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WSET Diploma D3 > South Africa > Flashcards

South Africa Flashcards

(55 cards)

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1
Q

History

A

Modern industry from 1994 when African National Congress won the first democratic election

Before 90’s - KWV Cooperative, high yield for brandy

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2
Q

Climate

A

33-35 latitude (CA and Israel in north hem.)

Warm Mediterranean

moderating factors: mountains, Benguela current up western coast, Cape Doctor

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3
Q

Benguela Current

A

flows north up western coast, mingles with Agulhas current and cools Cape Town to Cape Agulhas

Creates coastal fog and breezes

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4
Q

Cape Doctor

A

South-easterly wind during spring and summer, lowers disease pressure and brings rain

Can damage leaves and disrupt flowering/fruit set

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5
Q

Climate risks

A

Spring frost (particularly Breedekloof)

Lack of winter freeze

700mm in Stellenbosch, less in north of Western Cape

Drier areas use drip irrigation, some places dry farm

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6
Q

Pinotage

A

Bred at University of Stellenbosch in 1925

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

Early budding, moderately susceptible to fungal disease

High sugar level in small berries, high alcohol with deep colour

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7
Q

Soils

A
  • Table Mountain Sandstone: sandy with low nutrient/water retention

-Granite: foothills and hills, good water retention

-Shale: good nutrient levels and water-retention

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8
Q

Disease

A

Plantings with viral diseases like leafroll and fanleaf was a problem, so testing essential

Powdery mildew also common

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9
Q

Vine Training

A

Cordon with VSP, fruiting wire at 2.4m for easy pruning

Short spur pruning for mechanisation, but often handpicked bc of labour costs

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10
Q

Yields

A

Big difference between large volume and dry farmed old vines

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11
Q

IPW

A

Integrated Production of Wine

1998 - carbon emissions, staff training, conservation of soil & rivers & wetlands

90% of export producers adhere to it

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12
Q

High volume vs low volume Chenin

A

See chart in book

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13
Q

Chenin Blanc

A

Medium to pronounced intensity, ripe yellow apple/peach, tropical fruit, high acidity, medium alcohol and body

Often vanilla and toast from oak

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14
Q

Pinotage

A

traditional fuller bodied, tannic style: deep ruby, red plum and blackberry, high tannin, full body, high alcohol

OR

lighter, elegant style: medium ruby, red fruit, medium tannin

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15
Q

“Big Six” Varieties

A

Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz
Pinotage

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16
Q

White Cape Blends

A

Chenin-dominant, with white Rhone grapes, Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

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17
Q

Red Bordeaux Blends

A

red Bordeaux grapes

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18
Q

Red Cape Blends

A

Blends with high proportion of Pinotage or black Rhone grapes

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19
Q

Geographical Unit

A

Very large areas (Western Cape)

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20
Q

Region

A

Large areas named about major feature (Coastal Region of Breede River Valley)

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21
Q

District

A

Smaller area (Stellenbosch or Walker Bay)

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22
Q

Ward

A

Defined area within a district (Simonsberg-Stellenbosch)

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23
Q

Estate Wines

Study These Flashcards
A

Must be grown, made, and bottled on the estate

24
Q

Single Vineyard Wines

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A

Regulations on single vineyard wines if it is named on the label

Registered, planted with single variety, under 6ha

25
Coastal Region
On the western coast, 45% of all area under fine, but only 25% of volume Districts: Cape Town, Darling, Franschhoek Valley, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Swartland
26
Cape Town
District of Coastal Region 4 wards: Constantia & Durbanville Formerly Cape Peninsula
27
Constantia
Ward of Cape Town Vin de Constance Vineyards on east-facing Constantiaberg False Bay 10km away 1000mm rainfall Sandstone with good drainage SB, Chard, CS, Shiraz
28
Durbanville
Ward, nothern suburbs of Cape Town On shale hills of Tygerberg hills, east facing vineyards dry, but soils with high water retention Warm, but cooling breezes from False Bay and evening mists Sauvignon Blanc with greener style
29
Stellenbosch
District of Coastal Region Cool mountain slopes, False Bay freezes, varied soil types, different slopes, 600-900mm and warm climate Premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chenin
30
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Ward of Stellenbosch on lower slopes of sw side of the Simonsberg Warmer but still get ocean breezes, high diurnal rainge Cab & Cab blends, Pinotage
31
Paarl
District of Coastal Region many mesoclimates 800-900mm rain Berg River Riper, fuller bodied than Stellenbosch Chenin, CS, Shiraz, Pinotage, Viognier, Mourvedre Ward: Voor Paardeberg, top quality
32
Simonsberg-Paarl
Ward of Paarl, on the warmer side of the Simonsberg, at a higher elevation than the rest of Paarl Higher diurnal range, longer & cooler growing season Chard, Shiraz, Red Blends with more freshness and intensity
33
Franschhoek Valley
District of Coastal Region Southeast of Paarl 3 sides surrounded by mountains which shelter & warm sites on valley floor and up to 600m 800mm rain, but fast draining soils SB, CS, Shiraz, some old vine Semillon Fresher wines, used as blending component
34
Darling
District of Coastal Region Range of hills parallel to West Coast Groenekloof ward Ocean breezes SB and fresh CS, Merlot, Shiraz weathered granite soils, water retaining (bush vines & dry farming common)
35
Swartland
District of Coastal Region Warm, dry climate, 500mm rainfall mostly in growing season Irrigation for yields, or old vines Low fertility granite and shale Older businesses/coops make good to very good, inexpensive to mid priced (Perdeberg or Riebeek Cellars) Also premium small-production since 2000, started by Charles Back of Spice Route winery: dry farming, organic/biodynamic, low yield, ambiest yeast, etc Western Cape white and red blends from "big six", RHone varieties
36
Tulbagh
District of Coastal Region part of the Coastal region Warm dry, sheltered valley surrounded by horseshoe-shaped mountain range 400-500m altitude, mountain shade, cold morning air trapped in valleys Water holding soil and water management systems collecting rainfall Chenin, Shiraz, Colombard, some Pinotage & premium cape blends
37
Wellington
District of Coastal Region 45 minutes NE of Cape Town Shiraz, big red blends Alluvial terraces and foothills of Hawequa Mountaints/lots of mesoclimates Known for nurseries that supply South African wineries with cuttings
38
Breede River Valley Region
Warm and dry, high yields, grapes for distilling Irrigation from Breede River Some high quality estates
39
Breedekloof
District of Breede River Valley Region Upper area of Breede River Adequate rainfall for no irrigation winter and spring snows delay budburst, spring frost a hazard Warm continental, later harvest Cooling summer SE winds Chenin, Colombard, Chard, Pinotage, Shiraz, CS
40
Worcester
District of Breede River Valley Region 400mm rainfall (rainshadow) fertile loamy soils, brandy grapes Colombard, Chenin, Chard, SB, Viognier, Shiraz
41
Robertson
District of Breede River Valley Region Warm, low rainfall Cooling SE winds, moisture from Indian OCean Flat plains for high yield Some limestone soils for Chardonnay Colombard, Chenin, SB, Shiraz, CS
42
Olifants River Region
Most northerly, very dry, 200mm rain high yields for coops/distillation Namaqua Wines Citrusdal Mountain and Lutzville Valley districts, and Bamboes Bay and Piekenierskloof wards, 450-550m
43
Cape South Coast Region
Atlantic Ocean SB, Chard, PN Small, recent plantings
44
Walker Bay
District of Cape Coast South Cool region, Atlantic Tim Hamilton-RUssell Chard & Pinot
45
Hemel-en-Aarde
Ward of Walker Bay three wards, inland from seaside town of Hermanus Cooling winds, north aspect 55% clay in soil (like Burgundy) Cover crops Chard & Pinot, Big Six, experiments like Albarino and Viognier
46
Hemel-en-Arrde Valley
Ward lowest in altitude PN and Chard, fresher and brighter but still ripe (up to 14% abv)
47
Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley
Ward higher in elevation, north and west aspects
48
Hemel en Aarde Ridge
Ward Inland, smallest but coldest and highest - 400m elevation south and east aspects Babylonstoren Mountains
49
Bot River
Ward of Walker Bay from Bot River Lagoon which sends cold winds towards neighbouring mountains Warmer than Hemel-en-Aarde but cooler than PAarl and Stellenbosch SB and Chenin, warm enough for RHone varieties and red-fruited Pinotage
50
Elgin
District 70km south of Cape Town on an inland plateau 200-400m Cooler, high altitude and cloud cover 1000mm per year Botrytis SB, Chard, Riesling, Pinot, Merlot, Shiraz, fresh style
51
Klein Karoo
semi arid port style, fortified, brandy SB, Chard, Shiraz in small quantities
52
Initiatives
Integrated Production of Wine Biodiversity and Wine Initiative WWF-SA Conservation Champion Programme Integrity and Sustainability Seal Sustainable Wine South Africa Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Assocation Fairtrade
53
1994
Democratic elections, trade sanctions removed Foreign investors
54
WOSA
Wines of South Africa Established 1990's
55
Export
50% Volume wine exports, 22m litres in 1992 to 250m in 2017 UK, Germany, USA, China, African countries

WSET Diploma D3 (17 decks)

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