South Africa Flashcards
(82 cards)
Name of important ocean current and importance
Benguela Current, flows north from the Antarctica and cools down the region
Who planted the first vineyard in SA?
Jan Van Riebeeck, of the Dutch East India Company. He founded Cape town and planted the first vineyard in 1652
What influenced the increase in quality in 1680-1690?
French Huguenots escaping France arrived to SA and brought winemaking knowledge to the region
What was “governor’s wine”?
Name given to Vin de Constance
What 3 estates was Constantia divided into?
Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, and Buitenverwachting (Beyond Expectations)
Threats that affected winemaking during later half of 19th century
Powdery Mildew
Phylloxera
Root louse
What is the KWV?
Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika.
It was created to fix minimum price, determine areas of production, and establish production limits
When did the KWV formed?
1918, then formalised in 1924 by the Wine and Spirits Control Act
Explain the 1925-1980 period of the wine industry in SA
There was surplus caused by the KWV, since they were promoting larger producers even with lower quality.
Drinking habits shifted from fortified wines to table wines.
The Apartheid reduced the international interest in SA’s wines.
Explain the events of 1990 that supported the wine industry
1994: End of Apartheid
1997: KWV became a private company
What is the SAWIT?
South African Wine Industry Trust, founded in 1999
What is the name of the appellation system in SA?
WO, Wine of Origin
What is the SAWIS?
South African Wine Industry Information and Systems
It offers quality certifications to winemakers
Current SA’s production
900 million litres per year
400 million litres exported per year
Current SA’s position in wine producing ranking
9th in the world
When was the WO system introduced?
1973
Basic production regulations
Varietal> 85%
Vintage> 85%
Area> 100%
May blend wines list their varietals in SA?
Yes, if the vinification was done separately and each grape comprises at least 20% of the wine
How does the WO system evaluates wines?
Tasting for varietal’s profile
Chemical test
Order of production areas
Geographical Unit
Region
District
Ward
May a vineyard be listed on the label?
Yes, if 100% of the grapes come from that vineyard and it is of less than 6 hectares
Is the certification process mandatory?
No, but neither vintage, area nor varietal may be labelled if not certified
What is the IPW?
Integrated Production of Wine Scheme
A voluntary means of certification for WO producers who decide to comply with sustainable practices
What guidelines does the IPW set?
Agricultural, manufacturing, and packaging practices
(worker safety measures, handling of wastewater, carbon emissions, use of pesticides and other chemicals, and vineyard biodiversity)
