South Africa Flashcards
The sweet ____ became the first New World wine to be coveted throughout the courts of Europe.
Vin de Constance-Governor Simon van der Stel’s Constantia estate eclipsed the modest winemaking tradition of his predecessors, and the sweet Vin de Constance became the first New World wine
_______ and its red-berried variant provided the base for white and red versions of Vin de Constance, a dried grape wine sold in the early 1800s to a plethora of dignitaries, including King Louis Philippe (the last king of France) and the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (also known in South Africa as Muscat de Frontignan or Muscadel)
The _____ (WO) system, introduced in 1973, compels producers seeking certification to submit a sample of the wine for evaluation by a tasting panel, which confirms that the wine shows the correct organoleptic qualities for its cultivar (variety) and age. What are the (4) types of production areas, in descending order of size:
Wine of Origin-(4) types of production areas, in descending order of size:
Geographical unit
Region
District
Ward
(Single Vineyard Wine):
Sourced solely from vineyard (provided it is appropriately registered) Less than 6 hectares.
*(Estate wines): must be produced from contiguous parcels of vineyard land, and vinified and bottled on a single property. *A WO seal appears on all bottles of South African wine that pass certification.
An approved cultivar or (variety)—approximately 75 are authorized, irrespective of region—must be used to attain WO status. As of 2006, the wines must follow these requirements, name five.
- evaluation by tasting panel -showing correct organoleptic qualities
- scientific analysis
- contain 85% of the stated grape
- Blends may list grapes, if vinification was separately and each listed grape comprises min 20% of wine
- A min 85% of the stated vintage is also required
- If an area of production appears on the label, 100% of the grapes from which the wine was made must come from the stated area.
South Africa’s wine-producing areas are divided into five large geographical areas:
*Western Cape* Northern Cape Eastern Cape Kwazulu-Natal (Northeast of Eastern Cape) Limpopo (Most Northerly)
Northern Cape consists of only five production areas:
Douglas and Sutherland-Karoo districts, and the independent Hartswater, Central Orange River, and Rietrivier FS wards.
True or False: Eastern Cape has a single ward (St. Francis Bay) and Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo contain no other production areas.
True
Most South African wine production occurs in the Western Cape, a small area in southwestern corner and most WO areas are contained within it, including South Africa’s six regions:
*Coastal Region* Cape South Coast Breede River Valley Klein Karoo Olifants River Boberg
At a latitude of 27°-34°, the Western Cape’s climate is essentially Mediterranean–warm, sunny growing seasons. The_____ flows north from Antarctica to cool the coastal areas. The _____, a notoriously strong southeasterly wind, blows across the Western Cape throughout the spring and summer, inhibiting fungal disease and moderating temperature—but also ferociously battering the vines.
Benguela Current; Cape Doctor
The Cape’s southernmost district, Cape Agulhas, offers the coolest climate in the country, whereas the Northern Cape production areas along the Orange River experience a hot, arid climate and are generally only suitable for bulk wines. True or False
True
_____, known locally as Steen, is the most planted white grape, occupying around 20% of the nation’s vineyards. Other six important white grapes include:
Chenin Blanc; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Cape Riesling (a synonym for Crouchen Blanc unrelated to Riesling), Hanepoot (Muscat of Alexandria), and Gewürztraminer.
Red grapes have surged in acreage since the mid-1990s—over half of the country’s red vines are under ten years old. Pinotage- a crossing of ___ x ____ developed by Professor Abraham Perold in 1925, may yet become South Africa’s signature red grape, Most planted red varietal is______ . Five other red grapes are important commercial red cultivars. Pontac, a (teinturier) grape linked to the old red wines of Constantia, enjoys a limited revival amongst dedicated producers.
Cinsault x Pinot Noir=Pinotage; Most planted red-Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Tinta Barroca
Traditional method sparkling wines known as ____ are increasingly produced from ___and____ , and fortified styles include Cape Port and Sherry—terms that were phased out in 2012. Cape Port today is generally named according to its style: Cape Tawny, Cape Ruby, and so forth.
Cap Classique; Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
South Africa’s Coastal Region is located around the original colony of Cape Town and along the western coast of the Cape. The region is subdivided into 9 districts: \_\_\_\_ Another district (Cape Point) was repealed in early 2014 with the introduction of Cape Peninsula, which contains the wards of Constantia and Hout Bay.
Stellenbosch, Cape Peninsula, Tygerberg, Paarl, Tulbagh, Darling, Franschhoek Valley, Wellington and Swartland and
(Cape Peninsula)-contains the wards of Constantia and Hout Bay
Across False Bay from the Cape Peninsula is the _____ district, South Africa’s most prominent winemaking region.
____and____ are the district’s two most planted varietals, followed by Merlot, Shiraz, and Chenin Blanc.
Stellenbosch; Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
Producers-Bordeaux, blended reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon, such as Warwick Estate’s “Trilogy” and Meerlust’s “Rubicon,” garner high praise also Kanonkop (a champion of Pinotage), Rust en Vrede, and Neil Ellis are highly regarded producers in the district.
True or False: Wards within Stellenbosch include Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Banghoek, and the Polkadraai Hills.
True
North of Stellenbosch, the warmer inland ___(“pearl”) district is home to the KWV, a founding partner in SAWIT
Paarl
Nederburg is the district’s largest producer and the first house to produce a botrytised dessert wine in South Africa.
The Breede River Valley comprises three districts: Robertson, Worcester, and Breedekloof. _____and____, the largest district in South Africa in terms of production, produce over 25% of the national volume of wine and spirits (generally brandy) and nearly 20% of the nation’s vine acreage is located in these two districts.
Breedekloof and Worcester
Five districts and two stand-alone wards were grouped into the new Cape South Coast Region in 2010. Three of these districts: ___, ___and___—line the southwestern Atlantic Coast of South Africa. A fourth, Plettenberg Bay, lies over 250 miles to the east, along the southern coast of Africa. The fifth district, Swellendam, borders Overberg to the east, near the Breede River Valley. Elgin is new district NW of Walker Bay.
Southwest Districts-1-Overberg, 2-Walker Bay, and 3-Cape Agulhas
4-Plettenberg Bay (East)
5-Swellendam (borders East-side Overberg)
6-*Elgin (borders West-side Overberg/NW of Walker Bay)
*(received district status in 2012)
Where is Constantia? • Overberg • Coastal Region • Klein Karoo • Olifants River Region • Breede River Valley
Coastal Region
