Africa

Question 1

What is Portugal’s #1 destination for wine exports?

Answer 1

Angola (a former Portuguese colony)

Question 2

Which two historical incidents dealt a severe blow to South Africa’s wine industry?

Answer 2

The opening of the Suez Canal and the arrival of phylloxera (both in the 1860s).

Question 3

Which co-op helped sustain the wine industry in South Africa?

Answer 3

KWV (Kooperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt)

Question 4

What is the climate in South Africa?

Answer 4

The interior of the country has a semiarid continental climate and the eastern coast is subtropical and humid, but the southwest around Cape Town is more Meditteranean and well suited to grapegrowing.

Question 5

What is the most widely planted grape variety in South Africa?

Answer 5

Chenin Blanc - referred to in SA as Steen

Question 6

What is the most widely planted red variety in South Africa?

Answer 6

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 7

Which two grapes is Pinotage a crossing of?

Answer 7

Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (developed almost a century ago at Stellenbosch University)

Question 8

What is Hanepoot?

Answer 8

The South African name for Muscat of Alexandria

Question 9

Is Cape Riesling the true German Riesling?

Answer 9

No. it is an obscure French grape that is also grown in Australia (Crouchen Blanc)

Question 10

What is Cape Riesling called in South Africa?

Answer 10

Weisser Riesling or Rhine Riesling

Question 11

What is the appellation system in South Africa known as?

Answer 11

(WO) the Wine of Origin scheme

Question 12

What are the various categories of areas, from largest to smallest, in the WO?

Answer 12

geographical units, regions, districts, wards

Question 13

Is the WO scheme more like the Old and New world in their geographic delineations?

Answer 13

New World - comprising differing sizes of geographical areas that define place of origin without any specific requirements or major restrictions on the types of wine made there.

Question 14

What is an estate in South African terms?

Answer 14

One or more neighboring vineyards that are collectively managed as a unit

Question 15

Who must certify a wine if it is to list a specific place of origin, grape variety, or vintage date on the label?

Answer 15

The South African Wine and Spirit Board

Question 16

If a wine is to list the geographic area, estate, or vineyard, how much of the grapes must come from that specified area?

Answer 16

100%; if there are multiple locations listed, they must add up to equal 100%

Question 17

What do wines certified and approved by the South African Wine and Spirit Board receive?

Answer 17

After all requirements are met, and the board has actually sampled the wine to ensure there are no significant flaws, certified wines receive a white paper seal to be affixed across the wine capsule.

Question 18

What is South Africa’s primary geographical unit?

Answer 18

Western Cape

Question 19

What percentage of vineyard land lies outside the Western Cape? Where is this remaining percentage located?

Answer 19

Only about 5% which is located well insland in the valley of the Orange River in the Northern Cape geographical unit.

Question 20

Where is Stellenbosch (district) located? What is it known for?

Answer 20

Located just east of Cape Town, it is one of the oldest and most respected winegrowing areas of South Africa. The are’as red wines are well respected.

Question 21

What is Paarl (district) located? What is the climate like and what does it produce?

Answer 21

Located north of Stellenbosch, this district is a bit warmer than Stellenbosch although it is reasonably close to the ocean (Atlantic). The area is home to some of the more familiar South African brands and produces a full range of wines.

Question 22

What ward was the first to plant vines in the 1650s? What did this area become famous for?

Answer 22

Constantia; it became famous for its sweet fortified wine, then faded out of existence.

Question 23

What is currently being planted in Constantia?

Answer 23

South Africa is reviving the area as a winegrowing site, but instead of focusing on sweet fortified wines (as it was once known for), focusing on dry white table wines.

Question 24

Which ward is defined as “up-and-coming” and located in the hills southeast of Stellenbosch, where the altitude provides cooler temperatures? What varietal does it focus on?

Answer 24

Elgin; it currently produces excellent Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 25

Which district and ward are in the southernmost part of the country? What is the climate like and what varietals flourish here?

Answer 25

Walker Bay district and Elim ward; subject to winds off the Southern Ocean, and therefore the coolest winegrowing areas of South Africa. This zone is ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Question 26

Which two interior areas are notable for high volume production? What % of the nations grape crop is grown in these two districts?

Answer 26

Worcester and Robertson; approximately 40%

Question 27

What did the Worcester and Robertson districts used to produce? What are they producing now?

Answer 27

Their wines used to be distilled or fortified, but now more and more is ending up as bulk table wine.

Question 28

What is the climate like in Worcester and Robertson? What varietals are grown here?

Answer 28

These hinterlands are hot in the summertime and require irrigation, provided by the Breede River. Recently, the share of red grapes such as Shiraz and Cab Sav have grown, but whites continue to dominate.

Question 29

What four regions are part of the Western Cape?

Answer 29

Coastal Region/Bolberg, Breede River Valley, Olifants River, Klein Karoo

Question 30

What does the Boberg region consist of?

Answer 30

Boberg is for fortified wines only from Paarl and Tulbagh; other regions in the Coastal Region/Bolberg and Paarl and Tulbagh table wines fall under the Coastal Region.

Question 31

What 7 named districts are part of the Coastal Region/Boberg?

Answer 31

North to South: Swartland, Tulbagh, Darling, Paarl, Tygerberg, Stellenbosch, Cape Point

Question 32

What 4 districts are part of the Breede River Valley region?

Answer 32

Breedekloof, Worcester, Robertson, Swellendam

Question 33

What 3 named districts are located in the Olifants River region?

Answer 33

Lutzville Valley (farthest north) Citrusdal Valley, Citrusdal Mountain (directly east of Citrusdal Valley)

Question 34

What 2 named districts are located in Klein Karoo?

Answer 34

North to South: Calitzdorp, Langeberg-Garcia

Question 35

Which district is located in the Northern Cape geographical unit?

Answer 35

Douglas

Question 36

Which two major hurdles does North Africa facce when it comes to winemaking?

Answer 36

1) all of North Africa lies within the Muslim world, which is doctrinally opposed to all alcohol. 2) lack of water in the northern fringes of the Sahara Desert and the entire North African coast on the Mediterranean Sea is above the 30th parallel

Question 37

What three areas is the most active wine production in North Africa found in? What are these three regions collectively called?

Answer 37

Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; collectively known as the Maghreb. These are the areas that were under French control during the early 20th century.

Question 38

Where does the majority of the grape growing take place in the Maghreb?

Answer 38

Largely confined to the Mediterranean coast and northern mountain slopes where the coolest (least hot..) climatic conditions are found.

Question 39

Do the three countries in the Maghreb have an appellation system?

Answer 39

Yes. Modeled after the French system, AOC is in effect.

Question 40

What is the majority of the wine in the Maghreb like? What four grape varieties are among the top?

Answer 40

The majority of the wines are red, typically very high in alcohol and quite low in acidity. Carignan, Grenache, Cinsaut, and Muscat are among the top grape varieties.