When were vines first planted in SA?
1655 by Jan van Riebeek, when he founded Cape Town
When was the golden age for Vin de Constance?
~1778-1885
When was the KWV formed?
1918
What was the KWV’s role when they formed?
Fixed minimum prices
Determined areas of production
Est. production limits
What was the Wine and Spirits Control Act, and when was it passed?
- Formalized the KWV’s powers
When did the KWV relinquish its powers?
- Became a private company in 1997.
What organization was established to increase quality and empower black workers in the SA wine industry? When was it established?
SAWIT
South African Wine Industry Trust
1999
What is SAWIS and when did it start?
South African Wine Information and Systems is a quality certification body started in 2002
When was the Wine of Origin (WO) system started?
1973
What is the maximum size of a single vineyard in SA?
6 ha
What is IPW?
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary means of sustainability certification for WO producers. Started in 1998.
What are some categories covered by the IPW?
Worker safety measures, packaging, manufacturing, agriculture, emissions, wastewater handling, chemical use, biodiversity
What is the hierarchy of production ares in SA?
Geographical Unit
Region
District
Ward
Name the 6 GUs of SA
Western Cape Northern Cape Eastern Cape Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo Free State
Districts of Northern Cape
Douglas
Sutherland-Karoo
Independent wards of Northern Cape
Hartswater
Central Orange RIver
Prieska
Ward of Eastern Cape
St Francis Bay
Districts of Kwazulu-Natal
Central Drakensberg
Lions River
Production of areas of Limpopo
none
Ward of Free State
Rietrivier FS
Where do SA six regions all exist?
Western Cape
Name the 6 regions of Western Cape
Coastal Region Cape South Coast Breede River Valley Klein Karoo Olifants River Region
What is the climate of the Western Cape GU?
Mediterranean, with coastal areas being cooled by the Benguela Current
What is the Benguela Current?
a South Atlantic ocean current that flows North from Antarctica to cool the coastal areas of SA
What is the Cape Doctor?
Strong southeasterly wind, blows across Western Cape in the spring and summer.
Pros: Moderates temps, inhibits fungal disease
Cons: batters the vines
What is the capes coolest wine growing region?
Cape Agulhas district, alos the southern most district
What percent of SA’s area under vine is Steen?
About 18%
What is Cape Riesling?
Crouchen Blanc
What is Hanepoot?
Muscat of Alexandria
Who invented pinotage, and when?
Professor Abraham Perold
1924, though it wasn’t planted until 1941
Teinturier grape common in SA
Pontac
When was Constantia first divided?
1712, upon van der Stel’s death
When was Constantia founded, by whom?
1685 by Governor Simon van der Stel
When did the French Huguenots arrive in South Africa? Where did they settle?
late 1680s-early 1690s in Franschoek (“French Quarter”)
When did phylloxera hit South Africa?
1886
Why was the KWV formed? In what year?
It started to help after an economic depression following the Boer War b/t British and Dutch colonies. Formed in 1918.
Why did new wine regions not get developed while the KWV was in power?
They required vineyards to have starter issued quotas, which stop getting issued around 1970 until quotas were eliminated in 1992.
What is WIETA?
Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association- ensures proper working conditions, compensation and treatment of workers
What two oceans affect South Africa? Which has the Benguela Current?
The Indian Ocean and the Atlantic oceans, which contains the very cold Benguela Current
From what direction does the Cape Doctor blow? What affect does it have?
From the southeast. It can batter the vines and mess with fruit set, but it also staves off disease and pests.
What is the overall classification of the South African climate?
Mediterranean
What was historically the dominant red grape of South Africa, pre-Pinotage? What was it called?
Cinsaut
Once called Hermitage
What is OVP in South Africa? What does it do?
Old Vine Project
Started by Rosa Kruger in 2002. Raises awareness of the special qualities of old vine fruit, thereby raising prices and incentivizing growers to not pull them up.
What seal does the Old Vine Project award? What is the minimum vine age?
Certified Heritage Vineyard seal can be used by farms with avg vine age of 35 yrs.
What are two names for Muscat in South Africa?
Muscadel=Blanc a Petit Grain
Hanepoot=Alexandria
What is Jerepigo?
VDL of Hanepoot (muscat of Alexandria)
What is the most planted red variety in South Africa today?
CS
Why does South African CS rarely see as much new oak as other new world examples?
- The Wine Commission’s tasting panel considers “over-oaked” a flaw.
- The Rand is weak and drives up barrel prices.
What happens of a South African wine does not pass the tasting panel?
It cannot list vintage, variety or region on the label.
