New Zealand

Question 1

James Busby’s importance to New Zealand?

Answer 1

• First to plant a vineyard (late 1830’s)
• British minster whom started in New South Wales before moving to the North Island

Question 2

Romeo Bragato’s importance to New Zealand?

Answer 2

• Austrian viticulturist from Victoria
• Studied and identified NZ’s wine growing regions (except for Marlborough)
• Educated wine makers on grafting vines to American root stock to combat phylloxera

Question 3

“Six o’clock swill”

Answer 3

• Early closing hour for pubs (NZ & Australia)
• Started during WW1 and lasted until 1967
• Was preferable to all out prohibition
• Dry areas persisted until the 1990’s

Question 4

Montana Wines
(now: Brancott Estate)

Answer 4

• NZ’s largest winemaking company
  — Controls 2/3’s of Marlborough’s wineries!
• Established Marlborough’s first commercial vineyard (1973)
• Released the country’s first varietal wine: Gisborne Chardonnay (1979)
• Produced one of the first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines in (1979)

Question 5

Cloudy Bay Vineyards

Answer 5

Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
- Put Marlborough on the map!!
- Founded in 1985
- Highly intense aromas of passion fruit, jalapeño, ripe grapefruit and grass
- The wine became an international sensation

Question 6

What is the southernmost wine making region in the world?

Answer 6

• Central Otago (45th parallel)
• Tasmania has similar latitude as the North Island of NZ

Question 7

Important geological features of the South Island?

Answer 7

• Southern Alps
  — A ridge of mountains that run North-South
  — Create a rain shadow on the Eastern side of the South Island
  — Composed mainly of greywacke (grey sandstone)
• Ocean (everywhere)
  — Mitigates temperature variation, moderates growing season

Question 8

New Zealand Winegrowers (2002)

Answer 8

• Promotes and presents a unified face for New Zealand wine
• EVERY producer AND grower belongs to the organization

Question 9

Screwcap Initiative (2001)

Answer 9

• NZ pioneered the international assocation committed to using the closure even on PREMIUM BOTTLINGS
• Now synonymous with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc*
  — Success of the wine* led to widespread public acceptance
  — Kim Crawford was first to commercially release a NZ screw capped wine
• Today 95% of the country’s wine is under screwcap!!
• Stelvin (brand name) developed in the 1960’s and early 1970’s

Question 10

New Zealand Wine Law

Answer 10

• Geographical Indications (GI) used for Wine & Spirits
• GI labeled WINE must contain minimum 85% of stated grape, vintage and GI (New World style)
• GI labeled SPIRITS must be 100% from GI
• NO laws governing enrichment, acidification, pruning, yields, or irrigation techniques
• 22 GI’s in NZ
  — Big ones are: New Zealand GI, North Island GI, South Island GI

Question 11

Hawke’s Bay GI

Answer 11

North Island, New Zealand
- Second largest region in NZ
- DRIEST climate in the North
- RED is most important, Chardonnay and Merlot are most planted
- Notable subregions: Gimblett Gravels, Bridge Pa, Esk Valley and Dartmoor Valley

Question 12

Gisborne GI
(Poverty Bay)

Answer 12

North Island, New Zealand
- WHITE grapes dominate (too cool to ripen RED)
— Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Viognier
- First vines in the world to see the sun everyday

Question 13

Where is the hub for Pinot Noir in New Zealand?

Answer 13

Central Otago GI, South Island, New Zealand

Question 14

Where is The Wairau Valley located?

Answer 14

Marlborough GI, South Island, New Zealand

Question 15

What is the driest region of the North Island?

Answer 15

Hawke’s Bay

Question 16

Which sea separates NZ from Australia?

Answer 16

• Tasman Sea
• A gap of aboot 1200 miles

Question 17

What are the appellations (N to S) of the North Island of NZ?

Answer 17

• Northland
• Auckland
• Waikato (Bay of Plenty)
• Gisborne
• Hawke’s Bay
• Wairarapa (Martinborough)

Question 18

What are the appellations (N to S) of the South Island of NZ?

Answer 18

• Nelson
• Marlborough
• Canterbury
• Waitaki Valley
• Central Otago

Question 19

Auckland GI

Answer 19

North Island, New Zealand
- Named for the largest city in NZ: Auckland
— Center of wine business for the nation
- Climate: Moderate, rainy maritime
- Hardly any wine made here (~1%)
- Notable subregions: Waiheke Island, Kumeu and Matakana
— Waiheke Island is the sunniest/driest, best of regions in Auckland: Bordeaux blends and Syrah

Question 20

How does the climate vary between North and South Island of NZ?

Answer 20

• North Island: Warmer and wetter
• South Island: Cooler and drier

Question 21

Best vintages in New Zealand?

Answer 21

• ‘10
• ‘13
• ‘19
• ‘20

Question 22

Mission Estate Winery

Answer 22

Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand
- Oldest winery in NZ (1851): Birthplace of NZ wine
- Established by French missionaries for sacramental wine
- Merlot, Syrah and Bordeaux blends
** Bought land in Marlborough (2012) and also produce Sauvignon Blanc

Question 23

Marlborough GI

Answer 23

Northeast corner, South Island, New Zealand
- Produces 70% of NZ’s wine!!
- Sauvignon Blanc is King (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris also planted)
— Traditional method sparkling does well here
- Soil: Sandy, alluvial loam topsoil over gravel—drains well, limits vine vigor
- Montana (Brancott, Fairhall) controls 2/3 of Marlborough’s vineyards
- Subregions: Wairau Valley, Southern Valleys, Awatere Valley

Question 24

Central Otago GI

Answer 24

• Southernmost region in the world
• Pinot Noir is King and world class
• ONLY region in NZ with a continental climate
• Northern hillside exposures are warmer and key to ripening
• Subregions: Wanaka, Gibbston, Alexandra, and Cromwell Basin