Afrique du Sud

Question 1

The majority of South Africa’s vine growing regions lies between which 2 latitudes?

Answer 1

32° - 35° south of the Equator

These latitudes were updated in 2022 per the WSET 3 addendum. Know that the former latitudes were 27° - 34°, which are found in the textbook.

Question 2

Generally, the climate of South Africa is ______.

Answer 2

Hot

If not for a fortunate combination of mountains, winds, and ocean currents, most of South Africa would be inhospitable to viticulture.

Question 3

What is the name of the ocean current that helps make viticulture possible in South Africa?

Answer 3

The Benguela Current, a cold ocean current which flows up from the Antarctic.

Fun Fact: This current is caused by powerful southeasterly winds which blow the surface waters away from the sub-continent, forcing cold water to rise, or upwell, from great depths that don’t receive any sunshine. From South Africa the current flows northwards, up the west coast of Africa, towards the equator.

Question 4

What is the name for the series of summer southeasterly winds that help make viticulture possible in South Africa?

Answer 4

The Cape Doctor, which are strong, cool, southeasterly winds that blow through False Bay up to Cape Town and further inland.

Fun Fact: It’s called the “Cape Doctor” because it sweeps away all the air pollution produced by traffic and industry in the city.

Question 5

South Africa has several mountain ranges that run throughout the wine regions.

What are the mountains’ effects on viticulture?

Answer 5

different altitudes
different aspects
different site climates
different soils
valley floor warmer
rugged terrain can cast shadows over vineyards, creating cooler spots

Question 6

What is the most widely planted grape, of either color, in South Africa?

Answer 6

Chenin Blanc

South African wine regions have taken so well to Chenin Blanc that it is now more widely planted in South Africa than it is in France.

Question 7

What is the second most widely planted white grape in South Africa?

Answer 7

Colombard

Colombard is not widely used in still wine production in South Africa, but plays a significant role in South African brandy production.

Question 8

What is the most planted red/black grape variety in South Africa?

Answer 8

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 9

What grape variety, rarely seen outside of South Africa, has become a flagship for South Africa?

Answer 9

Pinotage

Question 10

What are the parent grapes for Pinotage?

Answer 10

Pinot Noir and Cinsault

Cinsault was formerly known as Hermitage, especially in South Africa. The name ‘Pinotage’ is a combination of ‘Pinot’ and ‘Hermitage.’

Question 11

What is Hanepoot?

What is it used for?

Answer 11

The South African name for Muscat of Alexandria.

Used for late-harvest sweet wines.

Fun Fact: Hanepoot means “hen’s feet” in Afrikaans, referring to the claw-like appearance of the stems in the grape bunches.

Question 12

What is South Africa’s Geographic Indication (G.I.) system called?

Answer 12

The Wine of Origin (W.O.) Scheme.

Question 13

What are the four different production area designations under the Wine of Origin scheme according to size?

Answer 13

From largest to smallest they are:

Geographical Unit
Regions
Districts
Wards

Question 14

What are the requirements for a South African wine to be labeled as an Estate Wine?

Answer 14

The wine itself must come from a single estate;
The estate’s vineyards must be within a single geographical area;
The wines must be made on the estate’s premises all the way up to and including bottling.

Question 15

What is presently the most important Geographical Unit in South Africa?

Answer 15

The Western Cape

The Western Cape is important as a wine appellation as it allows producers to blend the best parcels of grapes from widely different areas.

Question 16

The Western Cape accounts for what percentage of the South African wine market?

Answer 16

> 90%

Question 17

Outside of the Western Cape, where is the majority of South African wines made?

Answer 17

Orange River, an independent ward in the Northern Cape Geographical Area.

The Orange River is known for bulk and everyday wines that are not often seen outside of South Africa.

Question 18

What District has long been the heart of production for fine wine in South Africa?

Answer 18

Stellenbosch

Question 19

What geographic features contribute to the success of Stellenbosch’s fine wine production?

Question 20

Stellenbosch is known for producing red wines from which grape varieties?

Question 21

Stellenbosch successfully produces white wines from what grape varieties?

Question 22

What large, important district of South Africa is located north of Stellenbosch?

Question 23

What large, important district of South Africa is located north of Stellenbosch?

Question 24

Paarl is known for its white wines made from which grape varieties?

Question 25

Paarl tends to be warmer or cooler than Stellenbosch?

Why?

Question 26

Which Ward in the Western Cape has some of the region’s oldest vines?

Question 27

Constantia’s oldest vines are situated on the east side of what mountain?

Question 28

Constantia is known for producing very good still white table wines from which grape variety?

Question 29

The cooler sites of Constantia specialize in which grape varieties?

Question 30

The warmer sites in Constantia are planted to what grape varieties?

Question 31

Constantia’s famous dessert wine, Vin de Constance, is made from what grape variety?

Question 32

The Cape Doctor constantly cools the vineyards of which ward?

Question 33

Which district in South Africa used to be viewed just as a place that made bulk wines but in recent years has changed its image to become a more quality-centered wine region, especially for its white blends?

Question 34

Swartland has built its new reputation based on which grape varieties?

Question 35

Swartland’s best vineyards are known for practicing what viticultural technique?

Question 36

Thanks to the Atlantic Ocean’s cool breezes, the Darling district has become successful in growing which grape variety?

Question 37

Which South African ward north of Cape Town is known for its hillsides, cooling sea breezes, and Sauvignon Blanc?

Question 38

Which district in Breede River Valley is known for growing grapes destined for distillation?

Which grapes here are used for distillation?

Question 39

Worcester’s climate is so hot and so arid that viticulturists have to use _______ in their vineyards.

Question 40

How does the climate of the Robertson district compare to that of the Worcester district?

Question 41

Robertson district is known for producing quality wines from which grape varieties?

Question 42

Which 2 districts in Cape South Coast have reputations for being cool areas, and what are the features that cool them?

Question 43

Hemel-en-Aarde Ward has built a reputation as being a producer of some of South Africa’s finest wines made from _______ and _______.

Question 44

What grapes perform best in the Elgin District?

Question 45

Which ward of South Africa is located at the southern tip of the Western Cape?

Question 46

Elim is gaining a reputation for crafting which two grape varieties?