D4.C20. South Africa Flashcards
What are two main categories of sparkling wines produced in South Africa?
- Inexpensive, carbonated
- Traditional method
What are the properties of inexpensive carbonated wines of South Africa?
- Made with a range of varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat and Pinotage
- Fruity
- Often off-dry to sweet
- Primarily consumed in the domestic market and exported to the sub-Saharan territories, especially Angola, Mozambique and Nigeria
- Acceptable to good quality
What are the properties of traditional method sparkling wines (Cap Calssique) of South Africa?
- Made principally from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as Chenin Blanc and Pinotage (95%)
- Medium (+) acidity
- Medium alcohol
- Ripe apple and citrus fruit
- Varying levels of autolytic flavours
What is the quality/price range for Cap Classique?
- Good to very good in quality
- Mid- to premium-priced
When did the Cap Classique Association founded?
1992
How many percent of the bottle fermented sparkling wines produced in South Africa is produced by the members of Cap Classique Association?
Over 90%
What are the Cap Classique standards that are now enshrined in law?
- The wine to undergo second fermentation in the same bottle that goes to market
- Minimum of three bars of pressure post-disgorgement
- Minimum of twelve months on the lees
What are the regions that fruits for Cap Classique wines come from?
- Robertson
- Stellenbosch
- Paarl
- Darling
- Tulbagh
Which characteristics of Robertson and Bonnievale (in Breede River) make them ideal for sparkling wine production?
- Only these two regions have significant amounts of limestone soils
- Both are relatively narrow valleys that makes them slower to warm up in the morning (due to shade from the mountains)
- Temperatures drop in the afternoon because of cool breezes from the ocean at Cape Agulhas that run up the Breede River
- They are the regions with the biggest diurnal shift
What is the soil in regions that are producing Cap Classique, other than Robertson and Bonnievale?
Shale, clay and decomposed granite
What do most producers of Cap Classique do to increase the complexity of their wines?
They choose to source fruit from a number of regions
Growers wait for how many days after flowering before picking for Cap Classique? Why?
- 90 days
- Hang time is achieved by adapting viticultural practice
What is the common viticultural practice for Cap Classique?
Growers leave more growth on the vines to create extra shading, which slows down ripening and retains acidity
The grapes for Cap Classique are picked at potential alcohol of:
9.5–11% abv, with a view to the final wine
being around 12% abv
What are the common winemaking processes for carbonated sparkling wines in South Africa?
- Stopping fermentation early to retain residual sugar
- Carbonation
- Released for early sale in order to preserve the fruit character.