South Africa Flashcards
(31 cards)
First vines planted by Jan van Riebeeck. (Dutch navigator & colonial administrator).
1654
Simon van der Stel establishes the legendary Contantia wine estate outside cape town.
1685
Constantine wines -> famous among European aristocracy.
1778
Predating some top Bordeaux
Abolition of preferential tariffs for South African imports & the rise of French wines put pressure on the industry.
1861
Phylloxera hits. -> most vines replanted with high yielding cinsault -> overproduction.
1866 - 1918
Foundation of the KWV (cooperatives wine growers association).
- Legally empowered to set production & prices (relative stability restored)
1918- 1998
Key success factors-
1990’s until Now
- Apartheid ends -> re-entry into world markets -> exports x16 (1991-2011)
- KWV privatised -> growth of small, quality estates
- Rise of international varieties -> foreign consultants + improvements to viti/ vini.
- Foreign investment large & small -> Pernod/Constellation/ Anne Cointreau.
What is the climate?
Influencers?
Mediterranean w/ warm summers
Cold north flowing Benguela current
Cape doctor
Inland Stellenbosch much warmer and drier -> irrigation.
What is soils & top?
3 features
Many soils
Hilltops - Well drained deep granite & shale
Slopes - Shallow to medium sand over heavy clay
Valleys - Medium to deep alluvial & sandstone
*Laterite - soil rich in iron oxide and aluminium
Grapes?
Which dominates?
Whites dominate (56%)
Chenin blanc aka steen (18%) SB (10%) Chardonnay (8%) Muscat aka Hanepoot. & Colombard/Riesling/Semillon/Gewurtztraminer
Reds (44%) Cab Sav (12%) Shiraz (10%) Pinotage (7%) Merlot (6%) P.N & Cab franc/Carignan/Grenache/Mourvèdre
How many ha of vines in SA? Irrigation & yields? Problems? Trends? Hazards?
112,000 ha of vines.
- Most vineyards are irrigated
- There are no yield checks. Can go up to 350hl/ha. But Avg 80hl/ha
- South Africa late to the party-> poor management of planting material
- > industry is handicapped by viruses (leaf roll/fan leaf/corky bark) -> Cinsault & Chenin good resistance.
- South Africa are committed to sustainable farming.
- Harvard’s are wind, drought and viruses.
White winemaking
Fermented in stainless steel.
Temperature control is now wide spread.
Use of oak chips.
Red wine making
Small oak ageing introduced in late 70’s
Now widely used with controlled MLF
Wine laws
When was Wine of Origin established?
Why?
Geographical hierarchy?
WO legislation established 1972
-> To protect wines of certain origin or vintage.
Geographical hierarchy from large to small:
Region -> District -> Ward -> Estate
*Not all districts are part of a region etc
What are key WO requirements?
100% from area stated
Min 85% from variety stated
Min 75% from vintage stated
Tasting
Coastal Region -
Heartland of fine wine
Influenced by sea -> great for SB
Coastal Region - Constanta ward
Standalone (not part of district)
Located cape of good hope. South of Cape Town.
19C during growing season. 1000mm of rain - most in winter.
East facing slopes of Constantia Berg
Sandstone soils w/ high concentration of loam & granite
Sweet produced from Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains since 17th by Kleing Constantia & Groot Constantia (though stopped in late 19th)
Noteworthy SB & Chard, Cab merl shrz
Coastal Region - Tygerberg District
Rolling hills 10km north of Cape Town, growing reputation.
Ideal for SB
Durbanville Ward
- Outstanding.
- Cooling breezes w/ night time mists.
- Deep soil. One of the oldest wine producing areas.
- Top SB & Chard, Pinotage/ Merlot, CS (Bloemendal ⭐️)
Coastal Region - Stellenbosch District (17,000ha)
South of Durbanville, 40km from Capetown. Coast -> inland
Ancient, Since 17th. Heart quality & ‘town of oaks’.
Warm Mediterranean w/ good rainfall (no irrigation necessary)
Mountainous (600m) granite/ sandstone
Bordeaux blends, Shiraz & Pinotage dominate (63%)
Mostly SB & Chenin.
Largest district w/ area under vine but 1/5th production (lower yields)
150 estates/ producers (Ken Forrester, Raats family, Rustonberg)
Stellenbosch university & the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture & Oenology -> most modern & experimental (varieties/clones/rootstocks)
Coastal Region - Paarl District (16,000ha)
N of Stellenbosch
2nd largest w/ area under vine
Mediterranean, hot dry summers (+2c vs Stellenbosch), Damp Winters.
Almost No maritime influence.
Various soils -> sandstone & granite in higher locations.
Shiraz/Bordeaux varieties/ Pinotage
Chenin Blanc / Chardonnay
80’s was centre of industry -> now shifted to Stellenbosch.
Key producers include KWV, Nederberg (historic estate/ Spring auction), Fairview (Charles Back) - 1.5m bottles/ year
Franschhoek Ward
- “French corner”
- Valley ward, made of narrow valleys, circled by high mountains.
- Historic producer Boschendal (17th / 3m bottles)
- Vast variety wines -> much geography and climate.
Coastal Region - Tulbagh District
Small- North of Paarl.
Bordering Swartland. Surrounded by mountains.
Hot climate
Varying topography
Low PH. Granite on slopes. Deep sand and clay on river bank.
Good promise for Shiraz & Riesling.
Cape South Coast -
South eastern continuation of coastal region.
6 key districts
Cape South Coast - Overberg District
East of Stellenbosch
Up and coming
Cool climate
PN and Chard
Cape South Coast - Walker bay (use to be a ward)
Set up by Hamilton Russel in 1970’s (Hemel en Aarde Ward)
One of coolest regions in South Africa
Slate soils 300-600m.
Best Chard & PN.
Top Pinotage, Sauv B, Merlot, Shiraz.
Bouchard Finlayson (Galpin Peak), Hamilton Russel.
