S. Africa

Question 1

What are the top white grapes of South Africa?

Answer 1

• Chenin Blanc (called Steen)
• Muscat

Question 2

Describe Paarl

Answer 2

• Wine growing co-op dominates (KWV)
• Medium-quality table wines
• Fortified wines
• Small wine estates - quality wine (Shiraz + Pinotage)

Question 3

Describe Constantia

Answer 3

• Home of Constantia - dessert wine made with Muscat

Question 4

What are the top red grapes of South Africa?

Answer 4

• Pinotage Shiraz
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 5

Describe South Africa’s wine laws

Answer 5

• Wine of Origen (WO) system:
  
  • Geographical Units
  • Regions
  • Districts
  • Wards

Question 6

South Africa’s wine history after phylloxera

Answer 6

• Massive Co-ops to help sell the wine
• Result: mass produced wine
• Apartheid - legal racial segregation
• Trade embargoes
• 1990s fall of Apartheid
• 1990s new wine laws
• Wine industry reborn
  
  • Terrific value

Question 7

Describe Stellenbosch

Answer 7

• Center of the Coastal Region (most important region)
• Pinotage developed here at university
• Red wine region (Cabernet Sauv. and Cab. based Bordeaux blends + Pinotage)

Question 8

Describe Chenin Blanc from South Africa

Answer 8

• AKA Steen
• 50% of white wine production
• simple and dry

Question 9

If a recognized wine region is listed on a bottle of S. African wine, then at least _____ of the grapes used to produce the wine must have been grown in that region.

Answer 9

100%

Question 10

If a wine from South Africa lists a grape variety on its label, then at least _____ of the grapes used to produce that wine must be the listed grape varietal.

Answer 10

85%

Question 11

Which wine made S. Africa famous?

Answer 11

• late 1600s
• Dutch colony
• Muscat-based wine called Constantia
• Napoleon and Frederik the Great loved it
• Phylloxera ended this era in the late 1800s
• Wine industry never the same

Question 12

Describe the terroir of South Africa’s wine regions

Answer 12

• Fan out from Cape Town
• Can grow wine b/c of elevation and ocean
• Is where Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet

Question 13

What are the top regions of South Africa?

Answer 13

• Stellenbosch
• Paarl
• Constantia

Question 14

Describe Pinotage from South Africa

Answer 14

• Genetic Cross (Pinot Noir/CInsault)
• PInot Noir that can live in hot climate
• Light Body
• Soft Tannins
• Red Fruits
• Is blended in Cape Blend (30%)