A "wynboer" in action…(our mate Bruce Jack)

Quite a few of our wine producers in SA are Afrikaans speaking. Many of the terms used in the industry here are from derivatives of Afrikaans words. International travelers are often exposed to these on visits here, so I thought it may be appropriate to give you a quick rundown of some of the more common terms.

1. Boer: Farmer. (pronunciation hint: "b-oo-r" and roll that "R")
2. Wynboer: Wine farmer.
3. Wyn: Wine (pronunciation hint: "vain" as in "You’re so vain…")
4. Kurksmaak: Corked.
5. Kurk / Prop: Cork.
6. Gis: Yeast or ferment. (pronunciation hint: the G is a guttural G)
7. Druiwe: Grapes. (pronunciation hint: roll the "D" a bit too. Sounds like driver with a long "a" instead of the "i")
8. Akkerhout: Oak.
9. Oorsprong: Origin.
10. Oesjaar: Vintage. (pronunciation hint: "Oes" is like pussy without the "p" or "y")
11. Papsak: Usually a plastic bag filled with "cheap" wine. Recently banned partly because of its connotation to and relation with the "dop" system which was used as compensation for vineyard workers in the past. (pronunciation hint: pup-suck)
12. Dooswyn: Box wine. A "papsak" made from foil encased in a cardboard box. Almost 60% of all South African wine is made for the box wine market. Generally cheap and cheerful – some are quite good.
13. Suur: Acid.
14. Kelder: Cellar.
15. Droog: Dry – as in "Could I please have a glass of dry white wine?" – "Kan ek asseblief ‘n glas droe witwyn kry?".
16. Uitgis: Dry Ferment.
17. Rooi: Red. As in red wine – rooiwyn. (pronunciation hint: "Roy")
18. Wit: White. As in white wine – witwyn.
19. Bosstok: Bush vine.
20. Opleiwingerd: Trellised vineyard. (pronunciation hint: op-lay-ving-erd)

Further reading can be found here.