Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Identifying New Zealand Sauvignon blanc terroirs

Identifying New Zealand Sauvignon blanc terroirs

Abstract

The concept of terroir is well established in the ‘old world’ wine industry but its use is still relatively new in New Zealand. Marlborough Sauvignon blanc has become a benchmark for Sauvignon blanc around the world. However, under The NZ Geographical Indications (Wines and Spirits) Registration Act 2006, this label covers all the Sauvignon blanc wines from Marlborough irrespective of brand, sub-region or production method. This is not atypical for a young industry, as it takes many years to understand the subtleties of a ‘terroir’ with its own ecophysiological conditions.
To identify distinctive terroirs, a collaborative project with New Zealand Sauvignon blanc grape producers has been initiated. This study investigates the typicality of individual commercial juices. About 100 Sauvignon blanc juices have been collected from throughout New Zealand during harvest 2011, but with the majority coming from Marlborough. Sub-samples of these juices were analysed for a number of compounds and 700-ml ferments wines were made. Fermentation characteristics were recorded and all wines were chemically analysed. A grower survey on vineyard practices was conducted. GIS technology was used to map vineyard practices, soil type and the geological and climatic conditions as well as juice and wine characteristics. The information that has been gathered will help to define identifiable New Zealand terroirs.

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Marc GREVEN (1), Laure RESSÉGUIER (2), Victoria, RAW (1), Claire GROSE (1), Richard OLIVER (4), Roger HARKER (3)

(1) The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Marlborough, P.O. Box 845, Blenheim, New Zealand
(2) ENITA de Bordeaux, 1 Cours du Générale de Gaulle, 33175 Gradignan, France
(3) The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Mt Albert, Private Bag 92 169, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
(4) The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Private Bag 3230, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

Keywords

Terroir, Marlborough, Sauvignon blanc, GIS

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Storia del prosecco e del suo territorio di produzione: un percorso di studi in continuo progresso

Nella realtà viticola Italiana il Prosecco è uno degli esempi più evidenti di un percorso storico che ha saputo valorizzare lo stretto legame tra vitigno e territorio d’origine.

The influence of irrigation and crop load management on berry composition and yield in Chardonnay

Australian grape producers are facing a difficult wine market, therefore a reduction of vineyard production costs is critical.

Generation of functional chitosan derivatives to better understanding the antiseptic effect on Brettanomyces bruxellensis in wine

The addition of fungal chitosan in wine is allowed since 2009 to release some spoilage microorganisms such as Brettanomyces bruxellensis (OIV/OENO 338A/2009; EC 53/2011). This yeast is able to produce volatil phenols and is responsible of organoleptic deviations compromising quality and typicality of red wines [1]. Despite the fact that fungal chitosan is highly renewable, no toxic and non-allergenic, its use remains marginal because this treatment is relatively recent (compare to sulphites treatment) and information are contradictory between different studies described in literature. For all these reasons,

Vineyard’s ozone application to induce secondary metabolites accumulation in grapes and wine

In viticulture sector to find new tools for pest management has become an urgent necessity. Hence, grapevines cultivation has high production rate demand and to meet the intensive market request, a massive use of pesticides is often required. In addition to the environmental problems associated with large use of chemicals, there is an increasing number of consumers which are asking for

Innovations in the use of bentonite in enology: interactions with grape and wine proteins, colloids, polyphenols and aroma compounds.

The use of bentonite in oenology rounds around the limpidity and the stability that determine consumer acceptability. As a matter of fact, the haze formation in wine reduces its commercial value and makes it unacceptable for sale. Stabilization treatments are, therefore, essential to ensure a long-time limpidity and to forecast the formation of deposits in the bottle. Bentonite that is normally used in oenology for clarifying-fining purpose, shows a natural clay-based mineral structure allowing it to swell and to jelly in water and hence in must and wine.