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WSET 3 - Geoff > C38 - South Africa > Flashcards

C38 - South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

Why can South Africa produce a broad range of styles?

A

Proximity to the coast and the mountainous backdrop

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2
Q

Discuss South Africa climate and grape growing

A

Latitude range: 27° - 34˚ south of the equator

Climate show be hot but many Vineyards here are subject to cooling influences

  • Cold Benguela current from Antartic cooling coastal areas
  • Magnified by Cape Doctor - strong and regular southeastern winds
  • Mountain range throughout the wine regions
    • providing range of altitude, aspects, soils and therefore climates
    • Wine planted on southern slopes to benefits from coooler temperatures
    • Can cast shadows overnearby vineyards, giving slifhtly cooler temp
    • can channel winds near the coast through the vineyards
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3
Q

Discuss black variety in South Africa

A

Cabernet Sauvignon - Most planted,

  • Blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc for Bordeaux style

Merlot - produces full body, plummy wines

Syrah - widely planted

  • Hot areas: Rich and full-bodied, high alcohol, ripe black fruit flavours, sometimes earthy or meaty character
  • Cooler areas: peppery and less full-bodied

Pinot Noir - Less tolerant of the hot climate ⇒ Planted in small amounts in the coolest coastal areas

Pinotage - Pinot Noir x Cinsault crossing

  • Developed in South Africa, hardly grown elsewhere
  • Cape blend = Pinotage blended with international varieties
  • made in a range of styles
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4
Q

What is the role of oak in the vinification of South African reds?

A

The vast majority of premium reds are matured in oak At least a proportion of new barrels used for toasty aromas

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5
Q

Which varieties were crossed to make Pinotage?

A

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

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6
Q

What are the styles of Pinotage, single-varietal wine?

A

Light, fruity style with red berry flavours

Full-bodied from old bush vines, with rich, spiced berry fruit

Intense coffee and chocolate aromas when fermented and/or stored with heavily toasted oak staves

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7
Q

Discuss white grapes varieties in South Africa

A

Chenin Blanc - most planted but in decline

  • Dry and sweet wines
  • Easy drinking with simple stone-fruit flavours
  • An increasing number of producers are using Chenin from old bush vines ⇒ more concentrated & complex flavours, fuller texture
  • Barrel fermentation to give extra body and toasty oak flavours

Colombard - second most planted - large portion used for brandy

Sauvignon Blanc -

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8
Q

What may barrel fermentation and barrel ageing contribute to a Chenin Blanc in South Africa?

A

Extra body and toasty oak flavours

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9
Q

What is the second most widely planted white variety in South Africa? What is it used for?

A

Colombard

A significant portion is used in the production of brandy

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10
Q

What is a consistent feature between wines made from Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa?

A

They often have a herbaceous character

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11
Q

Where in South Africa do the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc come from?

A

The coolest sites

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12
Q

What kind of flavours/aromas might the best examples of Sauvignon Blanc display?

A

Very pure flavours of citrus and green fruit

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13
Q

How is the necessary acidity and flavours achieved in Sauvignon Blanc’s warmer sites in South Africa achieved?

A

By picking earlier

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14
Q

Describe Chardonnay quality in South Africa

A

It can be exceptional

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15
Q

Which sites in South Africa produce the best examples of Chardonnay?

A

The cooler sites

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16
Q

Describe big contributing factors in the character of South Africa’s best Chardonnays

A

The use of Burgundian techniques such as lees-stirring and barrel fermentation

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17
Q

What is Muscat of Alexandria called in South Africa?

A

Hanepoot

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18
Q

What is Hanepoot used for in South Africa?

A

Late-harvest dessert wines

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19
Q

Besides late-harvesting, how may South African dessert wines be sweetened?

A

Noble rot can have an influence

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20
Q

Plantings of which white grape have increased dramatically in South Africa over the last couple of decades?

A

Viognier

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21
Q

What is the usual style of Viognier wines from South Africa?

A

Rich, perfumed whites with a hint of toasty oak

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22
Q

Which style of wine has recently emerged in South Africa, particularly in Swartland?

A

High quality blends, often made from Chenin Blanc with Rhône varieties such as Marsanne, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier

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23
Q

Where does well over 90% of wine made in South Africa come from?

A

The Western Cape

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24
Q

What are the most important regions of the Western Cape?

A

Coastal Region Breede River Valley Cape South Coast

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25
Q

Where does the majority of wine NOT from the Western Cape come from in South Africa?

A

Orange River in the Northern Cape

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26
Q

Briefly describe conditions in Orange River

A

Very hot and irrigated

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27
Q

What is wine from Orange River mostly known for?

A

Mostly inexpensive whites the are rarely seen on export markets

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28
Q

In South Africa, some wineries located in certain districts or wards may source their fruit from… How may these wines be labelled?

A

A wider area than the GI in which they’re located With a region or a geographical unit e.g. Coastal Region or Western Cape

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29
Q

Where is the Stellenbosch region?

A

From just inland of the coast at Somerset West right up into the mountains that surround the town of Stellenbosch itself

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30
Q

What is the long-time hub of fine wine in South Africa?

A

Stellenbosch

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31
Q

Describe the climate of Stellenbosch

A

Moderate to warm depending on location

Sufficient rain in winter

Summers rarely too hot

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32
Q

Why are summers rarely too hot in Stellenbosch?

A

Thanks to cool winds from False Bay that are funnelled by the mountains into the valleys

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33
Q

What is largely credited for the success of Stellenbosch as a wine growing district?

A

The variety of altitude, aspect and soil that’s available in such a relatively small area

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34
Q

What has Stellenbosch built a reputation for in recent years?

A

Top class reds

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35
Q

What reds in particular has Stellenbosch built a reputation for?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often made into Bordeaux-style blends)

Syrah

Cape red blends

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36
Q

What can the cooler sites in Stellenbosch produce?

A

High quality Sauvignon Blanc

Chardonnay

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37
Q

Describe the Paarl district

A

A large district to the north of Stellenbosch

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38
Q

Describe the climate in Paarl

A

Less exposed to the cooling influences of the sea, being further inland

Temperatures hotter in summer

Cooler night-time temperatures

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39
Q

Describe the vineyards of Paarl

A

Variety of altitudes, aspects and soils offered by mountainous terrain

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40
Q

What are the most important reds of Paarl?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Pinotage

41
Q

What are the most planted whites of Paarl?

A

Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay

42
Q

What is noteworthy about the Constantia ward?

A

It has some of the oldest vineyards in the Cape

43
Q

Where is the Constantia ward?

A

In the Cape Peninsula

44
Q

How are the vineyards of Constantia Ward located?

A

On the eastern flanks of Table Mountain

45
Q

How is temperature moderated in the vineyards of Constantia?

A

By the Cape Doctor

46
Q

What do the producers of Cape Doctor have a particular reputation for?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

47
Q

What is the name of the sweet wine produced from late-harvested Muscat in Constantia?

A

Vin de Constance

48
Q

Describe the vineyards south of Table Mountain and the grapes they’re famous for

A

Closer to Cape Point

Well exposed to the cooling influence of the ocean

Made a speciality of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

49
Q

What is planted in the warmer sites south of Table Mountain in Constantia?

A

Some Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon

50
Q

Which district lies to the north of Cape Town?

A

Swartland

51
Q

What is Swartland’s formative reputation?

A

As a source of inexpensive grapes and wine

52
Q

What is the new reputation of Swartland?

A

As a centre of innovation and premium wine production

53
Q

Swartland is recognised particularly as a source of …and…

A

Old-vine Chenin Blanc

High-quality Syrah

54
Q

What does ‘dry-farming’ mean?

A

Growing without irrigation

55
Q

What is the effect of dry-farming Chenin Blanc and Syrah (as in Swartland)?

A

It lowers yields but enhances fruit concentration

56
Q

Besides Chenin and Syrah, what else also comes from Swartland district?

A

A number of premium Cape blends (red and white)

57
Q

What is to the south-west of Swartland?

A

The Darling district

58
Q

Describe the climate in the Darling district

A

Its position near the coast means it receives cooling sea breezes

59
Q

For what does the Darling district have its reputation?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

60
Q

What is Darling’s similarity with Swartland?

A

It is a source of old vines

61
Q

What/where is Durbanville?

A

A ward in the Tygerberg district

62
Q

What are sites like in Durbanville?

A

Offers hillside sites north of Cape Town

Cooled by sea breezes that also blow through the Cape Point

63
Q

Durbanville has built a reputation for…

A

Sauvignon Blanc

64
Q

What are the most important districts of Breede River Valley?

A

Worcester District

Robertson District

65
Q

Where in Breede River Valley is Worcester district?

A

At the western end of Breede River Valley

66
Q

Describe the climate in the Worcester district

A

Hot and dry

67
Q

What is the result of the climate in the Worcester district?

A

Irrigation from the river is essential

68
Q

What are the soils like in Breede River Valley?

A

Fertile

69
Q

What is the role of the Worcester district in South Africa’s wine production?

A

It can produce a significant proportion of South Africa’s annual production

70
Q

What is the majority of Worcester district wine made from?

A

Chenin Blanc and Colombard

71
Q

Much of wine from Worcester district is used for…

A

Distillation

72
Q

Other than wine for distillation, what else is Worcester district reputable for?

A

Red and white, high-volume, branded wines

73
Q

Where is the Robertson district?

A

To the east of Worcester

74
Q

What is the climate of Robertson district?

A

Similar but slightly cooler climate than Worcester district

75
Q

Why is it cooler in Robertson district than Worcester district?

A

Thanks to south-easterly winds that are drawn into the valley

76
Q

Of what is Robertson district a reliable source?

A

Well-made wines for high-volume brands

77
Q

Besides high-volume wines, what else can be made in Robertson district?

A

Excellent Syrahs and full-bodied Chardonnays

78
Q

What is the most southerly region of South Africa?

A

Cape South Coast

79
Q

What is the reputation of the Cape South Coast area?

A

It is a regular source of some of the best fruit and wines in South Africa

80
Q

What is the best-established vineyard area of Cape South Coast area?

A

Walker Bay district

81
Q

What is contained within Walker Bay district?

A

The various wards of Hemel-en-Aarde

82
Q

What is home to some of South Africa’s best Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs?

A

Hemel-en-Aarde

83
Q

What is also grown in Hemel-en-Aarde with great success (besides Pinot Noir and Chardonnay)?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Merlot

Syrah

84
Q

What is to the north-west of Walker Bay?

A

The Elgin district

85
Q

What is the important cooling influence in Elgin district?

A

Altitude

86
Q

For what does Elgin district have a particular reputation?

A

Intense, fresh Sauvignon Blancs

87
Q

Besides SB, which varieties are showing promise in Elgin district?

A

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

Syrah

88
Q

What is to the south-east of Walker Bay?

A

The Elim ward (in the Cape Agulhas district)

89
Q

For what does the Elim ward have a particular reputation?

A

Pungent, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc

Syrah is also showing promise

90
Q

What is the name of South Africa’s GI system?

A

The Wine of Origin Scheme (W.O.)

91
Q

What will wines stating Wine of Origin (W.O.) also carry?

A

A certification seal

92
Q

How many different sizes of production area does South African law recognise? What are they?

A

Four

Geographical Unit

Regions

Districts

Wards

93
Q

What is the only geographical unit in South Africa of any importance to wine?

A

Western Cape

94
Q

What is the advantage of the Western Cape appellation?

A

It allows producers to blend the best parcels of fruit from different areas

95
Q

What is the tendency as to how regions are defined in South Africa?

A

They follow dominant geological features

96
Q

What are the most important regions for wine grape-growing in South Africa?

A

Coastal Region

Breede River Valley

Cape South Coast

97
Q

What are the rules behind labelling wines as Estate Wines in South Africa?

A

Must come from a single estate

All grapes must come from estate vineyards that cover a single geographical area

Estate must have facilities on their land allowing them to process the grapes and the wine up to and including bottling

98
Q

What does Estate Wine law allow in South Africa?

A

It allows top producers to release Estate Wines AND other W.O. wines under their brand name

99
Q

What does IPW stand for in South Africa and what does it mean?

A

Integrated Production of Wine (IPW)

It’s a voluntary sustainable agriculture scheme

WSET 3 - Geoff (45 decks)

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