South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

South African wineries are based near the 30° latitude (32° - 35°). What are the key cooling influences on some vineyards?

A

Benguela: Cooling current near the coast
Cape Doctor: Cooling south easterly winds that cool further inland
Mountains: Altitude & sun shadows

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2
Q

What is used on each bottle of South Africa’s Wine of Origin (W.O.) scheme to identify it as such?

A

Certified seal

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3
Q

Give the order of hierarchy for South Africa’s Wine of Origin (W.O.) scheme using the terms below:

Wards, Geographical Unit, District, Regions

A

Geographical Unit
Regions
District
Wards

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4
Q

In South Africa, a winery that grows all of its grapes in a single vineyard in a single ward/district/region & produces and bottles the wine on site, can be labelled as what?

A

Estate Wine

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5
Q

In general, what is the climate in South Africa?

A

Mediterranean climate

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6
Q

Which two grape varieties are often blended in South Africa to make a Bordeaux blend?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot

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7
Q

Which grape variety grown in South Africa can, in hot climates, give rich, full bodied wines often high in alcohol with black fruit, earthy or meaty characteristics? In cooler climates it is not as full bodied with peppery aromas.

A

Syrah

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8
Q

Which red grape variety grown in South Africa is only grown in the coolest coastal areas, making premium wines matured in toasty oak barrels?

A

Pinot Noir

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9
Q

Which South African grape variety was developed in South Africa and hardly grown anywhere else, giving South Africa a point of difference?

A

Pinotage

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10
Q

A South African “Cape Blend” must contain what?

A

Pinotage + other international grape varieties.

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11
Q

What is South Africa most planted grape variety?

A

Chenin Blanc

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12
Q

Which South African grape variety can produce wines from old bush vines which are very full bodied with rich spiced berry fruit? When fermented with heavily toasted staves, it can give flavours of coffee or chocolate.

A

Pinotage

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13
Q

Which grape variety from South Africa can be made in both sweet and dry styles, with old bush vines creating complex wines with fuller texture and toasty oak flavours from barrel fermentation and maturation?

A

Chenin Blanc

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14
Q

Which grape variety grown in South Africa often has herbaceous characters with citrus and green fruit?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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15
Q

Sauvignon Blanc grown in warmer regions in South Africa needs what viticultural practice to ensure the wines have high levels of acidity and citrus green fruit?

A

Grapes are picked early.

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16
Q

What two Burgundian practices are used in South Africa to help produce exceptional quality Chardonnay from cooler sites?

A

Barrel fermentation
Lees-stirring

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17
Q

90% of wine from South Africa comes from which Geographical Unit?

A

Western Cape

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18
Q

In which region is the district of Stellenbosch located?

A

Coastal Region

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19
Q

What helps keep Stellenbosch cool?

A

Altitude
Aspect
Cooling winds funnelled by mountains

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20
Q

Summarise Stellenbosch’s climate, grapes, wines.

A

Mountains (altitude, aspect), Ocean (wind).
Bordeaux style (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot), Cape blend (Pinotage + international)
Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

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21
Q

Which region is located north of Stellenbosch and is more inland, so hotter with cooler night temperatures?

A

Paarl

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22
Q

What cooling influences does the Paarl district experience?

A

Mountains (altitude, aspect)
Inland (cool nights)

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23
Q

Summarise the climate and grapes in the Paarl region.

A

Inland (hotter days, cooler nights), Mountains (altitude, aspect)
Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay

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24
Q

Which of South Africa’s wards is based around Table Mountain & some of the oldest vineyards in the Cape?

A

Constantia

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25
Q

What keeps the eastern and southern sides of Constantia’s Table Mountain cool?

A

Eastern Table Mountain:
Cooled by Cape Doctor winds
Southern:
Ocean Benguela current

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26
Q

Which white grape variety has a particular reputation in Constantia?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

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27
Q

Summarise Constantia’s climate and grapes.

A

Constantia ward
Eastern Table Mountain (cooled by Cape Dr winds).
Southern Table Mountain (cooled by Ocean)
Oldest vineyards in South Africa
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc

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28
Q

Where in South Africa is the Swartland district located?

A

Western Cape, north of Cape Town.

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29
Q

Which two grape varieties does Swartland district have a reputation for?

A

Dry farmed old vine Chenin Blanc
Dry farmed Syrah

30
Q

What is dry farming in South Africa’s Swartland district?

A

Grape growing without irrigation. It reduces yield but enhances fruit concentration.

31
Q

Summarise the district of Swartland’s grape varieties.

A

Dry farmed grapes (no irrigation)
Decrease yield & increase fruit concentration
Syrah
Chenin Blanc

32
Q

Where in South Africa is Durbanville located?

A

On a hillside just north of Cape Town.

33
Q

What cooling influences does the Durbanville ward experience?

A

Cooling sea breezes

34
Q

Which grape variety has the Durbanville ward built its reputation on?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

35
Q

Summarise the Durbanville climate and grapes.

A

Cooled by sea breezes
Hillside north of Cape Town (aspect)
Sauvignon Blanc

36
Q

Which two regions are part of the Breede River Valley?

A

Worcester
Robertson

37
Q

Where on the Breede River Valley is the district of Worcester & what is the climate?

A

Western end (hotter)
Hot & dry

38
Q

The hot dry climate in the Worcester district means irrigation is essential. Where does the water come from?

A

The Breede River

39
Q

What type of wines typically come from South Africa’s Worcester district?

A

High volume brands of red & white.

40
Q

Summarise the climate and grapes for Breede River Valley’s Worcester district.

A

Hot & dry
Irrigation essential
Chenin Blanc

41
Q

Where on the Breede River Valley is the district of Robertson & what is its climate?

A

Eastern end (slightly cooler)
Hot & dry, with cooling south easterly winds

42
Q

Which black grape and white grape varieties can be excellent in the Breede River Valley’s Robertson district?

A

Syrah
Chardonnay

43
Q

Summarise Breede River Valley’s Robertson district for climate & grapes.

A

Hot & dry, with cooling south easterly winds
Well made, high volume wines. Excellent examples from the two named grape varieties.
Syrah
Chardonnay

44
Q

Apart from a few exceptions, the wines from the Breede River Valley’s Worcester & Robertson districts are typically?

A

High volume brands of red & white.

45
Q

The Walker Bay district, and its ward Hemel-en-Aarde, have a reputation for producing South Africa’s best wines from which two grape varieties?

A

Chardonnay
Pinot Noir

46
Q

The Walker Bay district and its ward Hemel-en-Aarde are both cooled by what?

A

Exposure to the ocean Benguela & Cape Doctor wind

47
Q

Summarise Cape South Coast’s Walker Bay district & Hemel-en-Aarde ward for climate & grapes

A

Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Dr wind)
Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

48
Q

South Africa’s Cape South Coast is generally cooled by exposure to the ocean Benguela & Cape Doctor wind but which district is cooled by altitude as well?

A

Elgin

49
Q

Which grape varieties grown in Elgin show promise or have an established reputation?

A

White:
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay

Red:
Pinot Noir
Syrah

50
Q

What helps keep Elim cool?

A

Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Doctor wind)

51
Q

Which white and black grape varieties have a particular reputation in Elim?

A

Sauvignon Blanc
Syrah

52
Q

For each of the regions given below provide a summary.

Stellenbosch, Paarl, Constantia, Durbanville, Swartland

A

Coastal Region

Stellenbosch district
Cooling altitude, aspect & winds.
Bordeaux style (Cab Sav, Merlot), Cape blend (Pinotage + international)
Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Paarl district
Inland (hotter, cooler nights), Mountains (altitude, aspect)
Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay

Constantia Ward
Eastern Table Mountain (cooled by Cape Dr winds).
Southern Table Mountain (cooled by Ocean)
Oldest vineyards in South Africa
Sauvignon Blanc
(Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon)

Durbanville Ward
Cooled by sea breezes
Hillside north of Cape Town (aspect)
Sauvignon Blanc

Swartland District
Dry farmed grapes (no irrigation). Decreases yield & increases fruit concentration)
Syrah
Chenin Blanc

53
Q

For each of the regions given below provide a summary.

Worcester, Robertson

A

Breede River Valley

Worcester District
Hot & dry
Irrigation essential
Chenin Blanc

Robertson District
Hot & dry, with cooling south easterly winds
Well made, high volume wines. Excellent examples from the two named grape varieties.
Syrah
Chardonnay

54
Q

For each of the regions given below provide a summary.

Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Elim, Elgin

A

Cape South Coast

Walker Bay District
Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Dr wind)
Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah
ChardonnaySauvignon Blanc

Hemel-en-Aarde Ward
Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Dr wind)
Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Elim Ward
Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Dr wind)
Syrah
Sauvignon Blanc

Elgin District
Altitude, Exposure to the ocean (Benguela & Cape Dr wind)
Pinot Noir, Syrah
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

55
Q

What is the name of the region that includes the highlighted districts and wards?

A

Coastal Region

56
Q

What is the name of the region that includes the highlighted districts and wards?

A

Cape South Coast

57
Q

What is the name of the region that includes the highlighted districts and wards?

A

Breede River Valley

58
Q

In which wine region do all the highlighted sub-regions sit within?

A

Breede River Valley

59
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Robertson

60
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Worcester

61
Q

In which wine region do all the highlighted sub-regions sit within?

A

Cape South Coast

62
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Elgin

63
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Hemel-en-Arde

64
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Walker Bay

65
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Elim

66
Q

In which wine region do all the highlighted sub-regions sit within?

A

Coastal Region

67
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Swartland

68
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Paarl

69
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Stellenbosch

70
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Durbanville

71
Q

What is the name of the region that is highlighted?

A

Constantia