South Africa Flashcards
Who established the first vineyard of South africa, when and where?
Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company founded Cape Town and established its first vineyard in 1652
When did South Africa returned to democracy?
1994
Name the co-operative that dominated the wine indusrty until the 1990s
KWV
When did the French Huguenots arrived in SA and when?
In the late 1680s and early 1690s came a new wealth of winemaking knowledge. The Huguenots settled between Paarl and Stellenbosch in a region that became known as Franschhoek (meaning “French Quarter”) and established vineyards
Who and when introduced Vid de Constance?
governor Simon Van del Ster in 1685
When was KWV founded and what did it do?
formed in 1918 with the support of 90% of South Africa’s growers. The KWV, a cooperative of wine producers and growers, fixed minimum prices, determined areas of production, and established production limits—powers formalized in the 1924 Wine and Spirits Control Act. In addition, the KWV would effectively monopolize the export market, which, despite the tariffs, was still dominated by Britain
When was the Wine of Origin system introduced?
1973
Name the 4 production areas of wine of origin scheme
- Geographical unit – very large areas, e.g. Western Cape, which accounts for nearly all South African wine by volume
- Region – large areas named after major feature, e.g. Coastal Region or Breede River Valley
- District – e.g. Stellenbosch or Walker Bay
- Ward – defined area within a district, e.g. Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
If variety and vintage is stated?
85%
If name of origin is stated e.g. Swartland?
100% of the grapes must come from Swartland
If a single vineyard is on the label?
A single vineyard may be listed on a label if the wine is sourced solely from a vineyard that is appropriately registered and of less than six hectares
What is Integrated Production of Wine Scheme (IPW) and when it was launched?
Launched in 1998 it is a voluntary means of certification for WO producers wishing to comply with sustainable environmental standards. Wineries are judged on a number of points, including worker safety measures, handling of wastewater, carbon emissions, use of pesticides and other chemicals, and vineyard biodiversity. Starting with the 2010 vintage, wines that meet a minimum score in IPW evaluation (60% or better) and qualify for WO certification are marked with a joint seal, indicating a “sustainable wine of origin,” rather than the basic WO seal. Today, over 95% of South African WO wines carry this seal.
South Africa’s wine-producing areas are divided into seven large geographical areas (GIs)
Western Cape
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
North West
Kwazulu-Natal
Limpopo
Free State
When did KWV lost its power
1994
In 1700s what was the most important products in SA?
The wine industry grew steadily during the 1700s, with the most important products being dessert and fortified wines such as Constantia, Cape Madeira, Cape Port, Steen, and Hanepoot. Brandy grew to become an important export as well, and as it was generally distilled from white wine, plantings of white grapes—especially Semillon (here spelled without the accent, and historically called Greengrape)—swelled
When were the British arrived in SA?
In 1795 and land under vine tripled between 1795 and 1825. The vast majority of viticulture was confined to Stellenbosch, Paarl, and the area immediately surrounding Cape Town. Interior regions such as Robertson and the Swartland wouldn’t be planted until the 1870s, as the railway system extended inland
When did phylloxera hit SA?
1886
When was the Boer War between British and Dutch?
1902
SA’s latitude?
Situated between 33–35° latitude, comparable to California and Israel in the northern
hemisphere
SA’s climate?
warm Mediterranean, with long, dry summers and rain generally confined to the winter months
Name the wind of SA
frigid Benguela Current that swirls up from Antarctica. Cool, moist ocean breezes bathe the coastal vines, slowing the growing season. During the spring and summer, the occasionally fierce Cape Doctor wind blows in from the southeast. At its most intense, it can damage vines by breaking canes and interfering with fruit set. But its presence is typically benevolent, helping to stave off disease and pests in the vineyards
Name the 2 oceans of SA
Atlantic and Indian
Elevations of SA
Vineyard elevations range from 50 to 600 meters
Major threat in SA?
Drought and water shortages
Geology?
South Africa’s soils are relatively simple and very old. The country has been geologically stable for millennia—no glacial or volcanic activity and very few earthquakes. Most of the mountains are made of granite capped by sandstone, and these bedrocks have decomposed to form the basis of South Africa’s soils. Quartz is scattered throughout nearly all of the major winegrowing regions, and pockets of slate and shale can also be found
Initially wine production has been dominated by?
Due to the major roles played by brandy and dessert wine throughout its history, South Africa has long been dominated by white grapes. Semillon took the early lead. The grape enjoyed a near monopoly in South African vineyards during the 1800s. The phylloxera replant that came at the end of the century provided an opportunity to diversify and other white varieties—specifically Palomino, Chenin Blanc, and Muscat—that rose to fill the void.
The dominant red of South Africa’s past was Cinsaut, the local spelling of Cinsault and historically known as Hermitage. The high-yielding grape was introduced to the country in the 1880s, and by 1909, it was the third most widely planted variety
When did the OVP (old vine project) was launched?
The journey to document South Africa’s old vines was started in 2002 by vineyard manager, Rosa Kruger.
The OVP’s Certified Heritage Vineyard seal can be used by farms where the average vine age is over 35 years.
The OVP estimates that over half of the South African vines over 35 years old are Chenin Blanc.
What happened with the end of Apartheid?
Apartheid’s end (1948–1994) coincided with a global rush of enthusiasm for a handful of French varieties, specifically Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc (Shiraz, too, due to the Aussie explosion).
As an increasing number of coastal regions have been developed since the early 2000s, plantings of Pinot Noir and other cool-climate varieties are on the rise.
Who and when brought illicit Chardonnay cuttings into South Africa?
In the late 1970s, winemakers Peter Finlayson, Danie De Wet.
The best fruit for these wines comes from newly developed coastal regions such as Hemel-en-Aarde, Elim, and Elgin, though De Wet is also making ageworthy wines from the limestone-rich soils of the Robertson Valley. In Elgin, where the potential is arguably the highest, viticulture is at risk as farmers are rapidly replacing grapes with apples, a significantly more profitable crop.
MCC launch and regulations
Legally regulated since 1992, MCC supposedly finds its roots with the French Huguenots but seems to have really begun in 1971 with the appearance of Champagne method sparkling by Simonsig.
Méthode Cap Classique can be made from any variety, and from any region, but it must undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle and rest on the lees for a minimum of twelve months. To be labeled as brut, the wine must contain less than 12 grams of residual sugar, extra brut less than 6, and brut nature less than 3.
As in actual Champagne, many of the top producers (Graham Beck, Le Lude, and Charles Fox, for example) take things much further. They and others rely on the classic Champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (although, again, any variety is technically allowed) and subject their wines to far more extended lees and bottle aging. Robertson Valley, which boasts limestone soils and is the home of Graham Beck, seems to be a hub of quality MCC activity.
Name the semi-sweet wine from Chenin Blanc that dominated domestic consumtion
Lieberstein debuted in 1959 and was enormously popular on the domestic market
Which is the most planted grape variety of SA?
Chenin Blanc known as Steen followed by Colombard and Muscat (Muscadelle or Muscat de Frontignan)
Muscat of Alexandria known as Hanepoot
When Hanepoot is fortified prior to fermentation, the result is?
the vin de liqueur Jerepigo
When was the first Sauvignon Blanc was bottled?
1977
Semillon is also known as?
Greengrape
Red mutation of Semillon is called?
Semillon Gris
When was Pinotage created and from who?
Pinotage was created in 1925 when Dr. Abraham Izak Perold, professor at the University of Stellenbosch, swabbed the pollen from Pinot Noir onto a Cinsaut flower with the aim to combine the quality of Pinot with the high yields of Cinsault
Name the 2 wineries to plant and promote Pinotage
Kanonkop and Bellevue in Stellenbosch
Pinotage characteristics?
thick skinned, drought resistant, and high yielding
What happens if Pinotage experiences water stress or high temperatures at harvest?
Isoamyl acetate (the source of paint thinner and rusty nail aromas) can develop
Why Pinotage needs careful handling in the winery?
Aggressive extraction techniques in the cellar yielded the toothsome tannins, and the wines’ tendency toward high pH increased the risk of microbial spoilage.
Pinotage’s coffee aroma is due to the compound?
furfurylthiol, which is formed from furfural released by toasted staves during fermentation
The Western Cape geographical unit has been divided into five regions
Breede River Valley
Klein Karoo
Olifants River
Cape South Coast
Coastal Region
The first three are associated with bulk wine, while Cape South Coast and the Coastal Region are known for fine wine production
Name the sixth region until 2019
Boberg
Unlike the other regions, it applied only to fortified wine specifically produced from the Coastal Region’s districts of Paarl, Franschhoek, Tulbagh, and Wellington
repealed in 2019
Cape Ruby, Cape Tawny and Cape Vintage are far more popular names for this Port-like type of wine.
Name the districts of Breede River Valley
The Breede River Valley region is divided into three districts: Breedekloof (which, confusingly, means “Breede River Valley” in Afrikaans) in the west, Worcester in the middle and the north, and Robertson in the southeast.
Which region produces the most wine in SA?
Though it contains relatively few wineries, the Breede River Valley grows more grapes (34.29% of South Africa’s 2018 total) and produces more wine than any other region. This is because it is, by and large, home to massive operations, many of which are cooperatives. Vines are cropped heavy, and much of the local production is sent to the distillers to become brandy.
Name Breedkloof’s grape varieties
mainly whites, Chenin Blanc followed by Colombard, Sauvigon Blanc, Pinotage and Chardonnay
Name the wards of Breedkloof
Goudini, Slanghoek (slightly cooler)
Name a top artisan small producer from Breedekloof
Olifantsberg, a tiny estate dedicated to Rhône varieties
Which is the coolest district of Breede River Valley?
Robertson due to cooling ocean breezes
Because of this, and certainly because of its soils, it is home to over 25% of South Africa’s Chardonnay.
Limestone soils rich in calcium
Name a top Chardonnay producer from Roberson
De Wetshof produces a range of single-vineyard and single-soil Chardonnays that have brought considerable critical acclaim to the region.
Name a top MCC producer from Robertson
Graham Beck
Name the grape varieties of Robertson
Chardonnay,Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. This list demonstrates that, while brandy and fortified wine production are still significant parts of regional operations, Robertson has had an easier time realigning itself to so-called noble varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz than other interior areas.
Name the wards of Robertson
Agterkliphoogte, Ashton, Boesmansrivier, Bonnievale, Eilandia, Goedemoed, Goree, Goudmyn, Hoopsrivier, Klaasvoogds, Le Chasseur, McGregor, Vinkrivier, Zandrivier
Which is the largest district of Breed River?
Worcester is the largest of the three Breede River Valley districts but the least widely planted
Worcester most planted grapes?
It is also the most closely associated with “brandy varieties,” Chenin Blanc and Colombard followed by Sauvignon Blanc
Which is the hottest and driest district of Breede River?
Worcester, though frost is a regular and acute threat. Here, irrigation is almost always necessary, and vineyards higher on the slopes produce better quality
Where is the odd sweet jeripigo vin de liquer mainly produced?
Worcester
Name the wards of Worcester
Hex River Valley, Keeromsberg, Nuy, Rooikrans, Scherpenheuvel, Stettyn
Name the predominant grapes of Cape South Coast
Sauvignon Blanc,
Shiraz
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Name the Cape South Coast wards with no district
Herbertsdale, Napier, Stilbaai East
Name the districts of Cape South Coast
Cape Agulhas
Elgin
Overberg
Swellendam
Walker Bay
Plettenberg Bay (the smallest in SA)
