South Africa

Question 1

What is the WO?

Answer 1

The Wine of Origin system of South Africa that chemically analyzes wines, regulates blending and % rules, & delimits regions.

Question 2

What are the WO’s blending and % rules?

Answer 2

If wine comes from specific area, it’s gotta be 100%
If single vineyard, must be 100%, from a small contiguous parcel less than 6ha.
If estate wine, must be vinified & bottled on property of 100% estate fruit from a single contiguous parcel.
85% stated variety, from approved cultivars
Must be chemically tested prior to release
Cap classique wines are permitted under WO

Question 3

What are cap classique wines?

Answer 3

SA traditional method sparklers from chard, pinot, occasionally pinotage. Graham Beck’s the producer to know; his wines are a crazy good value.

Question 4

What are SA’s primary & secondary white grapes?

Answer 4

Primary: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
Secondary: Collumbard. Muscat of Alexandria, Semillon

Question 5

What are SA’s primary & secondary red grapes?

Answer 5

Primary: Cab, Syrah, Pinotage
Secondary: Cinsault, Pinot Noir

Question 6

Where is SA located? With whom does it share lattitude?

Answer 6

Southern tip of Africa on the 34th Southern parallel, along the Eeryie Peninsula of South Australia near Margaret River

Question 7

What are the important mountain ranges of SA?

Answer 7

The coastal range, especially Cederberg, Bolands, & Langeberg from NW to SE

Question 8

What are SA’s important rivers?

Answer 8

Breede River in South, Sonderend tributary of Breede. & Olifants in North West

Question 9

What are the important oceans & bays of SA?

Answer 9

Atlantic & Indian; False Bay, Walker Bay,

Question 10

What is the major wine producing GI?

Answer 10

The Western Cape

Question 11

What are the 9 Districts of the Coastal Region?

Answer 11

-Swartland
-Cape Town
-Stellenboch
-Paarl
-Franschoek Valley
-Darling
-Lutzville Valley
-Wellington
-Tulbagh

Question 12

What is Constantia?

Answer 12

A coastal Ward of Cape Town where sweet fortified wine is made.

Question 12

What are the Wards of Cape Town?

Answer 12

Constantia, Philadelphia, Durbanville, & Hout Bay

Question 12

Who still makes Vin de Constance? from what?

Answer 12

Klein Constance, from Muscat de Frontignan.

Question 13

What body of water influences cape town?

Answer 13

False Bay, a source of cool breezes.

Question 14

What is Stellenbosch famous for? What is its climate?

Answer 14

Maritime, but warmer than Bordeaux, Stellenbosch is famous for reds and bordeaux blends and varieties like cab, sauv blanc, and merlot, as well as pinotage, shiraz, & chenin.

Question 15

What are the famous soils of Stellenbosch?

Answer 15

Valley floor is ancient alluvial loam over shale
Slopes are decomposed granite & sandstone

Question 16

Name 2 famous Stellenbosch wines & 3 famous producers

Answer 16

Warwick Estate’s Trilogy
Meerlust’s Rubicon
Kanokop (Pinotage champ)
Rust en Vrede
Neil Ellis

Question 17

What is Paarl like & what wines are produced there?

Answer 17

It’s warmer & more continental than Stellenbosch, & produces Cab, Chard, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, & Pinotage. It’s famous for the KVW (founding SAWIT partner), & Nederberg Wine Auction, where rare cape wines are sold. Nederberg famously produced South Africa’s first botrytized dessert wines.