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
What style wine is Chenin Blanc used for?q
both dry and sweet
Describe characteristics of Chenin Blanc from S. Africa at base
easy drinking wines with simple stone fruit
Describe characteristics of Chenin Blanc from S. Africa from old bush vines
more concentrated fruit, and fuller texture
WHat does barrel fermentation and aging do to a Chenin Blanc
adds extra body and toasty oak notes
what is the second most planted white variety in S. Africa?
Colombard - used mostly in brandy production
What is aother white variety that is widely planted in S. Africa besides Chenin BLanc and Colombard?
Sauvignon Blanc
Describe the style of a Sauvignon Blanc in S. Africa
best examples come from coolest regions and can display very pure flavors of citrus, and green fruit. In warmer regions grapes need to be picked early to retain such flavors and acidity.
Describe fermentation styles of Chardonnay in S. Africa
can make wines of exceptional quality, esp in cooler sites. Burgundian wine styles are used such a barrel fermentation and lees stirring
What is a white variety in S. Africa that is not widely planted but used to produced late harvest dessert wines
Muscat of Alexandra also known as Hanepoot
Which white varietal has increased over the years in S. Africa
Viognier
describe a Viognier wine from S. AFrica
rich perfumed wine with a hint of toasty oak
What type of white blends have emerged in S. Africa esp from Swartland?
Base of Chenin Blanc with Rhone varieties such as Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier
How much of the wine made in S. Africa comes from the Western Cape?
well over 90%
What area of the western Cape are known for inexpensive white wines rarely seen on the export market
Orange river in the Northern Cape
What do some wineries from certain districts do when sourcing grapes
source them from a wider area then the GI in which they are locate - number of premium wines made this way and may have the region on the label or the geographical unit on the label.
Where is the Stellenbosch district located?
stretches just inland of the coast at Somerset West up into the mountains that surround Stellenbosch itself.
WHat is the climate of Stellenbosch?
moderate to warm depending on the location with sufficient rainfall in the winter and the summers do not get too hot due to the cool winds from False Bay that get funneled through the mountains into the valleys.
Describe the altitude, soil and aspect in Stellenbosch
there is a variety spread across a small area
what is the Stellenbosch district divided into
a number of distinct wards
what has Stellenbosch developed a reputation for?
red wines especially Cab sauvignon and Merlot which are often made in Bordeaux style blends, Syrah, and Cape red blends. the cooler sites produce CHardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Where is the Paarl district?
it is a large district located in the north of Stellenbosch
Describe climate of Paarl
less exposed to cooling influences of the sea due to being further inland, and temperatures are hotter in the summer, which can be moderated by cooler night time temps
What are the grape varieties grown in Paarl?
Cabernet Sauv, Syrah and PInotage are most important reds which Chenin Blanc and CHardonnay are most planted whites.
Where are some of the oldest vines in the Cape found?
Constantia ward - in Cape peninsula district in the eastern flanks of Table Mountain
What consistently cools the Constantia ward vineyards
the Cape Doctor
What do producers have a reputation for in Constantia
Sauvignon Blanc
what is the name of the sweet white wine that is produced in COnstantia from a late harvest Muscat
Vin de Constance
Describe the climate of the vineyards planted south of Table Mountain closer to Cape Point itself.
exposed to cooling influences of the ocean and have made a specialty of Sauv Blanc and Semillon
What varieties are planted in the warmer sites of Constantia?
Cabernet Sauv and Shiraz
WHat district is to the north of Cape Town?
Swartland
What has Swartland now become known for
it was known for inexpensive grapes and wine, but has grown into a center for premium wine production
What varietal is Swartland particularly known for?
Old vine Chenin Blanc, and high quality Syrah - both of which are dry farmed lower yields, but enhancing fruit concentration
Where does the Darling district sit?
to the south-west of Swartland near the coast.
what is climate of darling district?
cooling breezes from the sea - source of old vines
What is darling district known for?
Sauvignon Blanc as well as a range of other varieties
Describe the Durbanville ward
found in the Tygerberg district it offers hillside sites north of Cape Town which are cooled by the sea breezes that also blow through Cape Point. has reputation for Sauvignon Blanc
Where is the Worcester District in S. Africa
lies at the western end of the Breede River Valley
Describe the climate of the Worcester District
hot and dry and irrigation is essential (drawn from the river). Fertile soils can production a large proportion of S. Africa’s annual production
What style wine is majority of wine made in Worcester District
white made from Chenin Blanc and Colombard - most of which is used for distillation
Where is the Robertson district located?
situated to the east of Worcester
What is the climate of Robertson district?
similar but cooler than Worcester due to south easterly winds that are drawn into the valley.
What is Robertson a good source of?
high volume brands, but can also produce some excellent Syrahs and full bodied Chardonnays due to the fertile soils.
describe the CApe South Coast
well exposed to the ocean - regular source of some of the best fruit and wines
what is the most well established vineyard area in Cape South coast area?
Walker bay district which contains the various wards of Hemel-en-Aarde
What is Walker Bay district the home of?
some of S. Africa’s best Chardonnay’s and Pinot Noirs
What are other varietals grown in Walker Bay area?
Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah.
What district is to the north -west of Walker Bay
Elgin district
What is an important cooling influence in Elgin district?
altitude
What is Elgin known for?
intense, fresh Sauvignon Blanc, and is showing promise for PInot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
What was is located to the south-east of Walker Bay in teh Cape Agulhas district?
Elim ward
What is Elim ward known for
pungent herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc, but Syrah is also showing promise
