New Zealand: South Island Flashcards
When were the first vines planted in Marlborough?
1873
The modern era of Marlborough’s wine industry began in ____ when the director of ____ wines ( now known as ____ estate) bought over 1,000ha to convert to vineyard land
1973
Montana wines (now Brancott Estate)
Why did Marlborough’s wine industry grow dramatically from the 1980s?
Favourable climate
Cheaper land
Critical acclaim
Describe the climate in Marlborough, including rainfall and sunshine hours.
Cool climate with moderately warm summers and mild winters.
Sunshine hours are long, rainfall is around 650mm
What factor influences rainfall in Marlborough?
Is irrigation common and why?
Surrounding mountain ranges mean the region is protected from much rainy weather (650mm)
Irrigation is common as soils are mostly free draining and alluvial. Aquifers are used.
What climatic influences mean that Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is intense in aroma and flavour?
- High levels of sunshine
- Relatively dry (decreased risk of rot)
- Longer hang time
- Longer growing season to develop flavours
Why is machine harvesting commonplace in Marlborough?
Flat terrain
Short contact between skin and juice promotes precursors of green pepper and passion fruit aromas
Where is Wairau?
Describe the climatic conditions here
Runs from west Marlborough along the Wairau River to the mount of Cloudy Bay in the east.
Conditions vary along the valley, but the west/ inland area has less moderating influence from the ocean, higher diurnal range, warmer days, cooler nights and higher frost risk
Describe the soils found in Wairau Valley
Former riverbed; combination of gravel, silt, sand loam and clay in varying amounts.
Soils are more fertile and the water table is higher nearer the coast: higher yields than inland
Free draining soils require more irrigation but also provide warmth needed to extend the growing season.
Which four grapes are commonly planted in Wairau?
Mostly Sauvignon Blanc
Also Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris
Describe the soils in Southern Valleys, Marlborough.
How does this affect which vines are grown here?
Soils have more clay here than the rest of Marlborough; cooling influence means grapes are picked later than elsewhere.
Pinot Noir commonly grown as needs a long season to develop pronounced aromas without developing high sugar levels
Where is Ataware found?
South of Wairau in Marlborough
Name the three sub zones in Marlborough
Wairau
Southern Valleys
Ataware
Where are vineyards typically planted within the Southern Valleys?
South of the main plain of Wairu on hillsides of the valleys
Why are conditions in Ataware cooler and windier than other parts of Marlborough?
How does this affect the Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc grown here?
Closer location to the coast and higher elevation.
Sauv B: more herbaceous and less tropical with v. high acidity.
Pinot Noir: Smaller berries, thicker skins, deeper coloured wines than Wairau
What quality / price is typical of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc?
What percentage of plantings here is dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc?
Good to very good, inexpensive to mid priced with some premium.
70%
Why would producers from Marlborough blend Sauvignon Blanc fruit from across the region?
Obtain the desired range of aromas
Acquire necessary volumes
Pinot Noir accounts for what percentage of plantings in Marlborough.
Describe the different styles made in the different subregions here
10%
WAIRAU: Light body, easy drinking, mid price
SOUTHERN VALLEYS: clay and loess slopes slow ripening giving more intense fruit. Oak. V.good to outstanding, premium
ATAWARE: Windier, cooler. Thicker skins, deeper colour, floral/ herbal. Oak. Good to outstanding.
What styles of Chardonnay are produced in Marlborough?
- Unoaked and simple: good to v.good, mid price
- Complex, oaked, MLF, lees, struck match: outstanding premium
What styles of Pinot Gris are produced in Marlborough?
- Good quality mid priced: simpler, less intense, fruit foward semi aromatic
- Richer more intense, lees or oak, more complex. V.good to outstanding, premium
Both are dry through off dry