South Africa Flashcards
Question
Answer
What is Breede River Valley and what is it known for?
A region in Western Cape, South Africa
Known for wines produced at high yield and grapes for distilling
What is Cape South Coast?
A region in Western Cape, South Africa
What is Coastal Region?
A region in Western Cape, South Africa
45% of SA’s ha under vine; 25% of production
What is Klein Karoo?
A region in Western Cape, South Africa
What is Olifants River?
A region in Western Cape, South Africa
In which region are all of South Africa’s geographical units located?
Western Cape
What are the five regions in South Africa’s Western Cape?
Coastal Region, Breede River Valley, Cape South Coast, Olifant’s River, and Klein Karoo, far out east.
What is the Western Cape’s climate?
Warm Mediterranean
What is the Cape Doctor?
A strong southeasterly wind that hits the Western Cape in spring and summer. Inhibits fungal disease and moderates temperature. Also batters vines
What are the 8 districts in the Coastal Region of South Africa?
Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Darling, Franschhoek Valley, Swartland, Tulbagh, Wellington
What is Stellenbosch? Its grapes + important ward?
A district in Coastal Region (SA) focused on Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinotage, & Shiraz AND Sauv Blanc, Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay.
Important ward is Simonsberg-Stellenbosch - high diurnal range.
Growing environment:
- Adequate rain (600-900mm)
- varied soil types
- warm enough to ripen Cab Sauv, Merlot & Pinotage, but with cooling influences:
- mountain slopes,
- breezes off False Bay
What is Cape Town and its important wards?
A district in Coastal Region (SA); important wards are
1. Constantia (Vin de Constance + SB, Chard, Cab Sauv, Shiraz) &
2. Durbanville (SB);
Tourism is important.
Formerly called the Cape Pennisula.
What is Paarl, its grapes & an important wards? And growing climate?
A district in Coastal Region (SA) forcused on
Chenin Blanc, Cab Sauv, Shiraz & Pinotage;
also Mediterranean Viognier & Mourvedre;
Important ward is Simonsberg-Paarl – Chardonnay and Shiraz
Warmer than Stellenbosch but has many mesoclimates & soils, so many varieties succeed.
Adequate rain - 800-900mm
Berg River for irrigation.
What is Tulbagh & its grapes?
A district in Coastal Region (SA);
Known for Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, & Colombard; some Pinotage for blends;
Inexpensive wines
What is Darling and its grapes? And growing climate?
A district in Coastal Region (SA);
Known for Sauvignon Blanc, FRESH Cab Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz
Contains a range of hills that run parallel to cold West Coast 10km away.
- Slopes have many aspects;
- Vines benefit from Atlantic Ocean breezes;
- Granite soils have high water-holding capacity so dry farming & bush vines are common
What is Franschhoek Valley & its grapes? And growing climate?
A district in Coastal Region (SA);
known for Sauv Blanc, Cab Sauv, Shiraz, some old vine Semillon AND Cap Classique sparkling wines
Wrapped on three sides by mountains –> varied topography, giving shelter & warmth
- grapes increasing planted at altitude for cooling - 600m
- plenty of rain (800mm) but fast-draining soils mean irrigation needed
Fruit has FRESHER quality –> used in blends for this aspect
What is Wellington (SA) and its grapes & your favorite SA winery?
A district in Coastal Region (SA);
known for Shiraz and powerful red blends
Bosman Family Vineyards
What is Swartland? And three uses for its grapes?
A district in Coastal Region (SA);
- Fruit for Western Cape blends;
- OLDER: co-ops, inexpensive to mid-priced wines;
- NEW: low-yield, dry farming, organic/bio, ambient yeasts, old oak maturation.
Premium to super-premium priced
What is Constantia? Grapes? Growing climate?
A ward in Cape Town district in Coastal Region
Known for Vin de Constance, a dessert wine made from Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Also grows Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Cab Sauv, Shiraz
–> Notable absence of Pinot Noir (why is that notable? IDK.)
Low vigor granite soils - good drainage
Rain at 1000mm per year
Small number of producers, all focused on quality;
TOURISM
What grape is Klein Constantia best known for?
Muscat de Frontignan
(Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
What are the two most planted varietals in Stellenbosch?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the key grapes of Paarl?
Chenin Blanc,
Cab Sauv,
Shiraz,
Pinotage
Viognier & Mourvedre also grown
What are the districts to know in Breede River Valley Region?
Breedekloof, Worcester, Robertson
What is Robertson? Grapes? Growing environment? Significant producers?
A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa
Chardonnay, Columbard, Chenin Blanc & Sauv Blanc
Recently: Shiraz and Cab Sauv
Growing environment
- Limestone - unusual in SA – hence Chardonnary & sparkling
- Warm, very low rainfall, irrigation necessary
- SE winds bring moist air from Indian Ocean - cooling influence
- fertile valley floor grows high yields for distilling
Co-op Robertson Winery & Graham Beck
What is Worcester? Growing environment? Grapes?
A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa
Very low rainfall - rain shadow of mountains (400mm)
Relies heavily on irrigation.
Mostly grapes for distilling - very fertile loamy soil.
Some Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Viognier & Shiraz
What is Breedekloof?
A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa
Warm continental climate – adequate rainfall, unique to Breede River Valley.
Chenin, Columbad, Chardonnay
Pinotage, Shiraz & Cab Sauv
varied soil types - climate allows longer hang-time and later harvest
What grape are grown in Worcester?
Mostly for distilling: Chenin Blanc & Colombard
What are the districts to know in Cape South Coast region in South Africa?
Walker Bay & Elgin
What is Elgin?
A district in Cape South Coast region in Western Cape
What are key grapes from Elgin?
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz
What is Walker Bay?
A district in Cape South Coast region in Western Cape
When was South Africa’s Wine of Origin system introduced?
1973
What is the labelling requirement for varietal wines in South Africa?
> 85% of stated grapeAll grapes with >20% must be listed
What is the labelling requirement for vintage wines in South Africa?
> 85% from listed vintage
What are the labelling requirements for area-labelled wines in South Africa?
100% of grapes from listed area
What are South Africa’s types of production area (from largest to smallest)?
Geographical unitRegionDistrictWard
What does Single Vineyard Wine mean in South Africa?
Grapes came from one vineyard that is registered; must be less than 6 hectares
What does Estate mean in South Africa?
Grapes are grown, wine is made & bottled on a single property
What is IPW in South Africa?
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme
When was the IPW established?
1998
What is the IPW in South Africa?
IPW - Integrated Production of Wine
Voluntary means of certification for producers to comply with sustainable environmental standards, health & safety & biodiversity.
95% of SA growers & cellars adhere.
What is the Benguela Current?
Current from Antarctica that cools coastal South African areas
What is the most planted white grape in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc - 20%; about 2x the amount of the Loire
What is Pinotage?
South African grape crossing of Cinsault and Pinot Noir
What is Cap Classique?
Traditional method South African sparkling wine.
Charmat method.
Traditionally made with Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay increasing in popularity
What are the two main ocean currents that impact climate in South Africa?
Benguela & Agulhas
What is the rain situation in South Africa?
Generally enough to grow grapes (> 700mm); mostly falls in growing season; some regions don’t have enough and irrigation is essential.
What are the three main types of soil in South Africa?
- Table Mountain Sandstone - low nutrient, low water retention, needs irrigation & fertilization.
- Soil from granite - foothill slopes & hills; good water retention, potential for dry farming.
- Soil from SHALE - good nutrients & water retention; potential for dry farming.
Most soils are acidic nd need adjustments with lime to get pH right.
What are the Big Six (actually 8) grapes grown in South Africa?
In order of plantings:
Chenin Blanc
Colombard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinotage
Chardonnay
Merlot (that’s 8)
What are three blends created in South Africa?
- White Cape blends - Chenin-dominated with white Rhone, Chardonnay, Semillon & Sauv Blanc
- Red Bordeaux blends (and white as well)
- Red Cape blends - significant % of Pinotage and/or Black Rhone varieties
What Northern Hemisphere wine growing region does South Africa nearly align with?
California - 32* to 34*.
Describe two styles of premium South African Pinotage wines.
Traditional, fuller - post-fermentation maceration on skins, more oak AND lighter style - gorwn on cooler sites, no post-ferment maceration
How do inexpensive and premium Chenin Blanc winemaking differ in South Africa?
Primary differences are in yields, spraying for botrytis, sorting (Chenin Blanc ripens unevenly), blending with Colombard, vessel for fermentation, acidification, yeasts, maturation (length, vessel, lees?, batonnage), sugar adjustment, fining & filtering, packaging (ship in bulk or bottle at estate?)
