South Africa Flashcards
What was the first wine of South Africa to receive European admiration?
Vin de Counstance
Who originally owned the Constantia estate?
Governor Simon van der Stel
What happened to South Africa in the latter half of the 19th century?
Powdery Mildew and Phylloxera struck
What does KWV stand for? What do they do?
Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika; Founded in 1918 in the face of plummeting prices and over-supply, they fixed minimum prices, determined areas of production and established production limits. These powers were formalized in the 1924 Wine and Spirits Control Act
What was the apartheid? When did it began and end?
A segregationist system instituted by South Africa in late 1940s and ended in 1994
When did the KWV become a private company?
1997
What does SAWIT stand for? When was it established?
South African Wine Industry Trust; 1999
What is SAWIS? When was it established?
South African Wine Information & Systems; 2002
What is South Africa’s wine appellation system called?
Wine of Origin
When was the WO system introduced? What does it do?
Introduced in 1973 it compels producers seeking certification to submit a sample of the wine for evaluation by a tasting panel, which confirms the wine shows the correct organoleptic qualities for its cultivar and age. They wine also undergoes scientific analysis
As of 2006, if a wine lists a single varietal, what is the minimum percentage of that varietal for South African wines?
85%
What are the laws for labeling blends in South Africa?
Blends may list several grapes on the label if vinification occurred separately and each listed grape compromises a minimum 20% of the wine
As of 2006, if a wine from South Africa lists a vintage on the label, what is the required minimum?
85%
If a wine from South Africa lists an area of production, what percentage of grapes must derive from the stated area?
100%
What are the four types of production areas in South Africa in descending order of size?
Geographical unit, region, district, ward
What are the laws for labeling a wine “Single Vineyard Wine” in South Africa?
It may be used for wines sourced solely from the vineyard, provided it is appropriately registered and of less than 6 Ha
What are the laws for labeling a wine “Estate Bottled” in South Africa?
Must be produced from contiguous parcels of vineyard land and vinified and bottled on a single property
If a wine from South Africa forgoes certification, what can they not put on the label?
Vintage, varietal or area of production (including single vineyard and estate bottled)
What is IPW? When was it established and what do they do?
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme; Founded in 1999, it is a voluntary means of certification for WO producers wishing to comply with sustainable environmental standards. They set guidelines for agricultural, manufacturing and packaging practices. They judge wineries on a point system (min 60% required to pass) including worker safety measures, handling of waste water, carbon emissions, use of pesticides/chemicals and vineyard biodiversity
What are the five large geographical areas of South Africa?
Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo
What are the districts and wards of Northern Cape in South Africa?
Districts: Douglas and Sutherland-Karoo.
Wards: Hartswater, Central Orange River and Rietrivier FS
Where is Northern Cape?
South Africa
Where is Douglas?
It is a district in the North Cape, South Africa
Where is Sutherland-Karoo?
It is a district in the North Cape, South Africa
Where is Hartswater?
It is a ward in the North Cape, South Africa
Where is Central Orange River?
It is a ward in the North Cape, South Africa
Where is Rietrivier FS?
It is a ward in the North Cape, South Africa
What is the single ward within Eastern Cape, South Africa?
St. Francis Bay
Where is Eastern Cape?
South Africa
Where is St. Francis Bay?
It is a ward in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Where is Kwazulu-Natal?
South Africa
Where is Limpopo?
South Africa
What are the 6 regions of the Western Cape, South Africa?
- Coastal Region
- Cape South Coast
- Breede River Valley
- Klein Karoo
- Olifants River
- Boberg
What is the climate of the Western Cape?
Mediterranean, with warm sunny growing seasons.
What current cools the coastal regions of the Western Cape in South Africa?
Benguela Current- runs north from Antarctica to cool the coastal areas
What region has the coolest climate in South Africa? Which has the hottest?
Cape Agulhas (Western Cape); Orange River (Northern Cape)
What winds blow through the Western Cape of South Africa?
The Cape Doctor- A notoriously strong southeasterly wind that blows across the cape throughout spring and summer, inhibiting fungal disease and moderating temperatures but also battering the vines
What is Chenin Blanc known as in South Africa?
Steen
What are the most important white varieties in South Africa?
Steen, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Colombard, Cape Riesling, Hanepoot and Gewurz
What is Cape Riesling?
A synonym for Crouchen Blanc
What is Hanepoot?
Muscat of Alexandria
What is Pinotage a crossing of?
Cinsault X Pinot Noir
Who created Pinotage?
Professor Abraham Perold in 1925
What are the most important red varieties of South Africa?
Pinotage, Cinsault, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Tinta Barroca
What teinturier grape is linked to the old red wines of Constantia?
Pontac
What is sparkling wine called in South Africa?
Cap Classique
What are the 9 districts in the Coastal Region of the Western Cape?
- Stellenbosch
- Cape Peninsula
- Tygerberg
- Paarl
- Tulbagh
- Darling
- Franschhoek Valley
- Wellington
- Swartland
What district was repealed in early 2014 with the creating of the Cape Peninsula district?
Cape Point
Name 3 of the 5 estates that now occupy the Constantia vineyard.
Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting
What is South Africa’s most prominent winemaking region?
Stellenbosch
What are the soils of Stellenbosch?
Some of the world’s most ancient soils, ranging from alluvial loam over shale on the valley floors to decomposed granite and sandstone on the hillsides
What are the most planted grapes of Stellenbosch?
Cab Sauv, Sauv Blanc, Merlot, Shiraz and Chenin Blanc
What is the climate of Stellenbosch?
Maritime-influenced
Who are the highly regarded producers of Stellenbosch?
Warwick Estate, Meerlust, Kanonkop, Rust en Vrede, and Neil Ellis
Who produces ‘Trilogy’? From what grape and where?
Warwick Estate- Cabernet Sauv- Stellenbosch
Who produces ‘Rubicon’? From what grape and where?
Meerlust- Cab Sauv- Stellenbosch
What in Kanonkop known for?
Pinotage
Who is the largest producer in Paarl?
Nederburg- over 40 bottlings in their range and the first to produce Botrytised dessert wines in South Africa
Where does the Nederburg Wine Auction take place?
Paarl (since 1975)
What are the most important grapes of Paarl?
Cab Sauv, Shiraz, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Chard
What two former wards of Paarl have since received district status?
Franschhoek Valley (2010) and Wellington (2012)
What is commonly produced in Tulbagh? Why?
Because of the higher altitudes creating a significant diurnal temperature shift, Cap Classique wines are increasing
What is the Boberg Region used for?
It exists only for fortified wines produced in Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Tulbagh
Where is Cape Peninsula?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Tygerberg?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Paarl?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Franschhoek/ Franschhoek Valley?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Wellington?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Stellenbosch?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Darling?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Swartland?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Tulbagh?
It is a district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
What are the wards within the Cape Peninsula district?
Constantia and Hout Bay
Where is Constantia?
It is a ward within the Cape Peninsula district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
Where is Hout Bay?
It is a ward within the Cape Peninsula district in the Coastal Region in Western Cape, South Africa
What are the wards within the Tygerberg district?
Durbanville and Philadelphia