North Island Flashcards
What are the most planted white and red grapes in Hawkes Bay?
Red: Merlot is the leading red grape (1080 ha). Cab Sauv was worshipped in the 80’s, but even in Hawke’s Bay, did not always ripen fully. The plantings of the much more reliable, earlier-ripening Merlot flourished. Malbec and Syrah also thrive. Two in every three of the country’s Syrah vines are planted in Hawke’s Bay’s poor soils, ripening satisfactorily most years.
White: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. (1,006 ha and 937 ha, respectively)
What are the most planted white and red grapes in Auckland?
Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Where was the first commercially sold Sauvignon Blanc grown?
In Auckland in the Waikoukou Valley and not Marlborough.
What is the smallest area of production in NZ?
Northland, in 2008 only 14 wineries were in operation. Less than 1% of the country’s total production.
What are the most planted grapes in Gisborne?
Overwhelmingly white grapes on relatively fertile loamy soils. Red grapes struggle to ripen in cool climate.
-Generally picked two to three weeks before Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough.
Chardonnay has replaced Müller-Thurgau as the region’s most planted grape. Gewürztraminer also performs well in the region, but red grapes simply struggle to ripen in the cool climate.
What soil is Gimblett Gravels known for?
Deep shingle soils. (Small pebbles/gravel)
- rapidly establishing a reputation as a source of good Syrah and Bordeaux-style blends.
- Gimblett Road now runs, northwest of Hastings, along what was the course of the Ngaruroro River until a dramatic flood in 1870.
What must a producer do to use “Gimblett Gravels” or “Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District” on a label?
- Be a member of the Association
- Harvest grapes from a vineyard with 95% of the appellation’s defined soil characteristics
- Source 95% of the grapes from within the appellation
- Any producer using the “Gimblett Gravels” logo is subject to audit
What region is the fourth largest producers in New Zealand?
Gisborne
- attempting to covercome its past reputation of carafe wines and lower quality.
- JANCIS- 1. Marlborough 2. Hawke’s bay. No longer 3 as guildsomm says, now 4th, having been overtaken by Otago.
What are the soils of Martinborough?
Prized soils are shallow silt loams with gravelly sub-soils.
Name three major producers for Martinborough Pinot Noir.
Ata Rangi
Martinborough Vineyard
Dry River
-all established in the early 1980’s
Name two of the unofficial subregions of Auckland?
- Waiheke Island
- Kumeu/Huapai
- Matakana/Mahurangi
Henderson
South Auckland
- known for premium red blends and varietal wines.
What region is Wairarapa officially named?
Wellington (the capital of New Zealand)
Wairarapa is the southernmost region on the North Island. The entire region is officially named Wellington—it includes New Zealand’s capital city—but Wairarapa is the only wine district in the region.
What subregion of Wairarapa has shown particular success with Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc?
Martinborough
Among Auckland’s unofficial subregions, which enjoys a singularly sunny, dry climate? Where is it located?
The hilly Waiheke Island enjoys a singularly sunny, dry climate, especially on its lower western side, where many of the region’s wineries are clustered.
Waiheke Island is in the Hauraki Gulf east of Auckland.
What is the climate of Northland, Auckland, and Waikato/Bay of Plenty? What are the chief viticultural hazards?
Rainy maritime climate; rot and frost are among the chief viticultural hazards.
(Jancis says Auckland is sub-tropical??? What’s the difference between sub-tropical and maritime or is one a subset of another?)
What are the major wine regions of the North Island? (6)
Northland (less than 1% of NZ production)
Auckland (2% of NZ production)
Waikato/Bay of Plenty (less than 1% of NZ production)
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Wairarapa
What is the center of wine business in NZ?
Auckland.
Both Montana (now under the Pernod Ricard NZ umbrella) and Villa Maria are headquartered here
What river runs through Hawkes Bay an is responsible for the formation of Gimblett Gravels
Ngaruroro “Na-ga-roro” River. Exposed after a huge flood in the 1860.
Name two of the unofficial subregions of Hawkes Bay?
Coastal Areas: Northern Esk Valley
Hillsides: Havelock North (limestone)
Alluvial Plains: Gimblett Gravels, Bridge Pa Triangle
River Valleys: Dartmoor Valley
Central Hawke’s Bay
When was Gimblett Gravels first planted?
The region was first planted in red grapes in 1981, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Prior to 1991, only 20ha of the region was planted in grapes – growing to over 200ha by 1997 with a further 400ha being planted since 1998
Name two of the unofficial subzones of Gisborne.
- Ormond
- Manutuke “MAN-a-TUCK-ee”
- Golden Slope
Central Valley
Riverpoint
Patutahi
Waipaoa
What is the second largest region in NZ?
Hawkes Bay. It is also the North Island’s driest climate. (although Wairarapa looks like it may be drier in the compendium; growing season rain fall is 15.3 for HB vs 15 for Wairarapa.)
What region produces the most red wine in NZ?
Hawkes Bay
What are the three subregions of Wairarapa
Martinborough
Masterson
Gladstone
