North Island GIs and Sub-Regions Flashcards
What are the major wine regions of the North Island from North to South?
Northland GI Auckland GI Waikato Bay/Bay of Plenty Gisborne GI Hawke's Bay GI Wairarapa GI (Martinborough) -Currently these regions are informal; however new regulations may pave the way for eventual legal recognition of New Zealand's areas of production.
What are the main grapes of Northland GI?
White: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
Red: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage
Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier
Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinotage, Cham
What is the climate and soils of Northland GI?
Climate: Sub-tropical, Humid, Sunny, Warm
Soils are clay loam over compacted clay, rich and heavy
What are the grapes of Auckland GI?
Chardonnay (most important - 62 ha), Pinot Gris
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Montepulciano
What is the soil of Auckland GI?
Volcanic, clay, layered sandstone and mudstone
What is the climate and elements of Auckland GI?
Climate: Maritime, rainy, humid, rain in winter
Pacific Ocean, Waitakere Ranges
What are the three official Sub-regions of Auckland?
Matakana GI
Kumeu GI
Waiheke Island GI
-All three regions experience a moderate, rainy maritime climate; rot and frost are among the chief viticultural hazards
Why is Waiheke Island warmer and drier than the rest of the region?
Hauraki Gulf
Provides cooling sea breezes
Important producer of Auckland? And two major producers headquartered here?
Brajkovich’s Kumeu River
Makes Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Montana (owned by Pernod Ricard NZ)
- Villa Maria
Notable producers in Auckland
Constellation NZ (Nobilo, Monkey Bay, Kim Crawford)
Kumeu River
Matua Valley
Babich
Pleasant Valley
Cable Bay - waiheke island
Stonyridge - waiheke island
Pernod Ricard NZ (Montana)
Villa Maria
Major geographic features of Waikato Bay
Bay of Plenty, Lake Taupo, Waikato River, Kaimai Range (coastal), Hauhungaroa Range (to the west of Lake Taupo)
Grapes of Gisborne
Chardonnay (most planted), Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Merlot
Merlot
-reds struggle to ripen in this climate
Climate of Gisborne
Warmer than Hawke’s Bay but wetter.
Red grapes struggle to ripen here.
High sunshine hours (highest in country)
Major Geographic Features of Gisborne
Waipaoa River
Poverty Bay (another name for Gisborne)
Raukumara Range
Where is the Golden Slope located? What is it?
Hills of the Ormond, Waihirere, and Hexton areas in Gisborne
A 10km gently sloping, free draining escarpment with limestone influence topsoil that is great for Chardonnay..
Who settled Hawke’s Bay and when?
Marist Missionaries in 1850s.
What is the latitude of Hawke’s Bay?
-39.5 degrees
Grapes of Hawke’s Bay?
Merlot (most planted grape)
Chard
Also, Sauv B, Pinot Gris, Syrah, CS
Climate of Hawke’s Bay
Warm, dry, low rainfall, longest and hottest growing season of New Zealand.
Soils of Hawke’s Bay
27 registered soils Clay (Saint-Emilion): Hills Gravel (Graves): Plains/Riverbed Gimblett Gravels Bridge Pa Triangle
What is Gimblett Gravels?
An area of deep shingle soils
Grapes grown in Gimblett Gravels
Syrah
Bordeaux blends
Major Geographic Features of Hawke’s Bay
Heretaunga Plains, Hawke’s Bay, Ngaruroro River, Tukituki River
Notable Un-Official Sub-Regions of Hawke’s Bay
Esk Valley
Dartmoor Valley
Te Awanga
Gimblett Gravels
Bridge Pa
Official Sub-Regions of Hawke’s Bay
Central Hawke’s Bay GI
-only official subregion GI in the Hawke’s Bay GI
What are the requirements in order for a producer to use the Gimblett Gravels or Gimblett Gravels Wine Growing District Designation?
Must be a member of the association
Must harvest grapes from a vineyard with 95% of the appellations defined soil characteristics
Source 95% of the grapes from within the appellation.
Important producers of Hawke’s Bay
Craggy Range Vidal Trinity Hill Esk Valley Estate Bridge Pa
What is the main city closest to Wairarapa?
Wellington
What is the windiest city in the world?
Wellington
What are the grapes of Wairarapa GI?
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir (Martinborough)
Pinot Noir
Climate of Wairarapa GI
Sunny, warm days, cool nights, long growing season
Soil of Wairarapa GI
Thin, poor soils on free draining gravels, silts and clay
Wines of Wairarapa GI are similar in style to which region in France?
Burgundy
Major Geographical Features of Wairarapa GI
Aorangi Ranges
Tararua Ranges
Ruamahanga River
What are the official Sub-Regions of Wairarapa GI?
Martinborough (official)
Gladstone (official)
Masterson (unofficial)
The climate of Martinborough is similar to what region on France?
Burgundy
Great diurnal temperature shift
Where are Craggy Range and Vidal located?
Hawke’s Bay
What is New Zealand’s largest city?
Auckand
-located between Northland and Waikato/Bay of Plenty
Where is the traditional center of the wine business in New Zealand?
Auckland
- both Montana (now under the Pernod Ricard NZ umbrella) and Villa Maria are headquartered there
- Wellington is the capital city
Matakana, Kumeu and Waiheke Island are official subregion GIs of which New Zealand region?
Auckland
In what region are the Waitakere Ranges?
Auckland
What are two important producers in Auckland
Kumeu River
Matua Valley
Kumeu River, Matua Valley, Babich and Pleasant Valley are producers in what region?
Auckland
What are the 11 GIs on the North Island of New Zealand? (not counting North Island GI or NZ GI)?
Northland GI Auckland GI Matakana GI (within Auckland) Waiheke Island GI (within Auckland) Kumeu GI (within Auckland) Gisborne GI Hawke's Bay GI Central Hawke's Bay GI (within Hawke's Bay) Wairarapa GI Martinborough GI (within Wairarapa GI) Gladstone GI (within Wairarapa GI)
What region is New Zealand’s northernmost and smallest area of production?
Northland
- produces less than 1% of the national total
- In 2008, only 14 wineries were in operation
The bulk of the North Island’s production is concentrated in which three regions?
Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay
Wairarapa
Kumeu River is the name of both a producer and a subregion in what major New Zealand region?
Auckland
Where is the Hauhungaroa Range located?
Waikato
Morton Estate and Vilagrad are major producers in which region?
Waikato
What are two major producers in Gisborne?
Millton
Brunton Road
Where in New Zealand are the first vines in the world to see the sun each day?
Gisborne
- also known as Poverty Bay
- overwhelmingly planted with white grapes
What is the second largest region in New Zealand, and the North Island’s driest climate?
Hawke’s Bay
What region is New Zealand’s largest producer of red wines?
Hawke’s Bay
- Merlot is the leading red grape
- Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the region’s most planted varietals
Heretuanga Plains, Ngaruroro River, and the Tukituki River are located within which region?
Hawke’s Bay
Which region has the North Island’s driest climate?
Hawke’s Bay
Masterton is an unofficial subregion of what region in the North Island?
Wairarapa
What is the official name of the region of Wairarapa?
Wellington
Bell Hill and Pyramid Valley are two top producers from which New Zealand wine region?
Waipara Valley, Cantebury
What are two major producers in the Wairarapa region?
Ata Rangi
Dry River
Dry River
