all of that buttery character
What is the most planted Bordeaux varietal in Hawke’s Bay GI?
Merlot
Name a member of the TUKU collective?
Steve Bird Wines
Te Pa
Kuru Kuru
Jeff Sinnott
Tiki
What is Te Kauwhata?
New Zealand’s government research station
Significance of Matua Road Vineyard?
This was the site of the first Sauvignon Blanc planting in New Zealand - 1968, planted by Ross Spence
Biggest virus problem in NZ?
Leafroll virus
Varieties for 10/5 Clone (Ten Bar Five) , Limmer Clone
Gumboot/Abel?
10/5 = Pinot
Limmer = Syrah
Gumboot = Pinot
*New Zealand
New Zealand spans what parallels?
35ºS to 45ºS
If it were superimposed on Europe in the northern hemisphere, that’d be like Bordeaux to Jerez
What body of water borders New Zealand to the west? to the east?
West = Tasman Sea
East = Pacific
Central Otago climate & moderating factors?
Central Otago
*this is the only semi-continental climate in the country and only region with a big portion of land more than 50km from coast
*Southern Alps
*Lake Dunston, Lake Wanaka, Lake Wakatipu
*Klutha, Kawarua Rivers
New Zealand’s soils - young or old?
Young! Some as young as 10,000 years.
When did New Zealand pass its first GI bill?
2016
When and where were the first vines planted in New Zealand? Who planted them?
1819
Planted by missionary Samuel Marsden in Kerikeri in what is now the Northland GI
Why is the Northland GI one of New Zealand’s least successful growing areas? Top 2 varieties here?
Chardonnay, Syrah
- Humid and subtropical weather. Not terrible, but doesn’t create as fascinating wines
- high poverty rates
- the wines aren’t competitive enough to warrant the high costs
What are Auckland’s 3 GI subzones?
1) Matakana
2) Waiheke Island
3) Kumeu
What Gulf separates Waiheke Island from Auckland on the mainland?
Hauraki Gulf
Biggest producer on Waiheke Island? The other major producer here? Most planted grape here?
Man O’War = biggest
Destiny Bay
Syrah
Biggest influences on Kumeu River climate?
Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean - Kumeu occupies a narrower strip of the top part of the North Island with less distance between both coasts
Name 2 of Kumeu River’s single vineyard bottlings.
Maté’s Vineyard #1
Coddington Vineyard
Ray’s Road Vineyard (Hawke’s Bay GI)
Huntington Hill Vineyard
Furthest east GI of NZ?
Gisborne GI
The whole thing about how it is the first to see the sun daily.
Gisborne GI’s most planted grape?
Chardonnay
(they are the self-proclaimed “Chardonnay capital” of New Zealand)
Ormond Valley is important to?
Gisborne GI
What body of water forms Gisborne GI’s eastern coastline?
Poverty Bay
Highest producing NZ region before Marlborough took over?
Gisborne GI
This was “carafe country” - lots of bulk production. Lindauer, a huge sparkling brand, still sources a lot of grapes from here
Gisborne’s leading producers?
Millton Vineyards
* 1st biodynamic winery in NZ/Southern Hemisphere
(one of the pioneers of sustainable practices - among the first organic and the first to do biodynamics. Their Te Awai Chenin Blanc is supposed to be a very special bottle. Clos Ste Anne is the source of many of their best wines)
Brunton Road
Who planted New Zealand’s first Gewurztraminer vines? What was the winery?
Nick Nobilo, avid Gewurz fan and creator of Vinoptima, which was dedicated to it.
* Gisborne GI
* Most popular in China but..went out of business.
* object was to rival Alsace
(https://www.vinography.com/2018/10/vinoptima_too_much_of_a_good_t)
Context question: Why might Cabernet Sauvignon hold more advantages for growth in the Hawke’s Bay GI?
Climate change - Merlot ripens earlier and has thus been more affected by ill-timed harvest rain. Warmer seasons have moved harvest dates up in a way that is better suited for Cab Sauv’s growth cycle. Cab also just performs better on bony gravel soils.
What weather event in 2023 was particularly devastating to the North Island’s harvest?
Cyclone Gabrielle
(https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/02/cyclone-gabrielle-could-cost-new-zealand-13-5-billion/)
The Ngaruroro River is responsible for the creation of what growing areas?
Bridge Pa Triangle
Gimblett Gravels
*the general Heretaunga Plains growing area
The Gimblett Gravels growing area boundaries are based on?
800ha of gravelly greywacke soils from the bed of the old Ngaruroro River, which were exposed following a major flood in 1867
3 Gimblett Gravels producers?
Craggy Range
Esk Valley
Te Mata
Smith & Sheth
Trinity Hill
Villa Maria
NZ “region” that is actually a registered brand? Rules to use the brand?
Gimblett Gravels, est 2001
*95% of grapes must be from there
*95% of grapes must be from approved soil type
What is greywacke?
grey sandstone with a high clay content and plenty of coarse-grained particles giving stony, free-draining soils
Bridge Pa
Hawke’s Bay GI (unofficial) subzone
Similar soils of alluvial and glacial origins - Bridge Pa’s soils are much older, more variation here and significantly more clay deposits and “red metal” gravels
Who owns the Te Muna Road Vineyard? What GI is it in?
Craggy Range
Martinborough
Bullnose, Awatea
Te Mata
Bullnose Syrah
Awatea Cab/Merlot
Hawke’s Bay GI
Coleraine
Te Mata’s top bottling
- 1st vintage in 1982
- 2021 blend was 56% Cab, 32% Merlot, 12% CF
- Named for the Coleraine vineyard, the owners home estate. From the best parcels in their Havelock Hills vineyard
Who makes the “Homage” bottling in the Hawke’s Bay GI?
Trinity Hill
The Syrah bottling is a tribute to Gerard Jaboulet, with whom the winemaker worked a harvest in the 1990’s
What is Wairarapa’s 2 sub-GI’s? What is its unofficial subzone?
Martinborough GI
Gladstone GI
Masteron is unofficial
Ata Rangi is based in what GI?
Martinborough GI
What are the 2 most planted varieties in the Martinborough GI?
Pinot Noir
Sauvignon Blanc
What body of water separates the North Island from the South Island of New Zealand?
Cook Strait
What producer was the first to develop Marlborough? What year?
Montana
1973- they initially planted Muller-Thurgau and Cabernet Sauvignon
1st vintage of Cloudy Bay? Ties to what Aussie winery?
1985
David Hoehnen founded Cape Mentelle
Capital city of Marlborough?
Blenheim
Marlborough subzone with most plantings?
Wairau Valley
[this was the site of Brancott Vineyard’s 1st plantings in 1973 and home to many of the big names]
Which of Marlborough’s subzones was developed first?
Wairau Valley
Best Marlborough subzone for Pinot Noir?
Southern Valleys
* richer soils with loess and clay
Marlborough’s subzones north to south?
Wairau Valley
Southern Valleys
Awatere Valley
The Richmond Ranges and Wither Hills are important to what region’s climates?
Marlborough GI
What 2 sets of hills/mountains protect Marlborough?
North: Richmond Ranges
South/in between Southern Valleys & Awatere: Wither Hills
2 Champagne houses with Marlborough projects?
Deutz
GH Mumm
Methode Marlborough
- varieties
- aging
- rules
Grower’s association est. 2018.
1. grown, bottled, matured and disgorged in Marlborough
2. only Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
3. aged min. 18 months on lees to the first disgorgement of any batch
Members of Methode Marlborough
Nautilus
Saint Clair
Whitehaven
Spy Valley
Tohu
Deutz, Daniel Le Brun, LV, Esses, Hunter’s, Johanneshof, No 1
Name 2 members of AWM?
Appellation Wine Marlborough
Take your pick - there’s a lot.
Duck Hunter, Villa Maria, Walnut Block, Nautilus, Mt. Riley, Huia, Isabel Estate, Cloudy Bay, Dog Point, Clos Henri, Babich, Ant Moore
Geological feature that separates Marlborough from the Nelson GI?
Richmond Range
two GI’s at the top of New Zealand’s South Island?
Nelson GI
Marlborough GI
Framingham is located where, known for what variety?
Marlborough Riesling
Framingham -they have the F-series that mimics the German pradikat system
FROMM - located where, known for what grape?
Marlborough GI
*known for their Pinot Noir. Has the oldest Malbec vines in NZ (planted 1992). Also known for Syrah
What is Nelson GI’s most important winery?
Neudorf
*Rosie’s Block, Tom’s Block, and Twenty Five Rows
What are the unofficial subzones of Nelson GI?
Moutere Hills, Waimea Plains - seem to be most important
Tataka, Mouteka
Where would you find Glasnevin Gravels?
In the North Canterbury GI’s valley floor areas
The Teviotdale Hills protect what GI from cold winds from the Pegasus Bay?
North Canterbury GI
Major city located within the Canterbury GI?
Christchurch
Where is the Waitaki Valley located?
It sits in between North Canterbury GI and Central Otago GI (North Otago)
Where is Ōhau located?
West coast of the lower North Island
This is a sub-region of the New Zealand GI
[NZ site indicates it as GI - not listed or obvious news anywhere else)
Major city of Central Otago?
Queenstown
Where are the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions located?
South of Auckland
Waipara GI’s soils?
Gravelly soils near river, limestone-derived clays in east
(Another region with this anomaly is Waikato Valley GI)
What range runs along the western border of Canterbury GI?
Southern Alps
2 most planted varieties in North Canterbury GI?
Pinot Noir #1
Sauvignon Blanc #2
New Zealand’s GI with the most Riesling? 2nd most?
1 North Canterbury GI
#2 Marlborough comes in 2nd
Pegasus Bay ‘s GI?
Waipara Valley
North Canterbury
Central Otago’s sole nested GI?
Bannockburn GI (promoted in 2022)
Felton Road
Bannockburn GI / Central Otago
- 1st vintage in 1997
- Blair Walter, winemaker. Estate only, all handpicked
- organic and biodynamic
Cornish Point Pinot Noir
MacMuir Pinot Noir
Calvert Pinot Noir
Block 3
Block 5
Emma’s Block and Tinker’s Field are important bottlings of what variety, producer and GI?
Pinot Noir - Rippon - Central Otago
Cuvee Aux Antipodes
A collaboration between Prophet’s Rock and Francois Millet, former winemaker for Comtes Georges de Vogue (35 vintages). Central Otago Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay
Who is James Busby?
Made New Zealand’s 1st (recorded) wine in 1840
What year did New Zealand debut its Screw Cap Initiative?
2001
What river runs through Gisborne GI? What body of water does it empty into?
Waipaoa River
Poverty Bay
New Zealand’s “Golden Slope”?
In the Ormond subregion of the Gisborne GI. A gently sloped sandy escarpment with limestone topsoils. Some of Gisborne’s best chardonnay grows here.
Describe Hawke’s Bay’s climate?
Maritime
*2188 sunshine hrs
*heat summations between BDX and Burg
* frost = threat further inland
* free-draining soils are a plus in the cool, wet growing season
Wairarapa Valley GI’s flagship variety?
Pinot Noir
2 highest sunshine hour GI in NZ?
1 Marlborough averages 2409 sunshine hours
#2 Nelson GI with about 2405 sunshine hours
What range dominates Marlborough’s Southern Valleys subregion?
Wither Hills
Marlborough’s Wairau Valley subregion sits closest to what range of mountains?
Richmond Range
Marlborough soils
Varied
* glacial/free-draining alluvials to the clay/loams of the Southern Valleys
* silt/loam combo found closer to Cloudy Bay and the coast
What mountain range provides Canterbury with a rain shadow?
Southern Alps
Which of New Zealand’s regions boasts the highest elevation vineyards?
Central Otago
*the Gibbston subzone is the highest reaching
Bannockburn GI sits on the south bank of what river?
Kawarau River
What is the most planted white grape in Central Otago?
Pinot Gris
(172ha - for context, Pinot holds about 1656ha)
Central Otago subregions influenced by Lake Dunston?
Cromwell Basin, Pisa, Lowburn all on west bank
Northern, Bendigo
What is the most southerly subregion of Central Otago? The most northerly?
Southerly: Alexandra
Northerly: Wanaka
Top 2 GI’s for Sauv Blanc plantings in NZ?
1. Marlborough 23.5k
#2. Hawke’s Bay GI 1011ha
Top 2 NZ regions for Pinot Gris?
Marlborough with 1238ha
Hawke’s Bay #2 with 675ha
New Zealand region with the most Gewurztraminer plantings?
Marlborough
In descending order, what are the top 3 regions for Chardonnay in New Zealand by planted hectares?
- Marlborough
- Hawke’s Bay
- Gisborne
The majority of New Zealand’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot plantings are found in what 2 regions?
Auckland
Hawke’s Bay
Warmest subregion of Central Otago?
Alexandra Basin is warm, dry and gets a lot of sun
Bendigo is often cited as warmest. Cromwell Basin too
Canterbury’s most established subregion?
Waipara Valley
(Omihi Valley is a key feature here)
What region on the South Island is known for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer?
North Canterbury GI
Where is Peregrine?
Central Otago
(they get fruit from Bendigo, Pisa, and Gibbston)
Where is Jackson Estate in New Zealand?
Marlborough
Describe two climatic/geographic factors that influence the wine of Central Otago?
Southern Alps, Lake Wanaka, Lake Dunstan
Hawkes Bay Subregions?
Central Hawke’s Bay GI
Esk River Valley
Bridge Pa
Gimblett Gravels
Te Awanga
Northern Esk Valley
Mohaka
Tutaekuri River Valley
Ngaruroro River Valley
Korokipo
Ohiti
Havelock North
Explain the relationship between Canterbury GI, North Canterbury GI, and Waipara Valley GI?
Waipara Valley GI is officially a subzone of Canterbury GI - but it does sit inside a demarcated area of North Canterbury GI. New Zealand Winegrower’s recognize it as a subregion of North Canterbury GI
What three major lakes affect viticulture in the Central Otago region?
Lake Dunstan (Cromwell)
Lake Wanaka (Wanaka)
Lake Wakatipu (Gibbston)
*fed by snowpack. Water source. Irrigation is necessary here
* Gibbston’s water source is more reliably the Kawarau River
Wairarapa is sheltered by what 2 ranges?
Aorangi and Tararua Ranges
Wairarapa is surrounded by what 3 bodies of water?
Tasman Sea
Cook Strait
Pacific Ocean
What region surrounds Pegasus Bay?
Canterbury
What is the coolest sub-area of Central Otago? Wettest?
Coolest = Gibbston
Wettest = Gibbston and Wanaka
Central Otago parallel?
45ºS
Significance of the Cromwell Basin?
warmer area of Central Otago - 70% of viticulture is centered in this area
6 subzones of Central Otago?
Bannockburn GI
Alexandra Basin
Bendigo
Cromwell Basin (Pisa & Lowburn)
Gibbston
Wanaka
Central Otago soils?
Glacial derived and schist is the parent rock, speaking generally
- free draining gravels, loess, schist, quartz, clays
Central Otago grapes - most planted red and white?
Pinot Noir: 1,656 ha
Pinot Gris: 172 ha
Chardonnay: 92 ha
Riesling: 62 ha
Sauvignon Blanc: 40 ha
Auckland most planted grape?
Chardonnay: 71 ha
Merlot: 68 ha
Syrah: 47 ha
Pinot Gris: 34 ha
Canterbury GI’s most planted grapes?
Pinot Noir: 444 ha
Sauvignon Blanc: 401 ha
Riesling: 271 ha
Pinot Gris: 215 ha
Chardonnay: 99 ha
Gisborne GI’s most planted grapes?
Chardonnay: 582 ha
Pinot Gris: 288 ha
Sauvignon Blanc: 250 ha
Merlot: 24 ha
Gewürztraminer: 19 ha
Hawkes Bay most planted grapes?
Chardonnay: 1,060 ha
Sauvignon Blanc: 1,011 ha
Merlot: 975 ha
Pinot Gris: 676 ha
Syrah: 343 ha
Pinot Noir: 223 ha
Cabernet Sauvignon: 183 ha
Marlborough’s most planted grapes?
Sauvignon Blanc (85.8%)
Pinot Noir (6%)
Chardonnay (3.3%)
Pinot Gris (3.2%)
Riesling (.08%)
Marlborough sits at what latitude? Climate?
41ºS
Cool maritime with high sunshine hours (2450hrs/yr)
Most planted grapes in Nelson GI?
Sauvignon Blanc: 621 ha
Pinot Noir: 164 ha
Pinot Gris: 111 ha
Chardonnay: 109 ha
Most planted grapes in Wairarapa GI?
Pinot Noir: 527 ha
Sauvignon Blanc: 394 ha
Chardonnay: 62 ha
Pinot Gris: 47 ha
Most planted grapes in ALL of New Zealand?
1 Sauv Blanc
#2 Pinot Noir
#3 Chardonnay
#4 Pinot Gris
#5 Merlot
New Zealand soils (broadly speaking)?
Young - most less than 10,000 years old Alluvial soils play a leading role on valley floors and terraces, providing different combinations of gravel, stone, silt, and sand
New Zealand’s top 5 regions in terms of total production
MARLBOROUGH 29,415ha
HAWKE’S BAY 4,786ha
CENTRAL OTAGO 2,055ha
NORTH CANTERBURY 1,497ha
GISBORNE 1,245ha
New Zealand’s 3 regions with most Sauv Blanc plantings
MARLBOROUGH 23,834ha
HAWKE’S BAY 1,011ha
NELSON 621ha
(in all of NZ, Marlborough and Nelson are the only region’s where Sauv Blanc claims #1 spot. Hawkes Bay’s #1 is Chard)
77% of total NZ production
Top 3 New Zealand Riesling regions
- NORTH CANTERBURY 271ha
- MARLBOROUGH 230ha
- CENTRAL OTAGO 62ha
- North Canterbury is the only area where it breaks into the top #3. Most Riesling seems to be towards south of South Island
New Zealand Chardonnay - which 3 regions have the most plantings of it overall? In which is it most planted?
- MARLBOROUGH 1,083ha
- HAWKE’S BAY 1,060ha
- GISBORNE 582ha
Most planted: Northland, Auckland, Gisbourne, Hawkes Bay (so, like all of North Island except Wairarapa)
New Zealand Pinot Noir - which 3 regions have the most plantings of it overall? In which is it most planted?
- MARLBOROUGH 2,733ha
- CENTRAL OTAGO 1,656ha
- WAIRARAPA 527ha
Most planted in: Wairarapa, North Canterbury, Waitaki Valley, Central Otago
(is most planted red basically in every region up to Wairarapa. Merlot dominates in Hawkes Bay, Syrah in Auckland and Northland)
Pinot Gris is the most planted WHITE grape in what NZ regions?
Central Otago
Waitaki Valley
Wairarapa top producers
Dry River
Ata Rangi
Chifney (now Margrain)
Wairarapa name meaning
Maori for glistening waters
Top wineries in Nelson (3)
Neudorf
Greenhough
Siefried Estate
Top wineries in North Canterbury
Pegasus Bay
Pyramid Valley
Giesen
Mud House
Top wineries in Central Otago
Chard Farm
Rippon
Black Ridge
Gibbston
Peregrine
Felton Road
Mt. Difficulty
