South Africa Flashcards
What was the name of the cooperative that dominated the South African wine industry, prior to 1994?
KWV
How would you describe the climate of the Western Cape?
Warm, Mediterranean
What has a cooling effect on grapes in the Western Cape?
Proximity to the ocean
What is the name of the current tempering viticultural areas in the Western Cape and what conditions does it bring?
The Benguela current. It brings coastal fogs and cooling breezes
What is the name of the wind that cools the Western Cape in the spring and summer months? What effect does this have on viticulture?
The Cape doctor. It helps keep fungal diseases at bay but can damage vines and affect flowering and fruit set
What is used in drier areas of the Western Cape to prevent drought?
Drip irrigation
What are the three principle soil types found in the Western Cape?
- Low nutrient and poor water-retaining sandstone
- Water-retaining granite, ideal for dry farming
- Nutrient-rich, water retaining shale
What two grapes were crossed to make Pinotage?
- Pinot Noir
- Cinsault
What are the growing properties of Cinsault?
- Early budding
- High sugar levels in small berries (higher potential alcohol)
What is helping increase the reputation of Pinotage?
- Viticultural practices (managing water stress)
- Winemaking (lower ferment temperatures)
What are the 6 production characteristics of inexpensive Chenin Blanc?
- Fruit grown at high yields
- Blended with a less valuable variety (eg. Colombard)
- Cool ferment
- Rested in stainless steel tanks
- Residual sugar added (usually around 5g/l)
- Wine shipped in bulk and bottled in final market
What are the 6 production characteristics of premium Chenin Blanc?
- Fruit grown in low yields, often on old vines
- 100% Chenin blanc
- Cool fermentation in inert vessels, often large old barrels
- Lees ageing for 3-9 months
- No residual sugar
- Bottled in South Africa
Describe a typical South African Chenin Blanc.
- Medium - Pronounced intensity
- Ripe yellow apple, peach and tropical aromas
- High Acidity
- Medium body
- May have toasty aromas from oak
Describe how inexpensive pinotage is produced.
- Cold soaking to extract maximum colour
- Aged in stainless steel (sometimes with oak staves or chips)
- Released early, often 6-12 months after harvest
what grape varieties are often referred to as the ‘big 6’?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinotage
- Shiraz
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
What are the names of the three main South African blends?
- White Cape blends
- Red Bordeaux blends
- Red Cape blends
Define a White Cape blend
Typically Chenin-dominant blends but with white Rhône varieties, Chardonnay, Semillon or Sauvignon Blanc
What are the four layers of South Africa’s wine of origin scheme
- Geographical unit – very large areas, e.g. Western Cape
- Region – large areas named after major features, e.g. Coastal Region
- District – e.g. Stellenbosch or Walker Bay
- Ward – defined area within a district, e.g. Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Define an estate wine
Wines must be grown and bottled on the estate
What is the aim of The Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme?
Mitigating the effect of environmental impact, water
usage, health and safety and biodiversity of South African vineyards
What is the aim of The Wines and Spirits Board (WSB) scheme?
They created Integrity and Sustainability label that guarantees a certified wine’s environmental credentials
What is the aim of the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) scheme?
Focusing on ethical trade and reasonable working conditions for workers
What share of worldwide fair trade wine sales do South Africa account for?
Around two-thirds
What are the six wine regions found in South Africa?
- Coastal region
- Cape South coast
- Breede river valley
- Klein Karoo
- Olifants river
- Orange river
What percentage of South Africa’s wine is produced in the Coastal region?
25%
What are the six main districts found in the Coastal region?
- Cape Town
- Stellenbosch
- Paarl
- Swartland
- Franschoek
- Darling
What are the two wards found in the Cape Town district?
- Constantia
- Durbanville
What are the four principle grape varieties found in the Cape Town district?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
Describe a Vin de Constance
A dried Muscat sweet wine
What is the name of the ward found in Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
What two principal grape varieties are found in the ward Simonsberg-Stellenbosch?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinotage
What is the name of the ward found in Paarl?
Simonsberg-Paarl
What two principal grape varieties are found in Simonsberg-Paarl?
- Chenin Blanc
- Shiraz
