South Africa Flashcards
Who first planted South Africa and when?
Dutch Commander Jan van Riebeeck Oversaw first harvest in 1659
- Grapes were being planted in what is now Stellenbosch and Paarl
- Labor was composed of slaves and free burghers (formers employees of the East India Trading company that moved to SA for land in exchange of labor)
How first developed Constantia’s famous dessert wine and when? What was it originally called?
1691
- Commander Simon van der Stel was appointed the colonies first governor
- He was given favorable lands due to his high status, including what would become Constantia
- He began developing Constantia sweet wine, at the time called “governor’s wine”
Who first settled Franschoek?
French Huguenots
- Protestants fleeing Catholic persecution
- Arrived in the late 1680s and early 1690s
- Most settled between Stellenbosch and Paarl in what was called “Franschoek” or “French Quarter”
- Some believe that the French added so much needed winegrowing expertise but Tim James, South African wine writer and expert, believes that influence is overstated
Who first settled Franschoek?
French Huguenots
- Protestants fleeing Catholic persecution
- Arrived in the late 1680s and early 1690s
- Most settled between Stellenbosch and Paarl in what was called “Franschoek” or “French Quarter”
- Some believe that the French added so much needed winegrowing expertise but Tim James, South African wine writer and expert, believes that influence is overstated
When did Phylloxera arrive in South Africa?
1886
25% of South African vineyard land was destroyed
Replanted was delayed by rootstock shortages
What is the KMV?
Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika in Afrikaans, or Cooperative Winemakers Union of South Africa
- Founded the KMV in 1918 by Charles Kohler
- The original deal was that the KMV would not directly sell wine to consumers as long as merchant bought wine from the KMV
- KMV monopolized export market, which was still dominated by the British despite tariffs
- KMV eventually was granted regulatory powers over the industry
- Role was mostly to oversee the contracts between the growers and co-ops
- Established minimum mandatory pricing for grapes
- Resulting in overcropping and overproduction
What is the KMV?
Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika in Afrikaans, or Cooperative Winemakers Union of South Africa
- Founded the KMV in 1918 by Charles Kohler
- The original deal was that the KMV would not directly sell wine to consumers as long as merchant bought wine from the KMV
- KMV monopolized export market, which was still dominated by the British despite tariffs
- KMV eventually was granted regulatory powers over the industry
- Role was mostly to oversee the contracts between the growers and co-ops
- Established minimum mandatory pricing for grapes
- Resulting in overcropping and overproduction
What was required to produce wine under KMV regulations?
Each vineyard was given a government=issued quota in order to operate
- Issued between 1960 and 1970
- Very few were issued after this timeframe making it very difficult to create new estates and regions
- Regions that did exist, besides Stellenbosch and Constantia, were more located in hotter inland areas where ripeness was easy to achieve
How was the KMV tied politically?
All wine farms were owned by white Afrikaners making the KMV tied to the National Party, which came to power in 1948 and formalized apartheid
- 1960s, International Sanctions began because of apartheid
When did the KMV adopt the Wine of Origin system?
1973
- Wine of Origin was introduced to complement EU (then EC) wine laws and ease trade
When was the first Cabernet Sauvignon blend made and by whom?
1979
- Hofmeyr produced the first Cape Bordeaux blend
60% of national grape harvest went towards brandy production
When was the first Cabernet Sauvignon blend made and by whom?
1979
- Hofmeyr produced the first Cape Bordeaux blend
60% of national grape harvest went towards brandy production
How was viticultural advanced illegally under KMV rule?
Small group of independent producers produced wine independent of the KMV
- Improved cellar hygiene
- Used French Oak
- Used international varieties
- Smuggled in clones and varieties to avoid the several year process required by the law
What impact did Timothy Hamilton Russel have on SA viticulture in the 1970s?
Timothy Hamilton Russell
- Developed two coastal vineyards in the cool region of Hemel-en-Aarde in the late 1970s
- The vineyard containing his Pinot Noir did not have a quota making their existence illegal
- Wines were high quality and attracted considerable attention
- KMV officials forced him to dump 5,000 liters of wine down the drain
- Public pressure forced the KMV to allow unused quotas to be purchased or transferred to other farms
What was the first publication in SA that rated wines and discussed trends?
1980
- Platter’s South African Wine Guide founded
- Yearly publication that rates wines and discussed trends and vintages characteristics focused on quality production
What was the first publication in SA that rated wines and discussed trends?
1980
- Platter’s South African Wine Guide founded
- Yearly publication that rates wines and discussed trends and vintages characteristics focused on quality production
What is the Cape Winemakers Guild?
1982
- Cape Winemakers Guild in 1982
- Began as an elite force of renegade winemakers focused on quality production
- Now considered variable
- 45 members in 2020
What is the Benguela Current?
Benguela Current
- Cold-water current coming up through the Atlantic from Antarctica
What is the Cape Doctor?
Cape Doctor
- Fierce wind that blows in from the southeast during the spring and summer
- Can damage vines by breaking canes and preventing fruit set
- Helps prevent pests and disease in the vineyard
Describe the topography of SA
Mountains form an L shape around the coast and carve the country into climatic zones
Describe the climate of SA
- The coastal sides are cool and rainy
Inland is hot and dry - Valleys between inland and coast tend to be temperate
- Vineyards range from 50 to 600 m elevation
- Overall climate classification is Mediterranean
- Access to water is an increasing threat
- Large droughts in 2017 and 2018
What is the Cape West Coast Region designation?
- Created in 2020
- Exists outside of the geographic designation hierarchy
- Identifies more coastal areas
- Encompasses the following
Districts
- Darling
- Lutzvile Valley
- Western Half of Swartland
Wards
- Groenekloof - 29
- St. Helena Bay - 78
- Lamberts Bay - 46
- Bamboes Bay - 4
- Koekenaap - 44
Describe Methode Cap Classique
- First regulated in 1992
- Simonsig is regarded as first producing it in 1971
- Between 2008 and 2018, MCC production increased 120%
- Can be made from any variety in any region
- 2nd ferment must be in bottle
- 9 months on the lees
—– Many producers go much further
—– Graham Beck
—– Le Lude
—– Charles Fox - Brut is < 15 g/L RS
- Extra Brut is < 6 g/L RS
- Brut Nature is < 3 g/L RS
- Robertson Valley, home to Graham Beck, is a quality growing area for MCC
