South Africa

Question 1

Question

Answer 1

Answer

Question 2

What is Breede River Valley and what is it known for?

Answer 2

A region in Western Cape, South Africa
Known for wines produced at high yield and grapes for distilling

Question 3

What is Cape South Coast?

Answer 3

A region in Western Cape, South Africa

Question 4

What is Coastal Region?

Answer 4

A region in Western Cape, South Africa
45% of SA’s ha under vine; 25% of production

Question 5

What is Klein Karoo?

Answer 5

A region in Western Cape, South Africa

Question 6

What is Olifants River?

Answer 6

A region in Western Cape, South Africa

Question 7

In which region are all of South Africa’s geographical units located?

Answer 7

Western Cape

Question 8

What are the five regions in South Africa’s Western Cape?

Answer 8

Coastal Region, Breede River Valley, Cape South Coast, Olifant’s River, and Klein Karoo, far out east.

Question 9

What is the Western Cape’s climate?

Answer 9

Warm Mediterranean

Question 10

What is the Cape Doctor?

Answer 10

A strong southeasterly wind that hits the Western Cape in spring and summer. Inhibits fungal disease and moderates temperature. Also batters vines

Question 11

What are the 8 districts in the Coastal Region of South Africa?

Answer 11

Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Darling, Franschhoek Valley, Swartland, Tulbagh, Wellington

Question 12

What is Stellenbosch? Its grapes + important ward?

Answer 12

A district in Coastal Region (SA) focused on Cab Sauv, Merlot, Pinotage, & Shiraz AND Sauv Blanc, Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay.

Important ward is Simonsberg-Stellenbosch - high diurnal range.

Growing environment:
- Adequate rain (600-900mm)
- varied soil types
- warm enough to ripen Cab Sauv, Merlot & Pinotage, but with cooling influences:
- mountain slopes,
- breezes off False Bay

Question 13

What is Cape Town and its important wards?

Answer 13

A district in Coastal Region (SA); important wards are
1. Constantia (Vin de Constance + SB, Chard, Cab Sauv, Shiraz) &
2. Durbanville (SB);

Tourism is important.

Formerly called the Cape Pennisula.

Question 14

What is Paarl, its grapes & an important wards? And growing climate?

Answer 14

A district in Coastal Region (SA) forcused on
Chenin Blanc, Cab Sauv, Shiraz & Pinotage;
also Mediterranean Viognier & Mourvedre;

Important ward is Simonsberg-Paarl – Chardonnay and Shiraz

Warmer than Stellenbosch but has many mesoclimates & soils, so many varieties succeed.

Adequate rain - 800-900mm
Berg River for irrigation.

Question 15

What is Tulbagh & its grapes?

Answer 15

A district in Coastal Region (SA);

Known for Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, & Colombard; some Pinotage for blends;

Inexpensive wines

Question 16

What is Darling and its grapes? And growing climate?

Answer 16

A district in Coastal Region (SA);

Known for Sauvignon Blanc, FRESH Cab Sauv, Merlot, Shiraz

Contains a range of hills that run parallel to cold West Coast 10km away.

• Slopes have many aspects;
• Vines benefit from Atlantic Ocean breezes;
• Granite soils have high water-holding capacity so dry farming & bush vines are common

Question 17

What is Franschhoek Valley & its grapes? And growing climate?

Answer 17

A district in Coastal Region (SA);

known for Sauv Blanc, Cab Sauv, Shiraz, some old vine Semillon AND Cap Classique sparkling wines

Wrapped on three sides by mountains –> varied topography, giving shelter & warmth
- grapes increasing planted at altitude for cooling - 600m
- plenty of rain (800mm) but fast-draining soils mean irrigation needed

Fruit has FRESHER quality –> used in blends for this aspect

Question 18

What is Wellington (SA) and its grapes & your favorite SA winery?

Answer 18

A district in Coastal Region (SA);

known for Shiraz and powerful red blends

Bosman Family Vineyards

Question 19

What is Swartland? And three uses for its grapes?

Answer 19

A district in Coastal Region (SA);

1. Fruit for Western Cape blends;
2. OLDER: co-ops, inexpensive to mid-priced wines;
3. NEW: low-yield, dry farming, organic/bio, ambient yeasts, old oak maturation.
   Premium to super-premium priced

Question 20

What is Constantia? Grapes? Growing climate?

Answer 20

A ward in Cape Town district in Coastal Region

Known for Vin de Constance, a dessert wine made from Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains

Also grows Sauv Blanc, Chardonnay, Cab Sauv, Shiraz
–> Notable absence of Pinot Noir (why is that notable? IDK.)

Low vigor granite soils - good drainage
Rain at 1000mm per year

Small number of producers, all focused on quality;

TOURISM

Question 21

What grape is Klein Constantia best known for?

Answer 21

Muscat de Frontignan
(Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains)

Question 22

What are the two most planted varietals in Stellenbosch?

Answer 22

Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 23

What are the key grapes of Paarl?

Answer 23

Chenin Blanc,
Cab Sauv,
Shiraz,
Pinotage

Viognier & Mourvedre also grown

Question 24

What are the districts to know in Breede River Valley Region?

Answer 24

Breedekloof, Worcester, Robertson

Question 25

What is Robertson? Grapes? Growing environment? Significant producers?

Answer 25

A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa Chardonnay, Columbard, Chenin Blanc & Sauv Blanc Recently: Shiraz and Cab Sauv Growing environment - Limestone - unusual in SA -- hence Chardonnary & sparkling - Warm, very low rainfall, irrigation necessary - SE winds bring moist air from Indian Ocean - cooling influence - fertile valley floor grows high yields for distilling Co-op Robertson Winery & Graham Beck

Question 26

What is Worcester? Growing environment? Grapes?

Answer 26

A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa Very low rainfall - rain shadow of mountains (400mm) Relies heavily on irrigation. Mostly grapes for distilling - very fertile loamy soil. Some Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Viognier & Shiraz

Question 27

What is Breedekloof?

Answer 27

A district in Breede River Valley region of South Africa Warm continental climate -- adequate rainfall, unique to Breede River Valley. Chenin, Columbad, Chardonnay Pinotage, Shiraz & Cab Sauv varied soil types - climate allows longer hang-time and later harvest

Question 28

What grape are grown in Worcester?

Answer 28

Mostly for distilling: Chenin Blanc & Colombard

Question 29

What are the districts to know in Cape South Coast region in South Africa?

Answer 29

Walker Bay & Elgin

Question 30

What is Elgin?

Answer 30

A district in Cape South Coast region in Western Cape

Question 31

What are key grapes from Elgin?

Answer 31

Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz

Question 32

What is Walker Bay?

Answer 32

A district in Cape South Coast region in Western Cape

Question 33

When was South Africa's Wine of Origin system introduced?

Answer 33

1973

Question 34

What is the labelling requirement for varietal wines in South Africa?

Answer 34

>85% of stated grapeAll grapes with >20% must be listed

Question 35

What is the labelling requirement for vintage wines in South Africa?

Answer 35

>85% from listed vintage

Question 36

What are the labelling requirements for area-labelled wines in South Africa?

Answer 36

100% of grapes from listed area

Question 37

What are South Africa's types of production area (from largest to smallest)?

Answer 37

Geographical unitRegionDistrictWard

Question 38

What does Single Vineyard Wine mean in South Africa?

Answer 38

Grapes came from one vineyard that is registered; must be less than 6 hectares

Question 39

What does Estate mean in South Africa?

Answer 39

Grapes are grown, wine is made & bottled on a single property

Question 40

What is IPW in South Africa?

Answer 40

Integrated Production of Wine Scheme

Question 41

When was the IPW established?

Answer 41

1998

Question 42

What is the IPW in South Africa?

Answer 42

IPW - Integrated Production of Wine Voluntary means of certification for producers to comply with sustainable environmental standards, health & safety & biodiversity. 95% of SA growers & cellars adhere.

Question 43

What is the Benguela Current?

Answer 43

Current from Antarctica that cools coastal South African areas

Question 44

What is the most planted white grape in South Africa?

Answer 44

Chenin Blanc - 20%; about 2x the amount of the Loire

Question 45

What is Pinotage?

Answer 45

South African grape crossing of Cinsault and Pinot Noir

Question 46

What is Cap Classique?

Answer 46

Traditional method South African sparkling wine. Charmat method. Traditionally made with Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay increasing in popularity

Question 47

What are the two main ocean currents that impact climate in South Africa?

Answer 47

Benguela & Agulhas

Question 48

What is the rain situation in South Africa?

Answer 48

Generally enough to grow grapes (> 700mm); mostly falls in growing season; some regions don't have enough and irrigation is essential.

Question 49

What are the three main types of soil in South Africa?

Answer 49

1. Table Mountain Sandstone - low nutrient, low water retention, needs irrigation & fertilization. 2. Soil from granite - foothill slopes & hills; good water retention, potential for dry farming. 3. Soil from SHALE - good nutrients & water retention; potential for dry farming. Most soils are acidic nd need adjustments with lime to get pH right.

Question 50

What are the Big Six (actually 8) grapes grown in South Africa?

Answer 50

In order of plantings: Chenin Blanc Colombard Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Sauvignon Blanc Pinotage Chardonnay Merlot (that's 8)

Question 51

What are three blends created in South Africa?

Answer 51

- White Cape blends - Chenin-dominated with white Rhone, Chardonnay, Semillon & Sauv Blanc - Red Bordeaux blends (and white as well) - Red Cape blends - significant % of Pinotage and/or Black Rhone varieties

Question 52

What Northern Hemisphere wine growing region does South Africa nearly align with?

Answer 52

California - 32* to 34*.

Question 53

Describe two styles of premium South African Pinotage wines.

Answer 53

Traditional, fuller - post-fermentation maceration on skins, more oak AND lighter style - gorwn on cooler sites, no post-ferment maceration

Question 54

How do inexpensive and premium Chenin Blanc winemaking differ in South Africa?

Answer 54

Primary differences are in yields, spraying for botrytis, sorting (Chenin Blanc ripens unevenly), blending with Colombard, vessel for fermentation, acidification, yeasts, maturation (length, vessel, lees?, batonnage), sugar adjustment, fining & filtering, packaging (ship in bulk or bottle at estate?)