South Africa Flashcards
What is the largest single planted variety in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc
What type of climate do they broadly have in South Africa?
Warm Mediterranean, with affects from altitude, aspect, winds and ocean currents.
What is the name of the cool current that flows northwards, and up the western coast of South Africa?
Bengula Current
What is the name of the warm current that flows from the Indian Ocean?
Agulhas current
What is the name of the wind that is a cooling influence that helps prevent disease?
Cape Doctor
Pinotage has the potential to create high alcohol, deeply coloured wines. But which two black grape varieties is it a crossing of?
Cinsault
Pinot Noir
What are the ‘big six’ grape varieties of South Africa?
Pinotage
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Sauvignon Blanc
Name the three main soil type’s in South Africa’s Western Cape?
- Granite: These soils are found on the foothill slopes of mountains and in hilly areas. They have good water-retention properties, indicating a potential for dry-farming.
- Shale: These soils have good nutrient levels and good water-retention properties, indicating a potential for dry-farming.
- Table Mountain Sandstone: Low in nutrients and poor water retention. As a result, vineyards on these soils may need careful attention to irrigation and fertilisation.
Briefly explain how up until 1997, the KWV’s influence on the South African wine industry may sometimes have had a negative impact.
The KMV was set up in 1918 as a Government sponsored co-operative to stabilise the wine industry after many episodes of boom and bust. With the initial good intentions almost forgotten about, the KMV became a powerful force to the extend that it controlled quotas for plantings and production and controlled the importation, propagation and distribution of vine cuttings. It extended its powers to fix prices for distilling wine, approve all wine purchases between producers and merchants as producers could not sell direct to the consumer. The KMV, towards its demise which started in 1992 and ended in 1997 when it became a private business, did not support a free market, innovation or quality.
Name 10 factors of production for high volume, inexpensive Chenin Blanc in South Africa.
- Fruit grown at high yields.
- Vineyards sprayed regularly to avoid all botrytis.
- Minimal or no sorting of harvested fruit.
- 15% of another variety may be blended into the wine.
- Acidification a normal practice.
- Oak flavours (if desired) coming from chips or staves.
- Residual sugar may be adjusted using RCGM.
- Wine stabilised, fined and filtered for early release.
- Transportation in bulk.
- Bottled in final market.
Name 9 factors of production for small volume, premium Chenin Blanc in South Africa.
- Fruit grown at low yields.
- A small amount of Botrytis may be allowed.
- Careful sorting of harvested fruit.
- 100% Chenin Blanc.
- Acidification typically avoided.
- Lees aging for 3-9 months typical.
- Bâtonnage carried out if richer style desired.
- Wines bottled without adjustment of sugar.
- Wine bottled in South Africa.
In South Africa, production areas are defied by the Wines of Origin scheme. Order the classifications in the scheme from largest area covered to smallest area.
Geographical Unit
Region
District
Ward
What District houses the wards of Cape Town
Durbanville?
Cape Town
What District houses the wards of Simonsberg-Stellenbosch?
Stellenbosch
What District houses the wards of Hemel-en-Arde, Hemel-en-Arde Valley, Bot River?
Walker Bay
