New Zealand Flashcards
What are the main regions covered in L3?
Auckland Gisborne Hawke's Bay Wairarapa - Martinborough Marlborough - Wairau, Awatere Nelson Canterbury Central Otago
What are the main white varieties grown?
Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Riesling Gewürztraminer Pinot Gris
What are the main black varieties grown?
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
What ocean is NZ located in?
Pacific Ocean
What is the climate overall for New Zealand?
Maritime
South Island is cool;
North Island is wamer
What is the weather like?
Long sunshine hours;
cool nights from sea breezes;
What does the long ripening period provide?
Grapes reach high levels of sugar and flavour ripeness,
retains acidity
Where do vineyards on the South Island tend to be and why?
On the east;
Protected by mountains from rain-bearing winds from the west
What are the soils like?
Free draining;
do not experience waterlogging
What happens to vines on flat land?
Can be too fertile; excessive shot and leaf growth
What do the viticulturists do to manage vine vigour?
Trellising;
other canopy management techniques
What are some practices that NZ industry committed to?
Environmental impact and sustainability
What are NZ Sauvignon Blancs like?
Intense elderflower and passionfruit;
High acidity
Majority of the wine production
What are the differences between North and South Island Sauvignon Blancs?
NI: warmer so more tropical favours
SI: cooler so higher acidity, green bell pepper and gooseberry
How are most SB’s fermented?
Inert vessels and cool temperatures to keep fresh fruity flavours and aromas
What are NZ Chardonnay’s like?
This is also widely planted, made in similar ways as to other countries
Different wine making techniques explored, so a diversity in wines
Generally:
concentrated citrus and tropical fruits; hints of toast and sweet spice from French new oak
What are Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris’ like?
Dry autumns; cool night temps, so aromatics develop before grapes are harvested
Range from dry to sweet;
off-dry most prevalent
What are NZ Pinot Noir’s like?
Second most planted after SB;
Vibrant fruit, ripe tannins, soft texture, high alcohol;
Distinct regional styles
Which island PN widely grown?
South Island; few selected sites on NI
What is the second greatest number of black grape plantings after PN?
Merlot
Limited compared to PN
What are Cabernet Sauvignon’s blended in Merlot’s?
Adds tannin;
notes of cassis
Makes a Bordeaux-style blend
What are Merlot-Cab Sav blends noted for?
Purity of fruit flavours;
Where are the majority of Merlot-Cab blends produced?
North Island; warmer temperatures help ripen these grapes
What are NZ Syrahs
Elegant, close in styles to Rhone, rather than Australia (hotter in Oz)
Small plantings, increasing
Better in warmer sites.
What is the weather in Auckland like?
Warm and wettest in NZ;
Fungal disease is an issue
What are the main varieties?
Chardonnay
Merlot
Syrah
Where is Waiheke Island?
Immediately east to Auckland;
top quality wines, especially reds
Where are the vineyards in Gisborne located?
On the east coast, in broad estuary plain close to the town of Gisborne
What is the weather like in Gisborne?
high rainfall; high temperatures; lots of sunshine
What are the main varieties grown?
Chardonnay: over half the plantings; distinct ripe, tropical fruit flavours
Some high-quality Gewurztraminer;
some full-bodied Pinot Gris
Where is Hawke’s Bay?
Close to twin towns of Hastings and Napier; on east coast of the NI in an estuary plain
What is the weather like in Hawke’s Bay?
Warmest of the main growing areas;
long sunshine hours
Which region is second to Marlborough in plantings?
Hawke’s Bay
Why do wine styles vary in Hawke’s Bay?
Diverse soils, aspect and altitude of plantings
What are Hawke’s Bay’s main varieties?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
(Bordeaux style blends)
Premium Syrah
What is Gimblett Gravels?
Parcel of well-drained heat-absorbing gravel soil on the valley floor, Hawke’s Bay;
High reputation for black varieties
Where is Wairarapa
Small vineyards areas, spread over wide area at bottom of NI
What is the most important area in Wairarapa?
Around the small town of Martinborough
What variety does Martinborough have a global reputation for and what are the wines like?
Pinot Noir
Medium- to full-bodied;
ripe with hints of dark plum and spice
What is the weather like in Wairarapa, Martinborough like?
High summer temperatures;
Wide diurnal range makes suitable for PN
Where is the main centre for grape growing and what is the majority variety planted?
Marlborough, South Island
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the two adjacent estuary valleys?
Wairau and Awatere
Describe Wairau
It’s the larger of the two estuary’s in Marlborough.
Climate similar to Martinborough, long sunny days,
Large valley, un-uniform;
number of side valley on south that give producers range of aspects and altitudes to work with
More tropical fruit flavours than Awatere
Describe Awatere
Smaller of the two estuary’s in Marlborough
Drier, cooler, windier,
SB’s have higher acidity; pronounced herbaceous characters;
lack tropical fruit found in Wairau
What are the main varieties planted in Marlborough
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Still and sparkling
What are still PN’s from Marlborough like?
Medium-bodied
Fine tannins
Cherry and cranberry
Wines are getting better as producers give more attention to variety
Where is Nelson and what is grown there?
North-west of the Wairau Valley, north coast of SI
Cooler and wetter than Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
What are the two main centres of viticulture in Canterbury, NZ
• Larger Waipara Valley to the north of Christchurch
o Impact of warm winds is more marked in Waipara;
o Less exposed to ocean due to range of hills
• Other in the plain immediately to the west of the town of Christchurch
o Exposed to cooling influence of Pacific,
o Slight warming effect from north-westerly winds
What are the most planted varieties in Canterbury?
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir
High quality Riesling in Waipara
Where is Central Otago located?
Inland in foothills of the Southern New Zealand Alps
What is the vineyard area like in Central Otago?
Spread over wide area; incorporates number of different valleys; different aspects, soils and altitudes
What is the climate in Central Otago?
Continental
contrasts the rest of NZ
What is the weather like in Central Otago?
Warm summers; spring and autumn frosts; diurnal range in growing season large; good for grapes quality; high sunlight intensity; accounts for high levels of alcohol that are often encountered in wines from here
What are the main plantings in Central Otago?
Pinot Noir: full-bodied, juicy, vibrant, concentrated ripe red fruit
Also Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay
