South Africa Flashcards
What are the major challenges to South African wine production?
water shortages,
virus problems such as leafroll,
poor clonal and rootstock material
What is the vector for leaf roll virus?
mealy bugs
causes green-ness in wines, lower yields
Who proved it is possible to eradicate leaf roll using systemic insecticides and uprooting / replanting ?
Vergelegen
When was the first crush in South Africa and who commissioned it?
1659
Jan Van Riebeek - Dutch East India Company
Who developed the Constantia vineyard as the governor?
Simon van der Stel - 1691
When did the French come to South Africa and where did they settle?
1680s the Huguenots came to settle in Franschoek (between Stellenbosch and Paarl)
British took over control of the Cape from the Dutch in what year?
1814
in 1902 the British defeated the Dutch in the Boer War to unify the colonies to one nation
When did South Africa become a democracy?
1994
True or False : Up to the mid-90s, 80% of the vines planted in SA were white grape varieties
TRUE!
When did the WO system debut?
1972
administered by the Wine & Spirit Board
guarantees vintage, varietal, origin
1973 - UK enters the EEC
When was the debut of the IPW (Integrated Production of Wine Scheme)
1998
administered by the Wine & Spirit Board - seal for sustainability and integrity (97% of wineries are sealed)
What is the BWI
Biodiversity & Wine Initiative est. in 2004
housed within the World WIldlife Fund - conservation and preservation of natural habitat over 130,000 ha (1.3 ha for every ha of vineyard land)F
What was the effect of the KWV?
Overproduction (set minimum prices, vineyard quotas) and stagnation of the wine industry,
no new vineyards being developed, no advances in technology or quality
Who are some producers that rebelled against the strict laws of the KWV?
Timothy Hamilton Russell planted pinot in Hemel en Aarde where there were no vineyard quotas,
Danie De Wet and Peter Finlayson imported illegal vine cuttings of chardonnay (and accidentally auxerrois which incriminated them)
What is the Platter’s Guide?
A critical review established in 1980
What is the Cape Winemaker’s Guild?
A grower’s association formed in 1982
What is the geology of South Africa?
generally uniform - granite capped by sandstone;
quartz, shale, and slate scattered throughout
Shale and Sandstone viticulture
low-vigor soils - helps ward off virus - more clay helps water retention
What is the Cape Doctor?
A fierce southeaster that generally alleviates disease pressure - blows from spring to late summer
What is the effect of the Benguela Current?
It is a cooling, humid current that swirls up from Antarctica - tempering the Mediterranean climate and slowing the growing season
What are the levels of the Origin hierarchy from general to most specific?
Geographical Unit,
Region,
District,
Ward
What are the most important Regions in SA for fine wine production?
(Western Cape) Coastal Region, Cape South Coast
Fruit from the Coastal Region and Cape South Coast can be designated under the WO ____
Cape Coastal
What is the first ‘subregion’ WO? (new category)
Cape West Coast - encompasses coastal districts, wards, and the western half of Swartland
What is Nederberg Edelkeur?
First intentional botrytis style wine in SA 1969 made in Paarl
later sold through the Nederburg fine wine auction (1975 first year)
What is the style of wines from Paarl?
ripe and tropical
What is the defining geological feature of Paarl?
Paarl Rock to the west,
Boland Mountains to the east
Where is the Groenekloof Ward?
Swartland > Darling > Groenekloof
(region) (district) (ward)
(Neil Ellis SB) - North up the coast from Cape Town
100% percent of the wine in the bottle must come from the WO - T/F
True!
Vintage / Varietal Rules
85% for both
Wines must pass rigorous taste analysis to receive WO designation
True!
Natural wines were not admitted until several producers lobbied that their consumers wanted this type of wine
Single vineyard rules
Must not exceed 6ha - must be planted to same grape and contiguous
Estate Wines in South Africa
contiguous parcels of less than 6ha
must be vinified on property
Cap Classique must spend how much time on the lees?
legally 9 months - 12 months for producer association (Simonsig was the seminal producer)
Who are some top producers of Pinotage?
Kanonkop, Simonsig, Chamonix, DeMorgenzon, Delaire Graf, Reyneke (biodynamic), Fairview, Meerlust
What is the name of the Vin de Liquer made from Hanepoot?
Jerepigo
The main grape in a Cape Blend is …
Pinotage
What are the best known wards of Walker Bay?
Hemel en Aarde Valley,
Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley,
Hemel en Aarde Ridge,
Bot River
Springfontein Rim
Stanford Foothills
Sunday’s Glen
What are some key producers of Bordeaux Blends in Stellenbosch?
Kanonkop, Rustenberg, Warwick, Meerlust, Neil Ellis
Who are the pioneers of Swartland - starting the Swartland Independent Producers?
SIP RULES
ambient yeast no acidification no concentration min. 90% approved varieties 25% maximum European oak Burgundy bottle vinified, matured, bottled in Swartland must bottle 80% of production under estate label
Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Mullineux family
build a regional identity and minimal adjustments in the cellar
Must be VINIFIED IN SWARTLAND (ruling out larger producers like Anthonij Rupert and Boekenhoutskloof)
Low intervention producers in South Africa
Thorne Daughters
The Vineyard Party
Key producers of Stellenbosch
Kanonkop, Morgenhof, Neil Ellis, Delaire Graff. Raats, MR de Compostela, Keermont, De Morgenzon, Rust en Vrede, Vergelegen, Thelema Mountain
The ____ mountain separates Stellenbosch from Paarl
Simonsberg
The ____ mountain range separates Stellenbosch from Walker Bay
Hottentot Hollands
What river flows through Stellenbosch?
The Eerste River
What are the wards of Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Banghoek, Bottelary, Polkedraai Hills, Jonkershoek, Devon Valley, Papegaaiberg, Vlottenberg (2020)
What is the Climate of Stellenbosch?
slightly warmer summers than Bordeaux
rainfall concentrated in winter
Stellenbosch opens to ___ Bay to the South
False Bay
was confused with Table Bay to the North by early sailors
Notable Pinot Noir from Stellenbosch?
from Paarl?
L’Avenir
Glen Carlou
What river flows through Paarl?
Berg River
The Simonsberg Mountain to the South and the ____ to the West are the major geological features of Paarl
Paarl Rock (vineyards on lower slopes),
and northern slopes of Simonsberg
Best source of old-vine chenin in Paarl?
Voor-Paardeberg ward on Paardeberg Mountain to the North
What are the Wards of Paarl?
Simonsberg-Paarl,
Voor Paardeberg,
Agter Paarl
Key producers of Paarl
Backsberg, Vilafonte (Letters Series), Fairview, KWV = Nederberg, Glen Carlou, Joostenberg
Where is Franschoek located?
between Stellenbosch and Paarl, and Overberg to the Southeast
(cooler than Paarl, warmer than Stellenbosch)
What is the specialty of Franschoek?
old-vine Semillon
Cap Classique
Bold Reds
Franschoek has no wards T or F
True!
Franschoek is bordered by the ___ mountains in the North and the ___ mountains in the South
Wemmershoek - separates from Breede River Valley,
the Drakenstein/Franschoek mountains
Key producers of Franschoek
Boekenhootskloof, Anthonij Rupert, Alheit (La Colline semillon), Le Lude, Chamonix
What are the wards of Cape Town district?
Constantia,
Durbanville,
Hout Bay,
Philadelphia
What is the specialty of Cape Town?
Sauvignon blanc (Klein Constantia), and muscat-sweet wines
specialty of Hout Bay?
Sparklers
specialty of Durbanville?
Sauvignon blanc
Top SA sauvignon blanc producers
Lomond Pincushion
Who makes ‘Vin de Constance’?
Klein Constantia
naturally sweet muscat
picked in tries
aged 3 years in oak
Who makes ‘Grand Constance’?
Groot Constantia
Where is the Robertson district located?
Breede River Valley
along with Worcester and Breedekloof
What is particular about the soils of Robertson?
Pockets of limestone - ideal for chardonnay and MCC
Boberg WO? (rarely used)
Used for fortified wine from
Franschoek,
Paarl,
Wellington,
Tulbagh
What is the climate of Robertson?
Quite warm - mainly bulk, irrigated vineyards
Key producer of Robertson
De Wetshof (single vyd chards),
Graham Beck (MCC)
What is ‘Koffieklip’?
Shales cemented by iron-oxide
found in Cape Agulhas (Cape South Coast)
What is the ward of Cape Agulhas?
Elim (SB and Semillon)
Key producers of Elim?
Strandveld,
Ghost Corner,
Trizanne,
Black Oystercatcher
What grape performs well in Elgin?
Sauvignon blanc
Outstanding producer in Elgin?
Richard Kershaw (PN, CH)
Iona (SB)
Paul Cluver
Climate of Elgin?
Gateway to Cape South Coast
colder and wetter
apple orchards
What separates Stellenbosch from Elgin?
Hottentot Hollands Mountains
Specialty of Klein Karoo?
Jerepigo,
Muscadel
fortified and dessert styles
Karoo red shale, fertile alluvlal soils
T or F : Franschoek and Wellington were formerly part of Paarl
TRUE
Where is the Greyton ward located?
Overberg district (Lismore Estate)
Other key producers in Overberg?
Raka - red blends and shiraz
Where is the Malgas ward located?
Swellendam district
Sjinn Estate - pudding stones, GSM blends
Key producer of Bot River (ward in Walker Bay)
Beaumont - chenin cures
Where is the Tulbagh district?
Inland (east) of Swartland
it is an elevated, horse shoe valley that traps cold air
Key producer of Tulbagh
Fable Mountain shiraz,
Rijk’s Reserve (chenin, pinotage)
Where are Citrusdale Mountain and Valley districts?
Olifants River
Where is Lutzville Valley district?
on the Olifants River
but considered a Coastal Region District
Quality producer in Lutzville?
Cape Rock - Vredendal
What is a key producer in Olifants?
Namaqua at Vredendal (colombard and chenin) - 5,000ha under vine
What ward in Olifants River is on the west coast?
Bamboes Bay
known for SB
What is the famous ward of Citrusdale Mountain?
Piekenierskloof
grenache and chenin grown near rooibos tea bushes
Orphan ward east of Olifants River
(Citrusdale Valley district)?
Cederberg - high altitude
Key producers of Cape Port (Calitzdorp in Klein Karoo region)
Boplaas, Die Kraans, Axe Hill, Joubert-Tradauw, KWV
Orphan ward on the Atlantic between Oliphants River and Swartsland?
Lamberts Bay - SB
Cape Ruby aging
6 months - 3 years
Cape LBV
3 years min.
Cape Vintage
1 year min.
Cape Dated Tawny (Colheita)
6 year min.
Key MCC producers
Graham Beck, Simonsig, Colmant (Franschoek), Le Lude (Franshoek), Charles Fox, Waterkloof, Cederberg
‘Fynbos’
Garrigue of SA
Cinsaut was historically called
hermitage
Old Vine Heritage Vineyard Seal min. vine age
35 years
Which clone of pinot noir had a historical monopoly in SA?
BK 5 - comes from switzerland for sparkling wines
MCC producer that is based in Robertson?
Graham Beck
2 wards without a district on the coast
Lamberts Bay, Bamboes Bay
Last vintage where term ‘port’ was allowed on a label
2012
kuipe ?
open top vessels used by the CAPPA
what is amarula?
made from the ‘elephant fruit’
Columella
Sadie
SYRAH / MOURVEDRE
Swartland
2000 inaugural vintage
FMC
Ken Forrester
steen
Fucking Magical Chenin
Vanderhume’s primary flavor
tangerine
Who makes Vanderhume?
KWV
what is ‘pontac’?
now extinct teinturier grape variety
First producer to revive ‘Vin de Constance’
Klein Constantia 1986
Groot Constantia Constantia Uitsig Buitenwerwachtung Steenberg Cape Point
Who produced ‘Vin de Constance’ at Klein Constantia in 1778?
Hendrik Cloete - unfortified dessert wine prized by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Napoleon
First botrytis dessert wine produced in SA
Nederberg Edelkeur
1969 (Gunter Brozel)
First MCC
Simonsig
First released 1971 (68 vintage)
‘White Rust’
powdery mildew
Greatest recent vintage for the Western Cape?
2015
2009
2005
2003
Cap Classique grapes
no restrictions!
“green grape”
semillon
Requirements to be in SIP
no acidification no innoculation 25% maximum new oak must be European oak 100% of the must coming from Swartland Burgundy shape bottle no reverse osmosis, grapes - rhone varieties plus palomino + chenin
What are the Wards of Swartland?
Malmesbury, Paardeberg, Paardeberg South, Riebeekberg, Riebeeksrivier, St. Helena Bay
What does the name ‘Swartland’ come from?
“Swart” Renosterbos (rhinoceros bush) ground cover - turns black when it rains
Who is the old vine guru of Swartland?
Rosa Kruger Old Vine Project Certified Heritage Seal preserving 35+ year old vineyards seal usually lists the original planting date of a vineyard
Most planted grapes of Swartland?
Chenin and Shiraz
Soil type of Swartland?
Malmesbury shale with pockets of granite
well draining with enough water for dry farming
What is the KWV - where/when was it established
1918 - post WW depression
What is Coffee pinotage?
Demers Fontaine
Wellington
roasty, toasty flavors from the oak
max RS for a dry wine in SA
5 g/L
Districts of the Coastal Region
Cape Town, Darling, Swartland, Lutzville Valley, Tulbagh, Wellington, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschoek
The Darling district is known for
cool climate sauvignon blanc and shiraz
west of Swartland, Atlantic influences
Districts of Breede River Valley
Breedekloof
Worcester
Robertson
Districts of the Cape South Coast
Elgin Overberg Walker Bay Cape Agulhas Swellendam Duivenhook’s River Plettenberg Bay
Newest ward in Walker Bay
Spring Fontaine Rim
Orphan wards in the Cape South Coast
Herbertsdale,
Napier (Jean Daneel Chenin)
Stilbaai East
Key producers of Walker Bay (Hemel en Aarde)?
Hamilton Russell,
Bouchard Finlayson,
Restless River - gross lees management to achieve richness and reduction,
Newton Johnson
Which area in the Cape has the highest average price per bottle?
Walker Bay
Who produces Hannibal
PN from Bouchard Finlayson
Last vintage of Tygerberg
2016 - then retired
common vine training system in Swartland
hedgerow
Port Capital of SA
Calitzdorp in Klein Karoo
first producer to bottle and release pinotage
Lanzerac - 1961
longest river affecting a wine region in South Africa
Orange River - Northerly boundary of South Africa
Minimum RS for a ‘naturally sweet’ wine in SA
20 g/L
What region is responsible for 1/4 of SA wine output?
Breede River Valley (highest in the country - much of it is made into brandy)
Dr. Abraham Perold
1925 - Cinsaut and Pinot Noir
Amarula Liqueur?
Cream Liqueur of Amarula Fruit
Pofadder
Sadie
CINSAUT syrah
Swartland
Radio Lazarus
Alheit
85 yr Chenin
Stellenbosch (Alheit based in Hermanus)
Paul Sauer
Kanonkop
LB BDX
Stellenbosch
‘Cuvee Clive’
Graham Beck
100% CH
5 years sur lie
‘Trilogy’
Warwick
‘Cartology’
Alheit (Western Cape WO)
Who produces Hope Marguerite?
Beaumont
Chenin Blanc
Bot River
Rubicon
Meerlust (Stellenbosch)
first cabernet blend of the cape in 1980
Palladius
Sadie
chenin + others (9 variety blend)
Rothschild venture in South Africa?
Rupert & Rothschild in Franschoek
What is ‘Constantiaberg’?
Eastern flank of Table Mountain
amphitheater opens to False Bay
cool and humid but dried by the Cape Doctor
Stellenbosch is hemmed in by which mountain ranges?
Simonsberg to the North
Paarl, Hottentot Hollands to the East
Walker Bay, Helderberg to the South
What are the soils of Walker Bay?
Bokkeveld shale,
Table Mountain sandstone - high levels of clay (esp. in Hemel en Aarde)
Swartland’s main agricultural crop historically
Wheat
What are the FIVE REGIONS
of the WESTERN CAPE geographical unit?
Breede River Valley
Cape South Coast
Coastal Region
Klein Karoo
Olifants River
What district has 85% of SA vine material?
Wellington
Piekenerskloof is a ward in what district ?
Citrusdale mountain (Olifants River) - known for Grenache
