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.
What are the common viticultural and winemaking choices for traditional method sparkling wines in South Africa?
- Hand harvesting
- Carrying in small baskets
- Whole-bunch press (recommended, but not required, for Cap Classique)
- Better producers will separate press fractions and use them as needed during blending
- Acidification of musts is commonplace
- Some ferment a portion of the fruit in old barrels to add richness
- Reserve wines (around 10%) are used by premium houses
- Minimum time on the lees in bottle is 12 months
- Some Cap Classique producers choose
15–18 months for non-vintage and longer for vintage and prestige cuvée wines
How are the rosé sparkling wines produced in South Africa?
- Blending white and red wines in order to
control the amount of tannins and colour (more common) - By the maceration of a black grape variety prior to primary fermentation
What is the current aim of Cap Classique Producers’ Association?
It is currently working to introduce an additional higher quality category that would restrict the grape varieties that can be used and would require whole bunch pressing and a longer time on the lees
Cap Classique is dominated by how many companies?
- 7
- J. C. Le Roux, one of the seven, also makes carbonated sparkling wine
What is the trend in Cap Classique production?
- It is the fastest growing category in South Africa
- Sales doubling every five years in recent decades
- It increased its share of South African sparkling wine production from 30 to 40% of all production between 2014 and 2018
Name a company producing Cap Classique that is successful in export market?
Graham Beck. It exports 50% of its production
What is the aim of the Cap Classique producers for the domestic market?
- To make Cap Classique attractive to those consumers who currently drink top-quality Champagne
- To attract the new middle classes who are moving from beer to wine
How much sparkling wine has been exported in 2020 from South Africa? Why is that lower than the peak in 2012?
- 3 million L
- Because of vagaries of exchange rates, market fluctuation and Covid 19
What are the top export markets for South African sparkling wine?
- Angola
- Sweden
- UK
By which means does the Cap Classique Producers’ Association promote the wine?
- Public tastings
- iAnnual tasting of base wines for producers
- Technical conference every two years
Name another body that promote Cap Classique other than The Cap Classique Producers’ Association
Wines of South Africa
