Week 3 - South Africa Flashcards
Are South African wines well-understood in Canada?
No. Need to specific LCBO stores to find but selection is growing.
Are exports from South Africa growing? When did this start to occur?
Slowly. Since 1994.
Describe SA’s climate.
Mediterrean.
Warm summers from November to April
Coastal regions are cooler
Inland regions are warmer and drier. Irrigation is necessary.
Are South African wines good sources of value?
Yes - at all levels.
Name 4 districts in the Cape South Coast Region.
- Walker Bay
- Elgin
- Overberg
- Agulhas
Name 3 inland regions.
- Worcester
- Paarl
- Robertson
Describe the strictness, or lack therefor, of tbe appelation system of South Africa.
Relatively free system allowing for innovation and growth
Regions still evolving
Excitement growing for recent SA vintages
New terroirs are being identified and groomed for correct varietals
How are South African winemakers experimenting? What kinds of wines are being created?
Experiments with different vessels, shapes and sizes
* Wooden barrels, plastic, clay, concrete
* New yeast species
Effects on wine:
* Reds are lighter and juicier
* Whites are zippier and tighter
* Rosés are paler and drier
* Nuanced, bright fresh style, role of oak diminishing or eliminated
Describe the history of characteristics of SA’s wine classification system.
Established in 1972
South African version of AOC’s minus French restrictions:
* Certifies vintage, varietal and area of origin
* Sustainable certification to guarantee eco-sensitive production
What are the key WO labelling requirements (think percentages).
100% from stated area
Minimum 75% from stated vintage
Minimum 85% from stated variety
What does Estate mean on the label?
Rare term; appears on wines bottled on the location/farm on which the grapes were grown.
What does Methode Cap Classique mean on the label?
Traditional method sparkling
What does Noble Late Harvest mean on the label?
Sweet wines made from botrytized grapes.
What does Premier Grand Cru mean on the label?
Dry, light and usually blended white - misleading term occasionally used in SA
What does Vin de Constance mean on the label?
SA’s oldest wine dating back to Napolean
Sweet wine of Constantia
Describe SA’s geographical wine hierarchy (larger to smaller)
Regions
Districts
Wards
Estate
Name the 3 regions in the Western Cape Geographical Unit.
Coastal Region
Cape South Coast
Breede River Valley
Name 2 districts in the Breede River Valley region
Worcester (upper)
Robertson (lower
Name 2 districts in the Cape South Coast region
- Elgin
- Walker Bay
Name 5 districts in the Coastal region
- Swartland
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- Capetown
- Darling
Name 4 wards. What districts are they in?
- Durbanville - Capetown District
- Hemel-en-Aarde - Walker Bay Distict
- Constantia - Capetown District
- Elim - Cape South Coast Region
Where is Shiraz grown in South Africa?
- Stellenbosch
- Paarl
- Swartland
Where is Cabernet Sauvignon grown in South Africa?
- Stellenbosch
- Paarl
- Robertson
Where is Pinotage grown in South Africa?
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- Swartland
Where is Semillon grown in South Africa?
- Stellenbosch
Where is Chardonnay grown in South Africa?
- Walker Bay
- Elgin
Where is Chenin Blanc grown in South Africa?
- Paarl
- Swartland
- Stellenbosch
Name 2 excellent SA vintages.
2020
2021
Describe 5 different styles of Chenin Blanc.
- Crisp and refreshing: Elgin and Walker Bay (acid, green apple, citrus)
- Rich and full-bodied: Swaartland and Paarl (stone, tropical, fuller body)
- Oak-aged: Stellenbosck, Franschhoek (baked apple, caramel, buttery)
- Sweet: Constantia (apricot, candied orange peel, fig, sweet balanced with acidity)
- Cap-Classique: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Robertson
Describe a crisp Chenin Blanc
Floral: apple blosson
Green fruit: quince
Citrus: lime
Tropical: passionfruit
Celery
Describe a rich Chenin Blanc
Apple - baked
Lemon - meringue
Stone - nectarine
Tropical - passionfruit
Honey
Why is SA’s Pinotage called a chameleon?
Spectrum of styles
Youthful fruit forward
Age worthy
What is SA Pinotage like on the nose and palate?
Nose
* Vibrant fresh reds (cooler)
* Ripe dark fruits (warmer)
* Oak: vanilla, mocha, spice
* Age: leather, smoked meat, tobacco
Palate:
* Full bodied and tannic
* Silkier, higher alcohol, fuller (warmer)
* Some producers making lighter
* Top level: silky mouthfeel like Merlot
What are the primary flavours of Pinotage?
Blackfruit (blackberry, black cherry)
Herbal: mint
Dried/cooked fruit: fig
Bottle ageing: game
Describe the climate and soils of Stellenbosch
Climate
* Warm mediterrean
* Good rainfall - no irrigation
* Temps higher in north
* Perfect for grape growing
Soils
* Light and sandy (west) - good for Chenin
* Heavier soils on mountain slopes
* Decomposed granate at mountain foot
What grapes grow in Stellenbosch
Red: Bordeaux varieties, Shiraz and Pinotage
White: SB, some CB, Chard, Riesling
Describe the disrict of Stellenbosch.
- Heart of quality wine production
- Largest in area under vine but only 5th in production
- 150 estates
* Ken Forrester, Raats Family, Rustenberg - Home to Stellenbosch University
Name some subwards in Stellenbosch.
- Simonsberg - first official subregion
- Jonkershoek Valley - small, long recognized, mountains east of Stellenbosch
- Papegaalberg
- Bottelary
- Banghoek
- Polkadraal Hills
- Heiderberg
Describe the soils of Stellenbosch.
Best wines tend come from vineyards that are on alluvial fans of the granite mountains.
The wines from these locations are often described as having a subtle mineral note which many believe is from the decomposed granite soils.
The granite mountains are approximately 600 million years old, over 3 times as old as the soil in Napa.
Where is Simonsberg?
Simonsberg is a ward in the district of Stellenbosch.
Describe the soils of Simonsberg.
Deep, reddish clay soils - massive tannins that need ageing
What wines are produced in Simonsberg?
- Bordeaux Blends
- Chenin Blancs, Sauvignon Blanc (the blancs)
Give the WO of Jonkershoek.
Jonkershoek is a ward in the district of Stellenbosch.
Describe Jonkershoek Valley
Home to only 1 of 6 floral kingdoms in the world
9.600 recorded plant species
* 70% not found elsewhere in the world
Fragile region
What wine is Jonkershoek known for?
Syrah
Describe a Syrah from Jonkershoek
Red fruit: Cherry syrup
Black fruit: bramble
Herbal: menthol
Minerality: clay dust
Oak: sweet tobacco
What is the WO of Banghoek?
Banghoek is a ward in the district of Stellenbosch.
What wines does Banghoek produce?
- Chardonnay
- Chenin
* Lemon curd, pineapple, vanilla, acid
In what region is Paarl?
Paarl is in the Coastal Region.
What wines are produced in Paarl?
Red: Shiraz, Bordeaux varieties, Pinotage
White: Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
Describe Swartland.
Traditionally a grain producing area
Recent awards for reds and whites
Top portstyle wines
What grapes are grown in Swartland?
Red: Pinotage, Shiraz, CS
White: Chard, CB, SB
Name 3 of the 5 wards in Swartland.
- Riebeekberg
- Riebeeksrivier
- Malmesbury
- Paardeberg
- Paardeberg-South
What LCBO wines come from Franschhoek?
- The Chocolate Block
- Porcupine Ridge
LCBO: $83
What grapes are grown in Franschhoek?
Red: Syrah
White: Semillon, SB, Chard
Name 4 of the 6 WO’s in the Cape South Coast.
- Elgin
- Walker Bay
- Overberg
- Cape Agulhas
- Plettenberg Bay
- Swellendam
In what region is Elgin found?
Cape South Coast
Describe Elgin’s climate.
High-lying cool climate
What grapes are grown in Elgin?
White: Chard, Riesling, SB
Red: Pinot Noir, Shiraz
Describe the climate of Walker Bay.
One of the coolest regions in SA
Slate soils 300-600m above sea level
What grapes are grown in Walker Bay?
White: Chardonnay, SB
Red: Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz
Describe the SB in Walker Bay
Cross between Sancerre and Hawke’s Bay.
Describe the output of the Breede River Valley
1/3 of SA’s vineyards
40% of production
Describe the climate of Robertson.
Hot climate
Tempered slightly by clouds from sea
Irrigation from Breede River
Lime soil
What grapes are grown in Robertson?
White: Columbard, CB, Chard, SB
Red: CS, Shiraz
Where is Worcester?
Northeast of Paarl in the Breede River Valley region.
Describe the climate of Worcester.
Hot dry area that needs irrigation.
Does Worcester produce brandy?
Yes.
Most important brandy producing area.
Largest distilley of its kind in southern hemisphere
What grapes are grown in Worcester?
White: CB and Colombard
Red: CS and Cinsault
To where are a lot of Worcester wines exported?
Many Worcester wines are custom made for the UK.
