South Africa Study Guide Flashcards
Who is responsible for founding the Dutch East India Company and establishing Cape Town’s first vineyard in 1655?
Jan van Riebeeck
French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in their homeland brought a new wealth of winemaking knowledge to what Coastal Region district? When was this?
Franschhoek Valley
1680s and 1690s
Who was the original owner of Constantia and what was the wine of the estate called that was the first New World to seen throughout the Royal Courts in Europe? When was this? What was the grape and what is it known as in South Africa?
Simon vad der Stel
Vin de Constance
1685
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains known as Muscat de Frontignan or Muscadel
After Simon van der Stel’s death in 1712, the Constantia estate was split in two. What became the most famous estate from this and who renovated it and continued to make Vin de Constance bringing it worldwide recognition?
Groot Constantia
Hendrik Cloete
When did Powdery Mildew and Phylloxera hit South Africa? What did this do to the wine industry of South Africa? What further compounded the damage done by the arrival of these plagues?
Latter half of the 19th century.
Destroyed it
British abolishment of preferential tariffs in 1861. This renewed competition between French wines and those of the Empire.
How were many wines produced in South Africa treated in regards to production in the latter half of the 19th century causing them to pale in comparison to the better French and German wines?
They were heavily treated with SO2 and fortified with brandy
What challenge in regards to exporting made it difficult to compete with the French for the British export market?
The length of distance and transit from South Africa to Britain compared to the short trip from France
What does KWV stand for? What is it? Why was it created? What regulations did it enact? What effect did this have on the South African wine industry?
Ko-operative Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika
It is a cooperative of wine producers and growers
Created to curtail the plummeting prices and over-supply of wine following the replanting of South Africa with high yielding vines on American rootstocks.
Fixed minimum prices, determined areas of production and established production limits.
Their regulation favored large producers and rewarded lower quality in favor of quantity
When did the domestic market in South Africa shift taste preference away from fortified wine toward dry table wine?
mid 20th century
What spurred a great renewal in the wine industry in 1994 and 1997 respectively?
The end of apartheid and the transformation of the KWV into a private company.
How did the privatization of the KWV promote a shift in production towards quality in 1997?
The KWV relinquished its statutory powers and scrapped quotas, encouraging growers to focus on quality
What does SAWIT stand for? When was it established? Why?
South African Wine Industry Trust created in 1999
Established to speed the 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 South Africa’s appellation system known as? When was this introduced?
Wine of Origin
Introduced in 1973
What is a grape variety called in South Africa?
cultivar
How do South African producers receive Wine of Origen certification for their wines?
They submit a sample of the wine for evaluation by a tasting panel, which confirms that the wine shows the correct organoleptic qualities for it cultivar and age.
How many cultivars are approved for Production under the Wine of Origen scheme in South Africa?
approximately 90 are authorized, irrespective of region
What is the min % of a labeled grape required to receive Wine of Origen status as a varietally-bottled wine?
min 85% as of 2006
If a wine is a blend of grapes, what is the in % of a grape labeled that must be present? Are blends cofermented or vinified separately?
Any grape labeled must be present at minimum of 20%
vinified separately
What is the min % that must be present of the following items if listed on a wine label for Wine of Origen certification? Grape, vintage, area of production?
Grape:
min 85% for varietal
min 20% of grapes labeled for a blend
Vintage: min 85% of stated vintage
Area of Production:
100%
What are the four types of production areas for Wine of Origen in descending order of size?
Geographical Unit
Region
District
Ward
For WO single vineyard wines, what % of the fruit must come from the stated vineyard? What is the maximum size that the vineyard may be?
100% of fruit must come from stated vineyard
less than 6ha is the max size
For WO estate wines, where must they be produced from in regards to vineyard locations and winery location?
Must be produced from contiguous parcels of vineyard land, and vinified and bottled on a single property.
If a producer decides to forgo WO certification, what is not allowed to present on the wine labels?
vintage, varietal, or area of production
How does a South African wine qualify to be marked as a “sustainable wine of origin” rather than marked with the basic WO seal? Who issues this certification? What guidelines does this organization set in regards to production?
The winery complies with sustainable environmental standards.
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme (IPW) authorizes this certification through the SA Wine and Spirit Board
They set guidelines for agriculture, manufacturing, and packaging practices
What criteria are wineries judged on to determine eligibility by the SA Wine and Spirit Board for IPW certification? (5) What is the min score a winery must receive in order to obtain IPW certification?
worker safety measures handling of wastewater carbon emissions use of pesticides and other chemicals vineyard biodiversity
Winery must obtain a minimum of 60%
What are the 5 large geographical areas of South Africa?
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Western Cape
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Free State
What are the 5 production areas of the Northern Cape? (3 districts, 2 wards)
Districts of the Northern Cape (without a region)
Douglas
Sutherland-Karoo
Central Orange River
Wards of the Northern Cape (without a district)
Hartswater
Prieska
What is the single ward of the Eastern Cape?
St. Francis Bay
In what Geographical Area of South Africa does most South African wine production occur?
Western Cape
What are the 6 regions of the Western Cape Geographical Area?
Coastal Region Cape South Coast Breede River Valley Klein Karoo Olifants River Cape coast for overarching region
What kind of climate do the Regions of the Western Cape Geographical Region experience?
Mediterranean
What is the name of the cool ocean current that flow north from Antarctica to South African coastal areas?
Benguela Current
What is the name of the most famous wind current that blows across the Western Cape throughout spring and summer? What direction does it blow? What benefits does it provide for the vineyards?
Cape Doctor
Southeasterly wind so it blows northwest
inhibits fungal disease and moderates the temperature in the vineyards.
What is the Western Cape’s southernmost district? What region is it within?
Cape Agulhas
Cape South Coast Region
What district offers South Africa’s coolest climate?
Cape Agulhas
What is the climate like in the Northern Cape along the Orange River? What is this area’s production geared toward?
Hot, arid climate and production is generally only suitable for bulk wines
Since what decade has South Africa’s producers planted nearly half of the nation’s vineyards with noble cultivars?
Since the 1990s
What is the most planted white grape in South Africa? How much of the nation’s vineyards does it occupy? What other white grapes constitute significant plantings in South Africa? (6)
Chenin Blanc known here as Steen
around 20%
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, Cape Riesling (Crochen Blanc), Hanepoot (Muscat of Alexandria), and Gewürztraminer
What is the synonym for Chenin Blanc in South Africa?
Steen
What is Muscat of Alexandria called in South Africa?
Hanepoot
What is Cape Riesling? Is it related to Riesling?
Crouchen Blanc, unrelated to Riesling
What crossing led to the grape Pinotage?
Cinsault and Pinot Noir
What is South Africa’s most planted red cultivar? What used to be historically?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cinsault used to be historically
What are the major red cultivars of South Africa? (8) Which is a teinturier grape?
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Shiraz Pinot Noir Pinotage Cinsault Pontiac (teinturier grape)
What is the teinturier grape that has seen a recent revival in South Africa? What historic wine was this grape traditionally a major part of?
Pontac
linked to the old red wines of Constantia
What is sparkling wine called in South Africa? What are the two major grapes used for this?
Cep Classique
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
When were the terms Port and Sherry phased out of South Africa? How is Cape Port named today?
2012
Cape Port today is named according to its style: Cape Tawny, Cape Ruby, and so forth
What styles of fortified wine are made in South Africa?
Port and sherry-style wines
What is the major town of the Coastal Region?
Cape Town
What are the 9 districts of the Coastal Region? What is the most recently established? When?
Stellenbosch Cape Town (most recently established; 2017) Paarl Darling Wellington Swartland Franschhoek Valley Tulbagh Lutzville Valley (switched into Coastal Region from Olifants River)
What are the 4 wards of Cape Town district within the Coastal Region? What now-repealed district were these previously under?
Constantia
Hout Bay
Durbanville
Philadelphia
previously under Tygerberg district
What are 3 of the 5 estates occupy the Constantia vineyard?
Groot Constantia
Klein Constantia
Buitenverwachting (“Beyond Expectations”)
Who makes Klein Constance? What is the grape? What does Klein mean?
Klein Constantia
Muscat de Frontignan (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
What bay has the most significant impact on the Constantia Vineyard? What effect does it have? What grapes and styles thrive because of it?
False Bay
Cooling effect which promotes a lengthy growing season ideal for dessert wines and cool-climate white grapes like Sauvignon Blanc
What District of the Coastal Region is located across the False Bay from Constantia? What is it considered in regards to South African winemaking prestige?
Stellenbosch District
Considered South Africa’s most prominent winemaking region
What bay is Stellenbosch located near?
False Bay
Which district of the Coastal Region, nicknamed the “Town of Oaks” is considered the epicenter of viticultural and enological research and South Africa’s most prominent winemaking region? What is it considered a source of in regards to quality wine?
Stellenbosch
Source of high quality red wines
What three peaks surround the valleys of Stellenbosch?
Simonsberg
Stellenbosch
Helderberg
Approximately what % of South Africa’s vineyards are located in the Stellenbosch district of the Coastal Region within the Western Cape?
20%
What are the soil types of the valley floors in Stellenbosch? Hillsides?
Alluvial loam over shale on the valley floors
decomposed granite and sandstone on the hillsides
What are the two most planted varietals in Stellenbosch? What other three grapes are also prominent here?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are the two most planted
Merlot, Shiraz, and Chenin Blanc are also prominent here.
What kind of climate does Stellenbosch experience that has drawn comparisons of it to Bordeaux? How does it compare to Bordeaux’s climate?
Maritime-influenced climate
Warmer than Bordeaux
Who makes “Trilogy” and “Rubicon” respectively? What grapes are used for these wines?
Warwick Estate makes Trilogy
Meerlust makes Rubicon
Both are made as Bordeaux blends.
What are 5 quality producers in Stellenbosch? Which one champions the Pinotage grape?
Warwick Estate Meerlust Kanokop (big Pinotage producer) Rust en Vrede Neil Ellis
What are the wards within the Stellenbosch district?
Devon Valley Jonkershoek Valley Papegaaiberg Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Botterlay Banghoek Polkadraai Hills Vlottenberg
What district within the Coastal Region of the Western Cape is home to the KWV?
Paarl (“pearl”)
What is the largest producer located in Paarl? What honor does it have in regards to dessert wine?
Nederburg
first to produce botrytised dessert wine in South Africa
Golden Liquid Nederburg Edelkeur
What is the name of the auction that has taken place in Paarl every year since 1975?
Nederburg Wine Auction
What district is considered the main rival to Stellenbosch in regards to high quality production? What are the main grapes produced here? (4)
Paarl
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Franschhoek Valley used to be a ward of what District before becoming a separate district of its own? When did it receive district status?
Used to be a ward of Paarl
Became its own district in 2010
Tulbagh district in the Coastal Region of the Western Cape is know for what style of wine? What is this due to?
Cap Classique due to the higher altitude which creates a significant diurnal temperature shift
What style of wine is produced in the Boberg Region? What are the 4 districts that it covers?
This was disolved in 2019
Paarl
Franschhoek Valley
Wellington
Tulbagh
What are the 3 districts of the Breede River Valley Region of the Western Cape? Which former district of the Breede River Valley Region moved jurisdiction to the Cape South Coast Region in 2010?
Robertson
Worcester
Breedekloof
Swellendam moved to the Cape South Coast Region
What is the largest district in South Africa in terms of production? What Region is this located within? What district located in the same region combines with it to account for over 25% of the national volume of wine and spirits? What percentage of South Africa’s vine acreage is located in these two districts?
Worcester- Breede River Valley
Combines with Breedekloof
20% of the nations’s vine acreage is located within these two districts
What is the star grape of Worcester? What percent of the nation’s acreage devoted to this grape are locate within Worcester? What other 4 grapes are prominent here? (2 white and 2 red)
Sémillon
About 50%
Colombard and Chenin Blanc for white
Ruby Cabernet and Shiraz for reds
What are the two districts of Klein Karoo? What style of production is this Region geared towards? What are the two most prominent grapes of the region?
Langeberg-Garcia and Calitzdorp
Fortified and sweet wine production
Muscat and Tinta Barroca are the most promising grapes here.
The Olifants River Region is located in what direction from Swartland? What are the 3 districts of Olifants River?
North of Swartland
Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Valley
Lutzville
What are the two most important grape in Olifants River? What is production geared toward here? What is the name of the largest cooperative in South Africa that is located here?
Chenin Blanc and Colombard
geared towards bulk wine
Vredendal
What ward of Olifants River Region is home to South Africa’s highest elevation vineyards?
Cederberg
What are the 6 districts of the Cape South Coast Region?
Overberg, Walker Bay, and Cape Agulhas along the southwestern Atlantic Coast
Plettenberg Bay
Swellendam
Elgin
What are the 4 wards of Overberg?
Klein River
Theewater
Elandskloof
Greyton
Which is true Riesling? Cape Riesling or Weisser Riesling?
Weisser Riesling
What is the synonym for Riesling in South Africa?
Weisser Riesling
What are the star 3 grapes of Overberg and Elgin Districts in the Cape South Coast Region?
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Weisser Riesling (Riesling)
What is the major town of Walker Bay? What are the two most promising grape of Walker Bay? What is the top producer in Walker Bay?
Hermanus
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Hamilton Russell
What are the top two wards of Walker Bay?
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (“Heven on Earth”)
Bot River
The Cape Agulhas District of the Cape South Coast Region is provoking excitement around what three grapes due to the cooler climate here?
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz
