New Zealand (ans)

Island Region Key grape Style

varieties
Northern Auckland (warm Chardonnay,
and the Merlot and
wettest), Syrah
Waiheke Island
top quality
wines
Gisborne Chardonnay Distinct ripe
(similar to (some tropical fruit
Auckland) Gewuztraminer, flavours (due to
Pinot Gris) long sunshine
hours)
Hawke’s Bay Cab Sau & Soil: Gimblett
2nd (warmest, Merlot Gravel—
longest >Bordeaux style
sunshine hours) blend
Syrah
Wairarapa (most Pinot Noir Medium to full
important area: bodied, ripe
Martinborough) with hints of
, high summer dark plum and
temperatures spice
but wide diurnal
range
Southern Marlborough Sau Blanc in The wines
(cool maritime, Wairau Valley vs display powerful
rainfall can fall Awatere Valley aromas of
all year round (drier, cooler gooseberry,
especially and windier- elderflower,
during ripening, >higher acidity
long sunshine and pronounced
 and windier- elderflower,
during ripening, >higher acidity grapefruit and
long sunshine and pronounced passion fruit
hours with herbaceous
nights cooled by character, lack
sea breezes) the tropical fruit
flavours) others:
Chardonnay,
PN, Riesling,
Pinot Gris
Nelson (cooler, Sauvignon
wetter than blanc, Pinot
Marlborough) Noir, Pinot Gris
Canterbury Sauvignon
(Plain area: blanc, Pinot
exposed to the Noir, Riesling
cooling (Waipara Valley)
influence of the
Pacific, slight
warming effect
from north-
westerly winds,
Waipara Valley:
less exposed to
ocean due to a
range of hills)
Central Otago Pinot Noir Full-bodied,
(cool (others: Pinot juicy, and
continental, Gris, Riseling, vibrant with
spring and Chardonnay) concentrated
autumn Frost, ripe red fruit
high diurnal flavours
range, high
sunlight
Q1a) State the describe the climate of this wine (6)
The region has a cool maritime climate, and many vineyard areas experience plentiful rainfall,
which could be problematic during ripening.

It has long sunshine hours with nights cooled by sea breezes and a long ripening period allow
grapes to reach high levels of sugar and flavour ripeness while retaining high acidity.
The region has a cool maritime climate with plentiful rainfall which could be problematic
especially during ripening. The region experiences long sunshine hours with nights cooled by sea
breezes and a long ripening period allows grapes to reach high levels of sugar and flavour
ripeness while retaining acidity

Q1b) Explains how the climate impacts the Sauvignon Blanc wine styles?
The region has a cool maritime climate with long sunshine hours and nights cooled by sea
breezes. The grapes could benefit from a long ripening period to get fully ripen, also develop
intense fruity flavour (passion fruit) and retain high acidity.
Q1c) What kinds of typical aromas from Sauvignon Blanc would you expect in this region
Passion fruit, gooseberry, elderflower, grapefruit

Q2a) State and describe the climate of this wine (4)

The region has a cool continental climate with high continentality and a large diurnal range
during the growing season. It also has high intensity of sunlight with frost damage a real risk in
both autumn and spring

b) What is a major weather hazard here? (2)

Frost damage in spring and autumn
c) Explains how the climate impacts the Pinot Noir wine styles?
The intensity of sunlight here is high with a large diurnal range meaning the grapes could benefit
from a long ripening period to reach high levels of sugar and flavour ripeness while retaining high
acidity. Thus, the wine tend to be full bodied, vibrant and juicy with concentrated ripe red fruit
flavours

The intensity of sunlight here is high along with the large diurnal range means the grapes could
benefit from long ripening period, enabling the grapes to reach high levels of sugar and flavour
ripeness while retaining acidity. Thus, the wine tend to be full bodied, juicy and vibrant with
concentrated ripe red fruit flavours

Ans: Q1) Wairau Valley, the area is warmer, sunnier producing wine of Sauvignon Blanc with more
pronounced tropical fruit flavours

Awatere Valley, the area is windier, cooler and drier, thus producing wine of Sauvignon Blanc with
higher acidity, pronounced herbaceous character and lack the tropical fruit flavours

Q2)the region has a cool maritime climate with long sunshine hours and nights cooled by sea
breezes. The grapes could benefit from a long ripening period to get fully ripen, also develop
intense fruity flavour (passion fruit) and retain high acidity.
Q3)
blending with Semillon to add body and richness to the wine
Use old oak barrel to mature the wine to enhance texture while retaining primary fruit flavours/
aromas
Introduce lees contact under which the wine is kept in contact with the lees for short period of
time to give the wine a richer/broader texture

Blending with Semillon to add body and richness to the wine

Introducing lees contact, wines are kept in contact on the lees for a certain period of time to give
the wine a broader texture/richer texture (p.95)

MC questions
Which is widely regarded as the most Southerly recognised wine region in New Zealand?
a) Central Otago
b) Hawkes Bay
c) Marlborough
d) Gisbourne
Ans: A

Which is widely regarded as the most Northernly recognised wine region in New Zealand?
a) Central Otago
b) Hawkes Bay
c) Auckland
d) Gisbourne
Ans: C

What is the most planted grapes variety across all New Zealand?
a) Chardonnay
b) Pinot Noir
c) Merlot
d) Sauvignon Blanc
Ans: D

Wairau Valley belongs to which region?

a) Central Otago
b) Auckland
c) Marlborough
d) Nelson
Ans: C

Waipara Valley belongs to which region?

a) Central Otago
b) Auckland
c) Marlborough
d) Canterbury
Ans: D

Martinborough Valley belongs to which region?

a) Wairarapa
b) Auckland
c) Marlborough
d) Canterbury
Ans: A

Over half the vines planted in Gisborne are?

a) Chardonnay
b) Pinot Gris
c) Pinot Noir
d) Gewurtztraminer
Ans: A

Overall, New Zealand experiences what type of climate?

a) Continental
b) Maritime
c) Mediterranean
d) Mountainous
Ans: B

Martinborough in Wairarapa, has built a global reputation for what?

a) Its Bordeaux style blends
b) Its Sauvignon Blanc
c) Its Pinot Noir
d) Its Pinot Noir/Sauvignon blends
Ans: C

Which of the following region has built a global reputation for its Bordeaux style blends?
a) Central Otago
b) Hawke’s Bay
c) Marlborough
d) Canterbury
Ans: B

What is the vineyard hazard in Central Otago in both Spring and Autumn?
a) Migrating Kiwi birds
b) Flooding
c) Hail storms
d) Frost
Ans: D

South Island Sauvignon Blancs display what type of classic characteristics?

a) Green Bell Pepper and Gooseberry
b) Redcurrant and Cranberry
c) Passion Fruit and Elderflower
d) Lychee and Turkish delight
Ans: A

Hawke’s Bay is famed for its ……. Gravels?

a) Gooseberry
b) Gimblett
c) Gisborne
d) Gladstone
Ans: B

Put these regions in geographical order from North to South

1.Auckland 2.Central Otago 3.Nelson 4. Hawke’s Bay
a. 1,2,3,4
b. 4,2,3,1
c. 1,4,3,2
d. 3,1,2,4
Ans: C

What is the name of the Island off the coast of Auckland that has a growing reputation for top
quality reds made with Syrah and Merlot?
a. Wairarapa
b. Canterbury
c. Waiheke
d. Gisborne
Ans: C

What is the mostly widely planted black grape variety in New Zealand?
a) Pinot Noir
b) Merlot
c) Cabernet Sauvignon
d) Syrah
Ans: A