New Zealand Regions Flashcards
Which area was once the heart of NZ wine industry? How has that changed?
Greater Auckland. Several larger P have kept HQ there, most production facilities have moved to Marlborough or Hawke’s Bay.
Which 3 sub-regions can Greater Auckland be divided into? Whats the common climate?
Waiheke Island, West Auckland and Matakana.
Moderate maritime with high humidity: fungal disease.
Where is Waiheke Island based? Climate, Styles and topography?
40 minutes by ferry from the business district of Greater Auckland, specialised in Syrah or Cab Sauv.
Slightly warmer than the rest of Auckland and surrounding water leads to low diurnal range: mid to late ripeners can ripen.
Undulating landscape allows P to seek out protected sites, sheltering from strong westerly winds.
Medium to full body, black fruited style with hints of oak spice, and can be outstanding.
What makes the wines of Waiheke Island premium? Significant P?
Due to expansion and proximity to Auckland, land prices are rising.
Expense of transport to the island.
Man O’ War and Stony Ridge.
What is the current state of West Auckland?
Some P still have vineyards, the most well known of which being Kumeu River, but high cost of land and increasing urbanisation means the vineyard area is unlikely to expand and will probably decrease.
Some wineries have cellar doors in West Auckland, but some source fruit from other regions, eg Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay due to high land prices.
What style of wine is produced in Matakana?
Range of grapes to strong local tourist trade.
What is the trajectory of production in Gisborne? What caused change?
Once NZ largest region, but area under vine halved in 2009-2019 as farmers could get higher prices for kiwi fruit and apples.
Where is main vineyard area in Gisbourne? Breakdown of businesses?
Majority situated on flat, fertile flood plains consisting of clay, loam and silt.
Chard 50%.
Mox of boutique and HV P, with highest quality wines coming from hillsides where soils are poorer.
What are growing conditions for Gisbourne?
Moderate maritime coupled with high hours of sunshine and warming breezes from the N mean few issues from frost, and one of the first regions to harvest each season.
1000mm (high) mean less need for irrigation than other regions. However, this compared with high vigour means devigorating rootstocks and precise can man is required to prevent excessive growth of the canopy.
High chance of rain at harvest: monitoring weather forecasts crucial and picking at right time to avoid dilution or rot.
What is the profile of Chard and PGris from Gisbourne?
Chard: range from inex, simple and fruity, to premium outstanding, barrel ferm with ripe stony fruit and creamy.
PGris: Second most planted grape, sweetness ranges from dry to med dry. Ranges from inex and simple to good quality and premium (lees and oak)
What other varieties come from Gisborne? Significant P?
Smaller quantities of other whites, including Sauv B, Gewurz and Viognier.
Blacks account for low proportion, Merlot most planted.
Lindauer who source fruit for spk here, and the biodynamic Milton Vineyards.
What’s the oldest wine region of NZ? Climate, growing conditions and styles?
Hawke’s Bay. 2nd largest for production. Centered around the city of Napier and Hastings.
Moderate maritime broadly similar to Bordeaux: 2180 sunlight hours, 1000mm rainfall.
Paired with alluvial gravel soils make it similar to Medoc: Bordeaux style, Merlot dominant blends.
Small amounts of Cab Sauv grown as struggles to ripen in cooler years.
Quality of fruit in warm years, as well as improved viticultural understanding and planting material, make P excited about future potential.
What are the two main sub regions of Hawke’s Bay? Growing conditions? Key difference for irrigation?
Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa.
Inland location means relatively warm days.
With little moderating influence from the coast, frost can be an issue.
Alluvial terraces with gravelly soils
Gimblett: stony topsoil becomes very warm during the day and releases heat in the evening: (Syrah, Cab and Merlot ripeness). Free draining: high rainfall but irrigation necessary.
Bridge Pa: Deeper topsoil of sandy and clay loam enhancing water retention: no irrigation.
What style of wine is found in Hawke’s Bay closer to the coast?
Moderating influence: cool daytime temps: slower ripening and fresher styles of Chard and Syrah.
Profile of Bordeaux varieties and blends in Hawke’s Bay?
Merlot is dominant, range of styles from inex to premium.
In Bordeaux style blends with Cab Sauv and Franc, more concentrated and usually 12-18m in F oak.
Deep coloured, very good quality Malbec is also becoming popular in blends and single varietal, at premium prices.
Profile of Syrah from Hawke’s Bay?
75% of NZ Syrah here, but tiny quantity (350 ha).
Concentrated black fruit, pepper, spice.
Med to + body, med + acidity.
F oak typical, 12-18m.
Best are outstanding - premium.
Profile of Chard from Hawke’s Bay?
A range, from inex to premium (restrained grapefruit and white stone, noticeable struck match. Med to full body with med acidity.
Barrel ferm common, especially for premium.
From the coast higher in acidity, lower alcohol and citrus fruit.
g-o and m-p
What other varieties are important in Hawke’s Bay? Signif P?
Sizeable plantings of Sauv B (behind Chard), and to lesser extent PGris.
Craggy Range and Te Mata Estate.
Where is Wairarapa located? How much of P does it account for? What aspect of business is key?
Most S region of N Island.
Focus on premium wines:
3% of area under vine, 1% of total volume: low yields and quality.
Wine tourism flourishes as 1 hr from Wellington.
How is Wairarapa further divided? Which styles of wine is it known for?
Three sub-regions collectively known as Wellington Wine Country:
-Masterton
-Gladstone
-Martinborough
Latter is most renowned but all produce intense yet elegant PN and not overly herbaceous SB.
What is the climate of Wairarapa?
Cool maritime, although summer days can be warm, diurnal range is large: slows ripening, retains acidity.
Low yields caused by strong winds coming off the Cook Strait during f+f.
Frosts can negatively affect some years, though fans have been installed.
How does SB and PN from Wairarapa differentiate from rest of NZ?
Grapes tend to be small with thick skins: PN has higher levels of finer grained tannins. SB is lower yielding, increasing cost of production.
Wairarapa geology and significant P?
A range but the most is free draining alluvial gravel terraces with silt loam and loess. both the latter are considered a cooling influence as take longer to heat up than rocky soils: slows ripening, elongates season: complex and concentrated fruit.
Ata Rangi and Dry River.
Profile of PN from Wairarapa?
> 50% of plantings. Premium, v good to outstanding.
Med + acidity, red cherry and black plum often with spice.
Low yields = intense concentration of fruit. Med to + tannins
F oak for 12-18m.
What clones of PN are found in Wairarapa?
A range.
The Abel Clone (supposedly from DRC), is particularly suited to Martinborough climate: flowers late so misses worst of weather that could reduce yields. Productive with large berries, but winds help keep in check.
Dijon clones, eg 667 and 777 are also common.
Profile of Sauv B from Wairarapa?
Premium, v good to outstanding.
More restrained herbaceous and fruit than Marlborough, though with similarly high acidity.
Lower yields = more intensity.
Premium may use wild yeast, partial barrel ferm and lees contact (greater complexity and texture).
What is the history of Marlborough plantings?
By far largest region in NZ, accounting for 2/3rds all plantings.
First vines planted in 1873. Due to temperance movement and climate perceived to be too cool, further attempts at growing and making were limited.
Modern era began in 1973, when director of Montana Wines (now Brancott Estate) saw potential for making high quality wine and bought over 1000ha of land to turn into vineyards.
Cheap land, climate, and critical acclaim from the 1980s: especially from the 90s, industry grew rapidly.
Where does Marlborough get its native name? Climate?
Kei puta te Wairu = ‘the whole in the clouds’. Appropriate as it received 2410 sunshine hours yearly.
Cool climate with moderately warm summers and mild winters.
Protected from rainfall by mountains: 650mm.
Free draining alluvial soils: irrigation important, underground aquifers are key.
