| The wine industry in South Africa is undergoing an | | | | Along with the type of variety chosen, soil, |
| exciting period of change, both in the vineyard | | | | climate and winemaking techniques, these vital |
| and in the winery. Winemakers are experimenting | | | | practices are the main factors which determine |
| with new varieties of vine, as well as new clones | | | | the quality and character of a wine. |
| of existing varietals such as Chardonnay and | | | | When a vineyard is established, it is important that |
| Cabernet Sauvignon. Large-scale experimentation | | | | a thorough study is made of the soil and climatic |
| with rootstocks is taking place to establish which | | | | conditions to ensure that the most suitable |
| planting material is particularly suited to conditions | | | | cultivation methods are chosen. Thorough soil |
| at the Cape, co-ordinated by the Vine | | | | preparation is essential to create an environment |
| Improvement Board. | | | | for plant roots in which air and moisture are kept |
| As in other New World countries, viticulturists are | | | | in the right proportion to solid material, and to |
| hard at work matching vine varieties to soils and | | | | ensure that there is sufficient nutrition to promote |
| meso-climates in order to achieve the best | | | | the best growth and production. |
| results. Vineyard life in South Africa is similar to | | | | The choice of variety will depend on the |
| Europe's although South Africa's viticultural year | | | | composition of the soil, the climate, where the |
| begins in September. While preparations for the | | | | vineyard is situated and what kind of wine is |
| vintage are being made in Europe, the vines in | | | | desired. Varieties bearing heavier harvests are |
| South Africa are just beginning to bud. | | | | generally planted in areas under irrigation. In cooler |
| Once buds have formed, the vines must be kept | | | | regions, and where the soil is not very fertile, |
| free from pest, disease and weed, and are often | | | | varieties which grow less densely are planted, as |
| pruned if growth becomes too vigorous. Flowering | | | | well as those that produce smaller but higher |
| normally takes place in November and in | | | | quality harvests. |
| December the young grapes begin to swell and | | | | Previously it was generally accepted that the |
| grow. At this stage the vines are often 'topped' | | | | higher the yield, the lower the quality of wine and |
| to improve air circulation around the grapes and | | | | vice versa. Research has shown this approach is |
| thus minimise the risk of fungus or rot. | | | | not quite correct. Of great importance is the |
| January in the Cape heralds the beginning of | | | | balance between leaves, which function |
| summer and, as the temperatures increase, early | | | | effectively because of good exposure to sunlight |
| grape varieties begin to ripen. The bulk of the | | | | and the quantity of grapes harvested. When |
| harvest takes place in February and the sugar | | | | there are not enough functioning leaves to sustain |
| acid ratio of the grapes is checked daily so that | | | | a large crop, the quality will be lower. |
| each variety is harvested at optimum ripeness. | | | | Vines are climbing plants and are suitable for |
| In most South African vineyards harvesting is | | | | trellising. Stronger growing plants are usually |
| carried out by hand, although machines are used | | | | trellised and can carry heavier harvests. As |
| on some farms. The grapes are picked into | | | | bunches hang higher off the ground, there is less |
| baskets and transported in bins to the winery | | | | chance of rot as a result of damp. The decision |
| where vinification begins. | | | | whether to trellis at all, and the type of trellising |
| Viticulture Practices: | | | | system used, is determined by the soil potential, |
| Viticulture involves practices such as soil | | | | variety, climate, growth and vigour of the vines. |
| preparation and tilling, growing and planting of | | | | In areas where frost damage is prevalent trellising |
| varieties, trellising and pruning of vines, and | | | | is required, while dry land vineyards with a |
| combating disease. | | | | weaker growth are often not trellised. |