New Zealand Flashcards
Explain the climatic effect of the SouthIsland compared to the North Island?
The South Island is divided along its spine by the Southern Alps, creating a rainshadow effect. Rain shadow moving from the Tasman sea deposit their moisture high in the mountains leaving the vineyards on the eastern side protected. Abundant sunshine hours.
The North island is less mountainous and rainier, comparable to Bordeaux.
3 official GI’s of NZ?
New Zealand GI
North Island GI
South Island GI
Unofficial but recognised 6 sub regions or North Island?
North Island* Northland Auckland Waikato and Bay of Plenty Gisborne Hawke's Bay Wairarapa
Unofficial but recognised 5 sub regions of South Island?
South Island* Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Waitaki Valley Central Otago
Auckland
Maritime climate, proximity to Auckland
Planted: 107ha: Bordeaux Reds 62ha: Chardonnay 40ha: Syrah 29ha: Pinot Gris
Soils: Volcanic, sandstone, heavy clays
Sub regions; Matakana, Kumeu, Henderson, Waiheke Island, South Auckland
Producers; Kumeu River, Matau Valley, Constellation NZ, Babich, Puriri Hills- Clevedon
Home to NZ biggest wine companies
Northland
Planted to Chardonnay and Syrah Less than 1% of HA under vine Soils: Grey brown clay, volcanic soils Nowhere is the sea more than 50km away Sub regions: Keri Keri Producer; Ohkahu Estate
Gisborne
Planted: 794ha: Chardonnay 536ha: Aromatics(Gewurtztraminer) NZ's 3rd largest producer Soils: Clay and Silt Climate:High sunshine, warm Sub regions: Ormond, Patutahi, Manutuke Producer: Milton Captain Cooks first landfall Sunrises here first frequently first area to be harvested
Hawkes Bay
Sunny
2nd largest wine region
Planted: 330ha: Syrah, 1,384ha Merlot Cab Sav blends 907ha Sav Blanc
Soils:
Coastal: Gravel
Hillsides:Clay and limestone
Alluvial plains:Alluvial over gravel (Gimblett Gravels)
Climate: Sunny with maritime influence = long growing season, occasional wet growing season but free draining soils reduce the impact
Sub regions: Coastal, Hillsides and Alluvial plains
Producer:Craggy Range Te Mata
Wairarapa
Maori- glistening waters,
early settling, victim to Temperance movement 1905
Planted: 501ha:Pinot Noir, 321ha SB
Soils: Silt loam over free draining gravels
Climate: Semi maritime, sheltered by stone west winds but the Tararua Ranges. High diurnal
Sub regions:
Masteron- gravel with local limestone
Gladstone- silt loam with clay pockets
Martinborough (official GI) - shallow river terraces, silt loam gravel
Producer: Escarpment, Ata Rangi, Dry River
Nelson
Planted: 551ha SB, 239ha Pinot Noir, 211ha Aromatics
Soils: Gravelly silt loam over Clay
Climate: Sheltered, high sunlight hours, milder than the south
Sub regions: Moutere Hills (Upper Moutere= clay based soils)
Waimea Plains
Producer: Neudorf
Tasman Bay North
Marlborough
Planted: 18,234ha SB, 2538ha PN, 1381ha Aromatics
Soils: Ancient glacial stony soils, free draining
Climate: high diurnal, sunshine, moderate temp
Sub regions:
Wairau Valley- old riverbed lots of mess climates
Southern Valleys- heavier with more clay. Surrounding hills Omaka, Fairhall, Bracott, Ben Morvan, Waihopai
Awartere Valley- Cooler, drier, windier, elevation, lower yields, up and coming star
Producer: Cloudy Bay, Dog Point, Fromm, Seresin, Hans Herzog,
Greywacke soils, free draining. High sunshine hours
Eastern Coast al aspect
Canterbury and Waipara
Planted: 489ha Aromatics, 416ha PN, 379ha SB
Soils: Waipara;Gravel and clay. North Cantebury; Clay and limestone. Cantebury Plains; free draining shallow grey wacke.
Climate: Southern Alps provide low rainfall, warm summers and dry autumn. irrigation necessary
Sub regions: Waitaki Valley STH, North Cantebury, Waipara Valley NTH, Canterbury Plains
Producer: Pegasus Bay, Giesen, Pyramid Valley
Central Otago
Planted: 1496ha PN, 328ha Aromatics
Soils:
Climate: Semi continental. Marked diurnal variation short hot summer, low humidity. Frosts expected and managed by wine machines
Sub regions:
Gibbston- East of Queenstown and isolated from other sub regions HIGHEST, cooler north facing = lighter but still intense wines. Peregrine
Alexandra- SOUTHERLY dry sub regions that runs to extreme summer and winter climate= vivid, finely structured wines. Grasshopper Rock
Bannockburn- DRIEST SITES, southern end of Cromwell Vally = distinctive complex wines. Felton Road
Bendigo- WARMEST north facing slopes, stony soils. Quartz Reef
Cromwell/Lowburn/Pisa- Western wide of Lake Dunstan. VALLEY FLOOR, LOWER TERRACES, running parallel to Pisa range= silky seductive wines. Akarua
Wanaka- COOLER AND WETTER reflected radiation and mitigates frost= delicate and vivid wines. Rippon
Waikato and Bay of Plenty
North Island Warm region, inland. Planted: 4ha PN, 4ha Chardonnay Soils: Heavy loam over clay sub soils Climate: relatively warm by NZ standards Sub regions: NA Producer: Morton
Waitaki Valley, Canterbury
Lies on the North Otago boundary between Canterbury and CO
Planted: PN and Aromatics
Soils: Loess, limestone, Greywacke and schist soils
Climate: Warm summers and dry autumns= mineral driven wines that show promise
Sub regions:
Producer: Clos Ostler vineyard
