South Africa: Wine Regions Flashcards
South Africa: Cape Town
District
- est. 2017
Four wards
-new name is meant to make the connection to the vine growing area and tourist destination, Cape Town
South Africa: Constantina
Ward
- wine history dating back to 1685.
Home of th Vin de Constance, a dried Muscart dessert wine - vineyards are planted on East facing slopes of Constantiaberg, extending from Table Mountain
-False Bay is 10 km away brings cool breezes
-low vigour on granite soils, sit above a layer of sandstone =good drainage
Rainfall 1,000mm
SB, Chard, Cab Sauv, and Shiraz are main plantings
small, quality focused producers dominate the region - very close to Cape Town and so cellar doors are important
eg. Klein Constantina
South Africa: Durbanville
Ward:
in the shale soils of Tygerberg hills
-vineyards face EAst with an altitude of 100-300m
-Rainfall is 500m due to a rain shdow from the Tygerberg hills
-Dry faming due to soils that hold water
-Warm summer weather is cooled by False Bay until the evening mist rolls in and reduces temps by 5 degrees
-cooler sites planted with SB - eg. Bloemendal
South Africa: Stellenbosch
District
- surrounds the city of Stellenbosch - business and educational hub
-Oldest wine region second to Constatina
-known for high quality Cabernet Sauv
-Historic estates alongside the largest bulk producer Distell
-Cooler mountain slopes, varies soil types , breeze off False Bay
-Sandy, alluvail soils to Granite and Shal on the slopes of Simonsberg, Stellenbosch mountain
-Rainfall is 600-900mm
-Warm climate
-Cab Sauv, Merlot and Pinotage.
Chenin and SB and Chardonnay
-Picking time and yield are important for style
From fresh , lower abv, still ripe seeds ans skins
Wines are very good to outstanding
eg. Rust en Vrede
South Africa: Simonsberg- Stellenbosch
Ward
- lower slopes of the SW side of Simonsberg
-open to ocean breezesw providing higher diuranl temps
-recognised for Cab Sauv, blends and Pinotage
eg. Kanonkop
South Africa: Paarl
District
- warmer with many meso climates
-Rainfall 8-900mm
-Berg river flows though and provides water for irrigation
-Distinct ripeness - Chenin , Cab Sauv, Shiraz and Pinotage
-Some Mediterranean Viognier and Mourvedre as well
-Top quality wines from Voor Paardeberg ( ward)
eg. Vilafonte for super prem wines
South Africa: Simonsberg - Paarl
Ward
- warm,
other side of Simonsberg and at a higher elevation - higher diurnal =longer growing season
-Chardonnays aare distinct and fresh as well as Shiraz
eg. Glen Carlou
South Africa: Franschoek Valley
District
- SE of Paarl, wrapped around on three sides by mountains
-shelter and warmth
-300m to 600m
-800mm of rainfall , but fast draining soils =irrigation needed
-SB, Cab Sauv, Shiraz also 100 yr old Semillon
-freshness and added to blends
-home of the best Cap Classique producers
-eg. Boekenhoutskloof
South Africa: Darling
District
- North of CApe Town
-range of hills that run parellel to the West coast and provide cold air from the Atlantic ocean 10km away
-SB is dominant
-also fresh Cab Sauv, Merlot and Shiraz
-granite soils with higher water holding -dry farming and bush vines are common
eg. Neil Ellis
South Africa: Swartland
District
-warm dry climate
-500mm but through the growing season
- requires use of irrigation to guarantee yeilds
area is famous for old vines
-Soils are diverse - low fertility shale and granite
Two sectors - old business , oftern co-ops that make good to very good wines
**New talent re-inventing the styles started by Charles Back
low yields, dry farming and organic bio , old vines, ambient yeats and old oak maturation . Very good to outstanding premium and super prem prices **
PRemium fruit for Western Cape Blends
**Bix six **are grown here and also some
Mouvedre, Marsanne, Roussanne, Semillon, Grnache Blanc and Viognier
South Africa: Tulbagh
District
-part of Coastal region but is warm and sheltered by the horseshoe mountains range ( no coastal influence)
-Altitude is the cooler - 400-500m
with shade from mountains
-Soil has good water holding and water management systems that collect rain in ponds that provide water
-Chenin, Shiraz and Colombard
- area is known for inexpensive wines
eg. Saronberg for Shiraz
South Africa: Wellington
District
- 45 NE of Cape Town
-reputation for Shiraz and powerful wines in red blends
-alluvial terraces and benches near the Swartland hills and Hawequa Mountain foothills - **home to many nurseries that supply 85% of SA wines industry cuttings **
eg. Bosman Family Vineyards
South AFrica: Breedekloof
District
- adequate rainfall
-WArm, continental climate
successful dry growin
-winter and spring snow delays budburst
Hazard of spring frost
Cooling south east winds prevent fungal disease
-Chenin, Colombard, Chardonanny
Pinotage, Shiraz and Cab Sauv
eg. Co-op Du Toitskloof Cellar
South Africa: Worcester
District
- low rainfall 400m
rain shadow , relies on irrigation
-Loamy soils are very fertile and we planted for high volume and the brandy industry
-Chiefly produces Colombard for distilling
South Africa: Robertson
District
- warm ,low rainfall
-SW winds are cooling and bring moisture from the Indian Ocean ( 100kms away)
-Flat plains, fertile good for high yields - historically know for Brandy - Colombard
-High quallity sparkling from Chardonnay is made on the limestone areas , unusual for SA
-Shiraz, and Cab Sauv
eg. Robertson Winery - large co-op
and Graham Beck Cap Classique specialist
South Africa: Olifants River Region
- most northern region with some very dry parts -200mm and a warm climate
-irrigation from the Olifant River
-historically know for large colume of Colombard for Brandy
-Namaqua Wines ( very large ) has been succesful with inexpensive wines
-** areas in the Citrusdal Mountain , Lutzville and Bamboes Bay are know for high quality old vines , dry famred
at 450-550m with cooling influence from the Atlantic ocean =these wines are very good to outstnading and prem to super prem eg. Sadie Family **
South Africa: Cape South Coast Region: Walker Bay
District
SB, Chardonnat and Pinot Noir due to the cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean
Known for very good to outstanding wines
Newer planting and smaller compared to SA regions
-Pioneered by Tim Hamilton -Russel in 1975 who wanted to make Burgundian styles of Chardonnaty and Pinot Noir
South Africa : Hemel-en Aarde
Ward of Walker Bay
- cool winds reduce over ripening and vigour
ASpect is to the North to achieve ripeness
-Clay is 55% of the soil ( similar to Burgundy) which imporves water retention
-Cover crops to reduce water evaproation
-Chardonnay and Pinot Noir rule - still plant big six as well
Hemel en Aarde Valley - lowest altitude and yet closest to the cool Atlantic Ocean. Pinot ( can reach 14%) and Chardonnay that are bright and fresh.
Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley - slightly higher in elevation NORTH AND WEST aspects
Hemel en Aard Ridge is located inland , smallest but coldest and highest ward with 400m vines that face S and E - nearby mountains act as a cloud trap and collect moisture and provide shade
South Africa: Bot River
ward
stretches from the Bot River Lagoon - acts as a funnel for cold wines from the nearby mountain ranges
- long growing season allows bright and fresh SB and Chenin
eg. Beaumont
South Africa: Elgin
-70kms SE of Cape Town , inland on a plateau of 200-400m
-considerably cooler : 3/4 opf the hot days of Stellenbosch
- altitude, cloud cover and cooling from the ocean makes overall cold temperatures
Slow growing season and fruit with elegance
1,000mm of rainfall means fungal disease pressure
SB, Chard , Riesling, Pinot Noir and Merlot make a fresh, fragrant style
eg. Paul Cluver for super prem Chardonnay
South AFrica: Klein Karoo
**-best know for Port Styles Wines , fortified Muscat and Chenin and Colombard for Brandy **
Semi-arid region inland 4 hrs from Cape Town
Small plantings of SB, Chard and Shiraz show promise in the cooler mountain ranges between it and the Indian Ocean to the South
