South African wine

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

L'Avenir Wine Estate Single Block Pinotage

South African wine has a history dating back to 1659 with the first bottle being produced in

Worcester
.

There are about 60

Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973 with a hierarchy of designated production regions, districts and wards. WO wines must only contain grapes from the specific area of origin. "Single vineyard" wines must come from a defined area of less than 6 hectares. An "Estate Wine" can come from adjacent farms if they are farmed together and wine is produced on site. A ward is an area with a distinctive soil type or climate and is roughly equivalent to a European appellation.[1]

History

Main article: History of South African wine
Charles Bell

The roots of the South African wine industry can be traced to the explorations of the

spice route to India and the East. The first harvest was made on 2 February 1659 (as noted in Van Riebeeck's log) seven years after the landing in 1652.[2][3] The man succeeding Van Riebeeck as governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel, sought to improve the quality of viticulture in the region. In 1685, he purchased a large 750 hectares (1,900 acres) estate just outside Cape Town, establishing the Constantia wine estate. After Van der Stel's death, the estate fell into disrepair, but was revived in 1778 when it was purchased by Hendrik Cloete.[4]

Many growers gave up on winemaking, and instead chose to plant orchards and

co-operative, the KWV soon grew in power and prominence eventually 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 that encouraged the production of brandy and fortified wines.[4]

For much of the 20th century, the South African wine industry received minimal international attention. Its isolation was exacerbated by the

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

In the 21st century, there has been a focus on the growing collective of black winemakers in South Africa.[5][6] Several black entrepreneurs whose ancestry faced the system of Apartheid rose into winemaking prominence, such as Ntsiki Biyela and Paul Siguqa.

Climate and geography

See also: Climate of South Africa and Geography of South Africa
Inland mountains that are part of the Cape Fold Belt greatly influence the different macroclimates and terroir among South African wine regions.

South Africa is located at the tip of the African continent with most wine regions located near the coastal influences of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These regions have a mostly

grape disease as well as tempering humidity, but can also damage grapevines that are not protected.[4]

During the harvest months of February and March, the average daily temperatures in many South African wine regions is 23 °C (73 °F) with spikes up to 40 °C (104 °F) not uncommon in the warm inland river valleys around the

Piedmont.[4]

The wine regions of South Africa are spread out over the

arenaceous shale in Walker Bay.[4] Near the river valleys, the soils are particularly lime rich with a high proportion of sand and shale.[8]

Statistics

South Africa is the eighth largest wine producer in the world and the world's sixth largest exporter of wine. South Africa exports R10.3 billion (roughly US$600 million) worth of wine annually. In 2022 a total of 90,512 hectares of land used for wine grape cultivation by 2,613 wine grape producers for 536 cellars, the industry employed 269,096 people. The country produces 1.13 billion liters of wine annually with 81% being consumed domestically. In 2019 the wine industry's contribution to the national economy was R55 billion.[9]

Wine of Origin

Although the majority of South Africa's wine regions lie in the Western Cape, recent pioneering efforts have included the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as wine regions.

Drafted in 1973, the "Wine of Origin" (WO) programme legislates how wine regions of South Africa are defined and can appear on

South Africa's most recent wine region. While geographical units, regions and districts are largely defined by political boundaries – wards are the level of origin designation that is most defined by unique terroir characteristics.[4]

Wine regions

See also: Wine regions of South Africa
General location of some South African wine regions

As of 2003, South Africa was 17th in terms of area planted with vines, with the country owning 1.5% of the world's grape vineyards with 110,000 hectares (270,000 acres). Yearly production among South Africa's wine regions is usually around 10 million hL (264 million US gallons) which regularly puts the country among the top ten

Breede Valley, Olifants and Orange Rivers are among the warmest areas and are often the location of bulk wine production and distillation. The cooler climate regions east of Cape Town along the Indian Ocean coast, such as Walker Bay and Elgin, have seen vast expansion and development in recent years as producers experiment with cool climate varietals and wine styles.[4]

Below are some notable Wine of Origins districts.[4]

Constantia

Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa

The Constantia Valley is located south of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its location, the region receives oceanic influences on each side that create a cooling effect contributing to a long, slow

St Helena from 1815 until his death in 1821.[10]
: 77 

Stellenbosch

A vineyard in Stellenbosch

The Stellenbosch district is the second oldest wine region in South Africa, after Constantia, and is responsible for around 14% of the country's annual wine production. First planted in 1679, Stellenbosch is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of Cape Town. The region is surrounded by the

alluvial loam in the valleys near the rivers.[4]

The seven wards of Stellenbosch-Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch – are well known for their red wine production that demonstrate terroir distinction – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz.[4] Simonsberg was the first wine ward to gain individual distinction. White wine production centres on Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc which are often blended together. The western reaches of Stellenbosch, such as Bottelary and near Elsenburg also include a sizeable portion of Chenin blanc plantings in areas rich in light, sandy soils.[7]

Paarl

Vineyard in the Paarl ward of Franschhoek

For most of the 20th century, Paarl was for all practical purposes the heart of the South African wine industry. It was the home of the KWV as well as the annual

Franschhoek Valley and Wellington, have revitalised interest in the area in recent years.[7]

The fortified wine produced in Paarl and nearby Tulbagh can be designated with the unique WO of Boberg relating to its proximity to the Berg River.[8] This was repealed in 2019 and is no longer an approved label designation.[11]

Franschhoek Valley

The Franschhoek Valley was founded by

acidity levels.[7]

Franschhoek will soon be South Africa's first wine region to form a classification system (Appellation Grand Prestige) for its wines, with

Semillon
, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon being identified as the area's most tried-and-trusted grapes over a number of decades.

Breede River Valley

The Breede River provides vital irrigation for the Worcester and Robertson wine regions.

The Breede River Valley, located east of the Drakenstein Mountains, is a warm climate region that can be very dry and arid in some places.

Bonnievale ward is the most notable sub-region of Robertson, noted for its Chardonnay and Shiraz wines.[4]

The

Hanepoot based dessert wines. In recent years, the Slanghoek ward and the Breedekloof district have been successful growing botrytised and dry Sauvignon blanc wines. The Worcester district is home to nearly half of all the Semillon, and a third of Ruby Cabernet, planted in South Africa with sizeable plantings of Colombard and Chenin blanc.[4]

Overberg

The cool climate Overberg region has been the site of the most recent interest and development in the South African wine industry, particularly with increased plantings of Chardonnay and

maritime climate of Walker Bay and the cool, higher elevation vineyards of Elgin located east of Cape Town, have had success producing these varietals as well as Sauvignon blanc.[4]

Other notable regions

Wine regions within the Orange river watershed include the hottest wine producing areas in South Africa.

The Klein Karoo region (meaning

Montagu in the west to the village of De Rust in the east. In Calitzdorp warm temperatures are moderated by sea breezes that start in the late afternoon, and cool night time temperatures.[8] Wine production in the area is largely centred on fortified "port-style" wine and Muscadels.[4]

The Atlantic influenced West Coast region includes the wine making areas of

Darling and Pinotage in unirrigated farmland of the Swartland.[7] In the Olifants River region, Chenin blanc and Colombard are popular. The area is also home to South Africa's biggest single co-operative winery – the Vredendal Co-operative.[4]

The

Northern Cape wine regions located along the Orange River include the hottest wine producing areas in South Africa. Wine production here was slow to take root, delayed to the 1960s when better irrigation and temperature control fermentation technology became available. Today, the area is responsible for nearly 12% of all the wine produced in South Africa – mostly by large co-operatives for bulk wine production.[4] The Hartswater region, located 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Kimberley, is South Africa's northernmost wine region.[8]

KwaZulu-Natal was designated as a Geographical Unit in 2005 and is one of South Africa's most recent wine regions. The first wine estate in this region was The Stables Wine Estate, and the region's first Wine of Origin wine was released by Tiny and Judy van Niekerk in July 2006. The Stables Wine Estate went bankrupt in 2012.[12] Current cultivars doing well in the growing wine region of KwaZulu-Natal are: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With mild summer temperatures, the region boasts South Africa's coolest vineyards.

The Eastern Cape followed soon after through the pioneering efforts of Ronnie and Janet Vehorn. In 2009, Harrison Hope Wine Estate was registered as the first wine estate in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The estate made history again with its 2009 Merlot becoming the first certified estate wine ever produced in the Eastern Cape region.[

Amatola Mountains, this area enjoys high temperatures in summer with little to no humidity. Unfortunately, late frost, hail, summer rainfall, and duiker make for some of the harshest conditions for wine grapes. Grapes grown in this region include: Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinotage, Sauvingnon Blanc and Shiraz.[citation needed
]

Other notable wards

The Ruiterbosch ward, located southwest of the Klein Karoo around Mossel Bay, has a generally cool climate influenced primarily by the Indian Ocean. The area is planted largely with Riesling, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir.[4] The Cederberg located east of the southern reaches of the Olifants rivers includes some of the highest elevated vineyards in South Africa, planted at altitudes more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[8]

Viticulture

Historically vineyards in South Africa were planted with

spurs each with two to three buds (potential grape clusters) per cordon.[4] Heat is also a concern come harvest time with some wineries harvesting only at night in the cooler temperatures under floodlights.[8]

Both downy and powdery mildew can present an occasional viticultural threat to South African vineyards.

The lack of precipitation in many wine regions make irrigation a necessity. Sprinkler and

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes such as the importation of ladybugs, a natural predator of mealy bugs.[4]

While ocean winds keep some fungus and mildew threats at bay,

clonal research to identify which grape varieties grow best in which climate and wine region.[4]

Vine Improvement Programme

Following the end of Apartheid and the opening of export markets, the South African wine industry had a substantial learning curve to overcome in order to be competitive on the world's wine market. The Vine Improvement Programme (VIP) was established to bring modern viticultural understanding to the industry. The first phase launched in the late 20th century focused on virus-free and yield controlling rootstock as well as clonal research. The second phase, which is ongoing, focuses on matching up various combinations of grape varieties, clones and rootstock to specific terroir that can produce quality wine. Over the last 20+ years, the work of the VIP has brought the South African wine industry to the forefront of viticultural advances.[8]

Winemaking and wines

An oaked white wine from Stellenbosch produced from Chenin Blanc.
Since the end of the 20th century, more South African winemakers have been focused on improving the quality of red wines.

The winemaking traditions of South Africa often represent a hybridisation of

acidity levels which require supplementation with additional acids like tartaric acid.[4]

Today the focus of the South African wine industry is on increasing the quality of wine production – particularly with the more exportable and fashionable red grape varieties. Traditionally, South African red wines had a reputation for being coarse in texture with rustic flavours. The

filtration as a means of stabilisation.[4]

Cape port-style wine

The South African wine industry has a long history of fortified wine production producing wines known colloquially as "Cape port" (though the term "

alcohol level for these wines must be 16.5–22%. The many styles of "Cape port" closely parallel their Portuguese counterparts and include:[8]

Other fortified and dessert wines

In addition to port-style wine, South African wine makers also produce "

late harvest dessert wines include the modern-day Edel Laat-oes wines infected with noble rot (known locally as Edelkeur) and containing at least 50 grams of residual sugar per litre. Wine labelled simply as Laat-oes is from grapes harvested late, but not infected with botrytis. These wines must have an alcohol content of at least 10% and residual sugar levels between 10 and 30 grams per litre. Wines above 30 grams RS may be called Spesiale Laat-oes or "special late harvest" which may imply that some grapes infected with botrytis were used.[8]

Sparkling wines

Though more producers are turning to Chardonnay and Pinot noir, Chenin blanc (or Steen as it is also known) is still frequently found in South African sparkling wines.

Cap Classique (or MCC). These wines have been traditionally made using Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc, but in recent years have seen more of the traditional "Champagne grapes" of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier being used. Red sparkling wine made from Pinotage can also be found.[8]

Labelling laws

South African labelling law focuses largely on geographical origins, falling under the purview of the Wine of Origin legislation.

Single vineyard designated wine can be produced, provided the vineyard is registered with the government and all grapes used in the production of the wine were grown in that vineyard. While the term "estate" no longer qualifies as a designation of geographic origins, wineries can still label "estate wines" provided all the grapes were grown, and the wine was vinified and bottled on the same property. The South African Wine & Spirit Board operates a voluntary programme that allows South African wines to be "certified" for quality and accuracy in labelling. Under this certification process, vintage dated wine must be composed of at least 85% grapes that were harvested that vintage year. Varietal wines must also be composed of at least 85% of the listed varietal. Blends, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage blend, can have both varietals listed on the label provided the two wines were vinified separately. A wine that has been "co-fermented", with both grapes crushed and vinified together such as a Shiraz-Viognier, cannot list both varietals. As of 2006, about 35% of Cape wineries participated in this voluntary programme.[4]

Grape varieties

Grape Vineyards[14]
Chenin Blanc
18.2%
Cabernet Sauvignon
11.3%
Colombard
12.0%
Shiraz
10.5%
Sauvignon Blanc
9.4%
Chardonnay
8.0%
Pinotage
7.5%
Merlot
6.0%

Grape varieties in South Africa are known as

international varieties developing local synonyms that still have a strong tradition of use.[4] These include: Chenin blanc (Steen), Riesling (until recently known locally as Weisser Riesling),[15] Crouchen (known as Cape Riesling), Palomino (the grape of the Spanish wine Sherry known locally as "White French"), Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc), Sémillon (Groendruif) and Muscat of Alexandria (Hanepoot).[16] However, wines that are often exported overseas will usually have the more internationally recognised name appear on the wine label. In 2015, SAWIS (South African Wine Information and Systems) reported that the country had 100,146 hectares of vineyards, with about 55% planted with white varieties.[14] Chenin blanc has long been the most widely planted variety, still accounting for over 18% of all grape area planted in South Africa as of 2015, though it is slowly decreasing in overall share of vineyard area. In the 1980s and 1990s, interest in international varieties saw increase in plantings of Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Other white grape varieties with significant plantings include Colombard (also spelled locally as Colombar), Cape Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Hanepoot, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Riesling and Sémillon. Both red and white mutants of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains as well as Chenel and Weldra, two Chenin blanc-Ugni blanc crossings, are used for brandy distillation and fortified wine production.[4]

From the 1990s, plantings of red grape varieties rose steadily. In the late 1990s, less than 18% of all the grapes grown in South Africa were red. By 2009 that number had risen to 44%. For most of the 20th century, the high yielding Cinsaut was the most widely planted red grape variety, but the shift in focus to quality wine production has seen plantings of the grape steadily decline to where it represented just 2% of all South Africa vineyards in 2009.

Beaujolais wine with carbonic maceration), Grenache, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Pontac, Ruby Cabernet, Tinta Barroca and Zinfandel.[4]

There is a wide range of lesser known groups that are used to feed the country's still robust distilled spirits and fortified wine industry. These grapes usually produce bland, neutral wine that lends itself well to blending and distillation but is rarely seen as varietal bottlings. These include: Belies, False Pedro, Kanaän, Raisin blanc, Sultana and Servan.[4]

Pinotage

Main article: Pinotage

Pinotage, a crossing of

tannins, and susceptibility to developing banana and nail polish acetate aromas – are present in far more examples of Pinotage that reach the consumer market.[8] Pinotage reached its zenith in 2001, covering 7.3% of the total vineyard area,[18] but this has since decreased to 6%.[15]

Important organisations

The South African wine industry has been led by many powerful organisations in both the private sector and through governmental agencies. Unlike other New World wine regions, the South African wine industry is largely influenced by several large co-operatives.

faults. Like the vintage and varietal labelling guidelines, these tests are voluntary, but wines that are not submitted for testing are liable for random testing for health requirements.[4]

The Wine & Spirits board also operates the South African Wine Industry Trust (SAWIT) and provides funding for the marketing and development of SAWIT. Established in 1999 by a joint agreement between the South African government and the KWV, which put forth 369 million rand ($46 million US$), SAWIS works to promote the export market for South African wines abroad, and the development of new technologies and education. Additionally, SAWIS works with the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme to promote the black community's involvement in the South African wine industry – including ownership opportunities for vineyards and wineries.[4]

South African wine competitions

Wine competitions are held to assess whether a wine is of good quality and whether it is true to its character. The most prominent South African wine competitions include:[19]

  • ABSA Top 10 Pinotage
  • Amorim Cap Classique Challenge
  • Diners Club Winemaker of the Year
  • FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10
  • Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards
  • Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
  • Shiraz SA Challenge
  • Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge
  • Veritas Awards

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ^ "Wine of Origin booklet" (PDF). SAWIS. 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
  2. JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt7zw0st
    . The origins of winegrowing in South Africa can be fixed with unusual accuracy. A crucial moment was recorded on 2 February 1659 in the logbook of Jan van Riebeeck, commander of the tiny settlement at the foot of Africa.
  3. ^ "The first wine is pressed at the Cape". South African History Online. Retrieved 1 February 2018. Jan van Riebeeck writes in his journal that the harvest amounted to twelve "mengelen" (about fourteen litres) of must.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-19-860990-6
    .
  5. ^ Eligon, John (15 February 2023). "Exploring South Africa's Black Wine Scene". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  6. ^ MW, Tim Atkin (11 November 2022). "South Africa's black winemakers; building a future". Decanter. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-84000-332-4
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
    .
  9. ^ "Statistics of Wine Grape Vines | SAWIS". www.sawis.co.za. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. ^ Fairbridge, Dorothea (1922). Historic houses of South Africa. London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press.
  11. ^ https://www.wosa.co.za/wosadocs/52020/Production_areas_-_May2020.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  12. ^ HighBeam
  13. ^ M. Mazur "THE CAPE CRUSADERS Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine" Wine Enthusiast Magazine, 1 October 2002
  14. ^ a b "Statistics of Wine-Grape Vines". sawis.co.za. SAWIS. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Platter's South African Wines 2011 Andrew McDowall 2010, pp. 47–48
  16. ^ Stuart Walton, Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine Hermes House 2006, p. 226
  17. ISBN 0-19-860990-6
    .
  18. ^ John Platter South African Wines 2007 Andrew McDowall 2010, p. 59
  19. ^ WOSA - Wine Competitions

External links

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