38. South Africa Flashcards
Describe the climate and geography of South Africa.
Hot climate with three main moderating influences:
- Southern Ocean (cold Benguela Current)
- Cape Doctor (strong south-easterly summer winds)
- mountain ranges
What is the GI System of South Africa?
Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.)
-Wines stating Wine of Origin (W.O.) on the label will carry a Certification Seal on every bottle
What are the four sizes of production area in South Africa?
- geographical unit
- region
- district
- ward
What are Estate Wines?
They come from a single estate, all grapes must come from estate vineyards that cover a single geographical area.
-must be made on the estate fully (including bottling)
What is South Africa’s voluntary sustainable agricultural scheme?
Integrated Production of Wine (IPW)
What are the 5 main black varieties of South Africa? Which is planted most widely?
- Cabernet Sauvignon* (most widely planted)
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
Describe South African Cabernet Sauvignon.
- varietal wines
- also blended with merlot & cab franc for Bordeaux-style wines
Describe South African Merlot.
-blended with Cabernet Sauvignon
Varietal wines:
- full body
- plummy
Describe South African Syrah.
-widely planted
Hot climates:
- rich
- full body
- high alcohol
- ripe black fruit
- earthy or meaty
Cooler climates:
- less full bodied
- peppery
Describe South African Pinot Noir.
- less tolerant of the hot climate
- planted in small amounts in coastal areas
What is Pinotage?
Pinot Noir x Cinsault
- crossing developed in South Africa
- hardly grown elsewhere
- often blended with international varieties “Cape Blend”
Describe Pinotage wines.
Style 1:
- light, fruity
- red berry
Style 2:
- old bush vine
- full body
- rich, spiced berry fruit
- often oaked: intense coffee, chocolate
What are the 6 main white varieties of South Africa? Which is planted most widely?
- Chenin Blanc* (most widely planted)
- Colombard
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Muscat of Alexandria
- Viognier
Describe South African Chenin Blanc.
Style 1:
- easy drinking
- simple stone fruit
Style 2:
- old bush vines
- concentrated, complex flavors
- fuller texture
- barrel fermentation/aging: adds body and toasty oak
What is the second most widely planted white variety? What is much of it used for?
Colombard
Brandy
Describe South African Sauvignon Blanc.
- herbaceous
- best examples come from coolest regions
- pure citrus, green fruit
Describe South African Chardonnay.
- exceptional quality in cooler sites
- Burgundian techniques (barrel fermentation, lees stirring) add character
What grape is used to make late-harvest sweet wine?
Muscat of Alexandria (Hanepoot)
Note: Noble Rot also used
Describe South African Viognier.
- production increased dramatically recently
- rich
- perfumed
- hint of toasty oak
What high quality white wines are made in Swartland?
-white blends from Chenin blended with Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier
What percentage of South African wine comes from the Western Cape? Where does the rest come from?
- well over 90%
- Rest: hot, irrigated Orange River in the Northern Cape (inexpensive, rarely exported)
Where is the Stellenbosch district located?
stretches from just inland of the coast at overset West, right up inter the mountains of Stellenbosch.
Describe the climate and geography of Stellenbosch.
- Moderate to warm
- sufficient rainfall in winter
- cool winds from False Bay funneled by the mountains
- varied altitudes and aspects
What types of wine is Stellenbosch known for?
Top class red wines
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Bordeaux style blends
- Syrah
- Cape red blends
Cooler sites:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
Where is the Paarl district located?
- large district
- lies to the north of Stellenbosch
Describe the climate and geography of Paarl.
- further inland’
- less cooling influences of sea
- hotter in the summer
- moderated by cool nighttime temperatures
- mountainous
What are the main red and white grapes of Paarl.
Red:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Pinotage
Whites:
- Chenin Blanc
- Chardonnay
Describe the climate and geography of the Constantia ward. Where is it located?
- Cape Peninsula district
- oldest vineyards in the Cape
- eastern flanks of Table Mountain
- cooled by the Cape Doctor
What wines are made in Constantia?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Vin de Constance (late harvested Muscat sweet wine)
- Semillon
- Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (warmer sites)
Where is Swartland located?
-north of Cape Town
What was Swartland known of? What is it known for now?
Then: inexpensive grapes/wine
Now: innovation, premium wine production
What wines are made in Swartland?
- old vine Chenin Blanc
- high-quality Syrah
- premium Cape blends (red and white)
Where is the Darling district? What wine is it known for?
- south-west of Swartland
- coastal (cooling sea breezes)
- Sauvignon Blanc
Where is the Durbanville ward located? Describe the moderating influence? What wine is it known for?
- Tygerberg district
- hillsides north of Cape Town
- cooled by the sea breezes
- Sauvignon Blanc
Where is the Worcester district? What is the climate?
- western end of the Breede River Valley
- hot and dry climate
- irrigation essential
- fertile soil
What grapes are grown in the Worcester district? What are they mostly used for?
- Chenin Blanc
- Colombard
- most used for distillation
Where is the Robertson district? What is the climate?
- east of Worcester
- slightly cooler than Worcester (winds)
- fertile soil
What wines are made in Robertson?
- high volume brands
- excellent Syrahs and full bodied Chardonnays
Where is Walker Bay located?
-Cape South Coast
What is the most well known ward in Walker Bay? What varieties is it known for?
Hemel-en-Aarde
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Also Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah
Where is the Elgin district located? Describe the cooling influence here.
- to the north west of Walker Bay
- altitude
What wines is Elgin known for?
Sauvignon Blanc
-intense, fresh
Pinot Noir, Chardonay, Syrah
Where is Elim located?
- southeast of Walker Bay
- in the Cape Agulhas district
What two wines is Elin known for?
Sauvignon blanc
-particularly pungent and herbaceous
Syrah
