19 South Africa

Question 1

Which two categories of sparkling wines are produced in South Africa?

Answer 1

• inexpensive carbonated sparkling wine

- premium traditional method sparkling wine (known as Cap Classique

Question 2

Describe the style of a Cap Classique sparkling wine

Answer 2

• ripe apple and citrus fruit
• varying levels of autolytic flavours
• medium (+) acidity
• medium alcohol
• good to very good quality
• mid- to premium-priced

Question 3

Wich grape varieties are typically used for Cap Classique?

Answer 3

• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Chenin Blanc
• Pinotage

95% of the grapes used for MCC

Question 4

How is the domestic sales and the export of carbonated sparkling split?

Answer 4

• primär consumed in the domestic market

- exported to sub-Saharan territories, especially Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria

Question 5

Describe the style of a carbonated sparkling wine

Answer 5

• simple
• fruity wines
• often off-dry to sweet

Question 6

How has the production of carbonated sparkling changed in 2014 to 2018?

Answer 6

increased its share of South African production from 30 to 40%

Question 7

Which are the South African names for the traditional method?

Answer 7

• Méthode Cap Classique (MCC)

- Cap Classique

Question 8

When was the association Cap Classique founded?

Answer 8

1992

Question 9

Which amount of the total sparkling wine production in South Africa is account to the members of the Cap Cassique association?

Answer 9

90%

Question 10

Name the MCC standards

Answer 10

• wine is made by the traditional method
• minimum of 3bar
• minimum of 9 months on the lees (new MCC wine law 2020 is 12 months)

Question 11

Where are the grapes grown?

Answer 11

• Robertson
• Stellenbosch
• Paarl
• Darling
• Tulbagh

Question 12

Which soil is present in Robertson and Bonnievale?

Answer 12

limestone

Question 13

Why could Robertson and Bonnievale produce grapes under cool conditions?

Answer 13

• narrow valleys that have a slower warm up in the morning (due to shade from the mountains)
• temperatures drop in the afternoon because of cool breezes from the ocean at Cape Agulhas that run up the Breede River

regions with the biggest diurnal shift between day and night temperature

Question 14

Which are the soils present in South Africa?

Answer 14

• shale
• clay
• decomposed granit

Question 15

What is the time between flowering and picking the grapes?

Answer 15

90 days (depending on the viticulture practice)

Question 16

Why do the growers leave more growth on the vines?

Answer 16

the grows create extra shading which slows down ripening and retain acidity

Question 17

How is the process of the carbonated sparkling wine done

Answer 17

• stopping fermentation early to retain residual sugar
• cabonating the base wine
• early release to preserve the fruit character

Question 18

Describe the production process of MCC

Answer 18

• hand picked grapes
• whole-bunch pressed (recommended, but not required)
• separation of the press fractions (better producers)
• commonly use of acidification
• sometimes fermenting of a portion in old barrels
• no general rule for MLC, depends on the producer (Villiera dose, Graham Beck avoid it)
• use of reserve wines (around 10%)
• minimum time on the lees is 9 months (MCC association members commit to a minimum of 12 months and some choosing 15-18 months for non-vintage and longer for vintage and prestige cuvée)

Question 19

How are rosé wines produced for MCC?

Answer 19

• blending white and red wines (control the amount of tannins and colour present prior to second fermentation in the bottle)
• maceration of black grape variety prior to primary fermentation (less common)

Question 20

How is the body of MCC called?

Answer 20

Cap Classique Producers’ Association

Question 21

On which projects is the MCC association currently working?

Answer 21

March 2017:
- law change that all grapes must be “certified” (process of approval for a Wine of Origin) and minimal lees aging of 12 months

Proposal of two Cap Classique categories:

• standard category based on existing rules
• higher quality with the classic Champagne varieties plus Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, whole buch pressing and minimum lees aging of 36 months

Question 22

Name a large producer of MCC

Answer 22

J. C. Le Roux

Question 23

How has the sales changed in the last decade?

Answer 23

sales has doubled every five years

Question 24

How are the domestic sales and the export split?

Answer 24

Graham Beck is exporting 50%

Question 25

Which is one of the big challenges for MCC?

Answer 25

getting consumers from drinking top-quality Champagne to drink MCC

Question 26

How is the Cap Classique Producers’ Association funded?

Answer 26

by a levy according to the volume of production

Question 27

Which are the export markets?

Answer 27

• Angola (one-quarter of all sparkling wine exports by volume)
• USA
• UK