South Africa Flashcards
Climate
Where is it located, what is the climate, and what are climatic influences?
- Latitude: 32-35°S (comparable to California)
- Warm Mediterranean climate
- Influenced by Western Cape’s many mountain ranges, slopes and aspects
- Proximity to the ocean (cooling effect)
- Cold north-flowing Benguela current
- Large temp difference between ocean and land causes regular beneficial coastal fog and cooling breezes
- Cape Doctor during spring and summer
Climate
Comment on diseases and hazards
- Low disease pressure due to winds (cape doctor)
- Winds can damage leaves, affect photosynthesis and flowering and fruit set
- Spring frost can be a problem
Climate
What is the avg. rainfall, when does it mainly fall and comment on irrigation
- 700mm on avg. in Stellenbosch
- Rain falls mainly between May and August
- Gets less in the north (less impact of Benguela current and more protection through mountains)
- Irrigation or promotion of old vines is essential in the drier areas
- Drought is an issue
- Access to water is a problem
Grape varieties
What 8 varieties account for 80% of plantings? (in descending order)
- Chenin Blanc (white) (20% of plantings)
- Colombard (white)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Sauvignon Blanc (white)
- Pinotage
- Chardonnay (white)
- Merlot
Grape varieties
What is the typical style of wine from Colombard? (aromatic, acidity, how used)
- Neutral
- Medium to medium(+) acidity
- Mostly used in blends
Grape varieties - Pinotage
What is it a crossing of and how is its budding time and disease resistance?
- Pinot Noir x Cinsaut
- Early budding (but spring frost rarely a problem in warmer parts)
- Only moderately susceptible to fungal diseases
Grape varieties - Pinotage
What are the characteristics? (color, potential alcohol)
- Deep color
- Reaches high sugar levels in small berries -> potentially high alcohol
Grape varieties - Pinotage
What is the typical quality of wine that can be produced from this grape?
- Past: reputation for poor quality
- Recently: Improvement in quality through better vineyard practice (e.g. avoiding water stress) and better winemaking (avoiding overly high fermentation temperatures)
Soils and Vineyard Management
What are the different soil types? Is it rather uniform or complex?
- Very variable and complex
- Table Mountain sandstone: sandy, low nutrient and low water-retention properties
- Granite: foothill slopes of mountains and in hilly areas. Good water-retention properties (dry-farming possible)
- Shale: good nutrient levels and good water-retention (dry-farming possible)
Soils and Vineyard Management
How does the soil need to be adjusted to make winegrowing viable? What would happen otherwise?
- Most Cape soils are excessively acid
- Heavy adjustments with lime necessary
- Otherwise: lower yields
Soils and Vineyard Management
What is the typical vine density and what do high-quality growers do?
- Vine density is typically low (larger vines carrying more fruit)
- High-quality growers: Higher density
Soils and Vineyard Management
What are the two main diseases and how are they dealt with?
- Viral diseases (esp. leafroll and fanleaf) -> tackled by planting virus-tested vines (adds to cost)
- Powdery mildew -> systemic fungicides or organic methods
Soils and Vineyard Management
How are vines trained, why and how is harvest conducted?
- Mostly cordon with VSP
- Can be mechanised, saving cost
- Most picking is done by hand due to the availability of labor
Soils and Vineyard Management
Comment on sustainable, organic, and biodynamic winemaking practices
- 90% of growers follow integrated pest management philosophy
- Only few organic or biodynamic
Winemaking
Describe how high volume, inexpensive Chenin Blanc is made (vineyard, harvest, adjustments, fermentation, blending, maturation, transport)
- High yields
- Vineyards sprayed regularly
- Minimal or no sorting of fruit
- May be blended with up to 15% of less valuable variety
- Acidification is common
- No malo
- Cultured yeast
- Cool fermentation temps in stainless steel or concrete tanks
- Some resting time and oak flavor may be added (chips or staves)
- Residual sugar may be adjusted
- Stabilised, fined and filtered for early release
- Often transported in bulk and bottled in final market
Winemaking
Describe how small volume, premium Chenin Blanc is made (vineyard, harvest, adjustments, fermentation, maturation, transport)
- Low yields (often from old, dryland vines)
- Small amount of Botrytis allowed
- Careful sorting of fruit
- 100% Chenin Blanc
- Acidification typically avoided
- No malo
- Ambient or cultured yeast
- Cool fermentation temps in inert vessels (new oak if it is used, for better integration)
- Lees aging for 3-9 months typical
- Bâtonnage carried out if richer style desired
- No adjustment of sugar
- Stabilizing, light fining and filtering
- Bottled in South Africa, then transported
Winemaking
What is the typical style of Chenin Blanc? (intensity, aromas, acidity, body, alcohol, oak, quality, price) ((-> quality and price for high volume and low volume))
- Medium to pronounced intensity
- Ripe yellow apple or peach fruit with tropical fruit notes
- High acidity
- Medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Might have oak (vanilla and toast)
- High volume wines: acceptable to good quality and inexpensive to mid-priced
- Higher quality wines: very good to outstanding quality and mid- to premium priced (some super-premium)
Winemaking
Describe the two different styles of premium Pinotage wines (color, aromas, body, tannins, alcohol)
- Traditional Style
- Deep ruby
- Red plum and blackberry fruit
- Full body
- High tannins
- High alcohol
- Elegant Style
- Grapes from cooler sites with lower ripeness
- Medium ruby
- Red-fruited
- Medium tannins
Winemaking
Describe the winemaking process for inexpensive vs. premium Pinotage (yields, sorting, ageing, release)
- Yields and sorting
- Cold soak for premium wines
- Inexpensive:
- Aged in stainless steel or used barrels. Oak alternatives (staves or chips) may be used to add oak flavors
- Earlier release
- Premium:
- Aged for 12-15 months in French oak barriques (often >50% new)
- Later release
- Trend towards less new oak
What are the “big six” varieties that are grown in most regions?
- White
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Black
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
- Pinotage
Describe the three main blends
- White Cape blends
- Chenin-dominant with white Rhône varieties, Chardonnay, Semillon or Sauvignon Blanc
- Red Bordeaux blends
- Red Cape blends
- Broader category for blends with a significant proportion of Pinotage and/or black Rhône varieties
Wine Laws and Regulations
Describe the four defined terms for production areas and how they are defined
- Geographical unit (very large areas, e.g. Western Cape)
- Region (large areas named after major feature, e.g. Coastal Region)
- District (based on wider categories, e.g., mountain range: e.g. Stellenbosch or Walker Bay)
- Ward (based on common soil, climate and ecological factors, e.g. Simonsberg-Stellenbosch)
Wine Laws and Regulations
How can a wine be labeled as single vineyard?
- Vineyard must be registered
- Vineyard must be planted with a single variety
- Vineyard can not be larger than 6 ha
Wine Laws and Regulations
In order to be labeled as such, how much of the grapes need to come from the origin, vintage, variety
- Origin: 100%
- Vintage: 85%
- Variety: 85%
Coastal Region
What are the six most important districts?
- Cape Town
- Darling
- Franschhoek Valley
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- Swartland
Coastal Region
How much of South Africa’s area under vine does it cover and how much of its production?
- Area under vine: 45%
- Production: 25% (lower yields)
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town
What are the two most important wards?
- Constantia
- Durbanville
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Constantia
What special wine is it home to?
- Vin de Constance
- Dried Muscat dessert wine
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Constantia
Where are vineyards located and what are climatic influences? Describe the soil and rainfall.
- East-facing slopes of Constantiaberg (extends south from Table Mountain)
- Cooling sea breezes from False Bay
- Granite soils above a layer of sandstone -> Low vigor and good drainage
- High rainfall (1,000 mm)
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Constantia
What are the main varieties planted? What variety is specifically not grown?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
- NOT grown due to windy conditions: Pinot Noir
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Constantia
Name two significant producers
- Klein Constantia
- Steenberg
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Durbanville
Where are vineyards located and what are climatic influences?
- East-facing vineyards at 100-300m
- Cooling breezes from the False Bay
- Shale soils -> high water holding capacity
- 500mm (only half the rainfall compared to Constantia due to protection by mountains)
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Durbanville
What is the main variety, where is it grown and what style does it have?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Planted on cooler sites
- Rather greener flavors
Coastal Region - District: Cape Town - Ward: Durbanville
Name two significant producers
- Bloemendal
- Diemersdal
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch
What is it mostly known for?
- High quality wines, esp. from
- Cabernet Sauvignon and related blends
- Shiraz
- Chenin Blanc
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch
What are the main climatic influences that allow high quality grape production and what is the rainfall and soils based on the location.
- Cooler mountain slopes
- Varied soil types
- Cooling breezes from False Bay
- 600-900mm rainfall
- Valley floor: sandy and alluvial soils
- Slopes of hills: granite and shale soils
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch
What are the main varieties?
- Black
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinotage
- White
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
- Chardonnay
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch
Name two significant producers
- Rust en Vrede
- Raats Family Wines
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch - Ward: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Where are vineyards located, what is the temp and climatic influences?
- Lower slopes of the south-west side of the Simonsberg
- Slightly warmer than other Stellenbosch sites
- Still cooling breezes
- Higher diurnal range than on flatter sites
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch - Ward: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
What wines is it most known for?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends
- Pinotage
Coastal Region - District: Stellenbosch - Ward: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Name two significant producers
- Kanonkop
- Rustenberg
Coastal Region - District: Paarl
Where is the region located and what is the climate?
- North of Stellenbosch
- Warmer
Coastal Region - District: Paarl
Comment on soil, rainfall and irrigation
- Range of soils, aspects, and varieties
- 800-900mm rainfall
- River can provide water for irrigation
Coastal Region - District: Paarl
How is the style of wine compared to Stellenbosch? (aromas, body)
- Distinct ripeness
- Fuller body