Ch.19 – South Africa Flashcards
1
Q
South African Sparkling wine in one card
A
- Two categories
- Inexpensive, sweet, carbonated for domestic and Sub-Sahara esp Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria
- acceptable to good quality
- Traditional method Cap Classique 95% from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc & Pinotage
- ripe yellow apple & citrus fruit, med(+) acidity, med alcohol, varying levels of autolysis
- mid-prem priced, good to v good
- Inexpensive, sweet, carbonated for domestic and Sub-Sahara esp Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria
2
Q
South African Carbonated Sparkling wine
A
- Important domestic and African market
- Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat & Pinotage
- Simple fruity, off-dry to sweet
- Declined 15% between 2011 -2016 as Cap Classique has grown
3
Q
Cap Classique (or MCC, Méthode Cap Classique)
A
- Both method and trademark of association of growers and producers making these wines
- Association founded 1992, incl top 7 producers and make 90% of S Africa’s bottle-fermented sparkling wine
- Cap Classique standards are law
- wine 2nd ferment in same bottle as goes to market
- min 3 bars post disgorgement
- min 9 mths on lees, to become 12 mths in 2020
4
Q
Where are the grapes grown for Cap Classique?
A
- Robertson, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Darling & Tulbagh
- BEST Robertson & Bonnievale in Breede River Valley
- limestone (better quality wine)
- warm, BUT narrow valleys, mountain shade slow to warm am, cooled pm as ocean breezes run up Breede River from Cape Agulhas - highest diurnal shift
- Elsewhere grapes grown on shale, clay and decomposed granite.
- Fruit sourced from varied regions because of availability and to add complexity
5
Q
Harvest for sparkling in South Africa
A
- 90 days after flowering for MCC for appropriate ripeness and acidity
- longer hang time achieved by viticultural practice
- leave more growth on vines for extra shading - more grapes that ripen in full shade, more the acidity preserved
- grapes picked with potential alcohol of 9.5-11% for final wine 12%
6
Q
Wine-making of Carbonated Sparkling in S Africa
A
- Stop fermentation for a sweet finish
- Then carbonated and released for early sale to preserve fruit character
- inexpensive process creates inexpensive wines
7
Q
Wine making in Cap Classique by the quality minded growers
A
- Hand-picked, whole-bunch press (recommended not required)
- Press fractions separated for blending
- Acidification of musts commonplace
- Some ferment a portion in old barrels for additional richness in premium wines
- Malo is matter of choice (Villiera does, Graham Beck no)
- 10% reserve wines used by premium houses to add depth of flavour/ ensure consistency
- min lees 9 mths (MCC members 12mths, often 15-18 NV, longer for vintage & prestige cuvées
- all adds to cost and thus price
8
Q
How are rosés made in South Africa?
A
- blend white and red wines to control tannins/colour before second fermentation
- from a white blend to which red is added prior to second fermentation in bottle
- (rarely) by maceration of red varietal prior to primary fermentation, which will form the base of colour when blended
9
Q
What two projects are the Cap Classique Producer’s Association working on?
A
- 2017 proposal
- all grapes to be “certified” as Wine of Origin
- min lees ageing 12 mths
- anyone making Cap Classique must be members of Association
- Two categories of Cap Classique (not finalised)
- Standard (as is)
- Higher quality, only Champagne grapes + Chenin & Pinotage, whole bunch pressed, min lees 36mths
10
Q
Wine sales of South African sparkling
A
- Cap Classique fastest growing category - sales doubling every 5 years
- Much better quality carbonated esp Sauvignon Blanc
- Some cos v successful in export eg Graham Beck 50%
- 2017 4m litres sparkling exported, double decade earlier, but less than 2012 due to exchange rates
- Top export markets Angola (1/4 all sparkling by vol), Mozambique, USA & UK
11
Q
Challenges to South African Sparkling
A
- Challenge to make Cap Classique attractive to
- wealthiest black consumers, who currently drink top champagne
- new middle classes moving from beer
12
Q
The Cap Classique Producers’ Association
A
- Association founded 1992, incl top 7 producers and make 90% of S Africa’s bottle-fermented sparkling wine
- funded by a levy according to volume produced
- Always trying to raise/ maintain standards
- Promotes wine
- public tastings
- annual tastings of base wines for producers
- technical conference every 2 years
- Wines also promoted through Wines of South Africa