Ch.19 – South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

South African Sparkling wine in one card

A
  • Two categories
    1. Inexpensive, sweet, carbonated for domestic and Sub-Sahara esp Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria
      • acceptable to good quality
    2. 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
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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
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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
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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
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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%
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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
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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
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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
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9
Q

What two projects are the Cap Classique Producer’s Association working on?

A
  • 2017 proposal
    1. all grapes to be “certified” as Wine of Origin
    2. min lees ageing 12 mths
    3. anyone making Cap Classique must be members of Association
  • Two categories of Cap Classique (not finalised)
    1. Standard (as is)
    2. Higher quality, only Champagne grapes + Chenin & Pinotage, whole bunch pressed, min lees 36mths
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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
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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
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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
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