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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 38. South Africa > Flashcards

38. South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the climate and geography of South Africa.

A

Hot climate with three main moderating influences:

  1. Southern Ocean (cold Benguela Current)
  2. Cape Doctor (strong south-easterly summer winds)
  3. mountain ranges
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2
Q

What is the GI System of South Africa?

A

Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.)

-Wines stating Wine of Origin (W.O.) on the label will carry a Certification Seal on every bottle

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3
Q

What are the four sizes of production area in South Africa?

A
  1. geographical unit
  2. region
  3. district
  4. ward
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4
Q

What are Estate Wines?

A

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)

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5
Q

What is South Africa’s voluntary sustainable agricultural scheme?

A

Integrated Production of Wine (IPW)

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6
Q

What are the 5 main black varieties of South Africa? Which is planted most widely?

A
  1. Cabernet Sauvignon* (most widely planted)
  2. Merlot
  3. Syrah
  4. Pinot Noir
  5. Pinotage
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7
Q

Describe South African Cabernet Sauvignon.

A
  • varietal wines

- also blended with merlot & cab franc for Bordeaux-style wines

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8
Q

Describe South African Merlot.

A

-blended with Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal wines:

  • full body
  • plummy
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9
Q

Describe South African Syrah.

A

-widely planted

Hot climates:

  • rich
  • full body
  • high alcohol
  • ripe black fruit
  • earthy or meaty

Cooler climates:

  • less full bodied
  • peppery
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10
Q

Describe South African Pinot Noir.

A
  • less tolerant of the hot climate

- planted in small amounts in coastal areas

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11
Q

What is Pinotage?

A

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

  • crossing developed in South Africa
  • hardly grown elsewhere
  • often blended with international varieties “Cape Blend”
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12
Q

Describe Pinotage wines.

A

Style 1:

  • light, fruity
  • red berry

Style 2:

  • old bush vine
  • full body
  • rich, spiced berry fruit
  • often oaked: intense coffee, chocolate
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13
Q

What are the 6 main white varieties of South Africa? Which is planted most widely?

A
  1. Chenin Blanc* (most widely planted)
  2. Colombard
  3. Sauvignon Blanc
  4. Chardonnay
  5. Muscat of Alexandria
  6. Viognier
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14
Q

Describe South African Chenin Blanc.

A

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
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15
Q

What is the second most widely planted white variety? What is much of it used for?

A

Colombard

Brandy

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16
Q

Describe South African Sauvignon Blanc.

A
  • herbaceous
  • best examples come from coolest regions
  • pure citrus, green fruit
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17
Q

Describe South African Chardonnay.

A
  • exceptional quality in cooler sites

- Burgundian techniques (barrel fermentation, lees stirring) add character

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18
Q

What grape is used to make late-harvest sweet wine?

A

Muscat of Alexandria (Hanepoot)

Note: Noble Rot also used

19
Q

Describe South African Viognier.

A
  • production increased dramatically recently
  • rich
  • perfumed
  • hint of toasty oak
20
Q

What high quality white wines are made in Swartland?

A

-white blends from Chenin blended with Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier

21
Q

What percentage of South African wine comes from the Western Cape? Where does the rest come from?

A
  • well over 90%

- Rest: hot, irrigated Orange River in the Northern Cape (inexpensive, rarely exported)

22
Q

Where is the Stellenbosch district located?

A

stretches from just inland of the coast at overset West, right up inter the mountains of Stellenbosch.

23
Q

Describe the climate and geography of Stellenbosch.

A
  • Moderate to warm
  • sufficient rainfall in winter
  • cool winds from False Bay funneled by the mountains
  • varied altitudes and aspects
24
Q

What types of wine is Stellenbosch known for?

A

Top class red wines

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Bordeaux style blends
  • Syrah
  • Cape red blends

Cooler sites:

  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay
25
Q

Where is the Paarl district located?

A
  • large district

- lies to the north of Stellenbosch

26
Q

Describe the climate and geography of Paarl.

A
  • further inland’
  • less cooling influences of sea
  • hotter in the summer
  • moderated by cool nighttime temperatures
  • mountainous
27
Q

What are the main red and white grapes of Paarl.

A

Red:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Syrah
  • Pinotage

Whites:

  • Chenin Blanc
  • Chardonnay
28
Q

Describe the climate and geography of the Constantia ward. Where is it located?

A
  • Cape Peninsula district
  • oldest vineyards in the Cape
  • eastern flanks of Table Mountain
  • cooled by the Cape Doctor
29
Q

What wines are made in Constantia?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Vin de Constance (late harvested Muscat sweet wine)
  • Semillon
  • Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (warmer sites)
30
Q

Where is Swartland located?

A

-north of Cape Town

31
Q

What was Swartland known of? What is it known for now?

A

Then: inexpensive grapes/wine
Now: innovation, premium wine production

32
Q

What wines are made in Swartland?

A
  • old vine Chenin Blanc
  • high-quality Syrah
  • premium Cape blends (red and white)
33
Q

Where is the Darling district? What wine is it known for?

A
  • south-west of Swartland
  • coastal (cooling sea breezes)
  • Sauvignon Blanc
34
Q

Where is the Durbanville ward located? Describe the moderating influence? What wine is it known for?

A
  • Tygerberg district
  • hillsides north of Cape Town
  • cooled by the sea breezes
  • Sauvignon Blanc
35
Q

Where is the Worcester district? What is the climate?

A
  • western end of the Breede River Valley
  • hot and dry climate
  • irrigation essential
  • fertile soil
36
Q

What grapes are grown in the Worcester district? What are they mostly used for?

A
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Colombard
  • most used for distillation
37
Q

Where is the Robertson district? What is the climate?

A
  • east of Worcester
  • slightly cooler than Worcester (winds)
  • fertile soil
38
Q

What wines are made in Robertson?

A
  • high volume brands

- excellent Syrahs and full bodied Chardonnays

39
Q

Where is Walker Bay located?

A

-Cape South Coast

40
Q

What is the most well known ward in Walker Bay? What varieties is it known for?

A

Hemel-en-Aarde

  • Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
  • Also Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah
41
Q

Where is the Elgin district located? Describe the cooling influence here.

A
  • to the north west of Walker Bay

- altitude

42
Q

What wines is Elgin known for?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
-intense, fresh
Pinot Noir, Chardonay, Syrah

43
Q

Where is Elim located?

A
  • southeast of Walker Bay

- in the Cape Agulhas district

44
Q

What two wines is Elin known for?

A

Sauvignon blanc
-particularly pungent and herbaceous

Syrah

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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