South Africa

Question 1

What is the name of the ocean current that cools down South Africa’s coastal areas?

From where does the current originate?

Answer 1

Benguela Current

Originates in Antartica

Question 2

What is the Cape Doctor?

Answer 2

A strong, southeasterly wind that blows in the spring and summer across the Western Cape of South Africa.

It’s called the Cape Doctor because it sweeps away all the air pollution produced by traffic and industry.

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of the Cape Doctor?

Answer 3

Pros
–cures fungal diseases
–moderates temps

Cons
–Its so strong it can disrupt flowering and even damage vines.

Question 4

To which century can South Africa date its history of viticulture?

Answer 4

17th Century (1600s)

Question 5

South Africa became a trading station and later a settlement for which trading company?

Answer 5

Dutch East India Company

Question 6

The first vines in South Africa were planted in ____, and viticulture took off in ____ when which religious group arrived on the Cape.

Answer 6

First planted 1655

Took off 1688

religious group: French Huguenots

Question 7

When did South African wines start to gain traction in export markets?

Answer 7

After 1994s democratic elections ended apartheid.

Question 8

Which 2 oceans border South Africa?

Answer 8

Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

Question 9

Although South Africa’s climate is mostly ______, it becomes very ____ as you move away from the coast.

Answer 9

Climate is mostly Maritime

gets warmer as you move inland from the coast

Question 10

What are the soils of South Africa?

Answer 10

Diverse and very old!
–Valley floors have shale and alluvial loam
–Hillsides have sandstone and decomposed granite

Question 11

What is Chenin Blanc called in South Africa?

Answer 11

Steen

Question 12

What are the 3 main white grapes of South Africa?

Answer 12

1. Steen (Chenin Blanc)
2. Chardonnay
3. Sauv Blanc

Question 13

What are the parent grapes of Pinotage?

Answer 13

Pinot Noir and Cinsault

Question 14

What are the 5 main red grapes of South Africa?

Answer 14

1. Pinotage
2. Cab Sauv
3. Merlot
4. Syrah
5. Pinot Noir

Question 15

Unfortunately, South Africa’s vineyards see a lot of what kind of disease?

Answer 15

Vine viruses

South Africa has a lot of vine viruses due to untested rootstock material being smuggled into the country in the late 1960s.

Question 16

What is the regional wine law system used in South Africa?

Answer 16

Wine of Origin System (WO)

Question 17

In what year was the WO launched?

Answer 17

1973

Question 18

What do wine producers have to do in order to obtain the WO seal for their wine?

Answer 18

–Adhere to WOs specific guidelines such as using approved grapes, meeting minimums, ensuring the grapes come from stated areas…

–Submit their wines to the WO board to be tasted, tested and approved.

Question 19

For WO labeling laws, if a vintage is stated on a label what minimum percent must come from that vintage?

Answer 19

85%

Question 20

For WO labeling laws if a grape is stated on a label the wine must be a minimum of what percent of that stated grape?

Answer 20

85%

Question 21

For WO labeling laws, if an appellation is stated on a label the grapes must come from what percent of that stated appellation?

Answer 21

100%

Question 22

What was the KWV and what role did it play in South Africa’s wine industry?

Answer 22

–established in 1918
–A cooperative that rescued the South African wine industry after exports had bottomed out due to phylloxera
–the coop itself produced (cheap) wine
–Its stabilized prices to start (but….)
–It created a quota system which focused on quantity over quality
–became a private company in 1997 after apartheid.

Question 23

From largest to smallest, what are the Geographic Designations in South Africa?

Answer 23

1. Geographical Unit
2. Region
3. District
4. Ward
5. Estates

Question 24

One of the most important Geographical Units in South Africa is _____.

Answer 24

Western Cape

Question 25

The most important Region with the Western Cape is _____.

Answer 25

Coastal Region

Question 26

The 3 most important Districts within the Coastal Region are:

Answer 26

1. Stellenbosch
2. Paarl
3. Swartland

Question 27

An important District that’s outside of Coastal Region, ____ Bay, lies along the coast south of Stellenbosch.

Answer 27

Walker Bay

Question 28

One of the most important Wards of the Coastal Region, which is in the Cape Town District, is ______.

Answer 28

Constantia

Question 29

What style of wine is Constantia known for?

Answer 29

Sweet wines

Question 30

Wards are defined by soil and _____?

Answer 30

–Climate
—Geological aspects