South Africa Flashcards
What grape is vital to the Cape Blend?
Pinotage
What is Cape Riesling?
Crouchen Blanc
What crossing created Pinotage? How did this grape get its name?
Pinot Noir x Cinsaut
Cinsaut used to be called Hermitage in South Africa and thus the name is a compound of both Pinot and Hermitage = Pinotage
What are the 9 districts of the Coastal Region?
Lutzville Valley Swartland Tullbagh Darling Wellington Paarl Franschhoek Valley Stellenbosch Cape Town
Who revived the iconic Constantia wine style and produces Vin de Constance and what is the grape and region of its production?
Klein Constantia
Produced from Muscat de Frontignan (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
Produced in the Constantia Ward within the Cape Town District of the Coastal Region
In what region is the Elgin district located and what are the top three performing grapes there?
Cape South Coast Region; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.
What is the southernmost wine growing ward in South Africa? In what district and region is it located?
Elim in the Cape Agulhas district located within the Cape South Coast Region.
What defines an estate wine in South Africa?
Term for a wine that was grown, made, and bottled on a single geographical unit registered with the Wine and Spirit Board.
What is the name of the cooling ocean current that influences viticulture in South Africa and where does it flow?
Benguela current; flows north along the western side of the African continent and at its southern tip where it meets the warm Agulhas Current.
Where do the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet?
Cape Agulhas
What are dessert wines in South Africa called that are produced from botrytized grapes? What is a late-harvest wine produced from unbotrytized grapes called?
Edel Laat-Oes; Laat-Oes is the name for late harvest wines produced from unbotrytized grapes.
What is the name for noble rot in South Africa?
Edelkeur
What is Frontignac in South Africa? What is it in Australia?
In South Africa it a sweet wine produced from Muscat de Frontignan.
In Australia it is a synonym for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What is the traditional synonym for Muscat of Alexandria in South Africa?
Hanepoot
Which cooperative with close political ties dominated the South African wine industry during the time of apartheid in the 20th century?
Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Veriniging van Zuid-Afrika (KWV)
When did the Dutch first settle in South Africa and for what reason did they establsih a settlement there?
1652; to establish a an outpost halfway between the Netherlands and India where the Dutch merchant ships could replenish supplies along the trade route.
Who was responsible for planting South Africa’s first grape vines?
Jan van Riebeeck
What was the role of the free burgher in South Africa’s early days?
These were old members of the Dutch East India Company that worked in the vineyards for land and who along with slave labor were the backbone of the labor force in South African vineyards in the early days.
What iconic wine of Cape Town was first known as the “governor’s wine”? Who was responsible for growing the estate that would produce this wine?
Constantia; Simon van der Stel
When did the French Huguenots arrive in South Africa and where did they settle? What influence did they have on viticulture?
1680s through the 1690s
They settled between Stellenbosch and Paarl in what would become the Franschhoek Valley (French Quarter).
They brought with them technical expertise in both viticulture and vinification that would boost the quality of wine being produced though some believe this influence was overstated.
What grape of South Africa was historically called “Greengrape” and what was the most significant export produced from it in the 1700s?
Semillon; brandy
When was the Cape Colony ceded to Great Britain and how did this influence viticultural development in South Africa?
1814; under British control tariffs on South African wine were reduced encouraging vineyard expansion particularly around the areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and the area immediately surrounding the cape.
What advancement led to the development of Robertson and Swartland’s vineyard areas?
The expansion of the South African railway system.
In what year did the British abolish slavery in South Africa?
1834
What are three actions by the British resulted in a cascade of events that would greatly reduce the quality of wine being produced in the 1800s?
Further reduction of tariffs resulted in a surge in grape planting increasing the grape glut problem in South plummeting quality as export of quantity was favored over quality.
British abolishment of slavery in 1834 did away with the unrighteous free labor estates enjoyed prior to that time.
The 1861 treaty between Britain and France that reduced tariffs on French wine.
Between 1886 and 1902 what two catastrophic events unfolded in South Africa?
Phylloxera devastated over a quarter of South African vineyards (though this partially alleviated wine glut)
The Boer War (1899-1902), a struggle between British-controlled South Africa and Dutch-controlled South Africa which resulted in economic depression which opened the door for the cooperative era of South Africa.
When was the KWV founded by Charles Kohler and why was it founded?
1918; As original cooperatives floundered in the first years following the South African government’s recommendation of cooperatives as a solution to combat economic hardship, Charles Kohler believed that only complete centralization could fix South Africa’s wine industry.
One measure introduced by the KWV in South Africa was to set minimum pricing for grapes. Why did this fail? How did the KMV attempt to resolve this?
This was beneficial to the farmers but it led to overcropping and overproduction.
The KWV in response set production maximums and agreed to purchase surplus for distillation.
The KWV would issue quotas to winegrowers in South Africa between 1960 and 1970 but very few others were issued after that. How did this impact the wine industry of South Africa?
This curtailed the development of new wineries and vineyard areas freezing the industry in its configuration at that time which with the exception of Stellenbosch was centered around the hotter interior regions of the country where lower quality wines were frequently produced.
When did apartheid begin? When did it end?
Began in 1948 and ended in 1994
In what year was South Africa’s Wine of Origin Scheme introduced?
1973
What was significant about the 1979 release of a the wine named “Hofmeyr” in South Africa?
It was the first Cape Bordeaux blend released.
Daniel de Wet and Peter Finlayson are associated with what in South Africa?
Smuggling in “suitcase clones” in the 1970s and inadvertently bringing in Auxerrois when attempting to bring in Chardonnay. Because Auxerrois had never been cultivated in KWV nurseries it prompted an investigation into these illegal acts which counterintuitively led to a relaxation of quarantine laws in the 1980s.
What organization founded in 1986 led to the introduction of higher quality plant material for vineyards?
Vine Improvement Association
Within what ward of the Walker Bay District is Hamilton Russel located? When were these vineyards planted?
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley; 1970s
How did Hamilton Russel’s expansion of vineyards beyond the boundaries set by KWV control lead to development of new vineyard areas?
Hamilton Russel’s wine was of such high quality but was being produced illegally as it did not hold a quota from the KWV. When the KWV began dumping thousands of liters of their wine this was met with a strong public backlash leading to the KWV allowing the purchase or transfer of unused quotas to other areas, though the stranglehold the KWV had on distribution networks made it difficult for these producers to sell their wines.
When was the Platter’s South African Wine Guide launched and what information did it disseminate?
1980; This publication rated wines, discussed trends and vintage characteristics, and provided much-needed critical perspective that favored producers that eschewed quantity for quality.
The Platter’s Guide acknowledged high quality producers and this led to the founding of what organization of members acknowledged in the Guide? When was this?
Cape Winemaker’s Guild in 1982
What ultimately led to the expansion of vineyard area to the cooler coastal areas of South Africa?
The elimination of the KWV quota system in 1992
When did Apartheid end and what scheme of the KWV ended the same year?
1994; minimum pricing scheme
What are 5 social initiatives in South Africa that have been created to help right the wrongs of the Apartheid era, giving more land and leadership harmed by the era’s policies?
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association
Fair Trade
Black-Owned Brands
Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme
What does the Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association work to ensure in South Africa?
Proper working conditions, compensation, and treatment of workers
What percent of the world’s Fair Trade wines are produced in South Africa?
65%
What is a “producer cellar” in South Africa?
cooperative
Why have the number of vines being pulled up in the 2010s far outweighed the number of vines being planted during that decade?
Many wineries struggled to break even which is largely due to the still very strong bulk wine industry which takes up the lion’s share of export, bottles that are often selling under the price of water.
Which producer accounts for roughly 30% of South Africa’s total still and sparkling wine?
Distell
What two South African districts account for the highest number of private wineries?
Stellenbosch and Paarl
Which three districts of South Africa have the highest number of cooperatives?
Breedekloof, Robertson, and Worcester
What is the name of the cool ocean current that runs up from the Arctic and influences the vineyards of the Coastal Region of South Africa?
Benguela Current
What wind blows in from the southeast and is cooled by the Benguela Current and Agulhas Current cooling the vines in the Cape?
Cape Doctor
What can the climate of South Africa’s wine growing regions largely be classified as?
Mediterranean
In what two recent vintages was there a severe water shortage in South Africa?
2017 and 2018
What are the dominant soil types of the mountainous areas of South Africa’s vine growing areas?
Granite capped by sandstone with quartz and pockets of slate and shale in the major wine regions.
Why have for the longest time white grapes dominated plantings in South Africa?
Due to the major roles that brandy and dessert wines played in South Africa’s history.
What is the most planted white and red grape planted in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the South African synonym for Chenin Blanc?
Steen
What was Rosa Kruger’s main contribution to South African viticulture?
She compiled a list of old vine vineyards with the assistance of SAWIS and established the Old Vine Project (OVP) which works to raise awareness of the special qualities of old vine fruit but also to raise prices to incentivize growers to keep these vines.
What is the minimum vine age for wines to achieve the Old Vine Heritage Vineyard Seal in South Africa?
Min 35 years old
What South African red grape was historically known as Hermitage?
Cinsault
When was Pinotage first created? Who is credited with its creation?
1924 by Abraham Perold
When were the first varietal Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon wines bottled respectively in South Africa?
1977 for Sauvignon Blanc and 1979 for Cabernet Sauvignon
Who were responsible for smuggling in suitcase clones that eventually led to an inquiry by the KWV ultimately and counterintuitively leading to a relaxation of quarantine laws?
Peter Finlayson and Daniel de Wet
What does the South African acronym MCC stand for?
Méthode Cap Classique
What are three top places in South Africa for world class Chardonnay in the Cape South Coast?
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley ward of Walker Bay
Elim ward of Cape Agulhas
Elgin district
Where is De Wet Cellar located?
In the Breede RIver Valley in Worcester
Who produced the first bottle of Méthode Cap Classique and in what year?
Simonsig in 1971 when it produced a 100% Chenin Blanc traditional method wine labeled “Kaapse Vonkel” or Cape Sparkle
What is the prized soil type of the Robertson Valley in South Africa?
Limestone
Where is Simonsig’s winery located?
Stellenbosch
Where is Graham Beck located?
Robertson Valley
What are three quality producers of Méthode Cap Classique?
Graham Beck
Le Lude
Charles Fox
What are the grape and aging requirements for MCC?
Can be made from any varietally and must be aged for a minimum 9 months on the lees though more quality-oriented producers use traditional Champagne varietals and age on the lees for longer.
What is a top producing region for Méthode Cap Classique in South Africa?
Robertson Valley
What is the most widely planted grape in South Africa?
Chenin Blanc / Steen
What is Lieberstein as it applies to South African wine?
This was the first successfully mass-marketed still white wine in South Africa. It was a semi-sweet natural wine that debuted in 1959. Its success led to a surge in planting of Chenin Blanc from the 1960s onward leading to its status as the grape being South Africa’s widely planted.
What three events led to Chenin Blanc becoming South Africa’s most widely planted grape?
Phylloxera and the replanting of vines that followed.
The introduction of refrigerated tanks in the 1950s.
The widespread success of Lieberstein
What is the contemporary producer of Vin de Constance?
Klein Constantia
What is the South African synonym for Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains?
Muscadel
What is the South African synonym for Muscat of Alexandria?
Hanepoot
What is the difference between Muscadel and Hanepoot in South Africa?
The former is a synonym for Muscat Blanc and the latter is a synonym for Muscat of Alexandria.
What is Jerepigo as it applies to South African wine?
Jerepigo is a mistelle produced from Muscat of Alexandria
When was the first varietal Sauvignon Blanc bottled in South Africa? When did the first Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon blend appear in South Africa?
1977 for Sauvignon Blanc
2001 for Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon Blend
In what South African district is 1/3 of the country’s Sauvignon Blanc planted?
Stellenbosch
What is the most-planted variety in Constantia?
Sauvignon Blanc where it is often blended with Semillon.
What is the unusual red mutation of Semillon present in South Africa?
Semillon Gris
What are the top three districts in South Africa for world class Cabernet Sauvignon?
Stellenbosch
Paarl
Franschhoek
What district is considered the Napa Valley of South Africa in many respects due to its wine styles and commitment to tourism?
Stellenbosch
What are two reasons that South African Cabernet Sauvignon is typically much less oak-influenced and restrained when compared to other regions’ expressions that champion this varietal?
Due to South African tasting panels deeming wines that are “over-oaked” as flawed and to the fact that the weak Rand makes it more difficult to justify the use of new barrels.
When was Cinsault introduced to South Africa?
1880s
What is the name of one of the founding members of the Cape Winemakers Guild who made wine at Hamilton Russell back in the early 80s?
Peter Finlaysson
Who was the first winemaker at Hamilton Russell?
Peter Finlaysson
What properties of Cinsault were prized and desired for the crossing with Pinot Noir?
High-yielding
Drought-Resistant
Heat-Resistant
Kanonkop and Bellevue wineries are located in what district of South Africa?
Stellenbosch
What are the causes of the paint thinner and burnt rubber aromas sometimes found in Pinotage wines respectively?
The paint thinner aromas (Isoamyl acetate) may occur when the vines experience water stress or high temperatures at harvest time.
The burnt rubber aromas many detect is thought to be a result of viral disease in the vineyard.
Why have so many Pinotage wines been of such poor quality historically?
They’ve often been planted in the hottest part of the vineyard, overcropped, overextracted, and due to the natural high pH the wines tend to have leading to frequent microbial spoilage.
What is Coffee Pinotage?
A unique barrel-fermented style of South African Pinotage that gains significant aromas of coffee (furfurylthiol) from the toasted staves during fermentation.
What is the maximum size of a single vineyard in South Africa?
max 6ha
What are the requirements for South African “estate wine”?
Must be produced from grapes grown on the same site where they are produced into wine and bottled.
What is the min% of vintage, grape, and place of origin that must be present in bottle to be listed on a bottle of South African wine?
min 85% Vintage
min 85% Grape
100% for place of origin
What are the rules regarding the listing of grapes for a blend for South African wine? What’s the exception to this rule?
Not required to be listed, but if they are they’re listed in decreasing order of dominance and if one grape is listed they must all be listed.
Unless two grapes alone account for 85% or more of the blend and in that case only those two grapes are required to be listed.
The South African WO scheme is more strict than the American AVA scheme in regards to geographical restrictions and wine analysis for certification but how is it less strict than Europe’s DOP system?
The South African system doesn’t regulate farming practices and winemaking techniques as much as the European system.
What are the units of geography for South African wine in decreasing order of size?
Geographical Unit
Region
District
Ward
What are the 6 large geographical units of South Africa? Which is the northern most? Which is the eastern most? Southern most?
Western Cape (southern-most) Northern Cape Eastern Cape Limpopo (northern-most) Free State Kwazulu Natal (eastern-most)
Which geographical unit of South Africa produces the most wine?
Western Cape
What are the 5 regions within the Western Cape?
Breede River Valley Klein Karoo Olifants River Cape South Coast Coastal Region
Which 3 regions of the Western Cape GU are associated with bulk wine producion? Which are associated with fine wine production?
Bulk:
Breede River Valley
Klein Karoo
Olifants River
Fine Wine:
Cape South Coast
Coastal Region
Which 2 regions of the Western Cape are known for Fine Wine production?
Cape South Coast
Coastal Region
Though the Breede River Valley is largely known for bulk production, which district within this region is known for exceptional high quality wines?
Robertson
In February 2019 Boberg was eliminated. What style was this region created for and what districts collectively formed this formerly 6th region of the Western Cape?
Boberg region was for exclusively fortified wine.
It was comprised of 4 districts: Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, and Tulbagh
What names are often used on the labels of South African fortified wines not named “jerepigo”?
Cape Ruby
Cape Vintage
Cape Tawny
If a ward is listed on a bottle of South African wine, what % of fruit must come from that ward? If two wards are blended what is the most stringent geographical designation that may be permitted?
100% fruit must come from that ward.
If two wards are blended the district may be listed.
When was the Cape Coastal designation established and for what wines was this designation created? What is the designation for wines that are blends of either of these with other regions or other regions outside of these?
2017; established for wines that are produced as a blend of Cape South Coast and Coastal Regions
Western Cape is the overarching designation for blends of other regions.
How many wards are located beyond the boundaries of districts?
18
When was the Cape West Coast created and for what reason was this subregion established?
February 2020
This was created to identify a collection of districts and wards that are considered more “coastal” in style or fresh and restrained.
Which 3 districts and 5 wards comprise the Cape West Coast subregion?
Districts:
Darling, Lutzville, and the western half of Swartland
Wards: Groenekloof St. Helena Bay Lamberts Bay Bamboes Bay Koekenaap
Which three mountain ranges surround the Breede River Valley?
Langeberg in the north which separate the valley from the Klein Karoo
The Boland Mountains separates the valley from Paarl and Stellenbosch
The Riversonderend Mountains protect the valley from the ocean influences of the southern coast.
Which mountains shelter the Breede River Valley from oceanic influences to the south?
Riversonderend Mountains
What 3 districts are located within the Breede River Valley?
Worcester
Breedekloof
Robertson
What Regions is responsible for 40% of all South African vines planted?
Breede River Valley
Slanghoek and Goudini are wards within what district of the Breede River Valley?
Breedekloof
What mountains separate Breedekloof from Paarl?
Slanghoek Mountains
Where is the winery Olifantsberg located? What grapes does this winery champion?
In the Slanghoek ward within Breedekloof district in the Breede River Valley
They are champions of Rhone varietals.
What is the coolest district of the Breede River Valley and home to 25% of South Africa’s Chardonnay? What makes this district so cool?
Robertson
Southeasterly breezes from the Indian Ocean give this district its status as the coolest in the Breede River Valley.
Which mountains separate Robertson from the Klein Karoo Dessert?
Langeberg Mountains
What soil type is priced in Robertson for Chardonnay giving the wines a characteristic mineral nerve?
Limestone
What are two producers located in Robertson?
De Wetshof
Graham Beck
Which district of South Africa is known as “the valley of wine and roses”?
Robertson
Which district of the Breede Valley is known for producing exceptional racehorses?
Robertson due to the large pockets of limestone found there.
Which is the largest, hottest, and driest of the three districts of the Breede River Valley? What wines is it most commonly associated with?
Worcester
Fortified, sweet, bulk, and jerepigo wines.
What is the largest brandy distillery in the southern hemisphere and where is it found?
House of Brandy which is controlled by the KWV
Found in Worcester district of the Breede River Valley
What is the distinct soil type of the Cape Agulhas district?
Koffeklip or “coffee stones” that are iron-rich.
What is the star grape of Cape Agulhas and what other regions famous for this have the wines from here been compared to?
Sauvignon Blanc; frequently compared to wines from the Loire Valley and Marlborough due to their green or grassy tones.
What is the ward located within Cape Agulhas district?
Elim
What is the coolest district in South Africa?
Cape Agulhas
Aside from exceptional wine grapes, what other crops and products are Elgin famous for?
Apples, Pears, and the cider produced from both.
What are the main soil types found in Elgin district?
Sandstone and shale
What is the most important grape in Elgin?
Chardonnay
What are four grapes that have shown success in Elgin?
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc
How did Overberg district get its name?
Because it’s “over the mountains” from Stellenbosch
Which mountains separate Elgin from Stellenbosch?
Hottentots-Hollands
What are two factors that contribute to Elgin’s cool climate?
Elevation and early morning mists from the south Atlantic Ocean
In what ward is Lismore Estate located? What grapes do they champion?
Greyton ward within Overberg district in the Cape South Coast
They champion Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah
What South African ward’s soils have drawn comparisons to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and what is the lone producer here? What are the star grapes here?
Malgas ward within the Swellendam district which has similar round, weathered stones comparable to those of CDP
Sijnn (pronounced “sane”)
Star grapes are Rhone varietals
What are the 5 districts within the Cape South Coast Region?
Cape Agulhas Overberg Swellendam Elgin Walker Bay
In what district of South Africa would you find the town of Hermanus?
Walker Bay district within the Cape South Coast Region
What are two top producers found in Walker Bay?
Hamilton Russel
Bouchard Finlayson
Storm
What are the main soil types of Walker Bay?
Bokkeveld Shale and Table Mountain Sandstone
Bokkeveld Shale is a signature soil type found in what district of South Africa?
Walker Bay district within the Cape South Coast Region
What is the climate of Hemmel-en-Aarde Valley?
Maritime
Who is the head winemaker at Gabrielskloof and where is this winery located?
Peter-Allan Finlayson, son of legendary winemaker Peter Finlayson
Located in the Bot River ward of Walker Bay district.
What are two top producers in the Bot River ward of Walker Bay?
Gabrielskloof
Beaumont
What are the three wards of Hemel-en-Aarde? Main soil type for each?
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Shale-based Clay)
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (Shale-based Clay)
Upper Hemel-en-Aaarde Valley (Granite)
Lower Duivenhoks River and Plettenberg Bay are both districts within what region?
Cape South Coast Region
What are the 7 wards within Walker Bay?
Hemel-en-Aaarde Valley Hemel-en-Aaarde Ridge Upper Hemel-en-Aaarde Valley Bot River Sunday's Glen Stanford Foothills Springfontein Rim
What is “fynbos” as it applies to the Bot River ward?
Fynbos is what the scrubland of the area is called and is credited with giving the wines their herbaceous notes.
Which two districts merged in 2017 to form the Cape Town district?
Cape Peninsula and Tygerberg
What are the 4 wards within the Cape Town district? Which is by far the most imporant?
Hout Bay
Philadelphia
Durbanville
Constantia (most important)
Who is responsible for settling Constantia?
Simon van der Stel
What are the main soil types of Constantia?
Clay with sand
What are the top white grapes planted in Constantia?
Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat
Diemersdal is the top producer of which ward within the Cape Town district?
Durbanville
Groenekloof is a ward within what district of the Coastal Region?
Darling district
What is the star grape of Greenekloof? What is unsual about this?
Bush-trained Sauvignon Blanc; Sauvignon Blanc is not traditionally bush-trained elsewhere in the world.
What is the main soil type of Franschhoek Valley District?
Granite
What is the most prized grape varietal of Franschhoek Valley district? What other grapes thrive here?
Old vine Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon also thrive here.
Where in South Africa is the La Colline vineyard planted and what is the star grape of this vineyard?
Franschhoek Valley District
Known for old-vine Semillon
Which mountains shield Franschhoek Valley from oceanic influence?
Groot Drakenstein and Franschhoek Mountains
What is the name of the river that flows through Franschhoek Valley?
Berg River
What is the climate of Franschhoek Valley?
Continental
Boekenhoutskloof is located in what district of South Africa?
Franschhoek Valley
What are two top producers of Franschhoek Valley?
Boekenhoutskloof
Chamonix
Which district of South Africa is home to the HQ of the KWV?
Paarl
The Berg River is a defining feature of which two South African districts?
Paarl and Franschhoek Valley
What district is home to Vilafonté in South Africa?
Paarl
What mountain creates the border between Stellenbosch and Paarl?
Simonsberg Mountain
Where is the ward of Backsberg? What grapes does this ward champion?
Simonsberg-Paarl
Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietals
In what district does the famous Niederberg Wine Auction take place every year?
Paarl
What is the coolest and northernmost ward of Paarl? Main soil here? Top grape?
Voor-Paardeberg
granite
star grape is Shiraz made in a Northern Rhone style.
What are the three wards of Paarl and which is rumored to be possibly being ceded to Swartland due to its wines’ similarity in style to that district?
Voor-Paardeberg (Similar to Swartland and rumored to be moving there)
Simonsberg-Paarl
Agter-Paarl
What is the most-planted grape of Paarl? Second-most?
Chenin Blanc is the most.
Cabernet-Sauvignon is the second-most
Which body of water lends maritime influence to the Stellenbosch district?
False Bay
What is the largest and most northerly and inland ward of Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
What is the ward of Kanonkop? Which grapes do they champion?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
BDX varietals and Pinotage
What two factors contribute to Simonsberg-Stellenbosch’s signature fuller-bodied style? What makes the wines from this ward more elegant than those in Simonsberg-Paarl?
Warm microclimates and clay soils lend to the fuller style.
The cooler breezes from False Bay contribute to it being more elegant than the Paarl side.
What are three top producers located in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch?
Kanonkop
Warwick
Rustenberg
Capensis and Delaire Graff are located in what ward of Stellenbosch?
Banghoek
Who owns Capensis and in what ward and district is this located?
Jackson Family
Banghoek
Stellenbsoch
Where are Tokara and Rainbow’s End located?
Banhoek ward of Stellenbosch
What are the main soil types of Banghoek ward?
Decomposed Granite with Sandstone higher up.
Who produces “Paul Sauer”, what are the grapes and where is this located?
Kanonkop Winery in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch ward of Stellenbosch.
Grapes are Cab, Merlot, and Cab Franc
What are the 7 wards of Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Botterlary Banghoek Devon Valley Jonkershoek Valley Papegaaiberg Polkadraai Hills
The Helderberg Mountain is a prominent feature of what district of South Africa? How does it influence the climate of that district?
Stellenbosch
Perpendicular to the coastline it acts to funnel in cool air to the district
What are the most planted red and white grapes respectively in Stellenbosch?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
What vine disease is rampant in Stellenbosch and why?
Leaf Roll virus is everywhere in large part due to the density of plantings in Stellenbosch
Why are there so few old vines in Stellenbosch?
Largely in part due to many of the traditional vines of the area being ripped out in favor of international varietals and experimental vine varieties.
What are 5 top wineries found in Stellenbosch?
Ken Forrester DeMorgenzon Meerlust Rust en Vrede Neil Ellis Kanonkop Alheit
What district in South Africa is home to Spice Route winery? What grapes did this winery champion?
Swartland
Focused on Mediterranean varieties while the rest of the country was focused on Bordeaux and Burgundy varieties.
What are the names of the Sadie Family’s top red and white wines produced in Swartland respectively? What are the grapes in each?
Columella: Always mostly Syrah with Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan
Palladius: Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Viognier, and Chardonnay
Who were the three founding members of the “Swartland Revolution”? What is the name of the organization that carries on the vision of the Swartland Revolution today?
Mullineux
Sadie Family
A.A. Badenhorst
Today the Swartland Independent Producers (SIP) carries on the mission of the founding members.
SIP is associated with what South African District?
Swartland
In what ward of South Africa are Sadie and Badenhorst based?
Paardeberg
The town of Malmesbury is the commercial hub of what district of South Africa?
Swartland
What are the 6 wards of Swartland?
Malmbesbury Paardeberg Paardeberg South Riebeeksrivier Riebeekberg St. Helena Bay
What is the coolest ward of Swartland?
St. Helena Bay
Malmesbury Shale is a dominant soil type of what South African district?
Swartland
What is the style, grape and region of origin for Olerasay No. 2? Producer?
Solera Dried grape or straw wine made from 100% Chenin Blanc in Swartland by Mullineux
In what district is Fable Mountain located?
Tullbagh
What district is known to produce nearly all of South Africa’s vine stock?
Wellington district
What region is considered the northern-most in South Africa for quality grape growing?
Klein Karoo
What district of the Klein Karoo is known for producing most of South Africa’s Cape Ruby, Cape Tawny, and Cape Vintage?
Calitzdorp
What styles of wine is Klein Karoo mostly known for?
Bulk and sweet wine including Jerepigo and Cape Port styles.
Tradauw and Tradauw Highlands are wards within what Region?
Klein Karoo
What is a producer making quality still wine in Klein Karoo?
Joubert-Tradauw
Where is Langeberg-Garcia located?
Klein Karoo
Where is the Skurfburg vineyard of South Africa located? What is the vineyard famous for?
Citrusdal Valley District of the Olifants River Region
Famous for old-vine Chenin Blanc
Who produces “Cartology”? What is this wine designed to be?
Alheit
Designed to be a vinous exploration of Cape Heritage through the lense of old vines from around the Cape.
90/10 Chenin/Semillon Blend
What ward of Citrusdal Valley is home to South Africa’s largest colleciton of Grenache?
Piekenierskloof
What is the maximum percentage of new oak that can be used on a bottling labeled under the Swartland Independent Producers (SIP) certification?
Max 25%
Traditional Constantia dessert wine is most similar to what wine in France?
Alsace Muscat VT
What is the largest of the Stellenbosch wards?
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Who produces the wine 1694 Classification? Where is this located? Grapes?
Rust en Vrede
Stellenbosch
Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon
Who produces the wine “Rubicon”? Where is this located and what are the grapes?
Meerlust located in Stellenbosch
Mostly Cab with Merlot, Cab Franc, and PV
Who produces Fusion V and where is this located? Style?
De Toren located in Stellenbosch
BDX style blend
What is the grape, producer, and region of Mevrou Kirsten? What is peculiar about this wine?
Old vine Chenin Blanc produced by the Sadie Family in Stellenbosch. This is said to be produced from the oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard in South Africa located in the Jonkershoek Valley.
What is OVP and CHV as it applies to South African wine?
OVP is the Old Vine Project, an initiative started by Rosa Kruger to help preserve old vines over 35 years old in South Africa and raise awareness of these vineyards’ potential to make outstanding wines.
CHV stands for Certified Heritage Vineyards and represents the seal on bottlings that are produced from vineyards over 35 years of age. The year of planting is listed on the seal.
What is the minimum percentage of Pinotage required for Cape Blends? Max %?
Min 30% and max of 70%
What is a producer cellar in South Africa?
A cooperative
