New Zealand Flashcards
What is the overall climate of NZ?
Maritime climate.
Long sunshine hours, nights cooled by sea breezes and a long ripening period allow grapes to reach high levels of sugar while retaining acidity.
What is the difference between thenorth and the south island of NZ?
South Island is cool whereas the north island is a little bit warmer. Vineyards in the south tend to be located on the eastern side, protected from the westerly winds.
Why are NZ expertise in trellising?
Because they have highly fertile soil which causes vigour vine growrth.
What are the key white grapes in New Zealand?
Sauvignon Blanc - pungent aromas of elderflower and passionfruit with high acid. North Island Sauvignon Blanc is more tropical while south has flavours of green bell pepper and gooseberry. Most frequently fermentated in stainless steele.
Chardonnay - led by concentrated citrus with subtle hints of toast from new french oak.
Riesling, Gewurtztraminor and Pinot Gris - dry autumns and cool nights allow aromatic compounds to form.
What are the key black grapes in New Zealand?
- Pinot Noir - Widely grown in south with some sites in the north. Vibrant, fine ripe tannains, sort texture and quite high levels of alcohol.
- Merlot
- Cab Sauv - blended into Merlot to add tannin and notes of Cassis.
- Syrah in warmer sites producing elegant wines similar to Rhone
What are the regions in the North Island?
Auckland
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Wairarape - Martinborough
The topography and wines from Auckland.
- Warm and wettest part of New Zealand
-chardonnay, merlot and syrah are top planted varietals - Waiheke to the East is known for its top quality red wines
The topography and wines from Gisborne.
Vineyards are located on the east coast on a plain.
- high rainfall, tempertures and sunshine
- most planted varietal is chardonnay
- small bit of Gewurtz and full bodied pinot gris
The topography and wines from Hawkes Bay
East coast of the north island on an estuary plain
- warmest of the grape growing areas and most amount of sunshine.
- lots of different soil types but one area has heaps of Gimlett gravels which is ideal for absorbing heat and great for black varietals down in bprdeuax style
The topography and wines from Wairarapa, Martinborough.
Martinborough - Pinot noir and now a resigister GI. Warm summers but wide diurnal temperature. medium to full bodied, ripe with hints of dark spice and plum.
What are the wine growing regoins on the south island Nz?
Marlborough
Nelson
Canterbury
Central Otagp
The topography and wines in Marlborough
- Sb most plantings
- most vineyards lie n to adjacent estuaries - Wairau and Awatere.
- Wairau - similar to Martinborough but lots of different slopes and aspects to work with
- Awatere - drier, cooler and windier. High acid and pronounced herbacous characters.
- Chardonnay and pinot used for sparkling
- pinot noir - medium bodied with fine tannins, cherry and cranberry
The topography and wines in Nelson
Located to the north west of hte Wairau Valley
cooler and wetter than marlborough
- SB, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris
The topography and wines in Canterbury
two areas:
1. Plain to the west of christchurch exposed to the cooling influence of the pacific
2. Wairarapa Valley to the north - warm winds and less exposed to ocean
- SB and Pinot noir but makes high quality riesling
The topography and wines in Central Otago
- Located in the foothills of the southern New Zealand Altitudes
- lots of different valleys, soils and altitudes
- forst damage is a real issue in spring and autumn
- summers can be warm but there is a wide range for the diurnal temperature.
- pinot noir most planted being full bodied, juicey and vibrant with concentrated red fruit flavours.
