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Wset Diploma Unit 3 > South Africa > Flashcards

South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

First vines planted by Jan van Riebeeck. (Dutch navigator & colonial administrator).

A

1654

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2
Q

Simon van der Stel establishes the legendary Contantia wine estate outside cape town.

A

1685

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3
Q

Constantine wines -> famous among European aristocracy.

A

1778

Predating some top Bordeaux

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4
Q

Abolition of preferential tariffs for South African imports & the rise of French wines put pressure on the industry.

A

1861

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5
Q

Phylloxera hits. -> most vines replanted with high yielding cinsault -> overproduction.

A

1866 - 1918

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6
Q

Foundation of the KWV (cooperatives wine growers association).

  • Legally empowered to set production & prices (relative stability restored)
A

1918- 1998

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7
Q

Key success factors-

1990’s until Now

A
  • Apartheid ends -> re-entry into world markets -> exports x16 (1991-2011)
  • KWV privatised -> growth of small, quality estates
  • Rise of international varieties -> foreign consultants + improvements to viti/ vini.
  • Foreign investment large & small -> Pernod/Constellation/ Anne Cointreau.
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8
Q

What is the climate?

Influencers?

A

Mediterranean w/ warm summers

Cold north flowing Benguela current
Cape doctor

Inland Stellenbosch much warmer and drier -> irrigation.

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9
Q

What is soils & top?

3 features
Many soils

A

Hilltops - Well drained deep granite & shale

Slopes - Shallow to medium sand over heavy clay

Valleys - Medium to deep alluvial & sandstone

*Laterite - soil rich in iron oxide and aluminium

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10
Q

Grapes?

Which dominates?

A

Whites dominate (56%)

Chenin blanc aka steen (18%)
SB (10%)
Chardonnay (8%)
Muscat aka Hanepoot.
& Colombard/Riesling/Semillon/Gewurtztraminer
Reds (44%)
Cab Sav (12%)
Shiraz (10%)
Pinotage (7%)
Merlot (6%)
P.N
& Cab franc/Carignan/Grenache/Mourvèdre
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11
Q 
How many ha of vines in SA?
Irrigation & yields?
Problems?
Trends?
Hazards?
A

112,000 ha of vines.

  • Most vineyards are irrigated
  • There are no yield checks. Can go up to 350hl/ha. But Avg 80hl/ha
  • South Africa late to the party-> poor management of planting material
  • > industry is handicapped by viruses (leaf roll/fan leaf/corky bark) -> Cinsault & Chenin good resistance.
  • South Africa are committed to sustainable farming.
  • Harvard’s are wind, drought and viruses.
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12
Q

White winemaking

A

Fermented in stainless steel.

Temperature control is now wide spread.

Use of oak chips.

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13
Q

Red wine making

A

Small oak ageing introduced in late 70’s

Now widely used with controlled MLF

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14
Q

Wine laws

When was Wine of Origin established?
Why?
Geographical hierarchy?

A

WO legislation established 1972

-> To protect wines of certain origin or vintage.

Geographical hierarchy from large to small:
Region -> District -> Ward -> Estate

*Not all districts are part of a region etc

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15
Q

What are key WO requirements?

A

100% from area stated

Min 85% from variety stated

Min 75% from vintage stated

Tasting

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16
Q

Coastal Region -

A

Heartland of fine wine

Influenced by sea -> great for SB

17
Q

Coastal Region - Constanta ward

A

Standalone (not part of district)

Located cape of good hope. South of Cape Town.

19C during growing season. 1000mm of rain - most in winter.

East facing slopes of Constantia Berg

Sandstone soils w/ high concentration of loam & granite

Sweet produced from Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains since 17th by Kleing Constantia & Groot Constantia (though stopped in late 19th)

Noteworthy SB & Chard, Cab merl shrz

18
Q

Coastal Region - Tygerberg District

A

Rolling hills 10km north of Cape Town, growing reputation.

Ideal for SB

Durbanville Ward

  • Outstanding.
  • Cooling breezes w/ night time mists.
  • Deep soil. One of the oldest wine producing areas.
  • Top SB & Chard, Pinotage/ Merlot, CS (Bloemendal ⭐️)
19
Q

Coastal Region - Stellenbosch District (17,000ha)

A

South of Durbanville, 40km from Capetown. Coast -> inland

Ancient, Since 17th. Heart quality & ‘town of oaks’.

Warm Mediterranean w/ good rainfall (no irrigation necessary)

Mountainous (600m) granite/ sandstone

Bordeaux blends, Shiraz & Pinotage dominate (63%)
Mostly SB & Chenin.

Largest district w/ area under vine but 1/5th production (lower yields)

150 estates/ producers (Ken Forrester, Raats family, Rustonberg)

Stellenbosch university & the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture & Oenology -> most modern & experimental (varieties/clones/rootstocks)

20
Q

Coastal Region - Paarl District (16,000ha)

A

N of Stellenbosch

2nd largest w/ area under vine

Mediterranean, hot dry summers (+2c vs Stellenbosch), Damp Winters.
Almost No maritime influence.

Various soils -> sandstone & granite in higher locations.

Shiraz/Bordeaux varieties/ Pinotage
Chenin Blanc / Chardonnay

80’s was centre of industry -> now shifted to Stellenbosch.

Key producers include KWV, Nederberg (historic estate/ Spring auction), Fairview (Charles Back) - 1.5m bottles/ year

Franschhoek Ward

  • “French corner”
  • Valley ward, made of narrow valleys, circled by high mountains.
  • Historic producer Boschendal (17th / 3m bottles)
  • Vast variety wines -> much geography and climate.
21
Q

Coastal Region - Tulbagh District

A

Small- North of Paarl.
Bordering Swartland. Surrounded by mountains.

Hot climate

Varying topography

Low PH. Granite on slopes. Deep sand and clay on river bank.

Good promise for Shiraz & Riesling.

22
Q

Cape South Coast -

A

South eastern continuation of coastal region.

6 key districts

23
Q

Cape South Coast - Overberg District

A

East of Stellenbosch

Up and coming

Cool climate

PN and Chard

24
Q

Cape South Coast - Walker bay (use to be a ward)

A

Set up by Hamilton Russel in 1970’s (Hemel en Aarde Ward)

One of coolest regions in South Africa

Slate soils 300-600m.

Best Chard & PN.
Top Pinotage, Sauv B, Merlot, Shiraz.

Bouchard Finlayson (Galpin Peak), Hamilton Russel.

25
Q

Cape South Coast - Elgin

A

South of Franschhoek
East of Walker bay

Top Chard, Riesling, SB, PN & Shiraz

Thandi

26
Q

Breede Valley Region -

A

Inland from north east of Paarl to Indian Ocean.

Largest wine region >1/3 countries vineyards & 40% production.

3 districts - Breedekloof, Robertson and Worcester.

27
Q

Breede Valley Region - Worcester (14,000ha)

A

Inland

Hot climate- tempered from sea clouds and river & irrigation

Mainly lime soils -> Depth and finesse in whites (Chard)

Whites 70% of production (Colombard/ Chenin blanc/ Chard/ SB)
Red (Cab/ Shiraz/ Ruby Cab)

28
Q

Breede Valley Region - Robertson & Breedekloof (21,000ha)

A

NE Paarl

Hot, Dry, requires irrigation

70% whites w/ Chenin B & Colombard >1/3 of production

Reds- Cabernet (Robertson) , Cinsault (Breedekloof)

Many custom-made for exports to UK super markets.

29
Q

Two other regions?

A

Klein Karoo

Olifants river

30
Q

Three key types of producer

A

Co-operatives:
- Produce & Market / Sell in bulk to merchants. 80%

Estate Wineries:
- Produce only from own grapes and vinify on own premises

Wholesale Merchants:

  • Buy in grapes & Bulk wine to sell under own label. May also vinify own.
  • Act as distributors for many estates.
31
Q

How much wine produced?

Exports?

Major Producers?

A

8.3mhl, 7 largest in the world.

Exports: 400m litres mainly to UK (22%) and Germany (20%)

Local consumption relatively low. 1/3

Major producers: 
Kwv
Buitenverwachtung
Nederberg
Fairview
Boschendal

Wset Diploma Unit 3 (4 decks)

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