South Africa Flashcards
where are most of South Africa’s vineyards found
on or around the coastline of the Cape
What influence do vineyards see in South Africa?
Cooling influences from the South Ocean and dramatic mountainous backdrops
What is South Africa’s GI system
Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.)
what is on every bottle that states W.O on the bottle in S Africa?
a certification seal
How many different sizes of production area does S. Africa law recognize?
4
What is the largest production area that S. Africa recognizes
geographical unit - a catch all appellation that allows for multiple regional and district blends
What is the only geographical unit that has any importance in S Africa currently?
Western Cape - allows for blends of the best parcels of fruit from different areas to create premium wines.
What is the Western Cape divided into?
regions - large areas that tend to follow dominant geological features.
What are the most important regions for wine grape growing in the Western Cape?
Coastal region, Breede River Valley and Cape South Coast.
What are regions in Western Cape further split into?
districts and then wards
What are Estate wines?
these must come from a single estate and all the grapes must come from the estate vineyards that cover a single geographical area. must also have facilities on their land allowing them to process the grapes and wine up to and including bottling.
What is South Africa’s voluntary sustainable agricultural scheme called?
Integrated Production of Wine. (IPW)
What can participating producers of an IPW display on their labels?
credentials as part of their W.O. seals
Where is the vine growing regions located between in S. Africa
27 and 34 south of the equator
what type of climate does S. Africa have?
inland temperatures can rise to above 30 C, many vineyards are subject to cooling influences.
What is the most important cooling influence in S. Africa?
comes from the Southern Ocean where the cool Benguela current flows up from the Antarctic running past the tip and up the west coast of Africa cooling the coastal areas
What are the regular strong south easterly summer winds known locally as?
the Cape Doctor
What does the Cape Doctor do?
bring air cooled by the ocean further inland and can reduce temperature further couple of degrees in some areas.
Besides the South Ocean what is the other defining feature of S. Africa wine lands?
predominate mountain ranges running throughout the wine regions
what do the mountain ranges in S. Africa offer producers
a wide array of different altitudes, aspects, and soils
Describe vineyards found on valley floors in S. Africa
generally much warmer then those in the mountains
why might vineyards be planted on southern sloped in S>Africa?
to benefit from cooler temperatures
What else can the mountains do to vineyards giving them slightly cooler temperatures during different parts of the day?
cast shadows over them or channel the winds through the vineyards
what is the most widely planted black variety in S. AFrica?
Cabernet Sauvignon used for varietal and also blended with Merlot and Cab Franc for Bordeaux style wines
Describe Merlot in S. Africa
capable of producing full bodied plummy wines
Besidese Cab Sauv and Merlot what other black variety is also widely planted in S. Africa?
Syrah - in hot climates it gives rich full bodied reds that are often high in alcohol and display ripe black fruit flavors sometimes with an earthy or meat character
Describe Syrah grown in a cooler area of S. Africa?
less body and peppery examples
What is planted only in small amounts in S. Africa? and why?
PInot Noir - less tolerant of the heat and only planted in coolest areas
How are the vast majority of red wines aged in S. AFrica?
in oak with at least a portion in new barrels - to achieve toasty aromas.
What crossing varietal was developed in s. Africa?
pinotage - CInsault and Pinot Noir - hardly grown anywhere else in the world
how is PIntoage made?
in a range of styles - sometimes blended with other international varieties to make a “CApe Blend”
Describe a PInotage wine on its own
light fruity style with red berry flavors or if made by bush vines can be very full bodied with rich spiced berry flavors.
what happens when PInotage is matured with oak Staves?
can take on intense coffee or chocolate aromas.
what is the most widely planted white variety in S. Africa?
Chenin Blanc - actually most widely planted of either variety