New Zealand Flashcards
How big or small is New Zealand wine production?
Small
Area under vine makes New Zealand only in top 50 countries
Production - top 30
85% is controlled by non-New Zealanders
Half of production in hands of one international company
When were the first vines planted in Marlborough?
As recently as 1973
When were the first vines planted in New Zealand?
1833 by James Busby, Australian wine pioneer
But vines only planted in Marlborough as recently as 1973
What is the climate in New Zealand?
Predominantly cool, maritime climate
Although vineyards around Auckland are sub tropical
Continental at Central Otago
Where is the sunniest vineyard region in New Zealand?
Marlborough, NE of the South Island
What is the driest and most continental vineyard region in New Zealand?
Central Otago, south of South Island
What is the most important climatic problem in New Zealand?
Excessive rain, which is why most vineyards are on the eastern seaboard where they are protected from the prevailing west wind and rain by the mountainous spine of the country
What happened during the 1986 vine pull initiative in New Zealand?
Low quality varieties replaced with international varieties planted in grafted rootstocks
What did New Zealand pioneer in the vineyard?
Canopy management and trellising techniques to make the best use of available heat and sunlight to create sugars and flavours in grapes
What is the wine New Zealand has become famous for?
Sauvignon Blanc, particularly the herbaceous wines of Sauvignon Blanc
What has allowed a very pure intense varietal expression of wines particularly Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand?
Use of stainless steel and temperature control - harnessed from being a leader in the dairy industry
High standards of hygiene and careful handling of fermenting wines results in a very pure intense varietal expression in the wines
What are the key flavours of a classic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is widely regarded as a world benchmark for the variety.
Intense aromas centre on capsicum, cut grass and elderflower but may includes passion fruit, stony mineral notes and hints of creamy oak.
Better wines with their intense fruit concentration are capable of developing vegetal, asparagus notes with bottle age.
What is the third most planted grape in New Zealand?
Chardonnay
What is the second most planted variety after Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand?
Pinot Noir
Where produces Bordeaux style wines in New Zealand?
Hawkes Bay - north island
Where are you most likely to find Pinot Noir in New Zealand?
Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago
What are the key differences between Pinot Noir from Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago?
Martinborough - rich, cherry fruit and velvet textured
Marlborough usually a little lighter and more vegetal
Central Otago - complex and powerful yet elegant
What are the key wine regions in New Zealand’s north island?
Auckland
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Martinborough
What are the key wine regions on the South Island of New Zealand?
Marlborough
Nelson
Canterbury
Central Otago
Where is Central Otago? And what makes its climate special?
It is on New Zealand’s South Island.
Towards the south of the South Island in the middle of the Southern Alps.
The climate is continental, with warm days and cold nights due to altitude.
These extreme differences in temperature make for concentration of fruit flavours.
Many of the vineyards are planted in desert conditions but there is plenty of river water for irrigation.
What is grown mostly in Central Otago, New Zealand?
Pinot Noir
Also
Riesling
Pinot Gris
What is grown in Gisborne?
Mostly Chardonnay (not the fancy stuff either)
Where is the best place for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in New Zealand?
Hawkes Bay around the twin towns of Hastings and Napier.
Although Chardonnay is the most important variety, it is probably making the best Cab Sav and Merlot in New Zealand
What has Lincoln contributed to the wine world?
The University Centre for Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln, Canterbury is the South Island of New Zealand has researched heavily on the growth and production of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand.
Specifically how cool climate growing conditions such as those found in New Zealand affect the flavour aromas, mouthfeel, phenolicd and tannins of these grape varieties.
What viticulture technique arguable had the biggest impact on wine quality improvement in New Zealand the 1980s?
Dr Smart’s Canopy Management techniques to ensure grapes get maximum sunlight and ripens fully
Before that excessive vine vigor and the resulting dense canopies produced green herbaceous flavours, delayed ripening and promoted fungal diseases
What does BYO stand for?
Bring Your Own (Wine)
Common in Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand claims the BYO concept was born in 1976 when the NZ authorities, still notably cautious re distribution of alcoholic drinks devised the BYO license to allow diners to bring their own wine
Corkage is sometimes but not always charged
How far away from Australia is New Zealand?
1,000 miles away
Which Southern Hemisphere country had prohibition from 1910-1919?
New Zealand
What brought an end to prohibition in New Zealand?
Votes from returning servicemen in 1919
What adversely affected the viability of winemaking in New Zealand from 1945-1958?
A flood of imports
What led to heavy discounting of New Zealand wine between 1985-1986?
Rapid expansion of vineyards
Large harvest in 1983
Led to a wine surplus and heavy discounting of New Zealand wines
What was the New Zealand’s governments response to the wine surplus and heavy discounting in 1985-1986?
A sponsored vine pull scheme in 1986 where 1/4 of New Zealand’s wines were uprooted
What viticultural problems did New Zealand suffer in the 1800s?
Powdery mildew in 1876
Phylloxera in 1895
How did New Zealand respond to the Phylloxera crisis?
It planted American Phylloxera resistant hybrids like the American Isabella vine nicknamed Albany Surprise
Albany Surprise was New Zealand’s most planted variety in the late 1800s
The rest of the world planted European grape varieties on American rootstocks.
It was only as recently as the 1960s that American hybrids were gradually replaced with European Vinifera varieties
And 1973 before the first Vinifera vines were planted in Marlborough- now the holy grail of Sauvignon Blanc
What was forbidden in New Zealand until 1881?
Wineries selling direct to consumers.
All wines sales had to be channeled via hotels the country’s only liquor outlets at the time
What was legal in New Zealand from 1955?
From 1955 specialist wine shops where able to sell single bottles of New Zealand table wine to consumers, although the allocation of licenses was carefully controlled.
From when were restaurants in New Zealand finally allowed to sell wine?
Only from 1960
A BYO license was introduced to restaurants from 1976 to allow diners to take their own wine to restaurants
When were supermarkets finally allowed to sell wine to consumers in New Zealand?
Only as recently as 1990!
New Zealand’s liquor laws were super strict
Why is New Zealand cooler than vineyards at equivalent latitudes in the northern hemisphere?
Because the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream on vineyards in the northern hemisphere results in hotter growing conditions than in vineyards of equivalent southern latitudes
Which is warmer New Zealand’s north or South Island?
The North Island is warmer than the cooler South Island.
But there is a significant 5-6• latitude span of each island
Which European vineyard region has a similar climate to New Zealand’s North Island region of Hawkes Bay?
Bordeaux
It is probably no coincidence that Hawkes Bay also produces New Zealand’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the viticultural impact of New Zealand’s abundant rainfall?
It can have a negative effect on wine quality particularly during the critical ripening period
Excessive moisture through poorly drained souls or heavy rainfall can encourage leaf and shoot growth.
Dense vine canopies tend to shade the innermost leaves and grape bunches to produce green herbaceous flavours, to delay ripening and promote fungal diseases.
As a result many red Cabernet Sauvignon were excessively vegetal.
Canopy management inspired by Dr Richard Smart Significantly improved grape ripening and reduced fungal diseases improving substantially wine quality during the 1980s
What was the chief preoccupation of New Zealand wine growers in the 1990s?
Vineyard site selection
Previously viticulture had focused on New Zealand’s principal city of Auckland with local consumer base.
Gisborne river valley later upsurped Auckland with high yields of relatively lowly grapes like Muller-Thurgau
When Phylloxera struck Gisborne, and demand increased for higher quality wines Hawkes Bay became the country’s leading wine region.
In 1990 Marlborough overtook Hawkes Bay and 15 years later had twice the vineyard area as Hawkes Bay
Has New Zealand’s remote location protected it from vineyard pests and disease?
Sadly not.
Unlike Chile Phylloxera still threatens 1/10 of vineyards planted on ungrafted root stocks
While Fan Leaf degeneration, Leafroll viruses have a detrimental affect in quality and quantity of the country’s grape crop.
Both are a symptom of a wine industry that has grown faster than the availability of grafted root stock and virus indexed vines.
A strict quarantine is of course enforced
What are the restrictions on pruning or yields in New Zealand?
There are no restrictions on pruning or yields, which average 70hl/ha nationally
Can New Zealand vine growers use irrigation?
Yes
What viticultural technique are New Zealand vine growers considered experts?
Canopy management
Temperature control
Hygiene
Which specialist vineyard equipment has been developed in New Zealand?
The Gallagher leaf plucking machine to assist with canopy management
What are the top three most important export markets for New Zealand wine?
USA +2%
UK +7%
Australia -2%
What % of vineyard area does SB account for in New Zealand?
60% of total vineyard area
What % of red grape plantings does Pinot Noir account for in New Zealand?
72%
What % of white grape plantings does Chardonnay account for in New Zealand?
11%
What percentage of white grape plantings does Sauvignon Blanc account for in New Zealand?
77%
What % of red grape plantings does Merlot account for in New Zealand?
15%
What % of red grape plantings does Cabernet Sauvignon account for in New Zealand?
Just 3%
How much of New Zealand’s wine is under foreign ownership?
Approximately 40% down from 85% several years ago
What are the top biggest wine companies in New Zealand?
Treasury Wine Estates
Delegar
Pernod Ricard
Constellation
What organisation must every winery and grape grower belong to in New Zealand?
New Zealand Winegrowers
What is considered the Chardonnay capital of New Zealand?
Gisborne
Which is New Zealand’s only region with a continental climate?
Central Otago
Why are most Central Otago vineyards planted on hillsides?
To give better sun exposure
And reduce frost risk
What are 79% of the plantings in Central Otago?
Pinot Noir
Which New Zealand region has the highest percentage of a single varietal?
Central Otago with 79% of Pinot Noir plantings
What is Cloudy Bay?
An influential winery in the Marlborough region of New Zealand
Originally owned by David Hohnen of Cape Mentelle in Western Australia
Its debut release of a varietally labelled Sauvignon Blanc created a reputation for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a cult following for Cloudy Bay
The grapes were initially brought in and the wine made under contract at another winery.
The enterprise based in its own premises became an offshoot of Vueve Cliquot and LVMH in 1990z
It also produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sparkling wine
It has a second winery in Central Otago where it makes Te Wahi Pinot Noir
What is Brancott Estate?
A New Zealand wine brand formally known as Montana.
At one time Montana was responsible for 60% of New Zealand’s production.
In the mid 2000s it has vineyards in every region aside from Central Otago and Nelson.
And wineries in Auckland, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough
Founded in 1934
Pioneered grape growing in Marlborough in 1973
It was acquired Pernod Ricard in 2010, which sold off some of its other wine brands like Lindauer
Where else in the world can New Zealand’s style of Sauvignon Blanc be found?
Chile
South Africa
Cooler parts of North America
France
Where and what is the ‘Gimlett Gravels’?
A sub region of Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
A well drained gravel site where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot produce high quality Bordeaux style blends and promising Syrah
What is New Zealand’s warmest wine region?
Auckland
Where the climate is sub tropical
What are the soils in Auckland?
Heavy, clay soils
Where is Gisborne?
On the East coast of the North Island of New Zealand
What are the soils like in Gisborne?
Fertile - leading to a tendency for high yielding bulk wines particularly Chardonnay
What is the most planted variety in Hawkes Bay?
Chardonnay
But the sub region ‘the Gimlett Gravels’ produces high quality Bordeaux styles from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown on well drained gravel sites
Where is Wairapara?
In Martinborough north of Wellington City in the Wairarapa region
What is the value of NZ exports in 2018?
They hit a record NZ $1.7bn with SB accounting for 85% of shipments
How much wine (volume) did New Zealand produce in 2018?
3m hectolitres
What is the area of NZ in comparison to France?
NZ is half the area of France
How many degrees of latitude does New Zealand span?
12 degrees of latitude from 34• to 46• S
What is the latitude of NZ?
It spans 12 degrees latitude from 34• to 46• S
Why is the climate of NZ significantly cooler than its latitude range may suggest?
Due to the moderating influence of the Pacific and the chilly Southerlies (winds) that travel unimpeded from Antártica.
Equivalent Northern latitudes benefit from the warming Gulf Stream
Central Otago in the Southern Alps and blocked off from the prevailing wines is the country’s only true continental viticultural region
Is Auckland North Island or South Island?
North Island
Is Gisborne North Island or South Island?
North Island
Is Hawkes Bay North Island or South Island?
North Island
Is Martinborough North Island or South Island?
North Island
Is Marlborough North Island or South Island?
South Island
Is Nelson North Island or South Island?
South Island
Is Central Otago North Island or South Island?
South Island
Is Waipara North Island or South Island?
South Island
Why is spring and autumn frost an annual hazard in Central Otago?
Continental climate means it gets cold winters and also at high altitude (planted among the Southern Alps) so gets very cold at night
What is the predominant grape in Waipara, New Zealand?
Pinot Noir
And aromatic varieties like Riesling and SB
What hills are vines planted on in Nelson, New Zealand?
Tasman mountains
What helps to produce good late harvest wines from Riesling in Nelson?
Long fine autumns produce good late harvest wines from Riesling
What soils are the best vineyards planted on in Marlborough?
Stony free draining soils in the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere Valleys
What style of wines is Martinborough in the Wairarapa region known for?
Rich, full bodied cherry flavoured Pinot Noir from small boutique wineries
Where produces 30% of all New Zealand Chardonnay?
Hawke’s Bay - cool climate maintains acidity alongside richness and concentration of fruit
How much of Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay is exported?
Only 20% market still only just getting used to New Zealand being about more than just SB
