South Africa Flashcards
KWV
- year est + purpose
- important years
- how it damaged the industry
Est 1918, became a mutual coop society in 1923
*PURPOSE: oversee contracts between coops and growers
*established min. mandatory price for grapes
*required a govt issued quota to operate
1992: abolished quotas
1994: abolished mandatory pricing
1997: went private
Cons: overproduction + overcropping, no research/development - SA fell behind the rest of the wine world, no new wine regions and few new producers, lack of quality plant material
South Africa climate
Mediterranean - long dry summers and rain in the winter
*Benguela current
*Cape Doctor- dry SEerly..spring/summer wind (disrupts flowering, helps disease)
South Africa soils - main themes
Quartz everywhere, pockets of slate and shale in places
Relatively simple and very old
*geologically stable for awhile - no glaciers, no volcanic activity, few earthquakes
*mountains/most bedrock = granite capped with sandstone
What year did South Africa’s Wine of Origin scheme debut?
1973
(introduced to complement EU wine law and ease trade. Despite sanctions, Britain was a top market so when they were heading into he EEC.. South Africa got ahead of compliance)
Old Vine Project (OVP)
Rosa Kruger is the hero
*started in 2002, launched in 2014, formalized in 2016. In response to ripping up of heritage vineyards/varieties
*Certified Heritage Seal - avg 35+ year old vines. The seal MUST be used with the planting date of the vineyard
Stellenbosch has the most old plantings. Chenin Blanc is over 1/2 of 35+ yr old vines… Sauv Blanc comes in #2
SAWIS
South African Wine Industry Information System
*spinoff of the KWV’s accounting system. Regulatory and statutory oversight
South Africa Wine of Origin System: structure, percentage rules, blends?
Est 1973. Districts and regions first, wards in 1994, single vineyard in 2004
*85% for variety and vintage, strict 100% for origin
*Blends: IF listing varieties, must be in order of dominance and all must be listed EXCEPT if 2 grapes make up 85%+.
(ex: 60% Sauv, 20% Sem, 10% Mus = Sauv/Sem)
IPW
Integrated Production of Wine scheme, est. 1998
- A voluntary certification for wineries wishing to comply with some sustainable standards. Points are scored based on ag, manufacturing and packaging practices.
- with a min. 60% score, wineries can use the logo that joins with the WO sticker
Wine Spirits Board administers WO, Certified Brandy, and this
Semillon’s historic South African name?
Greengrape
What is the name of South Africa’s most important wine review publication? When did it launch?
Platter’s South African Wine Guide
1980
Cape Winemaker’s Guild
invitation-only group for winemakers founded by Billy Hofmayr
*has internship/protege programs and an annual “Beaune-like” auction yearly
*aim is to “promote winemaking excellence”
MCC
- lees aging
- varieties, styles
- producers
Methode Cap Classique
Association est 1992 - owns trademark to MCC but you don’t have to be a member to use it
- secondary fermentation must occur in bottle; wine must be sold in that bottle
- min 12 months on lees * *
- Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
- any region, any variety
Graham Beck, Charles Fox, Le Lude
- 12m for Cap Classique Producers Assoc. - but still 9m by SA Wine law?
1st South African sparkling wine
1971; Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel
*winemaker Frans Malan visits Champagne in 1968; comes back - builds his own riddling racks and everything, produces the country’s 1st sparkling wine from Chenin Blanc.. called Kaapse Vonkel (“Cape Sparkle”), released in 1973
Hanepoot
South African name for Muscat of Alexandria
South African Muscadel
Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains
Jerepigo
South African Vin de Liqueur/Mistelle; can be made from any grape, usually around or more than 160g/l RS
Name 3 factors contributing to the off flavors/aromas in Pinotage.
- heat/water stress induces isoamyl acetate aka paint thinner aroma
- viral disease: thought to be related to the burnt rubber smell
- high cropping: encourages bloody/herbal aromas
- high extraction: unpleasant tannin
- tendency towards high pH = more microbial spoilage
Pinotage
Pinot Noir x Cinsaut
Dr. Abraham Izak Perold
1924 at the University of Stellenbosch
What is Coffee Pinotage?
a unique style of Pinotage with coffee aromas coming from furfurylthiol, a compound formed by furfural released by toasted staves during fermentation
1st South African Syrah?
Groot Constantia; 1890’s
Western Cape’s 5 regions?
1) Klein Karoo
2) Breede River Valley
3) Olifants River
4) Cape South Coast
5) Coastal Region
Samantha O’Keefe
Lismore Estate
* Greyton Ward, Overberg District, Cape South Coast
* known for Chard, SB and Shiraz
2 wards created for single producers
1) Greyton Ward for Lismore Estate (Overberg District)
2) Malgas Ward for Sijnn (Swellendam District)
Breede River Valley mountains
South: Riversonderend Mountains
West: Boland Mountains (Paarl, Stellenbosch)
North: Langeberg (separate it from Klein Karoo semi-desert)
(mountains define the climate here)
[Western Cape REGION]
Breede River Valley Districts
Breedekloof
Worcester
Robertson
[Western Cape]
Kloof
Valley/canyon
Breedekloof
- where
- most important ward
- grower organization
- top 3 varieties
- top boutique producer
DISTRICT of Breede River Valley
*Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Sauv Blanc top 3 (relic of history of brandy production)
*Slanghoek = important ward
*Breedekloof Makers = small band of boutique producers
*Olifantsberg = Rhone varieties
Robertson
- top variety
- climate
- soils
DISTRICT in Breede River Valley
*25% of Chard here
*cool climate: opens up to coastal Malgas and all that ocean air
*LIMESTONE - rare for South Africa
*important place for MCC. Graham Beck is here
Worcester
DISTRICT of the Breede River Valley
*largest but least planted
*hottest driest
*bulk and Jerepigo
Cape South Coast DISTRICTS (7)
Elgin
Agulhas
Overberg
Plettenberg Bay
Swellendam
Walker Bay
Lower Duivenhoeks River
Cape Agulhas
- where
- most important ward
- most important grape
DISTRICT in Cape South Coast
*most southerly vineyards on the continent. Plantings concentrated in the Elim Ward
*Windy, cool. Sauv Blanc dominates
Elim
- where
- most important grapes
WARD in Cape Agulhas (Cape South Coast)
* Sauvignon Blanc #1, Shiraz, Semillon
* very windy, humid, ocean-influenced
historically important for… communion wine
Elgin
- location
- top variety
- top producer
DISTRICT of Cape South Coast region
*promoted ward, formerly Overberg District
* cool. Rainy growing season - ~40 in/yr
*300 - 500M
*Chardonnay #1; Paul Cluver
Orchard fruit territory - produces 80% of country’s apples/pears
Overberg
- mountain range
- location
DISTRICT of Cape South Coast
*“over the berg” = Hottentot-Holland Mtns to Stellenbosch
*cold, wet, windy
*Elgin/Walker Bay = former wards
* Syrah, PN, SB, Chard
Crystallum
Bouchard Finlayson (Crocodile’s Lair Chard)
Anthonij Rupert
Swellendam
- location
- most important ward
- most important producer
DISTRICT in Cape South Coast
* located in the larger Breede River Valley, sits on a stony plateau above the Breede River
* rocky soils, warm, dry (11in), Mediterranean climate = very Rhône friendly
* Malgas Ward: drawn for a single producer, Sijne (“sane”)
Walker Bay
- location
- most important city
- climate
- soils
DISTRICT of Cape South Coast. Chardonnay/ Pinot
* city of Hermanus
* CLIMATE: maritime. Benguela Current/cold breezes from SE. Atlantic Ocean/Walker Bay, Bot River
SOILS: Bokkevold (weathered) shales, Table Mountain sandstone, clay
Hamilton Russell, Bouchard-Finlayson, Gabrielskloof, Beaumont
Walker Bay wards
Bot River
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Sunday’s Glen
Springfontein Rim
Stanford Foothills
Bot River
- location
- top varieties
- 2 most important producers
- mountains
WARD within Walker Bay District (in Cape South Coast region)
* Chenin Blanc, Sauv Blanc, Pinotage, Shiraz -
* Gabrielskloof, Beaumont = most important wineries
* cool climate - Walker Bay, Bot River Lagoon influence. Enclosed by Babylonstoren and Groenlandberg Mountains
* SOILS: Bokkeveld Shale, Table Mountain Sandstone
Fynbos characterizes this region - looks like the Languedoc. Herbally wines.
Hemel-en-Aarde
- 3 Wards
- valley orientation
- climate
WARD(s) in Walker Bay district in Cape South Coast region. E-W Valley orientation.
* HeAV Valley (2006; closest to the sea - ripens latest)
* HeA Upper Valley (2006)
* HeA Ridge (2009)
* Cool maritime climate. Benguela current, cold air trapped by surrounding mountains. Vyds up to 350M
Hemel-en-Aarde soils
Bokkevold Shale, Table Mountain sandstone, heavy clay content
* more weathered granite in Upper Valley
Hemel-en-Aarde’s hero
Hamilton Russel - their Pinot Noir was instrumental in getting the KMV to relax the quota system in 1992
Hemel-en-Aarde mountains/river
Onrust River
Babylonstoren Mountains
Kleinrivier Mountains
** east-west valley
Coastal Region Districts (9)
REGION in Western Cape
1. Cape Town
2. Darling
3. Franschoek/Valley
4. Lutzville
5. Paarl
6. Stellenbosch
7. Swartland
8. Tulbagh
9. Wellington
Cape Town
- location/former names
- wards (4)
DISTRICT within Coastal Region
(formerly Tygerberg, Cape Peninsula, 2017)
WARDS:
- Constantia
- Durbanville
- Hout Bay
- Philadelphia
Constantia
- location
- soils
- grapes
WARD in Cape Town District (Coastal Region)
* CLIMATE: chilly ocean air from 3 sides + Cape Doctor. Heavy rain.
* SOILS: clay based with granite-based sand (upper) and sandstone (lower)
* Muscat-based desert wines, Sauvignon Blanc, BDX blends
Constantia (farm)
- year founded
- famous wine
est 1685 - 1st commercial wine endeavor in South Africa
* Simon Van der Stel
* Vin de Constance: “governor’s wine”. Late-harvest style, historically NO botrytis. Muscat de Frontignan (aka MPG)
Production ceased due to Phylloxera but was revived with purchase of Klein in 1980. Groot and Bergvliet resumed in 2000’s - all 3 make an homage to the OG
The 3 modern Constantia wines
- Klein Constantia: Vin de Constance
- Groot Constantia: Grand Constance
- Bergvliet/Buitenverwachting: 1769
Franschhoek Valley
- location
- mountains, river
- climate
- varieties
DISTRICT within Coastal Region; NO wards
* “French Quarter”
* Valley: Franschoek/Groot Drakenstein Mountains, Wemmershoek Mountains, Berg River
* CLIMATE: warm continental (mtns cast shadows, trap air)
* SOILS: alluvial sandstone, pure granite on northern mtn slopes
* vineyards occupy slopes of pure granite mountain. Valley floor is heavy clay and good for plums
Syrah, Cab, MCC, old vine Semillon (La Colline)
La Colline
Franschoek Valley
* old fruit farm - OLD VINE SEMILLON planted in 1936. Related to OG Cape Semillon.. Gris, Vert, Rosé mutations
* Alheit Monument Semillon, Cartology
Paarl
- location
- soil
- grapes
- mountains & river
DISTRICT in the Coastal Region
* SOILS: well-drained granite, shale in the mountains; sandstone in the valley floor
* GRAPES: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet, Shiraz
* Paarl Rock (W) - on northern side of Simonsberg Mountain, Boland Mountains (big range; E); Berg River
Vilafonté (valley floor)
Paarl wards (3)
Agter-Paarl
Simonsberg-Paarl (Syrah, granite)
Voor-Paardeberg (Syrah, Rhônes)
KWV is based in ________
Paarl
Stellenbosch
- mountains
- bay
- river
- most planted variety
- dominant soil
DISTRICT in the Coastal Region
* Simonsberg Mtn (NE), Helderberg (SE), Stellenbosch Mtn (E - Jongerhshoek Valley is carved into it)
* Hottentot-Holland Mtns (E), False Bay (SSW), Eerste River
* Cab Sauv #1; BDX varieties
GRANITE dominates
1/5 of South Africa vines are here
Leaf Roll is rampant
Ernie Els, Kanonkop, Delaire Graff, Meerlust, Mulderbosch, Ken Forrester, Raats, Rust en Verde, Tokara, Rainbow’s End
Stellenbosch’s mountains
- Hottentot Holland (E - separate Stellenbosch from Walker Bay)
- Simonsberg Mountain (NE - separates from Paarl)
- Stellenbosch Mountain (E - Jonkershoek Valley is carved into it)
- Helderberg (SE boundary)
Stellenbosch soils
GRANITE, shale, sandstone
Stellenbosch Wards (8)
Banghoek, Bottelary
Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley
Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Vlottenburg
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
- location
- important producers
Largest WARD of Stellenbosch
* Cab, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz
* Kanonkop!! Warwick, Rustenberg
Warmer area, more clay in the soil but ocean influence and southerly exposure keep things elegant
Banghoek
- location
- wineries
WARD within Stellenbosch District
“Banker’s Ward”: Jackson Fam’s Capensis, Tokara, Delaire Graff, Rainbow’s End
* Chard, Cab Sauv
* dramatic valley with highest elevation in Stellenbosch.. up to 640ft
Bottelary
- location
WARD within Stellenbosch District
*western end with north-facing slopes
*Chenin, BDX varieties, Pinotage, Shiraz
3 most important wards of Stellenbosch?
Banhoek (“Banker’s Ward”)
Bottelary
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Swartland
- location
- most planted grapes
- soils
- climate
- top 3 producers
DISTRICT in Coastal Region
* Chenin Blanc #1, Syrah #2
* SOILS: Malmesbury Shale, sandy granitic soils, esp by Paardeberg Mtns
* Region 4. Broad, hot, dry. Lots of bush vines.
Sadie Family Wines, Mullineux, A.A. Badenhorst
Spice Route
Swartland
* est. mid-90’s by Charles Back
* cutting edge at the time focused on Mediterranean varieties when the rest of South Africa was Burg/BDX-focused
* employed Eben Sadie from 1998 - 2000 when he left to focus on Columella
SIP
Swartland Independent Producers
* spinoff of the “Swartland Revolution” - Mullineux, AA Badenhorst, Eben Sadie
* focus on identity and uniqueness of the region with core values and a certification
Tenets:
1. grown/made entirely in Swartland
2. 80% of production under own label
3. no added yeasts/adjustments
4. mandated varieties (mostly Rhône)
SIP varieties - name 3 white, 3 red
Red:
Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsaut, Tinta Barocca, Pinotage
White: Chenin, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Palomino, Sémillon, Muscat Alexandrie, Muscat d’Frontignan, Colombard, Verdelho
** min 90% of those. Only bottled in Burg bottles. Max 25% new wood, all wood must be Euro
SIP - packaging and oak requirement
Burgundy bottles only
Max 25% new wood - must be European in origin
Swartland soils?
Quick answer: Malmesbury Shale, sandy granitic soils, gravel, some areas of chalk and slate
- South (Paardeberg area): sand-like weathered granite
- North: some chalk
- Eastern hills: slate, shale
Riebeekberg, Riebeeksrivier, Paardeberg
Swartland WARDS, located NE of Malmesbury
* Riebeekberg/Rivier: iron-rich slate, shale. Powerful earthy wines
* Paardeberg: most sculptural
Tulbagh
- location
- main grape
DISTRICT in Coastal Region
* SHIRAZ
Wellington
- location
- claim to fame
DISTRICT in Coastal Region
* former Paarl ward
* hot, dry, low rolling terrain. Cold nights w air trapped by mtns
* center of the vine nursery industry - most SA rootstock starts here
Home of Bain’s Whiskey/James Sedgwick Distillery
Klein Karoo
- location, orientation
- what’s it like here
- top grape/styles
REGION in Western Cape
*east-west valley at the limits of how far inland quality viti can be
*Karoo = “dry and thirsty land”; parched in appearance and very sunny
*Bulk - Hanepoot, Jerepigo, Port, Moscatel
*Colombard #1 - reflection of bulk sweet wine history
Calitzdorp
- location
DISTRICT in Klein Karoo
Known for Cape Port, Cape Tawny, Cape Vintage
Tradouw, Tradouw Highlands
- location
Promising WARDS in Klein Karoo (no district)
* Joubert-Tradouw is a leader in quality in the Highlands area
* more clay in the soil = essential for the arid conditions
Olifants River
- location
- grapes
- districts
REGION in the Western Cape
*very hot, dry
*continues to focus on bulk wine: Chenin and Colombard are most planted
Citrusdal Mountain, Citrusdal Valley
** Eben Sadie Skurfberg Vineyard is in Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Valley
- location
- top ward
DISTRICTS of the Olifants River Region
* Piekenierskloof Ward is in Mtn - important area for quality
* Eben Sadie’s Skurfberg sits in the general Citrusdal Mtn district
Ceres Plateau
- location
A DISTRICT without a region - just a part of the bigger Western Cape
*scorching hot but at elevation - 850M
*Pinot, Chard, Shiraz showing promise
Certified Heritage Vineyards seal
Old Vine Project
*seal for label or capsule - confirms sourcing and the year the vineyard was planted.
*min 35 years old
Sadie Family - top wines
Columella (1999): a S.Rhone-ish blend with Tinta Barroca
Palladius (2002): Chenin-based
Cartology
Alheit
*sourcing depends on vintage - grapes from Bot River, Swartland, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Franschhoek
*WO Western Cape
Rules for South Africa “estate-bottled”
One or more farms that border each other and are farmed as a unit - production cellar must be on site
De Toren
Stellenbosch
*red only - all Bordeaux blends + one varietal Shiraz
*Z, Fusion V, Book XVII, Black Lion, Diversity, Delicate
2 important South African wine auctions?
Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction (formerly Nederberg Auction) - held in Paarl
IPW’s Annual Auction - debuted 1985. Somewhat likes Hospices de Beaune
In South Africa, what type of wine is “Cape”?
No Port or Sherry since 2002
* Cape = Port
* Cape Vintage = Vintage Fortified
* Cape Tawny = Tawny
* Sherry used stylistic indicators - Amontillado, etc without the Geo-specific “Sherry”
Delaire Graff
Banghoek Ward in Stellenbosch District
*est 1982 by creator of the Platter Guide
*Graff purchased in 2003
South Africa’s largest wine producer
Distell - full 30% of all production
*based in Stellenbosch. Est 2000 - the joining of Stellenbosch Farmers Winery and Distillers Corp
Glenelly
Stellenbosch
*bought by French Mme. May de Lencquesaing when she sold Comtesse de Lalande in 2003
Kanonkop
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
* big Pinotage proponent - holds some of the 1st commercial plantings
Meerlust
Stellenbosch
*est 1693 - current owners since 1756
*Rubicon is the flagship - BDX blend (biggest production wine is the most expensive… very BDX of them)
Raats Family Wines
Stellenbosch
*built their brand around Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc
Vilafonté
Paarl
*Zelma Long and Phil Freese (Robert Mondavi, Simi, Opus One)
*all BDX styled blends
Series M
Series C
Seriously Old Dirt - the 2nd label
Boekenhoutskloof
Franschhoek Valley
Boschendal
Franschhoek Valley
A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines
Swartland
Adi Badenhorst - grandfather was manager at Groot Constantia, he grew up there
*one of the SIP founders
Mullineux
Swartland
*Syrah,Old Vines White (Chenin-based), and a soil-specific line
Darling
DISTRICT in Coastal Region
*former ward of Swartland
Breedekloof Makers
- varietal focus
*Growers organization
*dedicated to (sandstone) Chenin (22% of Breedekloof District’s vineyard). Promotes other varieties too
Olifantsberg, Opstal Estate, Slanghoek Cellar
De Wetshof
Robertson District in the Breede River Valley Region
*Chardonnay
Graham Beck
Robertson District in the Breede River Valley Region
*largest South African producer solely dedicated to MCC
Paul Cluver
De Rust Estate in Elgin District in Cape South Coast Region
*known for Riesling and Gewurz. Chardonnay and Pinot are also important to their portfolio
Beaumont Family Wines
Bot River Ward in the Walker Bay District
*Chenin Blanc focused
Crystallum
Walker Bay District
*owners are sons of Peter Finlayson. Wines are made at Gabrielskloof
*Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Gabrielskloof
Largest cellar in Bot River
Hamilton Russell
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
*Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
*they make Pinotage and Sauv Blanc under the Southern Right label
South Africa wine law categories (6)
Wine of Origin (WO): est 1973, updated in 1993
1. GI (Western Cape)
2. Overarching Region (Coastal Region, Breede River Valley)
3. Region (Klein Karoo, Coastal)
4. Subregion (West Cape Coast)
5. District (Paarl, Stellenbosch)
6. Ward
Name for South Africa scrubland
Fynbos
% of grapes for WO label
100%
South Africa definition of a ward
Different farms in close proximity/adjacent area with a relatively homogenous pattern of natural factors
South Africa single vineyard wine - 3 big rules
- max 6ha
- single variety
- must be registered
Overarching region for Cape South Coast + Coastal Region
Cape Coast
District known for Bokkevold (weathered) shales, Table Mountain sandstone
Walker Bay
Crayfish Agreement
1935 - France x South Africa agreement for South Africa to acknowledge Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne as GI’s in exchange for France importing Cape Rock Lobster, fruit, etc
Phylloxera in South Africa
1886
(followed by Boer Wars until 1902 - led to unification then economic depression)
Functions of the KWV
- established minimum mandatory pricing for grapes
- set production maximums and agreed to buy surplus for distillaition
- required each vineyard to have a quota to operate
South Africa’s first 3 regions
Stellenbosch
Paarl
Constantia
[these 3 are also still top #3 for number of private cellars]
South Africa oceans
Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Direction of Cape Doctor
Southeast
General elevation range for South Africa’s vineyards
50 to 600M
Cinsault’s historic South African name
Hermitage
South Africa “Port names”
Cape Ruby
Cape Tawny
Cape Vintage
WO designation option for a wine blended from Coastal Region + Cape South Coast?
Cape Coast (est 2017)
[all other region combos would be Western Cape]
Cape West Coast - what is it?
- name included districts (3)
- name some included wards (5)
est 2020 - formed outside of the existing categories of region, subregion, etc
Includes:
DISTRICTS: Darling, Lutzville Valley, western Swartland
WARDS: Groenekloof (Darling), St. Helena Bay (Swartland), Lamberts Bay (no district), Bamboes Bay (no district), and Koekenaap (Lutzville).
Cape Town District wards (4)
Constantia
Durbanville
Hout Bay
Philadelphia
Darling District ward
Groenkloof
(Coastal Region)
Coastal Region Wards with no Districts
Bamboes Bay
Lambert’s Bay
Franschoek District wards
None
Franschoek dominant soil
Granite
Paarl’s major river
Berg River
Paarl’s 3 mountains
Simonsberg
Paardeberg
Paarl Rock
Who were the Swartland Revolution?
Adi Badenhorst
The Mullineux’s
Eben Sadie
Swartland’s southern mountain?
Paardeberg
(Sadie and Badenhorst are here)
Swartland wards
Malmesbury
Paardeberg, Paardeberg South
St. Helena Bay
Picket-Bo-Berg
Porseleinberg
Riebeekberg
Riebeeksrivier
South Africa - how many districts, wards?
30 districts, 101 wards
