South Africa Flashcards
(41 cards)
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 event caused the KMV to relax their quarantine laws regarding vine material?
1986
- Auxerrois, a grape never grown in South Africa, was found in vineyards
- KMV launched an investigation into various producers
— Danie de Wet
— Peter Finlayson
— Others
- This actually resulted in the KMV relaxing their quarantine laws
- Vine Improvement Association was founded to try to improve quality plant material
- Organization remains a leader in plant certification
When was the quota system elimnated in SA?
When was minimum price elimnated?
When was the end of Apartheid?
1992
1994
1994
What is the Heritage Vineyard Seal award by the OVP?
Awarded to vineyards where average vine age is 35 years or more
What is the OVP?
SAWIS
- Organization that spun from KMV’s precise recording keeping
- Started Old Vine Project (OVP)
— Raises awareness of qualities of old fruit
— Encourages raised prices to incentivize growers to keep these vines instead of ripping them out for higher yield varieties
- Heritage Vineyard Seal
— Average vine age is 35 years old or more
What organizations in SA are focused on giving land and leadership to people effected by Apartheid?
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE): B-BBEE evaluates how companies create opportunities and advancement for people from previously disadvantaged groups through training, management opportunities, ownership, living conditions, and more.
Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (WIETA): WIETA is becoming the lynchpin in ensuring proper working conditions, compensation, and treatment of workers.
Fair Trade: South Africa produces 65% of the world’s fair-trade wines, which represents 5% of the country’s wine production.
Black-Owned Brands: Various programs are working to raise the number of black-owned brands. Examples include initiatives to reform the high capital costs involved with entering the wine industry and government land grants. Trained winemakers of color are capturing an increasing share in the premium space with their own brand offerings.
Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme: Skills transfer programs such as this one aim to move people from previously disadvantaged groups into better paid, skilled positions and then into management and ownership roles.
What does these terms mean…
berg
braai
dorp
dry land farming
groot
klein
kloof
rivier
toren
berg = mountain
braai = BBQ
dorp = village
dry land farming = dry-farming
groot = big
klein = little
kloof = valley/canyon
rivier = river
toren = tower
What is the Benguela Current?
Benguela Current
- Cold-water current coming up through the Atlantic from Antarctica
