South Africa

Question 1

What are the weather/climate and geographical features which give cool areas in South Africa?

Answer 1

The Benguela Current.
The Cape Doctor.
Mountains (altitude, shade).

Question 2

Outline South Africa’s wine laws.

Answer 2

Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.). Started 1973.

4 different sizes of production area:

Geographical unit , e.g. Western Cape.

Region, e.g. Coastal Region, Breede River Valley, Cape South Coast.

Districts.

Wards.

100% of grapes must come from the area named on the label - consequently not that many labels actually mention a ward.

85% must be of the named varietal.

Estate wines: all grapes must come from single estate, and must be processed there up to and including bottling.

Question 3

What are the eleven main grape varieties grown in South Africa?

Answer 3

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Syrah
Pinot Noir (small amounts in coastal areas)
Pinotage
Chenin Blanc (most widely planted of either colour)
Colombard (2nd most widely planted white variety - a lot goes to brandy production)
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Muscat of Alexandria (called Hanepoot in S Africa)
Viognier

Question 4

Talk about Chenin Blanc in South Africa.

Answer 4

Most widely planted grape in Sth Africa.

• importance has declined but better dry and sweet Chenin being produced
• basic level is easy drinking with stone fruit flavours
• old bush vines being used to make wines of complexity and concentration
• barrel fermentation and ageing used
• is never as sharply acidic as in the Loire; is grown in SA because it can keep acidity in warm sites, cool sites used for other varieties

Question 5

How much of wine production in South Africa comes from Western Cape?

Answer 5

Well over 90%.

Question 6

Talk about the Stellenbosch district.

Answer 6

• climate moderate to warm
• long the centre of premium wine production
• cool winds from False Bay funnelled by mountains into the valleys
• wide variety of altitude and aspect in small area

Produces :

• Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot blends
• Syrah
• Cape red blends
• Sauvignon Blanc (70% of plantings but not renowned for it)
• Chardonnay

Question 7

Talk about Paarl.

Answer 7

Large district lying to the north of Stellenbosch; further inland and climate tends more to the continental.

• most common varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinotage and Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay
• KWV based here
• Franschhoek - important ward, founded by French Hugenots. Wine tourism here.
• Wellington - warm ward

Question 8

Talk about Constantia.

Answer 8

Classic area with long history. A ward in the Cape Peninsula district.

• oldest vineyards on eastern flanks of Table Mountain
• constantly cooled by Cape Doctor
• reputation for Sauvignon Blanc
• one estate produces Vin de Constance from late-harvested Muscat
• vineyards in the south of the district good for Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
• some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in warmer sites
• not much Pinot Noir as is too windy for it
• Bordeaux blend the dominant red

Question 9

Talk about Swartland.

Answer 9

• large district to north of Cape Town
• undergone improvement in recent years
• source of old vine Chenin Blanc
• Eben Sadie has produced Columella (Syrah based blend) and Palladius (Chenin Blanc based blend) form various old vines

Question 10

Where and what is Darling district?

Answer 10

District in South Africa, almost surrounded by SW of Swartland

• close to coast and its breezes
• has built reputation on Sauvignon Blanc

Question 11

What is Durbanville?

Answer 11

Ward in the Tygerberg district

• hillside sites north of Cape Town
• reputation for Sauvignon Blanc

Question 12

What are the two main districts of Breede River Valley Region?

Answer 12

Worcester and Robertson.

Question 13

Talk about Worcester District.

Answer 13

At western end of Breede River Valley Region.

• hot and dry, irrigation necessary
• fertile soils
• source of red and white high volume branded wines
• largest proportion white made from Chenin Blanc and Colombard

Question 14

Talk about Robertson District.

Answer 14

In Breede River Valley Region, to east of Worcester District.

• not quite as hot and dry as Worcester (winds come in from south east)
• wines for high volume brands
• but on outcrops of less fertile soil and thanks to cooling influences some good Syrah and full-bodied Chardonnay made

Question 15

Name four districts or wards in Cape South Coast Region.

Answer 15

Walker Bay district
which includes Hemel-en-Aarde wards.

Elgin district.

Elim ward (within Cape Agulhas district).

Question 16

Talk about Elgin District.

Answer 16

In Cape South Coast Region

• predominantly white
• cool, high vineyards
• fine Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and some good Pinot Noir

Question 17

Talk about Elim.

Answer 17

Ward in Cape Agulhas District.

• very cool (almost too cool), on southernmost tip of Africa
• pungent, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc
• trouble with baboons

Question 18

Talk about Walker Bay.

Answer 18

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - some of South Africa's best.
- Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
- Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
- Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
are its three most important wards

Question 19

Talk about Eben Sadie.

Answer 19

South African winemaker.

• worked initially under Charles Back on his Spice Route label
• had insight that Rhone varieties would work in Swartland
• created Columella (predominantly Syrah, with some Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault) - blend of old-vine fruit from 8 vineyards
• Palladius - Chenin Blanc based wine, plus 11 other varieties from old vines in various (17) Swartland vineyards

Question 20

Talk about Chris and Susan Alheit.

Answer 20

South African winemakers.
Created Cartology - Semillon/Chenin Blanc blend from old-vine fruit various vineyards in Western Cape
- used advice of Rosa Kruger

Question 21

Name three recent cult status South African wines.

Answer 21

Columella - Eben Sadie
Palladius - Eben Sadie
Cartology - Chris and Susan Alheit

Question 22

Talk about KWV.

Answer 22

State wine co-operative, now private company.
Founded 1918.
Granted regulatory powers 1924.
- led to volume driven, poor quality wine industry
1998 became an independent company. Powers to regulate abandoned in 1992 - allowed potential of southern coast line of Western Cape to be developed for wine.

KWV now produces some decent wine, and brandy of quality.

Question 23

Talk about Pinotage.

Answer 23

Cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. 7.5% of South African plantings.
- tends to drop acidity very quickly in the vineyard. Can lead to lack of acidity during vinification and thus infections which lead to taint (e.g. Brettanomyces). Particular problem with high yields.
- picking early to maintain acidity can lead to green herbaceous taint.
Smoke in Pintage flavours/aromas? Might have come from tarred poles in vineyard.
- younger winemakers making lighter styles

• Coffee Pinotage, popular oaked version which has Mocha flavours/aromas. Particular yeast strain used, and lots of toasted oak staves.

Question 24

What is a Cape Blend?

Answer 24

A red blend in which Pinotage appears.

Question 25

Talk about Hemel-en-Arde.

Answer 25

Three wards in Walker Bay:
Hemel-en-Arde Valley (shale)
Upper Hemel-en-Arde Valley (granite)
Heme-en-Arde Ridge (shale)

Hemel-en-arde means ‘heaven and earth’.

• the ‘Burgundy’ of South Africa, renowned for Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Hamilton Russell vineyards are all in H-en-A Valley. Tim founder 1975, son Anthony took over took over in 1991.

Question 26

Can bulk wine be shipped abroad from South Africa?

Answer 26

No, it has to be bottled there.