Wine Glossary A-Z

Cabernet Sauvignon is a renowned red grape variety known for its deep color, structured tannins, and age-worthy character. South African Cabernet Sauvignon wines offer dark fruit flavors, cassis, and hints of herbs and spice.

Cape Blend refers to a red wine blend that includes Pinotage, a signature South African grape variety, along with other red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Shiraz/Syrah. It showcases the unique character and terroir of South African winemaking.

Cape Dessert Wine refers to a wide range of sweet wines produced in South Africa, including noble late harvest, fortified wines, and natural sweet wines. They offer indulgent sweetness and complex flavor profiles.

Cape LBV Port is a style of fortified wine made from Portuguese grape varieties. It is aged in oak barrels for an extended period, offering rich and concentrated flavors of dark fruits, caramel, and spices.

Cape Méthode Cap Classique wines are South Africa’s version of traditional method sparkling wines. They undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in fine bubbles and complex flavors.

Cape Muscadel is a fortified sweet wine made from Muscat grape varieties. It showcases rich, aromatic flavors of ripe grapes, floral notes, and hints of spices.

Cape Natural Sweet Wine refers to naturally sweet wines made without fortification. These wines retain the natural sweetness of the grapes and often exhibit fruity flavors and floral aromas.

Cape Noble Late Harvest wines are sweet dessert wines made from grapes that are left on the vine to concentrate sugars and flavors. They exhibit luscious sweetness balanced by acidity, with notes of honey, dried fruits, and botrytis character.

Cape Rosé wines are light, refreshing, and often made from red grape varieties. They exhibit vibrant pink hues and offer flavors of fresh berries, citrus, and floral notes.

Cape Ruby Port is a fortified wine made from traditional Portuguese grape varieties, primarily Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca. It showcases rich, sweet flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, and spices.

Cape White Blend refers to white wine blends that feature a combination of different grape varieties, showcasing the diversity of South African white wines. It can include grapes such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and others.

Carbonation is the process of adding carbon dioxide to a wine to create bubbles. This can be done through natural fermentation in a closed container or by injecting carbon dioxide into the wine.

Carbonic maceration is a winemaking technique primarily used for producing light, fruity, and low-tannin red wines. Whole grape clusters are fermented in a carbon dioxide-rich environment, promoting fermentation within the intact berries.

Cederberg is a remote wine region located in the Cederberg Mountains. It is known for its unique terroir, producing wines with crisp acidity, minerality, and distinctive mountain character.

Champagne is synonymous with sparkling wine production. It produces world-class sparkling wines using the traditional method, primarily from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes.

Chardonnay is a widely recognized white grape variety known for its versatility. In South Africa, Chardonnay wines can range from crisp and unoaked to full-bodied and oak-aged, exhibiting flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, and buttery notes.

Chenin Blanc is a versatile white grape variety that is widely grown in South Africa. It produces wines ranging from dry to sweet, with flavors of tropical fruits, honey, and floral notes. South Africa is known for producing exceptional Chenin Blanc wines.

This is a white wine blend that combines Chenin Blanc with Sémillon. It can produce wines with a harmonious balance of acidity, fruitiness, and complexity.

Clarification techniques are used to remove any remaining solids or haze from the wine. This can be done through fining agents, such as bentonite or egg whites, or through natural settling and racking processes.

Colchagua Valley is recognized for its high-quality red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. It offers a favorable climate for grape cultivation.

Cold soaking is a technique where grape must (juice, skins, and seeds) is kept at a low temperature before fermentation. This helps extract color, aroma, and flavor compounds from the skins without initiating fermentation.

One of the oldest wine-producing regions in South Africa, Constantia is famous for its cool climate and historic estates. It is renowned for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux-style red blends.

Corked refers to a wine that has been contaminated with a compound called TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole), resulting in a musty or moldy smell and taste. It is often caused by a faulty cork.

Crushing involves the breaking of grape berries to release the juice and initiate fermentation. This can be done using various methods, including manual crushing, mechanical crushers, or destemming machines.