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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > South Africa > Flashcards

South Africa Flashcards

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Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) flashcards
1
Q

When were vines first planted in South Africa?

A

1652

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2
Q

what contributed to the decline of South Africa’s wine industry in the 1800s?

A

Late 1800s:

Powdery Mildew

Phylloxera

England ended preferential tariffs for South Africa, and entered a treaty with France, lowering tarrifs on french wines. poor quality cape wines couldn’t compete with french wines

Ocean transport was expensive

Root louse

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3
Q

KWV

A

Ko-operatieve Winjbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika est 1918

a co-op of producers and growers. fixed minimum prices, determined areas of production, made production limits. originally state run, it was privatized at the end of Apartheid in 1997

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4
Q

When was South Africa’s WO scheme introduced?

A

1973

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5
Q

Requirements for WO labeled wines (South Africa)?

A

attaining a WO certification is VOLUNTARY, but is necessary for producers who want to list vintage, grape, or area of production

Requirements
- must submit to tasting panel for evaluation
- wine must contain 85% of stated grape & vintage
- wine must contain 100% of grapes from stated area of production
- may state vineyard if it’s less than 6ha

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6
Q

List South Africa’s geographical units of production:

A

Western Cape
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Kwazulu-Natal
Limpopo
Free State

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7
Q

What is the one ward of Free State?

A

Rietriever FS

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8
Q

Kwazulu-Natal

A

In South Africa, on the eastern Coast. It is a geographical unit, and has two districts:

Central Drakensburg
Lions River

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9
Q

Eastern Cape

A

Geographical unit of South Africa, on the south eastern coast. Kwazulu Natal to NE, Western Cape to SW.

St Francis Bay - sole ward, no districts or rebion

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10
Q

Hanepoot

A

synonym for Muscat of Alexandria in South Africa

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11
Q

Muscat de Frontignan

A

synonym for Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains (SA)

also called Muscadel

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12
Q

List the WO regions of the Western Cape

A

Coastal Region
Cape South Coast
Breede River Valley
Klein Karoo
Olifants River

former: Boberg River Region: formerly fortified wines from the districts of Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Tulbagh; repealed in 2019

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13
Q

List the districts within the Coastal Region (South Africa)

A

Cape Town
Stellenbosch
Paarl

Swartland, Tulbagh, Wellington, Darling, Frankshoek, Lutzville Valley

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14
Q

Cape South Coast

A

WO Region in Western Cape

Districts: Walker Bay, Elgin, Cape Agulhas, Overberg, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam, Lower Dolvenhoks River

most of this area wasn’t allowed to be planted until the KWV abolished their quota system in 1992- lots of “newer” producers here.

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15
Q

Breede River Valley

A

WO region in Western Cape

Districts: Robertson, Worcester, Breedekloof

separated from the coast by mountains- hotter and drier climate. most vineyards planted on the valley floor on loam and sand soils.

lots of large producers and co-ops, lots of grapes for brandy

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16
Q

Cape Town

A

District in Coastal Region, Western Cape. Was previously two districts- Cape Peninsula and Tygerberg, but they were united in 2017.

Wards: Constantia, Hout Bay, Durbanville, Philadelphia

White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sémillon, Chenin Blanc
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage
Vin de Constance (Constantia): Muscat de Frontignan
Sparkling wines

soils: granite and sandstone for former Cape Peninsula, greywacke and phyllite shales for former Tygerberg

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17
Q

Cape Town key producers

A

Constantia - Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Constantia Uitsig, Steenberg, Buitenverwachting

Altydgedacht, Durbanville Hills

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18
Q

Walker Bay

A

District in Cape South Coast, Western Cape

Wards: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (lowest of the 3), Bot River, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (highest at 400m), Upper Hemel-en-Aarde

Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Pinotage, Mourvèdre

soils: shale, granite, and sandstone

very coastal, lots of rain and mist.

Key producers: Hamilton Russell, Bouchard-Finlayson, Gabrielskloof, Beaumont

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19
Q

List 4 producers Stellenbosch

A

Warwick Estate
Meerlust
Rust en Vrede
Neil Ellis
Kanonkop
Capensis

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20
Q

Trilogy

A

made by Warwick Estate, in Stellenbosch
Cabernet based blend

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21
Q

Rubicon

A

made by Meerlust, in Stellenbosch
Cabernet based blend

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22
Q

What is the most planted white grape in Stellenbosch?

A

Sauvignon blanc

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23
Q

What body of water separates Cape Town and Stellenbosch?

A

False Bay

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24
Q

What mountain separates Stellenbosch from Paarl?

A

Simonsberg

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25
Q

Name a producer from Paarl?

A

Nederburg. Botrytis affected dessert wines.

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26
Q

Which region in the Western Cape leads in production?

A

Breede River Valley - approx 20% of the country’s vineyards are here

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27
Q

What styles of wine are made in Robertson (South Africa)?

A

(Breede River Valley, Western Cape)

MCC
quality red wines from Shiraz and Cabernet

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28
Q

What style of wine is Klein Karoo known for?

A

(Western Cape)

fortified and sweet wine

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29
Q

Notable soil types in Cape Town & Stellenbosch?

A

decomposed granite- very old soils.

sandstone

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30
Q

What is the climate of Stellenbosch?

A

Maritime. comparable to Bordeaux but warmer

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31
Q

What is Vredendal? Where is it located?

A

South Africa’s largest co-op winery. in Olifants River (Western Cape)

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32
Q

Which notable producer is based in the Cape South Coast?

A

Hamilton Russel- in Hemel-en-Aarde ward. burgundy and pinotage

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33
Q

Cape Riesling vs Weisser Riesling

A

Cape Riesling isn’t riesling- it’s actually Crouchen, a grape from the Pyrenees

Weisser Riesling is Riesling

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34
Q

List the districts within Klein Karoo Region

A

(WO Area in Western Cape)

Calitzdorp
Langeberg-Garcia

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35
Q

Olifants River Region

A

WO Area in Western Cape- up the atlantic coast, north of Swartland.

Districts: Citrusdal Mountain, Citrusdal Valley

Olifants River wards with no district: Spruitdrift, Vredendal

hot and dry.

Chenin Blanc and Colombard lead plantings.

36
Q

Important wards of Stellenbosch?

A

District within Coastal Region, Western Cape, SA

Devon Valley, Papegaaiberg, Junkershoek, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

37
Q

Geographical features of Stellenbosch?

A

False Bay, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, and Helderberg Mountains

(District within Coastal Region, Western Cape, SA)

38
Q

Paarl

A

District in Coastal Region, Western Cape

wards: Simonsberg-Paarl, Agter-Paarl, Voor-Paardeberg

White: Chenin Blanc (2,743 ha), Chardonnay (1,208 ha), Sauvignon Blanc (929 ha)
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon (2,326 ha), Shiraz (2,123 ha), Pinotage (1,304 ha), Merlot (1,012 ha)
Sparkling
Fortified, Botrytis-affected Dessert Wines

soils: Sandstone, granite, weathered shale

Key producers: Nederburg, Vilafonté, Backsburg

39
Q

Important geographical features of Paarl?

A

Berg River, Hawequa Mountains, Simonsberg Mountain, Paarl Rock

(in Coastal Region, Western Cape, SA)

40
Q

Name one WO under which a wine that sources from both Paarl and Stellenbosch could be labeled?

A

Simonsberg

41
Q

What is berg in south african?

A

Mountain

42
Q

What do Groot and Klein mean?

A

Groot = big
Klein = little

43
Q

What does Kloof mean?

A

valley / canyon

44
Q

What is the minimum age of heritage vines in South Africa?

A

35 years

45
Q

What is the Old Vine Project? Who founded it?

A

A South African organization that works to raise awareness of the special qualities of old vine fruit and raise prices to incentivize growers to keep these vines.

Certified Vineyard Heritage Site seal is allowed for vineyards over 35 years old

founded by viticulturist Rosa Kruger in 2002

46
Q

Requirements to use OVP and Heritage Vineyard Seal on South African wine?

A

Must identify the planting date of the vineyard from which the wine was made. The vineyards are verified from South African Wine Industry Information Systems’s (SAWIS) extraordinary vineyard database

vineyards min 35 years old

47
Q

MCC

A

Méthode Cap Classique. Traditional method sparling wine from South Africa

Legally regulated since 1992
Simonsig was first producer to use the “Champagne method”

Can be made from any variety, from any region
Must undergo secondary fermentation in bottle
12 months lees aging required
Dosage requirements for labeling:
Brut: Less than 12 g/L
Extra Brut: Less than 6 g/L
Brut Nature: Less than 3 g/L

48
Q

Cape Agulhas

A

Agulhas DIstrict, Cape South Coast Region, Western Cape

One ward: Elim

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Shiraz

Cape Agulhas is coldest wine producing region of South Africa

Major Natural Features: Atlantic and Indian Oceans

Soil: layered shales and iron-rich koffieklip, or “coffee stone,” soils, also known as ferricrete

Key Producers: Strandveld, Black Oystercatcher, The Berrio, Quoin Rock, and Zoetendal

49
Q

Elgin

A

District in Cape South Coast Region, Western Cape

White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling
Red: Pinot Noir, Merlot

Natural Features: Hottentots-Holland Mountains (separates it from Stellenbosch), Atlantic Ocean

Soil: decomposed sandstone and shale

Producers: Iona Vineyards, Paul Cluver, Oak Valley, Kershaw

50
Q

Greyton

A

ward in Overberg, Cape South Coast, Western Cape.

notable b/c it is a ward drawn specifically for a single producer- Lismore

51
Q

Lower Duivenhoks River

A

District in Cape South Coast Region, Western Cape

52
Q

Overberg

A

District in Cape South Coast Region, Western Cape.

Named because it is “over the mountains” from Cape Town (Hottentots-Holland Mountains)

White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon
Red: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Mountainous- some vineyards up to 700m.

Wards: Greyton, Klein River

Producers: Lismore, Richard Kershaw

53
Q

benefits of wine co-ops?

A

they can be helpful in times of economic downturn- centralizing production, resources, and providing a stable income for farmers

54
Q

Timothy Hamilton Russel

A

South African wine grower. He illegally planted vineyards in Hemel-en-Aarde without a quota (government permission). The wines were great though, and after some pressure the KWV began allowing the sale of unused quotas, in turn allowing new wine regions to be developed

55
Q

KWV quotas

A

essentially issued as “permission” to farm certain land given out by the KWV in the 1960s and 70s. They heavily favored current land-owners, which basically halted the development of any new wine regions.

56
Q

VinPro

A

non-profit advisory agency for the South African wine industry

57
Q

South Africa- general climate

A

generally Mediterranean

Benguela Current- cool ocean breezes up from Antarctica

Cape Doctor- very strong wind from the SE. It can disrupt fruit set, but also wards off disease and pests

58
Q

South Africa soils

A

unique- they have been geologically stable for centuries! not disturbed by glacial, volcanic, or earthquakes

generally granite topped with sandstone
and quartz, slate, shale

59
Q

most planted white grapes South Africa

A
  1. Chenin Blanc
  2. Colombard
  3. Sauvignon
  4. Chardonnay

also: Hanepoot (M of Alex.), Semillon, Muscadel (M. Blanc a Petit Grains)

60
Q

MCC

A

Méthode Cap Classique

traditional method sparkling wine from South Africa

any grapes from any region allowed
must spend 12 months on lees

brut: up to 15 g/l
extra brut: up to 6 g/l
brut nature: up to 3 g/l

61
Q

Greengrape

A

original name for Semillon in South Africa

62
Q

Most planted red grapes South Africa

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Pinotage
Pinot Noir

63
Q

Pinotage

A

cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault

created in 1924 by Dr. Abraham Izak Perold, a professor at the University of Stellenbosch

64
Q

% of grape to label South Africa

A

85%

if labelling multiple- must label everything in the blend, unless two or more combine to form over 85% of the blend

65
Q

% of vintage to label South Africa

A

85%

66
Q

% of area to label South Africa

A

100%

wines from two wards within same district- labelled with district

wines from two districts same region - labelled with region

wines from two regions- labelled with the larger geographical unit (i.e. Western Cape), OR

Cape Coastal- for wines blended from Cape South Coast and Coastal Region

67
Q

Cape West Coast

A

new subregion approved in 2020- identifies areas more “coastal” in character. includes districts of Darling, Lutzville Valley, western half of Swartland, plus the wards of Groenkloof, St Helena Bay, Lamberts Bay, Bamboes Bay, Koekenaap.

68
Q

Stellenbosch

A

district in the Coastal Region, Western Cape

wards: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Banghoek, Devon Valley, Polkadraai Hills (+ more)

Sauv Blanc, Chenin, Cabernet, Shiraz

granite and limestone

key producers: Capensis (Jackson Family), Kanonkop, Meerlust, Neil Ellis, Rust en Vrede, Warwick Estate

69
Q

Cape Town

A

district in the Coastal Region, Western Cape

wards: Constantia, Hout Bay, Durbanville, Philadelphia

Sauv Blanc, Chard, Cabernet, Merlot

granite and sandstone for former Cape Peninsula, greywacke and phyllite shales for former Tygerberg

70
Q

Breedekloof

A

District within Breede River Valley, Western Cape

mostly white wines- majority Chenin Blanc.

Wards: Goudini, Slanghoek

71
Q

Robertson District

A

District in Breede River Valley, Western Cape

Coolest district in Breede River Valley, and large pockets of limestone = lots of chardonnay, MCC

72
Q

Worcester District

A

District in Breede River Valley, Western Cape

Largest in area, but not plantings. Furthest inland, so hottest.

73
Q

Swellendam District

A

District in Cape South Coast, Western Cape

Wards: Buffeljags, Malgas, Stormsvlei

Rousanne, GSM

soils: Bokkeveld shale, sandstone

Key producers: Sjinn (pronounced “sane”)

74
Q

Malgas

A

ward in Swellendam District, Cape South Coast, Western Cape

notable b/c ward was drawn specifically for one producer- Sjinn

soils here are very stony/ rocky, similar to CDP. thus Rousanne, GSM planted

75
Q

Constantia

A

most important ward of Cape Town, Coastal Region, Western Cape.

The original Constantia farm was registered in 1685, making it one of the first commercial wine endeavors not only in South Africa but in the whole of the so-called New World. It was established by Simon van der Stel, whose sweet “governor’s wine” was the first critically acclaimed wine from South Africa.

When van der Stel died in 1712, his estate was subdivided into three parts: Groot and Klein Constantia (“big” and “little,” respectively) and Bergvliet

76
Q

Franschhoek Valley

A

“french quarter” in Afrikaans, District in Coastal Region, Western Cape

known for old vine semillon, but also chardonnay, cabernet, sauvignon blanc

La Colline vineyard is here

77
Q

SIP

A

Swartland Independant Producers - an association of producers in Swartland, South Afria.

Wines that carry the below logo must be grown, vinified, matured and bottled entirely within the Swartland WO.
Swartland Independent Producers must bottle at least 80% of their production under their own labels.

SIP wines are fermented entirely with ambient yeasts. Yeast nutrients are prohibited.
SIP wines are not acidulated, nor do they contain added tannin.
SIP wines may not be chemically fined, nor may they undergo any concentration processes (reverse osmosis, etc.)

SIP wines contain a minimum 90% of the following varieties:
Red: Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsaut, Tinta Barocca, Pinotage
White: Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Palomino (Fransdruif/Vaalblaar), Semillon (Groendruif), Muscat Alexandrie, Muscat d’Frontignan, Colombard, and Verdelho.

Wines may be aged in only European oak, with a maximum 25% new oak authorized.

Wines must be bottled in a Burgundy-shaped bottle

78
Q

Swartland

A

District in Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa

wards: Malmesbury, Paardeberg,

soils: Malmesbury Shale, sandy granitic soils, gravel

climate: hot and dry- wide spaced, head-trained bush vines that can be dry-farmed dominate.

key producers: Sadie Family Wines, A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux

79
Q

Wellington

A

District in Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa. Was previously a ward of Paarl, and elevated

wards: Blouvlei, Bovlei, Groenberg, Limietberg, Mid-Berg River

Soil Types: shale, granite, sandstone

Chenin, Syrah, Pinotage, Grehache, Carignan

80
Q

Klein Karoo

A

WO area in Western Cape South Africa. translates roughly to “dry and thirsty land” - sheltered by mountains, it is an east-west running valley

mostly shale soils

districts: Kalitzdorp, Langeberg-Garcia

81
Q

South Africa’s max. size for single vineyard WO bottling?

A

Max. 6 ha, from a single variety

82
Q

SAWIS

A

South African Wine Industry Information System

Regulatory and statutory oversight- oversees WO

83
Q

IPW

A

Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, South Africa. aimed at sustainable practices

84
Q

Platter’s South African Wine Guide

A

most important publication for wine reviews in South Africa, launched in 1980

85
Q

Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel

A

South Africa’s first sparkling wine, released in 1973

Master Sommelier Theory 2025 (57 decks)

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