Nouvelle Zélande

Question 1

What is the predominant climate of New Zealand?

Answer 1

Maritime.
South Island’s climate is cool, North Island’s is a bit warmer.
The combination of long sunshine hours, nights cooled by sea breezes and a long ripening period allows grapes to reach a high level of sugar and flavours while retaining acidity.

Question 2

Which region in New Zealand is NOT Maritime climate?

Answer 2

Central Otago: The climate here is Continental.

Question 3

What is the body of water on New Zealand’s eastern side?

Answer 3

The Pacific Ocean

Question 4

What is the name of the body of water separating New Zealand and Australia?

Answer 4

Tasman

Question 5

What is the name of the mountain range on the South Island?

(hint: Central Otago is in the foothills)

Answer 5

Southern New Zealand Alps

Question 6

What role do the Southern Alps play in the South Island’s climate?

Answer 6

The Southern Alps protect regions from cold winds off the Tasman Sea, creating a rain shadow from westerly winds for most regions east.

Question 7

Which island generally sees more rain: the North Island or the South Island?

Answer 7

The North Island

The North Island is wetter and also tends to be warmer than the South Island.

Question 8

Generally speaking, what are the differences between Sauvignon Blancs from the North Island and South Island?

Answer 8

Because the North Island tends to be warmer than the South Island, Sauvignon Blancs from the North Island show more tropical, passionfruit flavors and the Sauvignon Blancs from the South Island show higher acidity, green bell pepper, and gooseberry flavors.

SVB is most frequently fermented in inert vessels at cool temperatures to retain fruity flavours and aromas, although some producers make oak-matured styles.

Question 9

What is the most planted grape in New Zealand?

Answer 9

Sauvignon Blanc (>22,000 ha)
SInce the early 1990s, SVB has been firmly establised as the flagship grape and accounts for the majority of wine production

Question 10

Behind Sauvignon Blanc, what other white grape varietals are New Zealand producers cultivating?

Answer 10

CHARDONNAY (diversity of styles but mainly citrus & tropical fruits with subtle hints of toast and sweet spice from French new oak).
RIESLING, PINOT GRIS and GEWURZRAMINER. Dry autumns and cool nights ensure aromatic compunds have plenty of time to develop before harvest. Wines range from dry to sweet, however off-dry tends to be the most prevalent style.

Question 11

What is the most planted red/black grape in New Zealand?

Hint: it’s also the second most planted grape in New Zealand of either color.

Answer 11

Pinot Noir is the second most planted grape variety.
It is widely grown thoughout the Southern island and in a few selected sites in the Northern island.
Overall profile is one of vibrant fruit, fine ripe tannins, soft texture, high levels of alcohol.

Question 12

After Pinot Noir, what other black/red grapes are cultivated in New Zealand?

Answer 12

MERLOT, and CABERNET SAUVIGNON (often blended to add tannins and cassis). These varieties is strongly concentrated in the North Island (where warmer temperatures helps to ripen black grapes).

SYRAH’s style similar to Rhône.

Question 13

What are the North Island’s wine regions?

Answer 13

Auckland
Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay
Wairarapa (incl. MARTINBOROUGH)

Question 14

What are the South Island’s wine regions?

Answer 14

Marlborough
Nelson
Canterbury
Central Otago

Question 15

What is the leading weather hazard on the North Island?

Answer 15

Fungal diseases because of plentiful rain and warm temperatures

Question 16

What is the wettest region of New Zealand?

Answer 16

Auckland

Question 17

What are the 3 most planted grape varieties in Auckland?

Answer 17

Chardonnay
Merlot
SYrah

Question 18

East of Auckland is the wine region ___ which has a promising reputation for quality wines, particularly its ___.

Answer 18

WAIHEKE ISLAND for red wines

Question 19

Which GI on the North Island is the warmest and sees the longest hours of sunshine?

Answer 19

Hawke’s Bay,
located in an estuary plain
diversity of soils, aspect and altitude of plantings

Question 20

Hawke’s Bay is notable for growing which red grape varietals?

Answer 20

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as SYrah

Question 21

What is the subregion in Hawke’s Bay that is gaining a reputation for Syrah and red Bordeaux blends?

Answer 21

GIMBLETT GRAVELS
Parcel of well-drained heat-absorbing gravel soil

Question 22

Which GI on the North Island is known for its white wines?

Which white grapes thrive there?

Answer 22

GISBORNE
High rainfall and temperatures, long sunshine hours.
Have of vines planted are CHARDONNAY which display RIPE TROPICAL fruit flavours.
Small quantity of high quality GEWURTZRAMINER
Some full-bodied PINOT GRIS.

Question 23

Martinborough, a subregion of Wairarapa, is best known for which grape?

Why does this grape do well here?

Answer 23

PINOT NOIR
summer temperatures can be high but wide diurnal range
medium to full-bodied wines, hints of dark plum and spice.

Question 24

What grapes do grow in Marlborough?

Answer 24

SAUVIGNON BLANC makes up the majority of the plantings.
CHARDONNAY and PINOT NOIR are also widely planted and used for both STILL and SPARKLING wines.
Pinot Noir: medium-bodied, fine tannins, cherry and cranberry.

Some RISELING and PINOT GRIS

Question 25

Where is Wairarapa?: northern tip of the North Island southern tip of the North Island northern tip of the South Island

Answer 25

southern tip of the North Island

Question 26

Which South Island region is cooler and wetter than Marlborough?

Answer 26

NELSON

Question 27

What are 2 subregions of Marlborough?

Answer 27

there are 2 adjacent estuary valleys: - WAIRAU (the largest): long sunny days, but different aspects and altitudes - AWATERE: drier, cooler, windier => SVB has higher acitdity & herbaceous character

Question 28

Which subregion of Marlborough is cool, windy, and dry?

Answer 28

AWATERE

Question 29

What grapes perform best in Canterbury?

Answer 29

SAUVIGNON BLANC PINOT NOIR some high quality RISELING (Waipara)

Question 30

Two areas in Canterbury are well known for wine production. Describe each and how they are different

Answer 30

West of CHRISTCHURCH, in a plain exposed to the cooling influence of Pacific + warming effect from NW winds North of CHRISTCHURCH = WAIPARA VALLEY: greater warmin effect from NW winds, less exposed to the ocean due to a range of hills.

Question 31

Which region is located in the foothills of the Southern Alps?

Answer 31

CENTRAL OTAGO Several valleys with different aspects, soils and altitudes

Question 32

Central Otago’s altitude provides two things: intense sunlight big diurnal shifts What effect does this have on the Pinot Noir grown there?

Answer 32

Warm summers, large diurnal range during the growing season; high intensity of sunlight => HIGH LEVELS OF ALCOHOL. Pinot Noir wines are full-bodied, juicy and vibrant with concentrated ripe red fruit flavours.

Question 33

What other varieties are grown in Central Otago?

Answer 33

PINOT GRIS CHARDONNAY RIESLING

Question 34

What weather threat does Central Otago face?

Answer 34

Continental climate with a risk of FROST damage in spring and autumn

Question 35

What is Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand?

Question 36

Why have New Zealand winegrowers become experts in trellising and canopy management?

Answer 36

Many of the vineyards still experience plentiful rainfall which can be problematic during ripening. Soils tend to be free draining and do not experince waterlogging. However, those on flat lands can be overly fertile, leading to excessive shoot and leaf growth. NZ viticulturists are experts in trellising and canopy management to prevent this.

Question 37

In what year was Cloudy Bay launched?

Question 38

Why are most vineyards in New Zealand mechanically harvested?

Question 39

Why are most of New Zealand’s wines bottled under screwcap?

Question 40

Who was the first person to make wine in New Zealand?

Question 41

Who was Romeo Bragato?

Question 42

Which winery was the first to commercially release wine under screwcap?

Question 43

When a New Zealand wine is labeled with a geographical indication (GI), what minimum % of grapes must be made from that grape, come from that GI, and be from that vintage?

Question 44

What are the leading weather hazards on the North Island of New Zealand?