New Zealand Flashcards
What are the main advantages of NZ’s climate?
‘Long sunshine hours, nights cooled by sea breezes, and a long ripening period allows grapes to reach high levels of sugar and flavour ripeness’
What has fertility of many NZ vineyards led to?
NZ growers becoming expert in trellising and other canopy management techniques.
What are the differences in style between North and South Island Sauvignon Blanc?
North : more tropical flavours.
South: higher acidity and flavours of green pepper and gooseberry.
Does NZ Sauvignon Blanc see oak?
Generally no but some producers mature in oak as a point of difference.
What white varieties other than Sauvignon Blanc feature in NZ viniculture?
Chardonnay - range of styles, but generally concentrated citrus and tropical fruits.
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
- dry autumns and cool night temperatures good for aromatics such as these. Off-dry tends to be the prevalent style.
Talk about the 4 main black varieties grown in NZ.
Pinot Noir - 2nd most common variety in NZ
- widely grown throughout the South Island and on a few site in North
- overall has bright fruit, fine ripe tannins and often quite high alcohol, but regional styles have emerged
Merlot 2nd red by volume (but nothing like so much of it as there is PN)
Cabernet Sauvignon - often added to Merlot to increase tannin and add cassis notes. Such blends noted for the purity of their fruit flavours. Merlot and Cab Sav production strongly based in the North Island.
Syrah - small plantings but on the rise. Produces a more Rhone-like style of wine than the Australian Shiraz producers.
Name the 11 NZ Regions.
Northland Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty Gisborne Hawke's Bay Wairarapa (includes Martinborough)
Marlborough
Nelson
Canterbury
Central Otago
Talk about the Auckland Region.
Warm and wet
- fungal disease a problem
- many large wineries processing grapes from all over the country
- Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah the main varieties
- Waiheke Island is in the region
Talk about Gisborne Region.
- vineyards on the east coast close to the town of Gisborne
- rainfall and temperatures high
- half of plantings are Chardonnay - displays distinct ripe tropical fruit flavours
- small amount of high quality Gewurtztraminer made
- some full-bodied Pinot Gris
Talk about Hawke’s Bay.
- the warmest of the main grape growing areas, with longest sunshine hours
- diverse in soils and aspect and altitude, therefore wine styles vary
- Gimblett Gravels is here - well drained, heat-absorbing gravel soil. Reputation for black varieties.
- Region built reputation on Merlot and Cab Sav blends. Now does premium Syrah too.
Talk about Wairarapa.
- bottom right of North Island
- made up of various small vineyard areas
Most important area around Martinborough: has global reputation for Pinot Noir.
- summer temperatures high but wide diurnal range makes it okay for PN
- medium- to full-bodied and ripe with notes of dark plum and spice
Talk about Marlborough.
- the major centre for grape growing in NZ
- Sauvignon Blanc makes up majority of plantings
- most vineyards in two adjacent estuaries: Wairau (by far the largest) and Awatere.
- side valleys give a range of aspects and altitudes
How do the Sauvignon Blancs from the Awatere and Wairau valleys differ?
Awatere Valley is drier, cooler and windier - results in wines with higher acidity with pronounced herbaceous character. No tropical fruit notes.
Wairau Valley wines have tropical fruit characters.
Talk about Nelson.
To the north west of the Wairau Valley on the north coast of the South Island.
- cooler and wetter than Marlborough
- Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris dominate plantings
Talk about Canterbury.
Two areas, both widely planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir:
- the plain to west of Christchurch;
- exposed to cooling influence of Pacific
- but some warmth from north-westerly winds - larger one, Waipara Valley, to north of Christchurch;
- hills shelter it from Pacific and warming effect of north-westerly winds is greater
- also has high quality Riesling
