South Africa-Nellites Flashcards
What is the climate of South Africa?
Cool Maritime and Hot Mediteranean moving inland
Three most important physical Geographical Features that influence South Africa?
- Indian Ocean (east)
- Atlantic Ocean (west)
- Table Mounatin
What is the Cape Doctor?
- Strong, dry, south-easterly wind that blows in spring, summer and fall
- Helps mitigate mold and pest issues and regulate temperatures
What is the Bengula Currant?
A frigid current in the Atlantic Ocean from Antarctica that cools portions of the South African coast.
What is the Old Vines Project?
Objective is to preserve old vines and promote sustainable viticultural practices to create more old vines through education and conservation
White varieties of South Africa?
- Chenin Blanc (Steen)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Colombard (mostly for cheap brandy)
- Chardonnay
Red varieties of South Africa?
- Cabernet Sauvignon & Bordeaux blends
- Shiraz
- Pinotage (Pinot Noir x Cinsault)
- Merlot
- Cinsault
What is Pinotage a hybrid of?
Pinot Noir and Cinsault
What are the units of area from largest to smallest used in South Africa?
- Geographical Unit (GU): Defined by political boundaries
- Region: Defined by geographical boundaries
- District: Areas with noticeable characteristics
- Ward: Areas of unique terroir
** As defined by the Wine of Origin (WO) appellation system
What is the KWV?
- Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Suid-Afrika
— ‘Co-operative Winemakers Union of South Africa’ - Founded in 1918 to regulate production levels and guarantee better prices for growers
- The most powerful co-operative in the country until the end of apartheid (1991)
— No vine plantings, wine making, selling or export could happen with out a contract from KWV
Who was Simon van der Stel?
- Founding father of South African wine production (1639-1712)
- Founded the town of Stellenbosch
- Established vineyards, including Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia
- Credited with creating the famous dessert wine “Vin de Constance”
What was the Boer war and how did it influence the South African wine industry?
- Fought between the British Empire and Dutch Colonists from 1899 - 1902
- War—in conjunction with phylloxera (1886)—decimated vineyards
- Vines were replanted with a vengeance leading to overproduction and rock bottom grape prices
- Government backed co-operative (KWV) was formed to try and stabilize things
What style of wine is produced in the Klein Karoo region?
Sweet, fortified wines and brandy
Name the five major REGIONS of the Western Cape GEOGRAPHICAL UNIT
- Coastal Region**
- Cape South Coast**
- Klein Karoo
- Olifants River
- Breede River Valley
**Contain the most important wine DISTRICTS in South Africa
Graham Beck
- Mining tycoon that turned to wine making in his later years
— Founded his winery from scratch in 1983
— One of South Africa’s first bubbly brands (Franschhoek, Coastal Region)
What is Méthode Cap Classique (MCC)?
- Sparkling wine made using the traditional method in South Africa
- Epicenter of bubbles is Robertson District, Breede River Valley, Western Cape GU
- Good limestone and Chardonnay
Mulderbosch Vineyards
Stellenbosch District, Coastal Region, Western Cape GU
- Innovative wine maker
— One of the first producers to successfully create a barrel fermented Chenin (Steen Op Hout)
— Make a Rosé from Cabernet Sauvignon that is unusual and well regarded
What is the name for Chenin Blanc in South Africa?
Steen
Hamilton Russell
Walker Bay District, Cape South Coast Region
- Put Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the map
- Known to produce the best Pinot Noir of SA and one of the best Chardonnays
- Consistent Burgundian styles are world renown
- Terroir!
Klein Constantia
- Original winery founded by Simon Van Der Stel in 1685 (south of Capetown, Western Cape GU)
- Known for their sweet wine Vin De Constance (from vine-dried Muscat de Frontignan grapes)
- The Constantia Valley is known as the birthplace of wine in SA
A. A. Badenhorst Family Wines
Swartland District, Coastal Region, Western Cape GU
- Dry farmed, biodynamic and sustainable
- Produce wine following the Lunar Calendar
- Established in 2007
- BADASS COMPANY!
The Sadie Family
Swartland District, Coastal Region, South Africa
- Eben Sadie is considered South Africa’s finest winemaker
- Biodynamically makes two of the most famous wines in the country:
- Collumella— Syrah and Mourvèdre & Palladius— WHITE blend
What are two important districts of the Cape South Coast Region? (N to S)
- Elgin Valley District
— Gateway to the region - Walker Bay District
— Important wards - Bot River, Hemel-en-Arde
— Important producer - Hamilton Russell Winery
What is the history of Brandy in South Africa?
- First distilled by the Dutch aboard a ship in Table Bay harbor in 1672
- Usually made from Chenin, Colombard and Pinotage and aged for three years in oak
- For decades South Africa was the largest exporter in the world of cheap brandy
- The Dutch word brandewijn means “burnt wine” or “distilled wine”
