New Zealand Flashcards
What it is the level Law that has NZ?
It is the GI ( Geographical Indication)
From 2007 wines had to be made from at least:
85% of the variety
Vintage and the grape are of origin that are stated on the label, bringing in line with New Zealand major export markets.
Climate in New Zealand
- 2 islands that lie from 2000 km from Australia.
- The influence of the oceans means in general NZ has a cool to moderate maritime climate.
- Temperatures in North Island are higher than those on South Island.
- Rainfall patterns are determined by the large spine of mountain that run from north to the south.
Significant rainfall, usually on the West Coast, most of the vineyards are planted on the east coast which it better protected.
2 Exceptions: - Auckland climate is warm maritime. Hot humid summers are followed by moderate, wet winters where temperatures rarely fall below 10C
- In the south of the south island, in Central Otago, where the vineyards are in the foothills of the Southern Alps the climate is moderate to cool continental.
- Despite rainfall in frequent in NZ vineyard there are long periods of intense sunshine.
The special viticultural quality of New Zealand is
- the combination of cool to moderate temperatures,
- intense sunshine
- Large diurnal ranges.
- This combination of factor allows grapes in NZ to reach often high levels of sugar ripeness and also retaining acidity and fresh but intense aromatic flavours.
Soils in New Zealand
Varied soil types.
Recent work into researching soil type before planting.
Vineyard now planted away from the fertile poorly draining soils of the original plantings.
South Island vineyards in flat river valleys made up of free draining stony loam covered by similar stones to the pudding stones from Chateauneuf du pape.
Store heat during the day and release at night.
Other soil types are clay and sandy loam, high water retention necessitates inter row crops,
drainage channels and appropriate rootstock choice to minimise vigour.
Viticulture in New Zealand
World leader in canopy management and trellising techniques.
Good canopy management and spray regime are essential for disease control.
Autumn and spring frost can affect both fruit set and harvest.
Phylloxera is still alive a vineyard. Planting grated vines is essential.
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand provides a framework for environmentally friendly viticultural practices that most vineyards have adhered to since the late 1990.
Trade in New Zealand
New Zealand wine production is very small in world term.
The main focus is the export market, primarily the UK and Australia, with smaller market in the USA.
New Zealand has a strong marketing strategy, based on high quality, low production wine from a clean, green land.
A cause of concern is planting to fashion, recently demonstrated with large increases in plantings of Pinot Gris.
New Zealand can attribute success to popularity of its crisp and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc so most new plantings are Sauvignon Blanc.
Recent growth and success with Pinot Noir is promising.
Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand
Most planted grape variety, predominantly in Marlborough.
It is the 50% of all planting.
Regarded as a world benchmark in quality Sauvignon Blanc.
Intense aromas centre on capsicum and gooseberry, but may include herbal notes, passion fruit, tomate, a stony minerality and very occasionally hints of creamy oak.
The better wines, with the fruit concentration and high acid levels, are capable of developing asparagus notes with bottle age.
The New Zealand wine industry is aware of the risk that wine could be seen as identical and the deflationary pressure this could have on the price of even the best wines.
Sauvignon Blanc grown in the north island loses some herbaceousness and gains riper characters of exotic fruit.
Chardonnay in New Zealand
Planted widely. The second most producing.
Many differents styles produced using oak fermentation and ageing, malolactic fermentation and lees stirring.
Unoaked Chardonnay becoming more common.
Also using to produce sparkling wine.
Pinot Gris, Riesling
Increasingly popular, especially in South Island areas of Waipara, Central Otago and Marlborough.
Pinot Noir in New Zealand
Quality similar to Burgundy.
Main production areas Marlborough, Martinborough and Central Otago.
Resulting wines are elegant with velvet tannins and bright red fruit. Quite elevated levels of alcohol due th the intense sunshine.
Also, to make sparkling wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Grown mainly in Hawkes Bay and Auckland producing full bodied Bordeaux and Rhone styles.
Auckland
Located in the North of the North Island of NZ.
Large wineries processing grapes from all the country.
Auckland it is warm and the wettest part of NZ
Fungal diseases are an issue.
Heavy clay based soils.
Subtropical climate.
Bordeaux blend grapes.
Gisborne
Located in the east part of the North Island of NZ.
Half of the planting are chardonnay.
Rainfall is high. High temperatures also and long light hours during the growing season.
Quality Chardonnay makes from fertile soils a ripe tropical fruit flavours.
Hawke’s Bay
Located in the east of the North Island, below of Gisborne.
It is the warmest viticultural hours and has the longest sunshine hours.
Chardonnay it is the most planting here.
Very varied about the soils, altitude and aspect of the planting.
Very famous the Gimlett Gravels a well drained graves site where Bordeaux blend grapes producing a high quality wines. Promising Syrah as well.
Wairarapa with Martinborough
South of the North Island.
Around Wellington City.
Martinborough has a global reputation for quality Pinot Noir.
Small boutique winery produce a rich, full body cherry flavoured Pinot Noir. Here Pinot Noir reaches full sugar ripeness retaining flavour complexity and intensity.
