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Master Sommelier Exam > South Africa > Flashcards

Flashcards in South Africa Deck (54)
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1
Q

What was the name of the company responsible for founding Cape Town and who was the founder who is responsible for the establishment of South Africa’s first vineyard? What was the grape in this vineyard?

A

Dutch East India Company

Johan van Riebeeck

Muscat of Alexandria

2
Q

Who founded Constantia, when, and in what town is it located?

A

Simon Van der Stel

Cape Town

3
Q

What is the name of the wine produced at Constantia that became the first New World wine to be highly acclaimed worldwide? What grapes was it made from and in what style?

A

Vin de Constance Sweet wine from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

4
Q

In 1778 who bought Groot Constantia and revived the Vin de Constance?

A

Hendrik Cloete

5
Q

Why did South Africa experience such a successful export market from the early 19th century up to 1861? What halted this success? Why?

A

Napoleonic Wars cut off Britain from her traditional wine trade markets and South Africa filled this void until 1861.

British abolition of preferential tariffs renewed trading with the French making it difficult for South Africa to compete

6
Q

Following phylloxera, what decisions resulted into long-term decline of South Africa’s wine industry?

A

The planting of high-yielding vines on American rootstocks created a surplus of wine and demand failed to meet supply and the Cape wine industry fell into long-term decline.

7
Q

What does KWV stand for, when was it founded, and what was its purpose? How did it help the industry? What drawbacks were there due to its existence?

A

Kooperative Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Africa, founded in 1918

The purpose was to regulate wine production through enforced quotas and minimum pricing schemes.Saved wholesalers from bankruptcy, but favored quantity over quality stunting the progression of quality-minded production.

8
Q

What crossing led to the creation of Pinotage? Who was responsible for its creation?

A

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

Abraham Perold

9
Q

When was the WO system put into place and what was its purpose?

A

1973 Laws were created emphasizing grape variety and geographical origin which effectively served as regulations in different delimited areas.

10
Q

What happened in 1994 and 1997 that resulted in new hope for the South African wine industry?

A

Apartheid ends in 1994

In 1997 KWV was transformed into a private company and international economic sanctions and boycotts were lifted, opening export markets

Additionally KWV relinquished statutory producers and scrapped quotas as early as 1992, encouraging growers to focus on quality.

11
Q

What does IPW stand for, when was it launched, and what did it provide?

A

Integrated Production of Wine Schemes (IPW) was launched in 1998

Provided a voluntary means of certification for WO producers wishing to comply with sustainable environmental standards.

12
Q

What two ocean currents have the biggest effects on the Coastal Regions of South Africa and what kind of waters did they bring to the regions?

A

Agulhas (Mozambique) current which brings warm water from the Indian Ocean to the east

Benguela current which brings cool water from the Southern Ocean.

13
Q

What is the Cape Doctor and why is it named as such?

A

Arid, gale-force wind that blows from the southeast during the Spring and summer moderating temperatures and reducing disease pressure form mildew and other fungi. (hence the name Cape DOCTOR)

14
Q

What are the major disease pressures affecting South African vineyards? (2 fungal, 2 viral)

A

Powdery and Downy Mildew (fungal)

Leafroll and fanleaf (Viral)

15
Q

What percentage of grapes used and vintage must be employed for a wine to be labeled with either said grape or vintage listed?

A

85% for both

16
Q

If a wine is a blend, what percentage of grape must be used for it to be listed on the label?

A

Minimum 20%

17
Q

If an area of production is listed on the label, what percentage of the fruit must come from that listed area?

A

100%

18
Q

If the term “Single Vineyard” is used on the wine label what stipulations are required for a wine to be labeled an Estate Wine?

A

Must be produced form contiguous parcels of vineyard land, and vilified and bottled on a single property.

19
Q

If a winery voluntarily chooses not to become WO certified what is not allowed to be listed on the wine label?

A

Vintage, varietal, or area of production

20
Q

List the types of production areas from largest to smallest in South Africa?

A

Geographical Unit

Production areas, largest to smallest:
Geographical Units (ie. Western Cape)
Region (ie. Klein Karoo, Olifants River)
District (ie. Walker Bay, Cape Agulhas)
Ward (ie. Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Bot River)
21
Q

What are the five Geographical Units of South Africa?

A
Western Cape
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Limpopo
Kwazulu-Natal
22
Q

What are the regions of the Western Cape? (6)

A
Breede River Valley
Cape South Coast
Coastal
Klein Karoo
Olifants River
Boberg River
23
Q

What are the two districts of Northern Cape?

A

Douglas Sutherland-Karoo

24
Q

What are the three wards without a district in the Northern Cape?

A

Central Orage River
Hartswater
Rietrivier FS

25
Q

What is the name of the ward of the Eastern Cape?

A

St. Francis Bay

26
Q

What is the synonym for Chenin Blanc in South Africa?

A

Steen

27
Q

What is Crouchen Blanc known as in South Africa?

A

Cape Riesling

28
Q

Pinotage is the progeny of what crossing?

A

Pinot Noir x Cinsault

29
Q

What is the name of the red-fleshed grape that is enjoying a revival of sorts and has been linked to the old red wines of Constantia?

A

Pontac

30
Q

Which Geographical Unit is considered to be far the most important in South Africa?

A

Western Cape

31
Q

Which region within the Western Cape is considered to be home to the majority of South Africa’s best producers?

A

Coastal Region

32
Q

What are the nine districts located within the Coastal Region?

A
Stellenbosch
Cape Peninsula
Tygerberg
Paarl
Tulbagh
Darling
Franschhoek Valley
Wellington
Swartland
33
Q

Which district is considered South Africa’s most prominent wine region?

A

Stellenbosch

34
Q

Which ward within Stellenbosch is recognized for its superb Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Polkadraai Hills

35
Q

What are the 7 wards of Stellenbosch?

A
Devon Valley
Jonkershoek Valley
Papgaaiberg
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Bottelary
Banghoek
Polkadraai Hills
36
Q

Constantia is a what within the what of Cape Peninsula in the what of Coastal Region within the Western Cape?

A

Vineyard within the district of Cape Peninsula within the Region of Coastal Region within the Geographical Unit of the Western Cape

37
Q

What are the three most significant estates that occupy the historic Constantia vineyard?

A

Groot Constantia
Klein Constantia
Buitenverwachting

38
Q

What is the greatest vineyard threat in Constantia?

A

Baboons!

39
Q

Why has Tygerberg drawn parallels to Pessac-Leognan?

A

Quality wine production is holding back urbanization

40
Q

What district is home to the KWV and what ward houses its best vineyard sites?

A

Paarl

Simonsberg-Paarl

41
Q

What is the name of the first producer to produce botryitized dessert wine in South Africa? What district is it located in?

A

Niederburg in the district of Paarl

42
Q

What styles of wine is Tullbagh known for?

A

Higher altitude creates significant diurnal which is good for Cape Classique production fortified wines are also made here.

43
Q

What ward within Darling district is well-known for its bush-vine Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Groenkloof (Green Gap)

44
Q

Which two districts were former wards of Paarl?

A

Franschhoek Valley & Wellington

45
Q

Which district is known for its old bush vine Semillon?

A

Franschhoek Valley

46
Q

What style of wines are produced in Wellington district?

A

Known for sherry-style fortified wines from Chenin Blanc

47
Q

Boberg Region is an umbrella appellation for what style of wines and what districts comprise it? (4)

A

Fortified wines

Districts:
Paarl
Franschhoek
Wellington
Tulbagh
48
Q

What are three districts of Breede River Valley and what kind of wines are produced in this valley?

A

Robertson
Worcester
Breedekloof

49
Q

Where is the driest wine region in South Africa and what styles of wine are the main focus here? From what grapes?

A

Klein Karoo

Fortified and sweet wines are the focus and they’re made from Muscat and Tinta Barroca

50
Q

What is the name of South Africa’s largest co-operative winery and what Region is it located in? What are the three districts located in this region?

A

Vredenal

Located in Olifants River Region
Citrusdal Mountain
Citrusdal Valley
Lutzville Valley

51
Q

Hamilton Russell Winery is located in what district within what region and what grapes are the stars of this area? What are the two most notable wards within this district?

A

Walker Bay District Cape South Coast Region
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

2 most important wards Bot River Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Heaven on earth)

52
Q

What is the name of the southern-most point on the South African continent? What ward houses most of this district’s vineyards?

A

Cape Agulhas District Ward of Elim

53
Q

What is the name of the traditional method sparkling wine in South Africa?

A

Cape Classique

54
Q

What is the synonym for Riesling in Overberg?

A

Weisser Riesling