Frequently Asked Questions
Making brandy is akin to alchemy, when nature's elements - earth, wind, water and fire - are transformed into gold. The finest grapes, grown in areas designated for brandy making are nurtured by sun, rain and wind, picked at optimal ripeness, vinified, distilled, aged in wood and then blended by seasoned master distillers to bring you the sensory pleasures of gold in a glass.
South Africa has been making brandy for nearly three-and-a-half centuries and is the fifth largest producer of brandy in the world. The majority of South African brandy is consumed locally, but as more foreign visitors are exposed to our brandies, export demand has grown. The extremely exacting production regulations and quality standards of the South African industry make our brandies very attractive to connoisseurs worldwide and the rising number of international awards for excellence shows just how well they are rated.
Made entirely from South African grapes, these brandies are crafted in a range of styles to suit a variety of palate preferences. From herbs and hay apparent in younger brandies; to traces of fresh and dried peaches, figs, apples, citrus, Christmas cake, vanilla, oak and cigar box in those matured for up to 20 years.
CONTENTS
1. BRANDY
What is brandy?
How is brandy made?
Why is brandy South Africa's leading spirit?
Where does brandy get its name?
When was brandy first distilled in South Africa?
2. GRAPES AND WINE USED TO MAKE BRANDY
Is brandy always produced from grapes?
What is the difference between the wine used to make brandy and regular table wine?
What influences different product styles of brandy?
If brandy base wine is made without preservatives, how is spoilage prevented?
Can any grape cultivar be used to make base wine?
Do we use local or imported grapes in the production of local brandy?
What are the main cultivation areas for growing brandy grapes?
3. THE ART OF DISTILLATION
What is distillation?
How do you distil brandy?
What are the essential differences between potstill and column still distillation?
What is low wine?
What is neutral wine spirit?
What is the alcohol strength of neutral wine spirit?
What does the 'heads' section refer to in brandy?
What does the 'heart' section refer to in brandy?
What is the alcohol strength of the heart section?
What does the 'tails' section refer to in brandy?
Do pot stills come in different shapes and sizes?
4. THE ART AND MYSTIQUE OF MATURATION AND
BLENDING
How does brandy acquire its colour?
Why are some brandies darker in colour than others?
What does wood maturation of brandy entail?
Where does the term 'Angels' Share' come from?
Does it matter where you mature brandy?
What is the minimum maturation period for South African brandy?
Why 340 litre barrels?
What does the blending of brandy entail?
When does blending take place?
How is a specific alcohol level achieved?
5. THE VARIOUS STYLES OF BRANDY AVAILABLE IN
SOUTH AFRICA
What is blended/standard brandy?
What is vintage brandy?
What is potstill brandy?
What is estate brandy?
What is solera brandy?
Are all brandies made to the same alcohol strength?
What does it mean when you see VSOP/VSOB Brandy on the label?
What is the difference between brandy and cognac?
What is armagnac?
6. MAXIMISING YOUR ENJOYMENT OF SOUTH AFRICAN
BRANDIES
How should brandy be stored?
How long can you keep brandy?
How should brandy be served?
Which is the best glass for serving brandy?
What is a brandy balloon?
What is the best way to appreciate a brandy?
What is the difference between the age that appears on the bottle for wine vs. spirits?
Does the value of brandy increase with time in the bottle?
7. VISITING SOUTH AFRICA'S BRANDY DISTILLERIES
