27. South Africa

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• 33–35° S -> warm Mediterranean
• influenced by mountain ranges, slopes and aspects
• Cooling influence -> cold Benguela current, Cape Doctor
• Soils are variable + complex -> most are excessively acid
  o Table Mountain sandstone
  o granite
  o shale
• Big 6 grapes (excluding Colombard)
  o Chenin, S.B, Chard
  o CS, Shiraz, Pinotage
• Varietal and blends
  o Red Cape, White Cape, Red Bordeaux, White Bordeaux
• Western Cape -> nearly all SS wine by volume

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• 33–35° S -> warm Mediterranean
• influenced by mountain ranges, slopes and aspects
• Cooling influence -> cold Benguela current, Cape Doctor
• Soils are variable + complex -> most are excessively acid
  o Table Mountain sandstone
  o granite
  o shale
• Big 6 grapes (excluding Colombard)
  o Chenin, S.B, Chard
  o CS, Shiraz, Pinotage
• Varietal and blends
  o Red Cape, White Cape, Red Bordeaux, White Bordeaux
• Western Cape -> nearly all SS wine by volume

Question 2

Coastal Region

Answer 2

§ 45% of all area under vine

Cape Town
* SB, Chard, CS, Shiraz and PN
* Wards -> Constantia and Durbanville

Stellenbosch
* Mountainous
* Reputation for HQ wines based on CS
* CS, Merlot and Pinotage
* SB, Chenin Blanc, Chard
* Small batches of mid to prem-priced
* Ward -> Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Paarl
* Many mesoclimates, soils and aspects
* Chenin, CS, Shiraz, Pinotage
* Small batches of mid to prem-priced wines
* Wards -> Voor Paardeberg and Simonsberg-Paarl

Franschhoek Valley
* Wrapped around on 3 sides by mountains
* SB, CS and Shiraz
* Old vine Sémillon
* Small batches of mid to prem-priced wines

Darling
* Range of hills that run parallel to cold West Coast
* SB
* Fresher versions of CS, Merlot, Shiraz
* High-volume (inexp) + small batches (prem)

Swartland
* Warm dry climate -> annual rainfall is 500 mm
* Old vines (dry-farmed) of Chenin -> premium
* Important source of fruit for premium

Tulbagh
* Without coastal influence
* Chenin, Shiraz, Colombard
* High-volume -> small prem

Wellington
* Shiraz + powerful red blends
* High-volume -> small prem

Question 3

Breede River Valley

Answer 3

§ Warm + dry region -> makes most wine in SA
§ High Y -> high-volume + inexp
§ also hq estates -> prem

Breedekloof
* Chenin, Colombard, Chardonnay

Worcester
* Very fertile soils and historically for high volume
* Colombard and Chenin Blanc

Robertson
* Very fertile soils and historically for high volume
* Parts of district -> limestone soils
o Chardonnay thrives
* Colombard, Chenin, Sb
* Increasingly recognised for Shiraz + Cs

Question 4

Olifants River Region

Answer 4

§ Very dry + warm climate
§ Grapes were grown at high yields, by co-ops, for distillation
§ Big 6 grapes
§ High-volume (INEXP) -> small, prem

Question 5

Cape South Coast

Answer 5

§ Strongly influenced by cooling influence -> Atlantic Ocean
§ SB, Chard, PN
§ VG - Outst

Walker Bay
* Cool region adjacent to Atlantic
* PN and Chard
* Small batches of prem-priced wines
* Wards -> Hemel-en-Aarde + Bot River

Elgin
* Inland plateau (200–400 m)
* Climate considerably cooler than other parts
* Fresher styles -> SB, Chard, Riesling, PN, Merlot, Shiraz
* Small batches of prem-priced wines

Question 6

Klein Karoo
-> Not part of Western Cape

Answer 6

Semi-arid -> four hours E of Cape Town
§ Small plantings of SB, Chard and Shiraz
§ High-volume-> small, prem