New Zealand Flashcards
Location of New Zealand
Southern Hemisphere
4,100 km/2,500 miles to the southeast of Australia
How is New Zealand divided?
North Island
South Island
Physical Features of New Zealand
Southern Alps
South Island climate
Cool
Marlborough climate
Cool maritime (with protection)
Central Otago climate
Cool continental
North Island climate
Warmer, humid
Hawke’s Bay climate
Moderate maritime
Gisborne climate
Cool maritime
Wairarapa climate
Cool maritime
What type of bottle topping do they use in New Zealand
Screwcap
White Grape Varieties in New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Gewürztraminer
Riesling (Central Otago)
Red Grape Varieties in New Zealand
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Merlot
Winemaking in New Zealand
Clean, modern, winemaking
Grape growing in South Island
Long sunlight hours
Grape growing in North Island
Humidity
Where are all the vineyards planted in New Zealand?
Eastern side of the mountain ranges
Note:
- western side is too windy
- mostly planted on flat plains of gently rolling hills
Important soil type in New Zealand
Gimblett Gravels
Geographical Indications (GIs) in New Zealand
Trademark only with no minimums, no rules.
- Hawke Bay
What is the main white grape in Hawkes Bay?
Chardonnay
What is the main red grape varitiels of Hawkes Bay?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
What is Gimblett Gravels
An area within Hawkes Bay
- produces high quality Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
GIs in North Island
Hawke’s Bay
Gimblett Gravels
Gisborne GI
Wairarapa GI
Martinborough GI
GIs in South Island
Central Otago GI
Marlborough GI
Nelson GI
Canterbury GI
Marlborough GI
Labeling requires 100% fruit from the region.
Style of New Zealand white wines
Whites: Typically unoaked, high flavor intensity with high natural acidity.
Style of New Zealand red wines
Lightly oaked
Producer - Proprietary Brand
Cloudy Bay
Felton Road
Villa Maria
Food and Beverage Pairing New Zealand Wines
High-acid and unoaked wines with seafood, starters, salads
Intense flavors can be too much for super delicate dishes
Food and Beverage Pairing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc has ripeness for sweet-savory ingredients (e.g., mango salsa); pair acid with acid.
Vintages in New Zealand
Recent vintages are 6 months ahead of Northern
Hemisphere
Know Scott Henry and Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) trellis systems.
Scott Henry System: Divides the canopy into upward and downward planes, improving airflow, sunlight exposure, and ripening; commonly used in New Zealand’s vigorous regions like Marlborough for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP): Trains shoots vertically in a single plane, enhancing light penetration, mechanical harvesting, and disease control; widely adopted for cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Climate Adaptation: Both systems help manage New Zealand’s variable climate by improving grape quality and minimizing disease risk.
Regional Suitability: Scott Henry is preferred in high-yield areas, while VSP is more universal for premium wine production.
The modern wine industry did not truly began in New Zealand until?
1970’s
Note:
- Biggest change that marked the modernization of New Zealand wine was the introduction of refrigerated, stainless steel Fermentation tanks
- This allowed for winemakers to produce the clean, crisp whites they have become famous for
What is another name for screwcap?
Stelvin Closure
The wines in New Zealand are labeled how?
By grape variety
New Zealand is considered New World or Old World?
New World
What are the main grapes of North Island , New Zealand
Cabernet Sauvignon 🔴
Merlot 🔴
Syrah 🔴
Chardonnay ⚪
Pinot Gris ⚪
Where are most of the vineyards located in Auckland
On the western half of the region and on Waiheke island
What is the small island that sets east of the Auckland region
Waiheke Island
What are the main grapes grown in Auckland
Cabernet Sauvignon 🔴
Merlot 🔴
Chardonnay ⚪
Pinot Gris ⚪
Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative 2001
A movement led by winemakers, primarily in New Zealand and Australia, to replace traditional cork closures with screwcaps. This initiative aimed to address issues like cork taint (caused by TCA contamination) and inconsistent aging associated with natural corks.
Why didn’t New Zealand wine really take off until the 1990s?
Several setbacks, including:
(-) phylloxera, early 20th century
(-) temperance movement, 1910-1919
(-) economic depression, 1929-1938
(-) wine not allowed for sale in restaurants until 1960
(-) wine not allowed for sale in supermarkets until 1990
Subregions of Marlborough
- Awatere Valley
- Wairau Valley
New Zealand red wine food and beverage pairing
Pinot Noir and Bordeaux blends can be elegant non-European options
