New Zealand

Question 1

In which hemisphere is New Zealand located?

Answer 1

Southern hemisphere

Question 2

Where is New Zealand in relation to Australia?

Answer 2

1300 southeast of Australia

Question 3

New Zealand has two islands:

Answer 3

North Island

South Island

Question 4

Of all the winemaking countries in the world, New Zealand is the world’s:

–northernmost
–southernmost
–inland one at the equator

Answer 4

southernmost

Question 5

What are the bodies of water surrounding New Zealand?

Answer 5

east: Pacific Ocean

west: Tasman Sea

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Tasman Sea

Question 7

In what year were the first vines planted in New Zealand?

Answer 7

1819

Question 8

Who was the first to make wine in New Zealand, and when?

Answer 8

James Busby

1836

Question 9

Why didn’t New Zealand wine really take off until the 1990s?

Answer 9

–phylloxera, early 20th century

–temperance movement 1910-1919

–economic depression 1929-1938

–wine not allowed in restaurants until 1960

–wine not allowed for sale in supermarkets until 1990

Question 10

Mass planting in New Zealand took off in what decade?

Answer 10

1990s

Question 11

What are the climates of the North Island?

Answer 11

Northern part of the north Island –warm, some areas being humid, some dry

Southern part of the North Island: Maritime

Question 12

What are the climates of the South Island?

Answer 12

Northern part of the South Island: Cool

Southern part of the South Island: Continental

Question 13

What are the effects of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean on the wine growing regions of New Zealand?

Answer 13

–lessen temperature variation
–moderate the growing season

The South Island sees so much sunshine, this temperature moderation helps the grapes retain acidity

Question 14

What are the 2 main white grapes of New Zealand?

Answer 14

Sauv Blanc
Chardonnay

Question 15

What are the 4 main red grapes of New Zealand?

Answer 15

Pinot Noir
Cab Sauv
Syrah
Merlot

Question 16

Much like Australia, New Zealand’s winemakers are innovators and forward-thinking.

Give 3 examples of their modern mindset.

Answer 16

1. Viticulture (mechanical harvesting)
2. Winemaking is clean, modern, precise
3. Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative 2001

Question 17

More than ___% of New Zealand’s total wine production is finished with screw caps.

Answer 17

85%

Question 18

What appellation system does New Zealand employ as of Feb 2019?

Answer 18

Geographical Indication (GI)

Question 19

What are the 3 biggest GIs of New Zealand?

Answer 19

New Zealand GI
North Island GI
South Island GI

Question 20

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated grape on the label, what minimum percent of that grape must be in the wine?

Answer 20

85%

Question 21

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated vintage on the label, what minimum percent must the wine be from that vintage?

Answer 21

85%

Question 22

In New Zealand, if a bottle of wine has a stated GI on the label, what minimum percent of the wine has to come from that GI?

Answer 22

85%

Question 23

What are the 4 regions to know on New Zealand’s North Island?

Answer 23

1. Auckland
2. Wairarapa
3. Gisborne
4. Hawke’s Bay

Question 24

Auckland:
–location
–climate
–grapes

Answer 24

–Northern tip of North Island

–Warm and humid Maritime

–Cab Sauv, Merlot

Question 25

Wairarapa: --location --grapes

Answer 25

Southernmost part of North Island Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir

Question 26

What is the important subregion of Wairarapa? What grapes is it known for?

Answer 26

Martinborough Pinot Noir

Question 27

Gisborne: --climate --grapes

Answer 27

Cool Maritime Chardonnay, Pinot Gris

Question 28

Hawke's Bay: --climate --grapes

Answer 28

Moderate Maritime Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc Merlot, Cab Sauv, Syrah

Question 29

Which wine region on the north Island has the driest climate?

Answer 29

Hawke's Bay

Question 30

What is the important subregion of Hawke's Bay?

Answer 30

Gimblett Gravels

Question 31

What is important about the Gimblett Gravels subregion?

Answer 31

--Warmer inland area --Gravelly soils which aren't found elsewhere in Hawke's Bay --Has an excellent reputation for making premium reds: Syrah and Bordeaux-style red blends from Cab Sauv and Merlot

Question 32

What is the name of the mountain range on New Zealand's South Island?

Answer 32

The Southern Alps

Question 33

What role do The Southern Alps play in the South Island's wine regions?

Answer 33

Create a rain shadow, defending the wine regions from strong winds and bad weather coming off the Tasman Sea.

Question 34

What are the 3 regions to know on New Zealand's South Island?

Answer 34

1. Marlborough 2. Canterbury 3. Central Otago

Question 35

Where is Marlborough located?

Answer 35

Northern tip of South Island

Question 36

Marlborough: --climate --grapes

Answer 36

Long growing season: dry, cool yet very sunny Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir

Question 37

Marborough accounts for more than ___% of all of New Zealand's total wine production.

Answer 37

more than 50%

Question 38

Sauv Blanc accounts for ____% of all vines planted in Marlborough.

Answer 38

80%

Question 39

Thanks to the long, dry growing season of Marlborough and its cool nights, what does that mean for the grapes?

Answer 39

Grapes retain naturally high acidity

Question 40

Does Marlborough use Irrigation?

Answer 40

Yes, it is widely used due to being such a dry climate.

Question 41

Which region on the South Island is seeing the fastest growth?

Answer 41

Canterbury

Question 42

Where is Canterbury located?

Answer 42

Between Marlborough and Central Otago on the East side of the South Island, facing the Pacific.

Question 43

Canterbury: --climate --grapes

Answer 43

Cool Continental Sauv Blanc, Pinot Noir

Question 44

Where is Central Otago located?

Answer 44

Southernmost wine region on the South Island.

Question 45

Central Otago: --climate --grapes

Answer 45

Cool Continental with low humidity Pinot Noir

Question 46

What is unique about Central Otago's location (in regards to its parallel)?

Answer 46

Some vineyards are planted below the 45th parallel, making them some of the world's most southern-planted grapes

Question 47

New Zealand's wine region highest altitude is:

Answer 47

Central Otago

Question 48

Why are most of Central Otago's vineyards planted facing north?

Answer 48

To maximize sun exposure

Question 49

Central Otago's climate is almost like an Alpine climate. What factors does that include?

Answer 49

Intensely sunny but cool high elevation dry growing season