General S.A. Information Flashcards
Who founded Cape Town and when?
Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company in 1655.
What group of people vastly improved the winemaking of the Dutch?
The French Huguenots
Who initially owned the Constantia estate?
Governor Simon van der Stel
What was Contstantia’s famous wine?
Vin de Constance
What was the base of the red and white Vin de Constance?
Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat de Frontignan
Name two writers who wrote about Vin de Constance?
Jane Austen and Charles Baudelaire
What had a negative effect on Vin de Constance in the latter half of the 19th century?
Powdery mildew and phylloxera.
Who purchased Groot Constantia in 1885?
The state of South Africa
What co-op formed in 1918?
the KWV
What did the Wine and Spirits Control Act accomplish, and when?
- fixed minimum prices, determined production areas and limits.
When did SA drinking habits shift from fortified wine to table wine?
The mid 20th Century
When did Apartheid start?
The late 1940s
When did Apartheid end?
1994
Who and when did the South African wine appellation system start?
2002
Where does South Africa currently rank in production?
9th
When was the Wine of Origin system introduced?
1973
About how many cultivars are approved in South Africa?
75
What is the minimum stated grape percentage?
85
What is the minimum percentage for stated area?
100
What is the descending order or production areas?
Geographical unit, region, district, ward
What appears on all bottles of wine that pass certification?
A WO seal
What is the vineyard size requirement for a “Single Vineyard” Wine?
Less than 6 hectares
What is the IPW?
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, which certifies sustainable wine growers.
What are the 5 large regions of South Africa?
Eastern Cape Western Cape Northern Cape Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo
What is the latitude of the Western Cape?
27-34
What flows from Antarctica and cools the coastal areas?
The Benguela Current
What is the strong Southeasterly Wind?
The Cape Doctor
What is the Cape’s southernmost district?
Cape Agulhas
About how much of vineyards are Chenin Blanc?
20%
What grape is Cape Riesling?
Crouchen Blanc
What is Hanepoot?
Muscat of Alexandria
Who created Pinotage?
Abraham Perold
What is South Africa’s most planted red grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon
What is a teinturier commonly used?
Pontac
How many districts are in the Coastal Region? What are they?
9
Stellenbosch Cape Peninsula Tygerburg Paarl Tulbagh Darling Franschoek Valley Wellington Swartland
Which district was repealed in 2014?
Cape Point
How many estates now occupy the Constantia vineyard?
5
What bay is south of Cape Town?
False Bay
What is Stellenbosch’s nickname?
The Town of oaks
What are Stellenbosch’s most planted varieties?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
Where is home to the KWV?
Paarl
Who is the largest producer in Paarl?
Nederburg
What are the 2 wards in Cape Peninsula?
Constantia
Hout Bay
What are the 2 wards in Tygerburg?
Durbanville
Philadelphia
What are the 2 wards in Paarl?
Simonsberg-Paarl
Voor Paardeberg
What are the 7 wards of Stellenbosch?
Jonkershoek Valley Papegaaiberg Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Bottelary Devon Valley Banghoek Polkadraai Hills
What is the 1 ward of Darling?
Groenekloof
What are the 3 wards of Swartland?
Riebeeksburg
Malmesbury
St Helena Bay
What are the 3 districts of Breede River Valley?
Robertson
Worcester
Breedekloof
What are the 9 wards of Robertson?
Agterkliphoogte Bonnievale Boesmansriver Eilandia Hoopsrivier Klaasvoogds Le Chasseur McGregor Vinkrivier
What are the 3 wards of Worcester?
Nuy
Scherpenheuvel
Hex River Valley
What are the 2 wards of Breedekloof
Goudini
Slanghoek
Swellendam shifted to what region?
Cape South Coast
About how much of the country’s production does Breedekloof and Worcester account for?
20%
What are the 2 districts of Klein Karoo?
Calitzdorp
Langeberg-Garcia
What 5 wards are in Klein Karoo?
Montagu Tradouw Tradouw Highlands Upper Langkloof Outeniqua
What 3 districts are in Olifants River?
Lutzville Valley
Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Valley
What ward is in Lutzville Valley?
Koekenaap
What ward is in Citrusdal Mountain?
Piekenierskloof
What 3 wards are in Olifants River that are not in a district?
Spruitdrift
Vredendal
Bamboes Bay
Where are South Africa’s highest elevation vineyards?
Cederberg
What 6 districts are in the South Coast region?
Overberg Elgin Walker Bay Cape Agulhas Plettenberg Bay Swellendam
What 4 wards are in Overberg?
Klein River
Theewater
Greyton
Elandskloof
What 5 wards are in Walker Bay?
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Sunday's Glen Bot River Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Stanford Foothills
What ward is in Cape Agulhas?
Elim
What 3 wards are in Swellendam?
Buffeljags
Stormsvlei
Malgas
What 3 wards are in the Cape South Region, but are not in a district?
Herbertsdale
Napier
Stilbaai East
Who are considered some top producers in South Africa?
Mullineux Family Klein Constantia Sadie Family MveMve Raats Alheit Vineyards Hamilton Russell Miles Mossop Rustenberg Reyneke Stark-Conde
Describe Mullineux Family
Founded by Chris and Andrea Mullineux, who used to work at Tulbagh Mountain vineyard. True modernist innovators in Swartland, along with Eben Sadie.
Known for:
Straw Wine (Sweet Chenin Blanc Dessert)
Granite Syrah
Schist Syrah (these are from different parcels of land)
Describe Klein Constantia
Part of the original Contsantia estate. Was a derelict estate in 1980, then purchased by Duggie Jooste. Present winemaker is Matthew Day.
Vin de Contance (dessert sweet Muscat - They’ve been using Acacia barrels for this since 2009.)
Perdblokke (Sauvignon Blanc - 1.27 ha single vineyard)
Describe Sadie Family
Swartland winemakers, Eben Sadie. Known for more intellectual wines. Used to be involved in a project in Priorat.
Known for:
Kokerboom (Old Vine Series Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon)
T Voetpad (Semillon Blanc, Semillon Gris, Palomino, Chenin Blanc, Muscat)
Skerpioen (Chenin Blanc, Palomino)
Soldaat (Grenache)
Columella (possibly most famous South Africa wines)
Mvemve Raats
Proprietors Bruwer Raats and Mzokhona Mvemve. Known for elegance and finesse.
MR de Compostella (Primary Cab Franc Bordelaise blend)
Alheit Vineyards
Made by Chris and Suzaan Alheit. Debuted their Chenin Blanc to high praise. Chris has worked in Mosel, St Emilion (Chateau Angelus), Napa.
Known for Cartology Bush Vines (92 Chenin Blanc/8 Semillon)
Hamilton Russell
Walker Bay area winery. Extremely established and well known producer. Known for:
Pinot Noir from Hemel en Aarde Valley
Chardonnay
Miles Mossop
Miles Mossop is the winemaker. Wines are very small in production and named after his children.
Known for:
Kika (Chenin Blanc Dessert)
Max (from Stellenbosch - Cab/Petit Verdot/Merlot)
Saskia (Dry - Chenin Blanc/Viognier/Clairette Blanc)
Rustenberg
Giant in Stellenbosch production. Winemaker is Randolph Christian.
Known for:
John X Merriman (multi-batch in 225-liter French oak)
Peter Barlow (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Five Soldiers (Chardonnay, 70% new oak)
Reyneke
In Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch. Winemaker is Rudiger Gretschel. Country’s only certified biodynamic producer.
Known for: Capstone (Cab/Shiraz/Merlot) Reserve Red (Syrah/Cab) Syrah Reserve White (Sauvignon Blanc) Chenin Blanc (put in old oak, dry)
Stark-Conde
In Jonkershoek Valley just east of the city of Stellenbosch. Winemaker is Jose Conde. Extremely hands on.
Known for:
Three Pines (Syrah)
Syrah
Pepin Conde Rowery Vineyards Pinot Noir
2013 Vintage:
enjoyed a wet winter and warm summer. Humidity threatened rot during the harvest, but producers with the strongest nerve successfully waited for dryer conditions. Reds are particularly promising.
2012 Vintage:
produced below average yields, but good quality fruit thanks to a dry, easy harvest period.
2011 Vintage:
brought drought, resulting in reduced yields and particular concentration in reds. Not an auspicious vintage.
2010 Vintage:
was cool and dry in spring until a very wet November. December was dry again, and warm too, allowing for good late ripening. Mildew was a problem in many areas, so quality is variable.
2009 Vintage:
met with universal acclaim across all varieties.
2008 Vintage:
created lighter than average wines, thanks to an especially cool growing season. Not an easy vintage, but the slow ripening process led to elegant examples from the best producers.
2007 Vintage:
was ripe and rich, favouring Rhône varieties in particular.
2006 Vintage:
started coolly, meaning small berries with thick skins that led to great concentration. A strong vintage.
2005 Vintage:
was undistinguished, with reds slightly more favoured than whites.
2004 Vintage:
enjoyed cooler conditions than the norm, making for more restrained styles in both reds and whites.
2003 Vintage:
had temperatures several degrees below the average, with the best results coming from the earlier ripening varieties.
2002 Vintage:
brought rain in abundance, leading to plentiful rot. Not a good vintage.
2001 Vintage:
continued the run of hot vintages, and produced a very small harvest of concentrated reds. Tannins were generally softer than in 2000.
2000 Vintage:
was the third hot year in a row. Whites were unimpressive, but reds were powerful and concentrated, with high tannic structure.
What separates the coast from the high inland plateau?
The Great Escarpment
What desert is in the north of South Africa?
the Kalahari
What kind of mountains are the cape ranges?
Fold Mountains, formed by the folding of the continental shelf.
What are the two major rivers of South Africa?
Limpopo (on and near the border of Zimbabwe)
Orange (some Northern Cape wine regions are on this river)
