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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > New Zealand > Flashcards

New Zealand Flashcards

Learn New Zealand's wine laws, major wine growing areas, grapes, and styles.

1
Q

In which hemisphere is New Zealand located?

A

Southern Hemisphere

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2
Q

Where is New Zealand in relation to Australia?

A

New Zealand is ~1300 miles southeast of Australia

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3
Q

New Zealand has two islands:

the _____ Island and the _____ Island.

A
  • North Island
  • South Island
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4
Q

Of all the winemaking countries in the world, New Zealand is the world’s:

  • northernmost
  • southernmost
  • only one at the Equator
A

Southernmost

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5
Q

What are the bodies of water surrounding New Zealand?

A

To the east: Pacific Ocean

To the west: Tasman Sea

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6
Q

What is the name of the body of water between Australia and New Zealand?

A

Tasman Sea

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7
Q

In what year were the first vines planted in New Zealand?

A

1819

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8
Q

Who was the first to make wine in New Zealand, and when?

A

James Busby in 1836.

Read up on who James Busby was here. He was an important figure in New Zealand’s wine history.

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9
Q

Why didn’t New Zealand wine really take off until the 1990s?

A

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
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10
Q

Mass planting in New Zealand took off in what decade?

A

1990s

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11
Q

What are the climates of the North Island?

A
  • Northern part of the North Island: Warm - some areas being humid, some dry
  • Southern part of the North Island: Maritime
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12
Q

What are the climates of the South Island?

A
  • Northern part of the South Island: Cool
  • Southern part of the South Island: Continental
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13
Q

What are the effects of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean on the winegrowing regions of New Zealand?

A
  • Lessen temperature variation
  • Moderate the growing season

The South Island sees so much sunshine, this temperature moderation helps the grapes retain acidity.

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14
Q

What are the 2 main white grapes of New Zealand?

A
  1. Sauvignon Blanc
  2. Chardonnay
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15
Q

What are the 4 main red grapes of New Zealand?

A
  1. Pinot Noir
  2. Cabernet Sauvignon
  3. Syrah
  4. Merlot
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16
Q

Much like Australia, New Zealand’s winemakers are innovators and forward-thinking.

Give 3 examples of their modern mindset.

A
  1. Viticulture (mechanical harvesting)
  2. Winemaking is clean, modern, precise
  3. Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative 2001
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17
Q

More than ____% of New Zealand’s total wine production is finished with screw caps.

A

85%

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18
Q

What appellation system does New Zealand employ as of February 2019?

A

Geographical Indication (GI)

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19
Q

What are the 3 biggest GIs of New Zealand?

A
  • New Zealand GI
  • North Island GI
  • South Island GI
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20
Q

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated grape what minimum percent of the wine must that grape be?

A

85%

21
Q

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label what minimum percent must the wine be from that vintage?

A

85%

22
Q

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated GI on the label what minimum percent of the wine come from that GI?

A

85%

23
Q

What are the 4 regions to know on New Zealand’s North Island?

A
  1. Auckland
  2. Wairarapa
  3. Gisborne
  4. Hawke’s Bay
24
Q

Run through Auckland’s:

  • location
  • climate
  • grapes
A
  • Northern tip of North Island
  • Warm + humid Maritime
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
25
Q

Run through Wairarapa’s:

  • location
  • grapes
A
  • Southernmost part of North Island
  • Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
26
Q

What is the important subregion of Wairarapa?

What grape is it known for?

A
  • Martinborough
  • Pinot Noir
27
Q

Run through Gisborne’s:

  • climate
  • grapes
A
  • Cool Maritime
  • Chardonnay, Pinot Gris (white grapes!)
28
Q

Run through Hawke’s Bay’s:

  • climate
  • grapes
A
  • Moderate Maritime
  • Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
  • Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
29
Q

Which wine region on the North Island has the driest climate?

A

Hawke’s Bay

30
Q

What is the important subregion of Hawke’s Bay?

A

Gimblett Gravels

31
Q

What is important about the Gimblett Gravels subregion?

A
  • Warmer inland area
  • Gravelly soils which aren’t found elsewhere in Hawke’s Bay
  • Has an excellent reputation for making premium reds: Syrah and Bordeaux-style red blends from Cab Sauv + Merlot
32
Q

What is the name of the mountain range on New Zealand’s South Island?

A

The Southern Alps

33
Q

What role do The Southern Alps play in the South Island’s wine regions?

A

They create a rain shadow, defending the wine regions from strong winds and bad weather coming off the Tasman Sea.

34
Q

What are the 3 regions to know on New Zealand’s South Island?

A
  1. Marlborough
  2. Canterbury
  3. Central Otago
35
Q

Where is Marlborough located?

A

Northern tip of South Island

36
Q

Run through Marlborough’s:

  • climate
  • grapes
A
  • Long growing season: dry, cool yet very sunny
  • Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
37
Q

Marlborough accounts for more than ____% of all of New Zealand’s total wine production.

A

>50%

38
Q

Sauvignon Blanc accounts for ____% of all vines planted in Marlborough.

A

80%

39
Q

Thanks to the long, dry growing season of Marlborough and its cool nights, what does that mean for the grapes?

A

Grapes retain naturally high acidity

40
Q

Irrigation in Marlborough is:

  • widely used
  • never used
A

Widely used

It’s a dry climate, so irrigation is necessary

41
Q

Which region on the South Island is seeing the fastest growth?

A

Canterbury

42
Q

Where is Canterbury located?

A

Between Marlborough and Central Otago on the east side of the South Island, facing the Pacific.

43
Q

Run through Canterbury’s:

  • climate
  • grapes
A
  • Cool Continental
  • Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
44
Q

Where is Central Otago located?

A

Southernmost wine region on the South Island

45
Q

Run through Central Otago’s:

  • climate
  • grape
A
  • Cool Continental, with low humidity
  • Pinot Noir
46
Q

What is unique about Central Otago’s location (in regards to its parallel)?

A

Some vineyards are planted below the 45th parallel, making them some of the world’s most southern-planted grapes.

47
Q

New Zealand’s wine region highest in altitude is:

A

Central Otago

48
Q

Why are most of Central Otago’s vineyards planted facing north (facing the Equator)?

A

To maximize sun exposure

49
Q

Central Otago’s climate is almost like an Alpine climate. What factors does that include?

A
  • Intensely sunny but cool
  • High elevation
  • Dry growing season

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

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