Key Regions + Characteristics

Question 1

Coastal Region

1. Heartland of fine w prod
2. climate infl by sea, good for SBlanc
3. Key districts + wards
4. Con Ward
5. Tyger District
6. St Dist
7. Paarl Dist
8. Tulbagh D

Answer 1

Coastal region

1. Heartland of fine wine production
2. Climate influenced by the sea -> ideal for Sauvignon blanc
3. Key districts & wards:
4. Constantia ward
5. Tygerberg district
6. Stellenbosch district – 17,000ha
7. Paarl district – 16,000ha
   
   1. Franschhoek (‘French corner’) valley ward
8. Tulbagh district

Answer 2

Constantia ward

1. Standalone historic ward (not part of district) located on the Cape of Good Hope; south of Cape Town
2. Surrounded by Atlantic ocean that cools down temperature to 19C during growing season. 1,000mm rainfall concentrated in the winter (no irrigation necessary)
3. Vineyards on east-facing slopes of Constantia berg
4. Sandstone soils w high concentration of loam and granite
5. Dessert wine produced from Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains since 17th (though stopped by phylloxera in late 19th) by Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia.
6. Also some noteworthy dry whites from Chardonnay & Sauv Blc and reds from Cabernet, Merlot & Shiraz

Answer 3

Tygerberg district

1. Rolling hills 10kms from Cape Town; growing reputation for quality wine
2. Ideal conditions for Sauvignon blanc
3. Durbanville ward: outstanding ward w cooler climate (cooling sea breeze, night-time mists) and deep soils; one of the oldest wine producing areas. Top whites (SB/Ch.) & reds (Pinotage, Merlot, CS) from producers like Bloemendal.

Answer 4

Stellenbosch district – 17,000ha

1. Located directly south east of Durbanville, only 40kms from Cape Town, from the coast inland
2. Ancient wine region (since 17th) now heart of quality wine production; ‘town of oaks’
3. Warm, Mediterranean climate w good rainfall (-> no irrigation necessary)
4. Mountainous terrain w granite and sandstone soils. Some vineyards up 600m.
5. Red varieties i.e. Bordeaux varieties, Shiraz and Pinotage dominate with 63% of plantings
6. White varieties include mostly Sauvignon blanc and some Chenin blanc, Chardonnay & Riesling
7. Largest district in terms of area under vine but only 5th in production (-> lower yields).
8. 150 wine estates and producers including Ken Forrester, Raats family, Rustenberg.
9. Home to Stellenbosch University & the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture & Oenology with one of the most modern experimental winery & research centre on new varietals, clones & rootstocks.

Answer 5

Paarl district – 16,000ha

1. North of Stellenbosch; 60km away from Cape Town; 2nd largest district under vine
2. Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (+2C vs. Stellenbosch) and damp winters. Almost no maritime influence.
3. Various soils including sand & granite in the higher locations
4. Shiraz, Bdx varieties and Pinotage dominate the reds; whites are mainly Chenin blanc and Chardonnay
5. Used to be the centre of the South African industry in the 1980s (now shifted to Stellenbosch)
6. Key producers include KWV, Nederburg (historic, large estate, auction every spring), Charles Back’s
7. innovative Fairview (1.5m btls) and Seidelberg.
8. Franschhoek (‘French corner’) valley ward is made of narrow valleys encircled by high mountains and producers like the historic Boschendal (founded in 17th; 3m btls) produce a vast variety of wines from different geography and climate.

Answer 6

Tulbagh district

1. Small area north of Paarl, bordering with Swartland district and surrounded by mountains
2. Hot climate with varying topography. Low pH granit soils on slopes; deep sand and stone on clay on riverbank. Known for Sherries for showing promise for Shiraz and Rieslings.

Answer 7

Cape south coast

South-eastern continuation of the Coastal region.

6 districts with key districts:

1. Overberg district
2. Walker bay district (formerly ward)
3. Elgin

Answer 8

Cape south coast

South-eastern continuation of the Coastal region.

6 districts with key districts:

Overberg district

1. District east of Cape Town and directly east of Stellenbosch; up and coming region
2. Cool climate with increasing plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Walker bay district (formerly ward)

1. Vineyards set up by Tim Hamilton Russell in the 1970s in the Hemel-en-Aarde ward (‘Heaven on earth’)
2. One of the coolest regions in South Africa Most vineyards on slate soils at 300-600m altitude.
3. Reputed for Chardonnay & Pinot Noir in South Africa. Also top Pinotage, Sauv Blc, Merlot & Shiraz
4. Key producers: Bouchard-Finlayson (Galpin peak Pinot noir), Newton Johnson (Chardonnay), Hamilton Russell

Elgin

1. 1h east of Cape Town; cooler region next to Walker bay.
2. Top Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauv blc, Pinot Noir & Shiraz. Key producer: Thandi (reds & whites)

Answer 9

Breede River Valley Region

1. Inland region from north-east of Paarl down to Indian ocean
2. Largest wine region with more than 1/3 of the country’s vineyards and 40% of production
3. 3 districts: Breedekloof, Robertson and Worcester.

• Robertson district – 14,000ha
• Worcester & Breedekloof district – 21,000ha

Answer 10

Robertson District

1. Inland, sandwiched between Worcester and Breedlekoof; north of Overberg.
2. Hot climate slightly tempered from clouds coming from the sea and river for water irrigation.
3. Mainly lime soils, ideal for more depth and finesse in whites (including Chardonnay)
4. Whites presented 70% of production i.e. Colombard, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay & Sauvignon blanc - Red varieties include Cab Sauv, Shiraz and Ruby Cabernet

Answer 11

Worcester & Breedekloof district – 21,000ha

1. Directly north-east of Paarl; hot dry area that requires irrigation.
2. 70% whites with Chenin blanc and Colombard representing more than 1/3 of all production. - Reds are mainly Cabernet (Robertson) and Cinsault (Breedekloof).
3. Many wines custom-made for exports to UK supermarkets

Answer 13

3 main types of producers:

1. Co-operatives: produce & market wine or sell wine in bulk to merchants. About 80% of total harvest.
2. Estate wineries: only from own grapes and vinification to take place on own premises.
3. Wholesale merchants: buy in grapes and bulk wine to sell it under their own label. Might also vinify their vineyards’ grapes. Act as distributors for many estates.

Answer 14

8.3m hl of wine produced; 7th largest producer in the world

Exports:

1. 400m litres of wine mainly to the UK (22%) and Germany (20%)
2. Local consumption is relatively low with a 1/3 of the annual production consumed domestically

Key producers:

1. KWV
   
   1. Founded in 1918 as a state cooperative; combined the role of producer, marketing body & statutory government control board. Subsidies not open to non-white vine growers before the end of the Apartheid
   2. Body remained but changed status to private company in mid 90s, after a lump sum payment by the KWV to redress inequalities of the past.
   3. The KWV produces a wide range of wines and port/sherry styled fortified wines
2. Buitenverwachtung - Constantia
   
   1. • Maack family estate of 120ha that produces 1.1m btls/yr with top whites and more recently reds.
3. Beyerskloof - Stellenbosch
   
   1. • 1.2m btls. Winemaker of the year in 91. Mature reds including excellent Cape blend.
4. Nederburg – Paarl
   
   1. Old established property with a total of 550ha founded by Johan Georg Graue
5. Fairview – Paarl
   
   1. Run by pioneer Charles Back; Rhone-influenced w first quality Viognier produced in South Africa; - Wide range (distributed by Laithwaites in the UK amongst others)
6. Boschendal - Franschhoek
   
   1. Historic estate with great reds & whites. 3m btls/yr.