New Zealand: Grapes Allowed Flashcards
In 1960 what was New Zealand’s most planted grape variety?
Albany Surprise
How many grape varities does New Zealand have planted?
More than 50 grape varieties.
Does New Zealand have any restrictions on what growers can plant?
No, growers can plant whatever grapes they can get their hands on.
Who produced the first New Zealand Sauv Blanc?
Produced in Auckland by Ross Spence in 1974.
Who established the first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc plantings in 1975?
Montana’s Wayne Thomas
What is a hallmark of Marlborough NZ Sauv Blanc?
Green-yet-ripe tropical fruit character. Compared with Sauvignon Blanc from France, Austria, and South Africa, New Zealand examples typically display higher concentrations of the volatile thiols 3-mercaptohexanol (3MH) and 3-mercaptohexyl acetate (3MHA), as well as the green-tasting isobutyl methoxypyrazine (IBMP).
What thiol gives NZ Sauv Blanc its noted passionfruit or gooseberry like aromas?
The compound 3MH
What is said to enhance thiols in NZ Sauv Blanc?
Machine Harvesting can enhance thiols 5 to 10 times higher than hand harvesting.
Name a producer that lees aging and wild yeast fermentation for NZ Sauv Blanc?
This style first emerged in the early 1990s with Sacred Hill’s Sauvage and Cloudy Bay’s Te Koko.
What style of Sauv Blanc does Martinborough typically offer?
Martinborough examples are less overt, typically offering aromas of green grass rather than sweaty passionfruit.
What styles of Sauv Blanc does Nelson typically offer?
Nelson, situated west of Marlborough, often yields a more restrained sweet apple and tropical fruit character.
What style of NZ Sauv Blanc does Hawke’s Bay typically offer?
In the warmer climate of Hawke’s Bay, the wines are fuller bodied, with lower acidity and more muted characters overall.
