History of South African wine

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The first wine produced in South Africa was made by Jan van Riebeeck at a settlement founded by the Dutch East India Company

The early history of the

Palmerston government and France reduced the preferential tariffs that benefited South African wine in favor of French wine exports.[3]

Following the devastation from the

co-operative, the KWV soon grew in power and prominence, setting policies and prices for the entire South African wine industry. To deal with the wine glut the KWV restricted yields and set minimum prices, encouraging the production of brandy and fortified wines.[4]

For much of the 20th century, the wine industry of South Africa received very little attention on the worldwide stage. Its isolation was further deepened by

table grapes and juice. By 2003 these proportions had reversed, with more than 70% of the grapes harvested that year reaching the consumer market as wine.[4]

Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope

See also:
History of Cape Colony Pre-1806
United East India Company
(VOC).

When

fort and farming community in the Cape.[5]

One of van Riebeeck's tasks include planting a vineyard, falsely believing the consumption of

Spain. Among these were the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (known as "French Muscadel") and Muscat of Alexandria, known variously as "Hanepoot", "Hanepop" and "Hanepoot Spanish". In 1659 the first South African wine made from French Muscadel grapes was successfully produced.[5]

As production was small, the wine produced in the Cape settlement was initially intended solely for export to the trading port of Batavia. Gradually the Dutch East India Company allowed freed Company employees or vrijburghers, released from service to the company, to buy land and grow wine grapes for their own consumption. As the market for Cape wine grew, the Company brought in a winemaker from

oak wine barrels. A makeshift winery was built on the Company-owned farm of Rustenberg as the South African wine industry took root.[5]

Founding of Constantia

The Cape wine estate of Constantia brought world wine to South Africa for their Muscat wines.

In 1679

Muscat Hamburg.[5]

Throughout the Cape, van der Stel set high standards for wine production. He issued official decrees that imposed a high penalty on growers

Italy. He also went on to praise the quality of the Chenin blanc Steenwyn produced at the estate.[5]

Decline and revival

The Groot Constantia manor house

Following the death of Simon van der Stel in 1712 the estate was divided into three parts –

Tokay, Jullien described the dessert wine of Constantia as "...among the finest liqueur wines of the world...".[5]

French and Dutch influence on winemaking

French Huguenots, who eventually settled in the Franschoek Valley, brought their winemaking and viticultural experience to the South African wine industry

Between 1688 and 1690s the Cape Colony experienced an influx of French

German immigrant communities the Cape Governor, Simon van der Stel, eventually gave the settlers land near Boschendal in what is now Franschhoek, known as the "French corner". The Huguenots brought with them their viticulture and winemaking experience from their homeland. The descendants of these settlers still play a vital role in the South African wine industry, marrying an Old World winemaking philosophy to the technological advances of New World wine.[6]

Detail notes from visitors to the Constantia estate in the 18th century give evidence of the Dutch influence on South African winemaking. As they did for

clarification and stabilization.[5]

Under British rule

See also: History of South Africa (1815–1910)

Having consolidated their rule over South Africa in 1815, the British found a ready supply of wine now firmly within their control. Since losing control of the

duty on South African wine to a third of that imposed on Portuguese wine, which had enjoyed favorable duty rates due to the Methuen Treaty. With easy access to the lucrative British market, the South African wine industry experienced a period of prosperity that would last until the middle of the 19th century.[5]

The mid 19th century brought a succession of calamities that crippled the South African wine industry. In 1859 oidium first appeared and quickly spread through the Cape.[5] This was followed by a series of agreements made in 1860s (most notably the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty) between the Gladstone government and France that reduced the preferential tariffs which had benefited South African wine in favor of French wine exports.[3] In 1866, the phylloxera epidemic reached the Cape, causing widespread devastation that would take more than 20 years to recover from.[4]

Wine lake effect and the rise of the KWV

Founded in the early 20th century to help stabilized the industry, the KWV with its headquarters in Paarl would eventually become a powerful force in the South African wine industry

Following the devastation of the phylloxera epidemic many growers gave up on winemaking, choosing instead to plant orchards and

co-operative, the KWV soon grew in power and prominence until it was able to set policies and prices for the entire South African wine industry. To deal with the wine glut, the KWV restricted yields and set minimum prices that encouraged the production of brandy and fortified wines.[4]

By 1924, nearly 95% of all vineyard owners belonged to the KWV, allowing it to exert enormous power on the pricing structure and direction of the South African wine industry. The KWV was able to regulate planting rights for new vineyard properties, specify permitted

distilled for fortified wine production. While the activities of the KWV was able to stabilize the South African industry, it also stagnated the industry by limiting innovation and improvements in quality. This stagnation was compounded by the isolation South Africa experienced during the Apartheid era.[6]

Apartheid and emergence from isolation

The South African wine industry was isolated from the rest of the world until the end of Apartheid in the late 20th century, heralded by the election of Nelson Mandela.

Wine expert

table grapes and juice. By 2003 the numbers had switched with more than 70% of the grapes harvested that year reaching the consumer market as wine.[4]

During the 21st century the growing influence of blacks in the wine industry brought a significant change in the South African wine industry. Through various

Franschhoek Valley became the first wholly black-owned winery in South Africa when it was purchased by Miko Rwayitare, a businessman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Wines of the Cape by C.De Bosdari, 1955
  2. ^ South African History Online "Jan van Riebeeck Biography Archived 3 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine" Accessed: 24 June 2009
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-19-860990-6
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-671-68702-6
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-3-8331-4611-4
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-85732-999-6
  8. ^ M. Minnar "South Africa Reaches New Milestone: First Wholly Black-Owned Winery Archived 11 September 2004 at the Wayback Machine" Wine Spectator, 12 July 2001
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