South Africa

Question 1

What are the two main soils of Stellenbosch?

Answer 1

Granite and Sandstone

Question 2

Which two districts were originally part of Paarl and when did they become independent?

Answer 2

Wellington (2012)
Franschoek (2010)

Question 3

What is Pinotage a crossing of?

Answer 3

Pinot Noir x Cinsault
crossed in 1925 by Abraham Perold

Question 4

What are the requirements to label as single variety in SA? Area of Production?

Answer 4

85% for variety
100% for area of production

Question 5

When did the Wine of Origin scheme begin? Who oversees it?

Answer 5

1973. The South African Wine & Spirits board oversees it.

Question 6

What is the KMV? What was it role in SA wine history? When did it change from cooperative to company?

Answer 6

Kooperatieve Wijnbouwers Verenigin Zuid-Afrika. Started in 1918. Winegrowers and producers that oversaw areas of production, fixed minimum prices, etc. Favored large producers. Relinquished statutory powers in 1992. Became a company in 1997 after the apartheid.

Question 7

What at is Cap Classique? Name a producer.

Answer 7

Sparkling wine from traditional method. Graham Beck. Warwick Estate.

Question 8

What effect does the Benguela Current have on the climate of SA?

Answer 8

Current coming up from Antarctica that cools SA

Question 9

Where are the highest altitude vineyards in SA located? In which GU is it within?

Answer 9

Cederberg, an independent ward (without a district or region) within the Western Cape

Question 10

What does Hemel-en-Aarde mean? Name 3 Hemel-en-Aarde wards.

Answer 10

Heaven & Earth. Hemel-en Aarde Ridge, Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde, and Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. All wards within the Walker Bay district.

Question 11

What is the Integrated Production of Wine Scheme?

Answer 11

Est. 1998. Sustainable environmental standard certification. Includes agricultural and manufacturing practices, packaging, etc. req 60 % score. 85% of WO wines have the seal.

Question 12

Which variety is referred to as Hermitage in SA?

Answer 12

Cinsault.

Question 13

What are colloquial names for the following varieties?

Hanepoot
Gronedroif
Cape Riesling
Hermitage

Answer 13

Hanepoot = Muscat d’Alexandria
Gronedroif = Semillon
Cape Riesling = Crouchen Blanc
Hermitage = Cinsault

Question 14

Where would you find Malmsbury Shale?

Answer 14

Swartland soil

Question 15

Name 3 requirements for the Swartland Independent Producers.

Answer 15

1. Must be grown entirely in Swartland and carry a Wine of Origin Swartland Seal
2. Vinified, Matured, & Bottled in Swartland
3. At least 80% of wine production under their own label.
4. Naturally produced: 100% native year. not acidified. no added tannins. not chemically fined. No tech process to alter the constitution of the wine.
5. W: CB, GEn Bland, Mar, Rou, Vio, Clairette Blanche, Palomino, Semillon, Muscat de Alex, Mascat de Font, Colombard, Verdelho
   R: Shiraz, Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Tinta Barroca, Pinotage
6. All European wood. No more than 25% new wood.
7. Burgundy shaped bottles.

Question 16

`Name 3 good vintages for SA since 2000. 3 poor vintages since 2000?

Answer 16

2007, 2009 (OUTSTANDING), 2015, 2017 - GOOD!
2002, 2011, 2014 - POOR. all due to rait + rot.