South Africa

Question 1

What are South Africa’s two primary categories of sparkling wine?

Answer 1

Inexpensive carbonated sparkling wines that are often sweet

Traditional method wines referred to as Cap Classique

Question 2

What is the primary market for South Africa’s carbonated wines?

Answer 2

The domestic market, as well as sub-Saharan territories that especially include Angola, Mozambique, and Nigeria

Question 3

What are the quality and pricing of South Africa’s carbonated wines?

Answer 3

Acceptable to good quality with inexpensive pricing

Question 4

True or False

The market for Cap Classique is in decline

Answer 4

False. Cap Classique is rapidly growing

Question 5

What is the character of South African traditional method wines?

Answer 5

Medium (+) acid

Medium alcohol

Ripe yellow apple, citrus fruit, and varying levels of autolysis

Question 6

What are the quality and pricing of South African traditional method wines?

Answer 6

Good to very good quality with mid- to premium pricing

Question 7

Which varieties typically comprise South Africa’s carbonated wines?

Answer 7

Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, and Pinotage

Question 8

What is the character of South African carbonated wines?

Answer 8

Typically simple and fruity, ranging from off-dry to sweet

Question 9

What effect has the production of Cap Classique had on the production of carbonated wines in South Africa?

Answer 9

Carbonated wine production decreased by 15% between 2011 and 2016

Question 10

What is Méthode Cap Classique?

Answer 10

The name of a production method for South African traditional method wines. It is also referred to as Cap Classique and MCC.

Question 11

When was the Cap Classique Producer’s Association founded? How much wine is it responsible for producing? What style of wine does it produce?

Answer 11

MCC was founded in 1992. It is currently responsible for 90% of South Africa’s traditional method wines.

Question 12

What are the legal requirements for Cap Classique?

Answer 12

Traditional method

3 bars of pressure post-disgorgement

Minimum 9 months of lees aging until the 2020 vintage, 12 months of lees aging starting in 2020

Question 13

What grapes are permitted in the production of Cap Classique?

Answer 13

Any grape may be used, though Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage comprise 95% of varieties used

Question 14

Where is the fruit for Cap Classique primarily sourced from?

Answer 14

Robertson, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Darling, and Tulbagh

Question 15

Which South African regions have significant presence of limestone soils? How are these soils viewed by producers of sparkling wines?

Answer 15

Robertson and Bonnievale (in the Breede River Valley)

Producers generally hold that limestone soils produce superior grapes

Question 16

What are the advantages of the climate in Robertson and Bonnievale regarding the production of South African sparkling wine?

Answer 16

They have limestone soils

They are both in narrow valleys, allowing them to warm slower in the mornings

Temperatures drop in the afternoons due to cool breezes from Cape Agulhas running up the Breede River

Both regions have the largest diurnal shift in the country

Question 17

What type of soil are the majority of South Africa’s grapevines grown on?

Answer 17

Shale, clay, and decomposed granite

Question 18

Do South African sparkling wine producers source from multiple regions? Why or why not?

Answer 18

Yes, partly to impart complexity but also because of fruit availability.

Question 19

How long after flowering do Cap Classique producers generally wait until picking?

Answer 19

Approximately 90 days

Question 20

What viticultural techniques are used to ensure the grapes ripen appropriately in South Africa?

Answer 20

Keeping leaf growth on the vine to provide additional shading

Question 21

At what potential alcohol are grapes in South Africa harvested for Cap Classique? What is the target alcohol in the final product?

Answer 21

9.5-11%

12% final alcohol

Question 22

How do producers in South Africa make carbonated wines?

Answer 22

Fermentation is stopped at the desired level of sweetness before carbon is injected into the wine. They are then released for early sale to maintain fruit flavors.

Question 23

How do quality-minded growers pick, press, and ferment grapes destined for Cap Classique?

Answer 23

Hand picking with whole bunch pressing. Better producers will separate press fractions to use in blending

Question 24

True or False

It is a legal requirement that Cap Classique producers pick by hand and press whole bunches.

Answer 24

False, though it is recommended by the MCC organization

Question 25

What might be used to add textural richness to Cap Classique wines?

Answer 25

Old barrels, in which a portion of the juice would be fermented

Question 26

Do Cap Classique wines see malolactic fermentation?

Answer 26

It is at the discretion of the producer

Question 27

What percentage of reserve wines are used in Cap Classique? Which types of producers implement a reserve?

Answer 27

Premium houses may use around 10% of reserve wines in their cuvées

Question 28

How are rosé Cap Classique wines produced?

Answer 28

Blending white and red wine prior to secondary fermentation

Adding red wine to a white wine blend prior to secondary fermentation

Short maceration prior to initial fermentation (a minority option)

Question 29

What projects are the Cap Classique Producer’s Association working on?

Answer 29

A certification program for growers of Cap Classique grapes (Wine of Origin approval process)

A higher quality of Cap Classique made from Champagne varieties, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage with whole pressed grapes and 36 months of lees aging

Question 30

What is the fastest growing wine category in South Africa? What has its growth rate been?

Answer 30

Cap Classique, the sales of which has doubled roughly every 5 years

Question 31

True or False

A majority of Cap Classique producers have found success in the export market.

Answer 31

False. Some have, though

Question 32

Of the better quality carbonated wines recently produced in South Africa, which variety is typically used?

Answer 32

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 33

What are the challenges in making Cap Classique attractive to domestic South African consumers?

Answer 33

Converting those who drink top-quality Champagne and attracting middle-class drinkers who are shifting from beer to wine.

Question 34

How much sparkling wine did South Africa export in 2017? Describe the trend.

Answer 34

South Africa exported 4 million liters of sparkling wine in 2017, double that of 2007 but lower than the 2012 peak. Exchange rates and fluctuations have affected export totals.

Question 35

What are the top markets for South African sparkling wines?

Answer 35

Angola (25% of exports)

Mozambique

USA

UK

Question 36

How is the Cap Classique Producer’s Association funded? How does it promote its wines?

Answer 36

It is funded by a levy based on volume of production. It holds public tastings, base wine tastings, and a biennial technical conference.