South Africa Flashcards
What are the 6 Geographical Units/Regions of South Africa?
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Free State
Limpopo
KwaZulu-Natal
What is the climate of the Worcester district?
What styles of wine does it produce?
- Lies at the western end of the Breede River Valley
- Hot/dry climate that requires irrigation
- reliable source of high-volume red/white wines, but mostly wines made from Chenin Blanc and Colombard.
- Much of the wine is used for distillation.
What 1 black and 1 white grape is Swartland most renowned for?
Old Vine Chenin Blanc
High quality Syrah
In which century were the first vineyards planted in South Africa?
17th Century
Certified Wines of Origin (WO) must contain __% of the stated cultivar and vintage.
85%
What is a South African red wine blend called when it is a blend of Pinotage and other International grapes?
Cape Blend
What grapes are typically used for Methode Cap Classique wines?
Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
What is the “Cape Doctor” and what are its effects on grape-growing (both positive and negative)?
A notoriously strong southeasterly wind that blows across the Western Cape throughout the spring and summer.
Inhibits fungal disease and moderates temperature.
Ferociously batters the vines.
What was Napoleon’s favorite dessert wine?
Klein Constantia / Vin de Constance
Which wine is regarded as the top 100% Shiraz produced in South Africa?
Which region does it come from?
De Toren’s “The Black Lion”
Swartland and Stellenbosch
Name the famous golfer who jointly owns a prestige South African winery?
Which region is it located in?
Ernie Els
Stellenbosch
What grape is Durbanville District renowned for?
Sauvignon Blanc
The Olifants River Region is made up of which 3 Districts?
Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Valley
Lutzville Valley
The Stellenbosch and Paarl WO districts are separated by _____ Mountain.
Simonsberg
What white grapes are grown in the cooler sites in Stellenbosch?
Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc
What is South Africa’s most planted white and red grape varieties?
White (most overall): Chenin Blanc (Steen)
Red: Cabernet Sauvignon
The South African appellation system is goverened by which body?
What is the 4-part hierarchy of wines?
The Wine of Origin System (WO)
Geographical Units / Regions / Districts / Wards
Where would you find some of the oldest vineyards in The Cape?
Constantia Ward
Which South African producer makes the Bordeaux-style blend known as “Rubicon”?
Which District / Region / GU is it located in?
What grapes are used?
Meerlust
Stellenbosch / Coastal Region / Western Cape
Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, w/ Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Petit Verdot
In which Ward / District / Region would you be likely to find the best Pinot Noir in South Africa?
Hemel-en-Aarde Ward, Walker Bay District, Cape South Coast Region
In South African wine law, if an area of production appears on the label, what % of grapes must come from that area?
100%
What is the coolest wine-growing district in South Africa?
What 3 factors provide cooling for this district?
Elgin
Proximity to the Atlantic
Prevailing wind directions
Altitude
What is the name of the wind that brings cool air inland?
The Cape Doctor
What is Pinotage a Crossing of?
Pinot Noir and Cinsault
What are the rules for ‘Estate Wines’ in South Africa?
Grapes must come from estate vineyards in one GI. Estate must process from grape to wine incl bottling
What are the 3 main black grapes grown in Paarl District?
Cab Sav, Syrah and Pinotage
In which Region is Stellenbosch located?
Coastal Region
Constantia is a ward within which District / Region / Geographical Unit?
Cape Town / Coastal Region / Western Cape
What is the widest planted grape variety in South Africa by volume / acreage?
Chenin Blanc
What are the 6 Regions that make up Western Cape GI?
Coastal Region
Breede River Valley
Cape South Coast
Klein Karoo
Olifants River
Boberg
What 2 white and 1 Black grape is Elim ward renowned for?
Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon
Syrah
What is the signature black grape of South Africa?
What is the most planted black grape?
What are 6 other popular black grapes planted?
Pinotage.
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cinsault, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Tinta Barroca
“Hanepoot” is a regional synonym from which country for which grape?
South Africa / Muscat of Alexandria
Although South Africa’s wine history extends back several hundred years, its modern history did not really begin until _____.
The end of Apartheid in the early 1990’s
What is ‘Dry Farming’, what outcome does it provide and which South African District often uses it?
Vine growing without irrigation
Reduced yields = more concentrated fruit flavours Swartland
Paarl is located to the ________________ of Stellenbosch.
Northeast
The Western Cape’s southernmost district is:
Cape Agulhas
What is Stellenbosch District most renowned for?
2 specific examples of this wine:
Top class red wines Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends with Merlot (Cape Blends), Syrah.
Warwick Estate’s “Trilogy”
Meerlust’s “Rubicon”
What White grape is Elgin renowned for?
Sauvignon Blanc
What are the 2 main white grapes grown in Constantia?
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon
Swartland is a ___ within which region?
District / Coastal Region
What current cools South Africa?
The Benguela Current, in the Southern Ocean, from Antarctica
Match the following areas with their place within South Africa’s WO scheme:
A. Kwazulu-Natal
B. Simonsberg-Paarl
C. Franschhoek Valley
D. Klein Karoo
A. Geographical Unit
B. Ward
C. District
D. Region
“Trilogy” is a famous Bordeaux blend produced by ______________ Wine Estate.
Which district / GU is it located in?
What grapes are used?
Warwick
Stellenbosch / Coastal Region
Mostly Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Merlot.
What are 3 key Districts and 2 Wards in the Coastal Region in South Africa?
Stellenbosch District / Paarl District / Swartland District
Durbanville Ward / Constantia Ward
Constantia is constantly cooled by:
The Cape Doctor
What is Vin de Constance?
Who are 3 producers still making it?
An unfortified, dried grape wine made from Muscat de Frontignan (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)
Klein Constance
Groot Constance
Buitenverwachting
What are some pros and cons of strong winds from the Cape Doctor?
PROS: -suppresses fungal disease -moderates temperature.
CONS: -can injure vines and disturb flowering
Founded in 1918, what was the South African state-owned wine company called?
K W V (Kooperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt)
Name 6 top producers in Stellenbosch, including one that specializes in Pinotage:
Rust en Vrede
Neil Ellis
Kanonkop (specializes in Pinotage)
De Toren
Warwick Wine Estate
Meerlust
Swartland is located within which region?
Coastal Region
What are the 3 Districts that make up Breede River Valley Region in South Africa?
Worcester District
Robertson District
Breedekloof
What is the name of South Africa’s unique red grape, and what year was it created?
How did its name originate?
Pinotage
1925
At the time, the Cinsault varietal was known as “Hermitage” in South Africa, so “Pinotage” is a portmanteu of “Pinot Noir” and “Hermitage”, hence, “Pinotage”.
Which South African District is Hamilton Russell a producer in?
What is this winery known for?
Walker Bay District.
A pioneer in the district, Hamilton Russell was an early proponent of the Burgundy grapes as well as South Africa’s own Pinotage.
What are the 6 Districts that make up Cape South Coast Region in South Africa?
Districts: Walker Bay / Elgin / Cape Agulhas / Overberg / Plettenberg Bay / Swellendam
What are the different style of Pinotage made in S. Africa?
- Sometimes blended with int’l varieties to make a “Cape Blend”
- Can be made in a light, fruity style with red berry flavors.
- Wines from old bush vines may be very full-bodied, with rich, spiced berry fruit.
- When fermented with oak, Pinotage takes on intense coffee or chocolate aromas.
What is the climate of Stellenbosch?
What, if anything, provides cooling?
What are the top 2 grapes planted?
Moderate to warm depending on location, comparable to (but warmer than) Bordeaux.
Cool winds from False Bay funnel winds through mountains into valleys
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc
What percentage of grapes must originate from a WO area in order to include it on a label?
100%
What 2 styles of wine are Robertson well known for?
Which varietal is emerging in popularity?
Cap Classique production as well as red wine production.
Here, Shiraz is emerging as one of the district’s finest varietal wines.
Which region surrounds South Africa’s Cape Town?
Coastal Region
In which District / Region / GI is the Ward of Constantia?
Cape Town District / Coastal Region / Western Cape GI
What climatic impact can be a problem in South Africa?
Drought
What grape is Darling District renowned for?
Sauvignon Blanc
What do the terms “Single Vineyard” and “Estate Wine” stipulate on a South African wine label?
Single Vineyard Wine may be used for wines sourced solely from the vineyard, provided it is appropriately registered and of less than 6 hectares.
Estate wines must be produced from contiguous parcels of vineyard land, and vinified and bottled on a single property.
Constantia vineyards are located on the Eastern flanks of which mountain?
Table Mountain
What is the name of the Ward in Walker Bay District renowned for high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir?
Hemel-en-Aarde
Due to the _____ Current, South Africa’s coastal climate is cooler than its latitude suggests.
Benguela
What is the most planted white grape in South Africa, and what is its South African nickname?
What are 6 other important white grapes (2 with specific South African synonyms)?
Chenin Blanc aka “Steen”
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Cape Riesling (a synonym for Crouchen Blanc unrelated to Riesling), Hanepoot (Muscat of Alexandria), and Gewürztraminer.
Which country imports more South African wine than any other?
The UK
Vin de Constance wines are made with which grape?
What are its 2 South African synonyms?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat de Frontignan / Muscadel
What are the 3 Districts that make up Breede River Valley Region?
Breedekloof, Worcester, and Robertson
For the following South African producers, identify the specific area in which they are located, and the type of wine they specialize in:
A. Boekenhoutskloof
B. Meerlust
C. Groot Constantia
D. Hamilton Russell
A. Boekenhoutskloof: Franschhoek Valley (Coastal Region), specializes in Syrah
B. Meerlust: Stellenbosch (Coastal Region), specializes in Bordeaux blends.
C. Groot Constantia: Constantia (Cape Town, Coastal Region), specializes in Vin de Constance (in addition to dry whites/reds)
D. Hamilton Russell: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Walker Bay, Cape South Coast Region), specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
The most planted white grape in Stellenbosch is:
Sauvignon Blanc
What % of South African Wine is white?
55%
Which winery has the queen stayed at, and is a favorite of Buckingham Palace?
Vergelegen
Most of South Africa’s wine regions are located within which Geographical Unit?
Western Cape
Name 2 important Wards and their corresponding Disctricts in the Cape South Coast region?
Elim Ward (Elgin District)
Hemel-en-Aarde (Walker Bay)
What is SAWIT?
What is its mission?
South African Wine Industry Trust
It was established to speed transformation of South African wine and to empower black workers in an industry that had long relied on slave- and apartheid-era labor practices.
What is the oldest of the Cape’s winegrowing areas?
Constantia
What are the 2 main style of wine produced in Klein Karoo?
What are the 2 most planted varietals there?
Sweet and Fortified wines.
Muscat and Tinta Barroca
In which region of South Africa is the Fairview Winery located?
What line is their homage to Cotes-du-Rhone wines?
Paarl
“Goats do Roam”
