Viticulture in South Africa

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The South African wine is an important economic factor in South Africa . It has been in operation since the 17th century. In Central Europe, South African wines did not become popular until the end of the 1980s, as South Africa was previously subject to trade restrictions because of the apartheid policy. South Africa produces around 1157 million liters of wine annually (as of 2013), of which 517 million liters are exported. In 2013 South Africa was ranked 9th among the wine exporting countries. This corresponds to around 2.7 percent of global wine production. 3323 grape growers supply the 564 wineries and 60 cooperativesand 21 manufacturing wholesalers (2013). The cultivation area is around 100,000 hectares. It is estimated that viticulture, including tourism, employs around 275,000 people. The wine-growing regions are located in the south of the country, almost exclusively in the Western Cape Province . They are rarely more than 50 kilometers from the coast. In the coastal regions of the Western Cape, viticulture benefits from the cooling effect of the Benguela Current .

history

The early days

Boschendal winery

Viticulture in South Africa began in 1652 with the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck near Cape Town . His mission on behalf of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) was to set up a food station on the route from Europe to India . Upon his arrival, he noticed the Mediterranean climate and decided to import grape varieties from Europe. He knew that wine is more durable on long voyages than fresh water in barrels and that it also has a positive effect on the course of the disease scurvy . In 1655 he planted the first vines, and on February 2, 1659 the first wine was pressed in South Africa. Van Riebeeck asked the farmers in the Cape Town region to plant vines. Due to the inexperience of the people there, this often failed at first.

The arrival of 150 French Huguenots between 1680 and 1690 revitalized viticulture considerably. Today the Boschendal and Annandale Wines with representative houses in the Cape Dutch style still exist from this period .

In 1679 van Riebeeck was replaced by Simon van der Stel . He was not only a wine lover, but also had profound knowledge of viticulture. He laid out the 750 hectare Constantia winery on his farm and founded the Stellenbosch settlement . After van der Stel's death in 1712, his estate was divided into three units: Groot Constantia , Klein Constantia and Bergvliet. Groot Constantia was subsequently acquired in 1778 by the Cloete family, who produced a world-famous product on their estate, the Constantia . The dessert wines there were highly valued by Europe's aristocracy.

The period from 1700 to 1890

The 18th century was still a learning phase. First export attempts were seen only reluctantly in the established European wine nations. South Africa was punished by the fact that not enough barrels could be imported from Europe. This led to a shortage of barrels. Some farmers even used barrels that had previously been used to store cured meat. However, other winegrowers use this time to gain sufficient experience with different grape varieties and their suitability in different regions.

The first half of the 19th century saw the first boom in viticulture. The British occupation and the fact of the conflict between the United Kingdom and France at the time opened up new markets for South African wine. In these 50 years, production increased tenfold to around 45,000 hectoliters. After the United Kingdom and France settled the conflict and the government of William Ewart Gladstone lifted preferential tariffs for the Empire , the market collapsed in 1861.

Around 1880, numerous vineyards were attacked by phylloxera in 1886 . Viticulture cultures in the Drakenstein Valley around Paarl were particularly badly affected; they were no longer operated as such and were often replaced by orchards. Overall, this branch of the economy was characterized by a downward trend towards the end of the 19th century. However, a trend reversal for viticulture resulted from the discovery of diamond deposits in the north of the Cape Colony and the start of gold mining on the Witwatersrand . This development drew a large number of mainly European immigrants to these mining regions, which is why the demand for inland agricultural products soared.

Viticulture in South Africa in the 20th century

Cecil Rhodes, in his capacity as an entrepreneur, used proceeds from his mining companies to purchase 29 farms in the Tulbagh, Wellington and Franschhoek regions. This resulted in the founding of his company Rhodes Fruit Farms Ltd. with which he bought wineries and turned them into orchards. The results of agriculture developed steadily and positively after 1900, which were not significantly impaired even by the Second Boer War and First World War .

The phase of uncertainty for viticulture was ended in 1918 by Charles Kohler by founding the Ko-operatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika (KWV for short). The marketing efforts could be bundled, the winegrowers granted a secure income and the production regulated.

The autochthonous grape variety Pinotage was developed in 1925 ; the first wine to be labeled accordingly was launched in 1961.

In the period that followed, the KWV made the production of brandy and fortified wines in port style its main concern. The markets were very limited as South Africa was partially economically isolated due to its apartheid policy. This only changed in the mid-1980s when import restrictions on vine cuttings were relaxed. With this relaxation, viticulture was redefined in South Africa, as internationally known grape varieties such as Chardonnay or red wine grapes could now be planted based on the example of Bordeaux wines. As a result, the area under vines was hardly changed, but the existing vineyards were partially replanted with high-quality varieties. In 1997 the KWV was released from its authority to regulate production; the winemakers could now develop freely. Since 1998, the area under vines has increased by an average of around 3,000 hectares per year. In 2011 the area under cultivation was around 102,000 hectares. In 2010, 389 million liters of wine were exported.

Viticulture in South Africa was long characterized by the use of slaves and the exploitation of farm workers during the apartheid period . Since 1944, the prison labor system (German roughly: "System of prison work") spread. The farmers paid for the construction of regional prisons, which were distributed according to economic criteria, and in return could freely use themselves among the non-European inmates to attract cheap labor . In the regions around Paarl and Stellenbosch the farm companies built at least five such prisons from 1955. This practice was supported by the Department of Prisons and was derived from the results of the work of the Lansdown Commission , established in 1943 , which actually dealt with the use and wages of black workers in gold mining.

The low wages and poor living conditions of the mostly black employees have been criticized up to the present day. The documentary Bitter Grapes - Slavery in the Vineyards (for example: "Bitter Grapes - Slavery in the Vineyards") by Danish filmmaker Tom Heinemann also led to reactions in South Africa.

Climate and geography

Location of the Western Cape Province in South Africa

The wine-growing regions of South Africa lie between the 31st and 34th parallel degrees of southern latitude, near the Tropic of Capricorn . This geographical zone is actually too warm for viticulture. In the southwestern coastline, however, the influence of a cool ocean current coming from the Antarctic is clearly noticeable. This ocean current is called the Benguela Current .

Its effect creates a temperate maritime climate in the wine-growing areas, which are mainly located in the Western Cape Province, which is ideal for growing quality wines. The time of the grape harvest is between February and April.

Quality wine policy

South Africa has built a quality wine system based on appellations , the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was introduced in 1973. This system assumes that the quality of the wine is determined both by the location of the vineyard and by the winemaker (choice of grape variety, viticulture technique, work in the vineyard). The rules of the Wine of Origin therefore intervene in these parameters and the seal on top of the bottle guarantees information about the origin, grape variety (s) and vintage. The Wine and Spirit Board is responsible for monitoring the regulations and certifying the wines .

Another regional term is Estate Wine . This designation guarantees that the wine was grown and produced on a registered winery - which is generally a sign of quality.

The term Cap Classique or Method Cap Classique was introduced in South Africa in 1992 to denote the local sparkling wine produced using the Champagne method (Champenoise method) .

Area of ​​origin

The wine-growing area was geographically divided into five units of different sizes:

  1. The single location, which must not be larger than five hectares
  2. The association of several adjacent wine-growing businesses
  3. The district was named here . The locations summarized in the ward have a common denominator in terms of the soil and microclimatic conditions, so that the wines have a regional-specific taste.
  4. The district
  5. The wine-growing region

Approved grape varieties

As part of the quality policy, only the following grape varieties are permitted: Alicante Bouschet , Auxerrois , Barbera , Bouquet grape , Cabernet Franc , Cabernet Sauvignon , Carignan , Chardonnay , Chenel , Chenin Blanc (Steen), Cinsault , Clairette Blanche , Colombard , Cornifesto Tinto , Fernão Pires , Furmint , Gamay , Gewürztraminer , Grachen , Grenache , Grenache Blanc , Harslevelü , Kerner , Malbec , Merlot , Meunier ( Pinot Meunier ), Morio-Muskat , Mourvèdre (Mataro), Müller-Thurgau , Muscat d'Alexandrie (called Hanepoot here) , Muscat blanc à petits grains (often incorrectly called Muscat de Frontignan here), Muscat de Hambourg , Muscat Ottonel , Nebbiolo , Palomino (White French / Fransdruif), Petit Verdot (Verdot), Pinotage , Pinot Blanc ( Pinot Blanc ), Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio), Pinot Noir , Pontac (Teinturier male), Riesling (Cape Riesling / Kaapse Riesling / Crouchen), Roobernet , Roussanne , Ruby Cabernet , Sangiovese , Sauvignon Blanc (Blanc Fumé), Schönburger , Sémillon (Gr oendruif), Shiraz ( Syrah ), Souzão , Sultana ( Sultanina / Thompson Seedless), Sylvaner , Tannat , Tempranillo (Tinta Roriz), Therona Riesling , Tinta Barroca , Tinta Francisca , Touriga Francesca , Touriga Nacional , Ugni blanc ( Trebbiano ), Verdelho , Viognier and Zinfandel (Primitivo).

If the name of the grape variety is stated on the bottle label, the wine had to contain at least 75 percent wine of this grape variety by the end of 2005. That percentage increased to 85 percent on January 1, 2006.

Vintage information

Only wines certified by the Wine and Spirit Board ( Wyn en Spiritusraad ) are allowed to indicate the vintage on the label. When specifying the vintage, at least 75 percent of the wine in the bottle must come from that year. On January 1, 2006 the proportion was increased to 85 percent.

Grape variety mirror

White grape varieties account for around 55.8 percent (as of 2007) of the vineyards in South Africa. For many years there has been a clear trend away from white wine and towards red wine. In the last 15 years, the proportion of red wine has increased from 16 percent to 44.2 percent, although the current red / white ratio has been in place for five years (as of 2008).

White grape varieties:

  • Chenin Blanc (19,161 hectares of wooded area; as of 2007), tendency falling, although stagnation has been noted since 2005
  • Sultana (= Thompson Seedless) (9,958 ha). Sultana is used both as a table grape and as a wine grape.
  • Colombard (11,849 ha)
  • Sauvignon Blanc (8,872 ha), with a strong upward trend
  • Chardonnay (8,230 ha), and the trend is rising
  • Hanepoot (2,427 ha) is the name of the Muscat d'Alexandrie . The trend is falling
  • Sémillon (1,129 ha) and the trend is rising
  • Cape Riesling (982 ha), tendency sharply falling
  • Viognier (822 ha)
  • Riesling (240 ha), tendency falling
  • other white grape varieties (approx. 3,200 ha)

Red grape varieties:

  • Cabernet Sauvignon (13,006 ha), the area under vines is stagnating at a high level
  • Shiraz (9,856 ha), with a strong upward trend
  • Pinotage (6,139 ha), tendency falling
  • Merlot (6,719 ha), tendency stable
  • Cinsault (2,412 ha), downward trend
  • Ruby Cabernet (2,469 ha), tendency stable
  • Cabernet Franc (1,019 ha), with a strong upward trend
  • Pinot Noir (648 ha), and the trend is rising
  • Malbec (over 400 ha)
  • other red grape varieties (2,370 ha), and the trend is rising

Wine-growing regions

From the point of view of viticulture in the Western Cape, South Africa is divided into four regions. These regions are divided into 20 districts, the districts into a total of 60 districts (here called wards ), with some districts not belonging to a district and some districts not belonging to any region. In the North Cape there is one district and three districts, while the Kwazulu-Natal area has not yet been further divided.

Breede River Valley wine region

  • Breedekloof district with the districts of Goudini, Slanghoek
  • Robertson district with the districts of Agterkliphoogte, Bonnievale , Boesmansrivier, Eilandia, Hoopsrivier, Klaasvoogds, Le Chasseur, McGregor, Vinkrivier
  • Worcester district with the districts of Aan-de-Doorns, Hex River Valley, Nuy, Scherpenheuvel
  • District Swellendam with the districts Buffeljags, Stormsvlei

Wine-growing region Klein Karoo (Little Karoo)

  • Calitzdorp district
  • Langeberg-Garcia District
  • Districts Montagu , Tradouw, Tradouw Highlands, Upper Langkloof and Outeniqua. These districts are not assigned to any district.

Coastal Region wine-growing region

Franschhoek Valley
Grapevines near Stellenbosch
  • Cape Point District
  • Tulbagh District
  • Tygerberg district with the districts of Durbanville and Philadelphia
  • Paarl district with the Franschhoek Valley, Wellington , Simonsberg-Paarl and Voor Paardeberg districts
  • Stellenbosch district with the districts Banghoek, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Polkadraai Hills
  • Swartland district with the districts of Riebeekberg, Malmesbury
  • Darling district with Groenekloof district
  • Constantia district. This district is not assigned to any district.

Olifants River wine region

  • Citrusdal Mountain District and Piekenierskloof District
  • Citrusdal Valley District
  • Lutzville Valley District and the Koekenaap District
  • Spruitdrift, Vredendal, Bamboes Bay districts. These districts are not assigned to any district.

Districts and districts not assigned to any region (Western Cape)

  • Overberg district with the districts of Klein River, Elgin, Greyton, Theewater
  • Walker Bay district with the districts of Bot River, Hemel-en-arde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-aarde Valley, Sunday's Glen
  • District Cape Agulhas with the district Elim
  • Plettenberg Bay District
  • Cederberg districts, Ceres, Herbertsdale, Ruiterbosch, Swartberg, Prince Albert Valley, Lamberts Bay. These districts are not assigned to any district.

Districts and districts that are not assigned to any region (North Cape)

  • Douglas District
  • Districts Hartswater, Lower Orange, Rietrivier Fs. These districts are not assigned to any district.

Economic factors

Since South African wine has gained international importance, the export figures have usually increased. The best-known export varieties are the Chenin Blanc , the Chardonnay and the Cabernet Sauvignon . In 2007 a total of 312 million liters of wine were exported. This corresponded to 42.8 percent of the volume produced.

In 2018 and 2019 (statistical period from February to January of the following year), 414.6 million liters and 314.6 million liters (bottling and bulk goods) were exported.

In 2007, the estimated state revenue of South Africa, which was collected through value added tax and excise taxes on wine and spirits, amounted to 3.27 billion rand (at that time the equivalent of around 350 million euros). The income taxes of the 340,000 or so wine-growing workers are not taken into account.

The income of the wine growers depends on numerous factors. Due to the sharp increase in wine supply from other non-European countries and the temporarily increased rate of the rand, the conditions for South African winemakers deteriorated significantly between 2008 and 2010. However, the margin has fallen sharply since then.

literature

Web links

Commons : Wine in South Africa  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Statistics 2013 (English; PDF), accessed on December 23, 2015
  2. ↑ Wine Country South Africa at suedafrika-wein.de, accessed on December 23, 2015
  3. ^ A b Ernst Klimm, Karl-Günther Schneider, Bernd Wiese: The southern Africa. Republic of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho . (Scientific regional customers, Volume 17) Darmstadt 1980, p. 60
  4. ↑ Magazine Forum  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed December 23, 2015@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / archiv.magazin-forum.de  
  5. ↑ Klimm, Schneider, Wiese: Southern Africa. Republic of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho . 1980, p. 62
  6. ↑ Harold Jack Simons: The Law and its Administration . In: Ellen Hellmann , Leah Abrahams (Ed.): Handbook on Race Relations in South Africa . Cape Town, London, New York, Oxford University Press, 1949. p. 106
  7. ↑ South African winery uncorks long hidden history of slavery. The Globe and Mail dated September 6, 2012, accessed October 26, 2016
  8. ↑ SA-wines pulled off Danish shelves after doccie on slavery at vineyards. timeslive.co.za, October 23, 2016, accessed October 26, 2016
  9. ↑ The figures are essentially based on information from the organization SA Wine Industry Information & Systems South African Wine Industry Statistics ( Memento from December 19, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), published in June 2008, PDF file
  10. ^ SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (SAWIS): Vines in the wine of origin regions 2016 . on www.sawis.co.za (English, Excel file)
  11. ↑ SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (SAWIS): Exports 2020. January. Total exports per varietal volume . on www.sawis.co.za (English, Excel file)
  12. ↑ Article in the Financial Mail of June 24, 2010 ( Memento of July 4, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on June 6, 2011