NEW ZEALAND WINE Resource Booklet nzwine.com 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 100% COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE Tucked away in a remote corner of the globe is a place of glorious unspoiled landscapes, exotic flora and fauna, and SECTION 1: OVERVIEW 1 a culture renowned for its spirit of youthful innovation. History of Winemaking 1 New Zealand is a world of pure discovery, and nothing History of Winemaking Timeline 2 distills its essence more perfectly than a glass of New Zealand wine. Wine Production & Exports 3 New Zealand’s wine producing history extends back to Sustainability Policy 4 the founding of the nation in the 1800’s. But it was the New Zealand Wine Labelling Laws introduction to Marlborough’s astonishing Sauvignon & Export Certification 5 Blanc in the 1980’s that saw New Zealand wine receive Wine Closures 5 high acclaim and international recognition. And while Marlborough retains its status as one of the SECTION 2: REGIONS 6 world’s foremost wine producing regions, the quality of Wine Regions of New Zealand Map 7 wines from elsewhere in the country has also achieved Auckland & Northland 8 international acclaim. Waikato/ Bay of Plenty 10 Our commitment to quality has won New Zealand its reputation for premium wine. Gisborne 12 Hawke’s Bay 14 Wairarapa 16 We hope you find the materials of value to your personal and professional development. Nelson 18 Marlborough 20 Canterbury & Waipara Valley 22 Central Otago 24 RESOURCES AVAILABLE SECTION 3: WINES 26 NEW ZEALAND WINE RESOURCES Sauvignon Blanc 28 New Zealand Wine DVD Riesling 30 New Zealand Wine Maps New Zealand Wine Overview Guide Pinot Gris 32 New Zealand Wine Sustainability Guide Gewürztraminer 34 Regional Guide - Auckland Chardonnay 36 Regional Guide - Canterbury/ Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 38 Regional Guide - Central Otago Syrah 40 Regional Guide - Gisborne Regional Guide - Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot Blends 42 Regional Guide - Marlborough Regional Guide - Nelson Regional Guide - Wairarapa Varietal Guide - Chardonnay Varietal Guide - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon Blends Varietal Guide - Pinot Gris Varietal Guide - Pinot Noir Varietal Guide - Riesling Varietal Guide - Sauvignon Blanc Varietal Guide - Syrah SECTION 1: OVERVIEW As an isolated, cool-climate island nation, New Zealand enjoys an undeniable advantage when it comes to producing distinctive, ultra high quality wines. <1% 35°-46° 94+% OF TOTAL WORLD WINE OF NEW ZEALAND VINEYARD PRODUCTION VOLUME AREA OPERATES UNDER INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED SOUTH SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMMES GRAPE-GROWING LATITUDINAL RANGE HISTORY OF WINEMAKING The earliest history of planting vines (vitis vinifera) in It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the vitis vinifera vines made New Zealand dates back to 1819 when Samuel Marsden, a a comeback in New Zealand and high quality wines were missionary to New Zealand, arrived in Kerikeri, Northland again produced. Shortly after there was also a switch from with 100 vines that he went on to plant at the mission fortified wines to table wines in New Zealand. station. In 1983, Müller Thurgau was the most planted white grape In the 1840’s, British resident, James Busby made the first variety and Cabernet Sauvignon the most planted red recorded wine in New Zealand. The grapes were from a variety. Since then, there has been a definite change in small vineyard that he planted at Waitangi and it was his grape varieties planted in New Zealand. enthusiasm for grape growing that went on to encourage others to follow in his footsteps. Sauvignon Blanc is now the most widely planted white variety with Chardonnay following in second place. There were a number of significant immigrants to New Other white varieties such as Pinot Gris, Riesling and Zealand from Europe that went on to set up vineyards in Gewürztraminer have dramatically increased their di£erent regions across the country. They each contributed production levels and lesser known varieties such as in their own right to the very early establishment of Viognier are now being grown in small quantities. vineyards and winemaking in New Zealand. Cabernet Sauvignon production levels have remained During the 1940’s, phylloexra destroyed many vineyards constant, however, a surge in production of Pinot Noir in New Zealand and some winegrowers thought that the has meant this variety has taken over the role of the most vinifera hybrid wasn’t suitable for growth in New Zealand widely planted red variety in New Zealand. Merlot is another and decided to replace them with the hardier European- red variety that has grown considerably, along with the American hybrid vines. Unfortunately, even though these emergence of Syrah. vines were more resistant to disease the quality of grapes was inferior. nzwine.com 1 HISTORY OF WINEMAKING TIMELINE 1819 First vines planted in Northland 1840 James Busby produces New Zealand’s first wine at Waitangi 1840’s New immigrants from Europe arrive and set up vineyards in Canterbury and Nelson 1895 New Zealand government commissions a report on the prospects of winegrowing in New Zealand encouraging a rush to plant vines 1900’s New Zealand government invests in research, viticulture and phylloxera resistant vines 1950’s New immigrants from Europe arrive and enthusiasm for food and wine increases 1960’s Total area under vine is 387 hectares, producing 4.1 million litres 1970’s The demand for quality wine increases and many hybrid vines are replaced with classical varieties that are grafted to phylloxera resistant rootstock 1973 Montana sets up in Marlborough and this region becomes the largest grape growing area of New Zealand with Sauvignon Blanc as a premium variety 1980’s The New Zealand wine industry begins to promote itself overseas 1990’s 130 registered wineries with total vineyard area of 6,000 hectares and total production of 57.7 million litres. New Zealand wines achieve export success in Europe, the USA and Asia 1994 64% of all wine exports are to the UK 2000’s 358 registered wineries, area under vine has doubled within 10 years 2001 Screwcap initiative launched to promote and educate producers on the benefits of screwcap closure as a quality alternative to cork 2002 New Zealand exports to the UK, the USA and Australia reach over NZ$200 million 2012 703 registered wineries with the total production 194 million litres and exports at NZ$1.2 billion in value 2 New Zealand Wine WINE PRODUCTION & EXPORTS By world standards New Zealand’s production capacity registered wineries, and today there are 703 wineries, 90% is tiny, accounting for less than 1% of total volume at of which export to international markets. 194 million litres. During the 1990’s there were just 130 NEW ZEALAND PRODUCING KEY VARIETIES VINEYARD AREA (PLANTED HECTARES)* (TOTAL PRODUCING HECTARES 34,270)* MARLBOROUGH (22,590) SAUVIGNON BLANC (19,930) HAWKE’S BAY (4,841) PINOT NOIR (5,096) CENTRAL OTAGO (1,787) AROMATIC VARIETIES PINOT GRIS (2,396) GISBORNE (1,617) RIESLING (719) CANTERBURY/WAIPARA VALLEY (1,197) GEWÜRZTRAMINER (331) NELSON (963) CHARDONNAY (3,121) WAIRARAPA/WELLINGTON (942) MERLOT/CABERNET & SYRAH AUCKLAND/NORTHLAND (320) MERLOT (1,196) CABERNET SAUVIGNON (285) WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY (16) SYRAH (354) (NOT SHOWN) OTHER (841) * SOURCE: New Zealand Winegrowers’ Vineyard Register Report 2012 * SOURCE: New Zealand Winegrowers’ Annual Report 2012 EXPORT VOLUME AND SALES EXPORT VALUE - GLOBAL EXPORT VOLUME - GLOBAL ($NZ FOB)* (MILLIONS OF LITRES)* 1.2 BILLION 1 BILLION 2008 88.6 800 600 400 2012 200 178.9 2008 2010 2011 2009 2012 0 nzwine.com 3 SUSTAINABILITY POLICY Under New Zealand Winegrowers’ Sustainability Policy, wine Winegrowers’ own certification programme, Sustainable must be made from 100% certified grapes in winemaking Winegrowing New Zealand®, SWNZ®. facilities that are independently audited and certified. Over 94% of vineyard area in New Zealand is operating Recognised certification programmes include AsureQuality, under this independently audited sustainability programme, BioGro-NZ, Demeter, ISO 140001 and New Zealand demonstrating a commitment to quality. Without the wealth we’re able to harvest from animals, BIODIVERSITY plants and microorganisms, humans couldn’t survive. New Zealand wine producers cultivate and nurture diversity in the vineyard. Blessed with an array of distinctive soils, abundant fresh SOIL, water and famously clear air, our wine producers go to WATER, great lengths to take care of these treasures. AIR Even though New Zealand draws most of its electricity ENERGY from renewable sources, the high energy demands of wine production sees the industry employing reduction strategies in all activities. The world expects a certain quality from New Zealand wine; to maintain standards we need to mitigate against CHEMICALS disease and pests. Chemical use on the vineyard, however, is the last resort. Reduce, reuse and recycle are the watchwords in New BYPRODUCTS Zealand vineyards and wineries. Many byproducts are now routinely diverted from the waste stream and turned to beneficial use. A sustainable wine industry is for the benefit of people, and its success depends on delivery by people. PEOPLE New Zealand wine producers take their community responsibilities seriously. Sustainable practices enable wine producers to add value in a number of meaningful ways, while also making BUSINESS long-term cost savings. These practices are therefore critical to the legacy of our wine industry. 4 New Zealand Wine NEW ZEALAND WINE LABELLING LAWS & EXPORT CERTIFICATION LABELLING New Zealand wine labels must comply with mandatory All grape wine samples submitted for export eligibility wine labelling requirements outlined in the Australia-New approval will undergo a sensory evaluation to ensure that Zealand Food Standards Code. Some key mandatory the wine is free from obvious fault. Each consignment requirements are: of wine that meets export eligibility requirements will be • The volume of wine: The volume of wine must be on the issued with an Export Eligibility Statement and unique front label; that is, the label that is the main face and that identifier.