New Zealand Wines

Question 1

Name the wine regions of New Zealand’s North Island

Answer 1

Auckland
Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay
Wairarapa

Question 2

Name the wine regions of New Zealand’s South Island

Answer 2

Marlborough
Nelson
Canterbury
Central Otago

Question 3

What is the overall climate of New Zealand?

Answer 3

Maritime-South Island is cooler than the North Island.

Question 4

Describe how the climate impact the characteristics of the grapes as they ripen.

Answer 4

The combination of long sunshine hours, nights cooled by sea breezes and long ripening period allows grapes to reach high levels of sugar and flavour ripeness while retaining acidity

Question 5

What is New Zealand’s flagship grape?

Answer 5

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 6

Describe the style of Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 6

Style: pungent aromas, intense flavours of elderflower and passion fruit and high acidity. (North has more tropical fruit flavours and the South has higher acidity and flavours of green bell pepper and gooseberry).
Often fermented in inert vessels, but some producers ferment in oak.

Question 7

Describe the style of Chardonnay.

Answer 7

Chardonnay - general style led by concentrated citrus and tropical fruits with subtle hints of toast and sweet spice from new French oak.

Question 8

Describe the style of Pinot Noir

Answer 8

Pinot Noir - second most planted grape variety. Most popular in the South Island and a few areas in the North.
Style: Vibrant fruit, fine ripe tannins, and high levels of alcohol.

Question 9

Describe the role of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and where they are grown.

Answer 9

Merlot (red variety with the second greatest volume) and Cabernet Sauvignon are often blended together. CS gives notes of cassis, and tannin to make a Bordeaux style blend. Production in the North Island.

Question 10

Describe how Syrah performs and its style.

Answer 10

Syrah - performs best in warmer sites and is similar in style to those of the Rhone.

Question 11

Describe the climate of Aukland and the varieties grown there.

Answer 11

The warmest and wettest part of NZ. Fungal diseases are a problem. Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah are the most planted varieties. Waiheke Island has a growing reputation for top quality wines.

Question 12

Describe the climate of Gisborne and the varieties grown there.

Answer 12

It’s located on the east coast in the broad estuary plain close to the town of Gisborne. Rainfall is high but the temperatures and sunshine hours are as well during the growing season.
Chardonnay is over half the vines. Style: distinct tropical fruit flavours.
High quality Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris come from here too.

Question 13

Describe the climate of Hawke’s Bay and the varieties grown there.

Answer 13

Also situated on the east coast of the North Island in an estuary plain. It is the warmest of the main grape growing areas and has the longest sunshine hours.
Diverse soils and aspects and altitudes.
Gimblett Gravels which has well-draining gravel soil on the valley floor has a high reputation for black varieties.
It’s famous for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux style blends but premium Syrah is also produced.

Question 14

Describe the climate of Wairarapa and the varieties grown there.

Answer 14

Wairarapa - known for its Pinot Noir near the small town of Martinborough. Summer temperatures can be high but a wide diurnal range makes it suitable for this variety. Style: medium to full-bodied and ripe with hints of dark plum and spice.

Question 15

Describe the climate of Marlborough and the varieties grown there.

Answer 15

major centre for grape growing in New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc makes up a majority of the plantings.
Most vineyards lie in two adjacent estuaries Wairau (largest) and Awatere.
Climate: long sunny days but the valley isn’t uniform.
Wairau Valley has a lot of side valleys on the Southern side of the valley that gives producers a range of aspects and altitudes to work with.
Awatere Valley is drier, cooler and windier. As a result, the Sauvignon Blancs have a higher acidity, pronounced herbaceous character and lack tropical fruit flavours that can be found in some of the wines form Wairau Valley.
Pinot Noir - often medium bodied with fine tannin and flavours of cherry and cranberry.
Chardonnay and PN are used in sparkling wines.
Riesling and Pinot Gris perform well here too.

Question 16

Describe the climate of Nelson and the varieties grown there.

Answer 16

Nelson - located NW of the Wairau Valley on the north coast of the South Island. Cooler and wetter here than Marlborough. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris dominate.

Question 17

Describe the climate of Canterbury and the varieties grown there.

Answer 17

Two main centres of viticulture. One located in the plain immediately to the west of Christchurch and a larger one, Waipara Valley, to the north. The plain is exposed to the cooling influence of the Pacific, although there is slight warming from north-westerly winds. Sauvginon Blanc and Pinot Noir are the most planted varieties but Waipara is also known for high quality Rieslings.

Question 18

Describe the climate of Central Otago and the varieties grown there.

Answer 18

Central Otago - located inland in the foothills of the Southern New Zealand Alps. The climate is continents and frost damage is a rist. Summers can be warm but the diurnal range in the growing season is large, which is beneficial for grapes. Intense sunlight contributes to high alcohol levels in the grapes. Pinot Noir accounts for most of the plantings and these wines are full-bodied, juicy and vibrant with concentrated ripe, red fruit flavours. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling are also grown here.