New Zealand Flashcards
New Zealand History
- First vines in New Zealand were planted in 1819
- James Busby, a British resident, was the frist to make wine from a vineyard he established in 1836
- Early 20th century had setbacks due to phylloxera, temperance movement between 1910-1919, economic depression, and two World Wars
- Wine could not be sold in resatuarants until 1960 or in supermarkets until 1990
- However by later 1990’s production increased many-fold
New Zealand Geography
- Located int he Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand is the world’s southernmost winemaking country
- New Zealand is about 1,300 miles from the mainland of Australia
- Divided into two islands (North and South) and surrounding by the Tasman Sea to the west and the South Pacific Ocean to the east.
New Zealand Climate
Range of climates from warm, humid and maritime on the North Island to cool and continental on the South Island. The climate is strongly influenced by the surrounding seas
New Zealand Grape Varietals
White:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
Red:
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Merlot
New Zealand Viticulture
Forefront of innovation in vine training and viticulture
New Zealand Vinification
- Modern, clean winemaking
- New Zealand producers pioneered the Screwcap initiative in 2001
- Today, over 85% of the country’s wines use screw caps
New Zealand Regional Wine Law
- On par with EU regulations, New Zealand wines must contain a minimum:
- —85% of a stated grape variety
- —85% of a stated vintage
- —New Zealand does not yet have official, regulated GI boundaries, though they are forthcoming and will adhere to the 85% rule as above
New Zealand Important Appellations
North:
- Auckland
- Wairarapa
- Gisborne
- Hawke’s Bay
South:
- Marlborough
- Canterbury
- Central Otago
Auckland Climate
Warm, rainy, humid and maritime
Auckland Grape Varietals
Red:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
Auckland Geography
Northernmost part of North Island
Wairarapa Geography
Located on the southern tip of the North Island
Wairarapa Grape Varieties
White:
-Sauvignon Blanc
Red:
-Pinot Noir
Wairarapa Important Sub-Region
Martinborough
Gisborne Geography
North east coast of North Island
Gisborne Climate
Cool, maritime
Gisborne Grape Varietals
White:
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Gris
Hawke’s Bay Geography
East coast of North Island, south of Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay Climate
Moderate maritime (this is the North Island’s driest climate)
Hawke’s Bay Grape Varietals
White:
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
Red:
- Bordeaux varieties (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Syrah
Hawke’s Bay Important Sub-Regions
Gimblett Gravels
- a warmer, inland area with a unique gravelly soil type
- planted mostly to red Bordeaux varieties and Syrah
Marlborough Geography
located on the northern tip of the South Island
Marlborough Climate
- cool, dry and sunny
- the Southern Alps create a rain shadow protecting the South Island from strong winds and weather systems from the west off the Tasman Sea
Marlborough Grape Varieties
White:
-Sauvignon Blanc (almost 80% of plantings)
Red:
-Pinot Noir
Marlborough Viticulture
- Plentiful sunshine hours
- Long, cool growing season with cool nights allowing grapes to retain acidity
- Irrigation is widely used
Marlborough Vinification
Marlborough produces over half of the entire country’s wine
Canterbury Geography
-South of Marlborough, stretching a long distance along the eastern coast of the South Island
Canterbury Climate
- Cool continental
- Long, dry summer
Canterbury Grape Varietals
White:
-Sauvignon Blanc
Red:
-Pinot Noir
Central Otago Geography
Home to the world’s most southerly grape vines, with some planted below the 45th parallel
Central Otago Climate
- Cool continental
- Low humidity
Central Otago Topography
- Highest altitude vineyards in New Zealand
- Mountain-protected, north-facing slopes, oriented to maximize sun exposure
Central Otago Grape Varieties
Red:
-Pinot Noir
Central Otago Viticulture
- High sun intensity
- Dry growing season
