Coastal Region Flashcards
What was the first New World wine to be coveted and acclaimed in Europe? And when?
Vin de Constance, from Governor Simon van der Stel’s Constantia Estate
1685 to the mid 1850’s
What are the grapes of Vin de Constance?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains & Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains
What are the two South African synonyms for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains?
Muscadel
Muscat de Frontignan
Which estate in Constantia has revived the classic style with new Muscat de Frontignan plantings?
Klein Constantia
Which estate in Constantia is owned by the state?
Groot Constantia
What are the 5 estates in Constantia?
Groot Constantia
Klein Constantia
Constantia Uitsig
Steenberg
Buitenverwachting
Which district of the Coastal Region is the most maritime?
Cape Town - many vineyards are less than a mile from the ocean.
Major geographic features of Cape Town?
Table Mountain
False Bay
Atlantic Ocean
Benguela Current
Cape Doctor
Climate of Cape Town?
Maritime
Cool sea breezes
Avg Feb temp = 70 degrees F
long growing season
What style of wine and grapes is the climate of Cape Town ideal for?
Dessert wine
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Wards of Cape Town
Constantia
Hout Bay
Durbanville
Philadelphia
Where is Stellenbosch?
On False Bay, across the water from Cape Peninsula
What are the three mountains of Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg
Stellenbosch
Helderberg
What is the soil makeup of Stellenbosch?
Ancient alluvial loam over shale on the valley floors; granite and sandstone on the hillsides.
What are the main white and red grapes of Stellenbosch?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
What major French region is similar to Stellenbosch in terms of climate?
Bordeaux, although Stellenbosch is certainly warmer.
Who produces Trilogy?
Warwick Estate
Stellenbosch
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Who produces Rubicon?
Meerlust
Stellenbosch
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot
What is Rust en Vrede’s 1694 Classification?
A shiraz/cabernet blend, named for the year the winery was established.
Stellenbosch
Who produces Black Label?
Kanonkop
Stellenbosch
59 year old Pinotage vineyard
Who produces Signature?
Ernie Els
“Classic” bordeaux blend - all five majors
What are the wards of Stellenbosch?
Polkadraai Hills
Bottelary
Devon Valley
Papegaaiberg
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Banghoek
Jonkershoek Valley
Vlottenberg
Roughly west to east
Where is the KWV located?
Paarl
Who was the first producer to make botrytized dessert wine in South Africa, and where are they located? What is the wine?
Golden Liquid Nederburg Edelkeur - first vintage 1969
Nederberg, in Paarl
Paarl: Natural Features
Berg River Groot and klein Drakenstein ranges (southeast) Franschhoek range (southeast) Wemmershoek range (east) Hawequa Mountains (northeast)
What are the wards of Paarl?
Simonsberg-Paarl (southwest) Voor Paardeberg (northwest)
What is the major product of Tulbagh? Why?
Cap Classique; it’s high elevation leads to a significant diurnal shift
What is unique about Tulbagh’s climate?
There is a “cold trap” due to the valley’s horseshoe-shaped composition; Tulbagh sits at the northernmost point of the curve. Because there is no airflow from the sides, the cold air of the evening sits trapped under the warm morning air, keeping the average temperature down.
What are the mountains of Tulbagh?
Groot Winterhoekberge (north)
Witsenberg (east)
Obiekwaberg (south)
What is the Boberg Region?
Formerly fortified wines from the districts of Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Tulbagh; repealed in 2019
Which two districts were formerly wards of Paarl?
Franschhoek Valley (2010) Wellington (2012)
Who settled Franschhoek, and why are they important?
French Hugeunots in the late 17th century; brought with them winemaking and vinegrowing experience the original Dutch colonists lacked.
Franschhoek: Natural Features
Groot Drakenstein and Franschhoek Mountains, at the northern end of the appellation
Klein Drakenstein and Simonsberg, west, towards Paarl
Berg River, originating in the mountains (Drakenstein?) and flowing through the Wemmershoek Dam.
What is significant about Wellington’s production?
Small, up and coming district, HOWEVER, they supply over 85% of the cuttings for the industry.
What districts of the Coastal Region have no wards?
Franschhoek/Franschhoek Valley
Wellington
Tulbagh
What are the wards of Darling?
Groenekloof (foothills of the Darling Hills, inland side)
Darling: Climatic influences
Altantic Ocean moderates the temperature; Darling Hills protect the vineyards on the inland side from inclement weather.
Swartland: Trellising
Historically populated by bush vines, today trellising is increasing in some areas. That being said, the old bush vines are particularly prized by the SIP guys and other producer (for all the usual reasons).
What is renosterbos?
“Rhino bush,” an indigenous shrub that previously dominated the landscape, giving it the name Swartland (black land) because of its dark color.
What is SIP?
Swartland Independent Producers: a coalition of producers with the intent to produce wines with a true sense of place.
What are the requirements for SIP wines?
- Producers must be based in Swartland and bottle a minimum of 80% of their production there, in glass.
- Wines must be 100% Swartland WO, and grown, produced, and bottled in the district.
- Must be naturally produced: no inoculation, no acidification, no tannin additions, no chemical fining, no dilution or reverse osmosis. Sulphur is allowed.
- European oak only, and no more than 25% new
What varieties are allowed for SIP wines?
Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, Syrah, Tinta Barroca, Pinotage
Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat de Frontignan, Vaalblaar (Palomino), Groendruif (Semillon)
Name three SIP producers
AA BADENHORST
MULLINEUX
SEQUILLO (Eben Sadie)
Annexkloof, Antebellum, Avant Garde, Bryan MacRobert, Clayton, Chevallerie, David & Nadia Sadie, Dragonridge, Hofstraat, Intellego, JC Wickens, Kloovenburg, Lammershoek, Mount Abora, Nativo, Org de Rac, Paardebosch, Porseleinberg, Rall, Santa Cecillia, Stormborn, Testalonga, Wildehurst
Who produces Columella and Palladius?
Sadie Family Wines
Columella is Syrah plus Mourvedre (usually 85/15%)
Palladius is white, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, and others
What is Sequillo Wines?
Eben Sadie’s negociant project
What are the 9 districts of the Coastal Region?
~~~
Lutzville Valley
Swartland
Tulbugh
Darling
Wellington
Franschhoek Valley
Paarl
Stellenbosch
Cape Town
Where is Table Mountain?
In Cape Peninsula, right on False Bay
Name 5 producers from Stellenbosch
Ernie Els
Kanonkop
Meerlust
Craven
Warwick Estate
3 producers of Swartland
Sadie Family Wines
Mullineux & Leeu
AA Badenhorst
Where is Graham Beck located?
Robertson
Where is Graham Beck located?
Robertson
Where is De Wetshof Estate located?
Robertson
