C38 - South Africa Flashcards
Why can South Africa produce a broad range of styles?
Proximity to the coast and the mountainous backdrop
Discuss South Africa climate and grape growing
Latitude range: 27° - 34˚ south of the equator
Climate show be hot but many Vineyards here are subject to cooling influences
- Cold Benguela current from Antartic cooling coastal areas
- Magnified by Cape Doctor - strong and regular southeastern winds
- Mountain range throughout the wine regions
- providing range of altitude, aspects, soils and therefore climates
- Wine planted on southern slopes to benefits from coooler temperatures
- Can cast shadows overnearby vineyards, giving slifhtly cooler temp
- can channel winds near the coast through the vineyards
Discuss black variety in South Africa
Cabernet Sauvignon - Most planted,
- Blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc for Bordeaux style
Merlot - produces full body, plummy wines
Syrah - widely planted
- Hot areas: Rich and full-bodied, high alcohol, ripe black fruit flavours, sometimes earthy or meaty character
- Cooler areas: peppery and less full-bodied
Pinot Noir - Less tolerant of the hot climate ⇒ Planted in small amounts in the coolest coastal areas
Pinotage - Pinot Noir x Cinsault crossing
- Developed in South Africa, hardly grown elsewhere
- Cape blend = Pinotage blended with international varieties
- made in a range of styles
What is the role of oak in the vinification of South African reds?
The vast majority of premium reds are matured in oak At least a proportion of new barrels used for toasty aromas
Which varieties were crossed to make Pinotage?
Pinot Noir x Cinsault
What are the styles of Pinotage, single-varietal wine?
Light, fruity style with red berry flavours
Full-bodied from old bush vines, with rich, spiced berry fruit
Intense coffee and chocolate aromas when fermented and/or stored with heavily toasted oak staves
Discuss white grapes varieties in South Africa
Chenin Blanc - most planted but in decline
- Dry and sweet wines
- Easy drinking with simple stone-fruit flavours
- An increasing number of producers are using Chenin from old bush vines ⇒ more concentrated & complex flavours, fuller texture
- Barrel fermentation to give extra body and toasty oak flavours
Colombard - second most planted - large portion used for brandy
Sauvignon Blanc -
What may barrel fermentation and barrel ageing contribute to a Chenin Blanc in South Africa?
Extra body and toasty oak flavours
What is the second most widely planted white variety in South Africa? What is it used for?
Colombard
A significant portion is used in the production of brandy
What is a consistent feature between wines made from Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa?
They often have a herbaceous character
Where in South Africa do the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc come from?
The coolest sites
What kind of flavours/aromas might the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc display?
Very pure flavours of citrus and green fruit
How is the necessary acidity and flavours achieved in Sauvignon Blanc’s warmer sites in South Africa achieved?
By picking earlier
Describe Chardonnay quality in South Africa
It can be exceptional
Which sites in South Africa produce the best examples of Chardonnay?
The cooler sites
Describe big contributing factors in the character of South Africa’s best Chardonnays
The use of Burgundian techniques such as lees-stirring and barrel fermentation
What is Muscat of Alexandria called in South Africa?
Hanepoot
What is Hanepoot used for in South Africa?
Late-harvest dessert wines
Besides late-harvesting, how may South African dessert wines be sweetened?
Noble rot can have an influence
Plantings of which white grape have increased dramatically in South Africa over the last couple of decades?
Viognier
What is the usual style of Viognier wines from South Africa?
Rich, perfumed whites with a hint of toasty oak
Which style of wine has recently emerged in South Africa, particularly in Swartland?
High quality blends, often made from Chenin Blanc with Rhône varieties such as Marsanne, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier
Where does well over 90% of wine made in South Africa come from?
The Western Cape
What are the most important regions of the Western Cape?
Coastal Region Breede River Valley Cape South Coast
Where does the majority of wine NOT from the Western Cape come from in South Africa?
Orange River in the Northern Cape
Briefly describe conditions in Orange River
Very hot and irrigated
What is wine from Orange River mostly known for?
Mostly inexpensive whites the are rarely seen on export markets
In South Africa, some wineries located in certain districts or wards may source their fruit from… How may these wines be labelled?
A wider area than the GI in which they’re located With a region or a geographical unit e.g. Coastal Region or Western Cape
Where is the Stellenbosch region?
From just inland of the coast at Somerset West right up into the mountains that surround the town of Stellenbosch itself
What is the long-time hub of fine wine in South Africa?
Stellenbosch
Describe the climate of Stellenbosch
Moderate to warm depending on location
Sufficient rain in winter
Summers rarely too hot
Why are summers rarely too hot in Stellenbosch?
Thanks to cool winds from False Bay that are funnelled by the mountains into the valleys
What is largely credited for the success of Stellenbosch as a wine growing district?
The variety of altitude, aspect and soil that’s available in such a relatively small area
What has Stellenbosch built a reputation for in recent years?
Top class reds
What reds in particular has Stellenbosch built a reputation for?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often made into Bordeaux-style blends)
Syrah
Cape red blends
What can the cooler sites in Stellenbosch produce?
High quality Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Describe the Paarl district
A large district to the north of Stellenbosch
Describe the climate in Paarl
Less exposed to the cooling influences of the sea, being further inland
Temperatures hotter in summer
Cooler night-time temperatures
Describe the vineyards of Paarl
Variety of altitudes, aspects and soils offered by mountainous terrain
What are the most important reds of Paarl?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Pinotage
What are the most planted whites of Paarl?
Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay
What is noteworthy about the Constantia ward?
It has some of the oldest vineyards in the Cape
Where is the Constantia ward?
In the Cape Peninsula
How are the vineyards of Constantia Ward located?
On the eastern flanks of Table Mountain
How is temperature moderated in the vineyards of Constantia?
By the Cape Doctor
What do the producers of Cape Doctor have a particular reputation for?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is the name of the sweet wine produced from late-harvested Muscat in Constantia?
Vin de Constance
Describe the vineyards south of Table Mountain and the grapes they’re famous for
Closer to Cape Point
Well exposed to the cooling influence of the ocean
Made a speciality of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
What is planted in the warmer sites south of Table Mountain in Constantia?
Some Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Which district lies to the north of Cape Town?
Swartland
What is Swartland’s formative reputation?
As a source of inexpensive grapes and wine
What is the new reputation of Swartland?
As a centre of innovation and premium wine production
Swartland is recognised particularly as a source of …and…
Old-vine Chenin Blanc
High-quality Syrah
What does ‘dry-farming’ mean?
Growing without irrigation
What is the effect of dry-farming Chenin Blanc and Syrah (as in Swartland)?
It lowers yields but enhances fruit concentration
Besides Chenin and Syrah, what else also comes from Swartland district?
A number of premium Cape blends (red and white)
What is to the south-west of Swartland?
The Darling district
Describe the climate in the Darling district
Its position near the coast means it receives cooling sea breezes
For what does the Darling district have its reputation?
Sauvignon Blanc
What is Darling’s similarity with Swartland?
It is a source of old vines
What/where is Durbanville?
A ward in the Tygerberg district
What are sites like in Durbanville?
Offers hillside sites north of Cape Town
Cooled by sea breezes that also blow through the Cape Point
Durbanville has built a reputation for…
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the most important districts of Breede River Valley?
Worcester District
Robertson District
Where in Breede River Valley is Worcester district?
At the western end of Breede River Valley
Describe the climate in the Worcester district
Hot and dry
What is the result of the climate in the Worcester district?
Irrigation from the river is essential
What are the soils like in Breede River Valley?
Fertile
What is the role of the Worcester district in South Africa’s wine production?
It can produce a significant proportion of South Africa’s annual production
What is the majority of Worcester district wine made from?
Chenin Blanc and Colombard
Much of wine from Worcester district is used for…
Distillation
Other than wine for distillation, what else is Worcester district reputable for?
Red and white, high-volume, branded wines
Where is the Robertson district?
To the east of Worcester
What is the climate of Robertson district?
Similar but slightly cooler climate than Worcester district
Why is it cooler in Robertson district than Worcester district?
Thanks to south-easterly winds that are drawn into the valley
Of what is Robertson district a reliable source?
Well-made wines for high-volume brands
Besides high-volume wines, what else can be made in Robertson district?
Excellent Syrahs and full-bodied Chardonnays
What is the most southerly region of South Africa?
Cape South Coast
What is the reputation of the Cape South Coast area?
It is a regular source of some of the best fruit and wines in South Africa
What is the best-established vineyard area of Cape South Coast area?
Walker Bay district
What is contained within Walker Bay district?
The various wards of Hemel-en-Aarde
What is home to some of South Africa’s best Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs?
Hemel-en-Aarde
What is also grown in Hemel-en-Aarde with great success (besides Pinot Noir and Chardonnay)?
Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot
Syrah
What is to the north-west of Walker Bay?
The Elgin district
What is the important cooling influence in Elgin district?
Altitude
For what does Elgin district have a particular reputation?
Intense, fresh Sauvignon Blancs
Besides SB, which varieties are showing promise in Elgin district?
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Syrah
What is to the south-east of Walker Bay?
The Elim ward (in the Cape Agulhas district)
For what does the Elim ward have a particular reputation?
Pungent, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc
Syrah is also showing promise
What is the name of South Africa’s GI system?
The Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.)
What will wines stating Wine of Origin (W.O.) also carry?
A certification seal
How many different sizes of production area does South African law recognise? What are they?
Four
Geographical Unit
Regions
Districts
Wards
What is the only geographical unit in South Africa of any importance to wine?
Western Cape
What is the advantage of the Western Cape appellation?
It allows producers to blend the best parcels of fruit from different areas
What is the tendency as to how regions are defined in South Africa?
They follow dominant geological features
What are the most important regions for wine grape-growing in South Africa?
Coastal Region
Breede River Valley
Cape South Coast
What are the rules behind labelling wines as Estate Wines in South Africa?
Must come from a single estate
All grapes must come from estate vineyards that cover a single geographical area
Estate must have facilities on their land allowing them to process the grapes and the wine up to and including bottling
What does Estate Wine law allow in South Africa?
It allows top producers to release Estate Wines AND other W.O. wines under their brand name
What does IPW stand for in South Africa and what does it mean?
Integrated Production of Wine (IPW)
It’s a voluntary sustainable agriculture scheme
