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The future of natural cork as bottle closure
The natural characteristics of the bark of the cork oak, Quercus suber, for example its elasticity and neutrality, make it eminently suitable as raw material for bottle closures. The romantics, associated with the sound when a cork is pulled also contribute to the...
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Confronting Climate Change – understanding and addressing your hotspots
To effectively realise and respond to the opportunities and challenges posed by climate change, the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) Project was started in 2009 as a strategic cross-industry initiative aimed at supporting the South African fruit and wine sectors’...
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A toast to fine oak
The use of wood is an integral part of winemaking, but the implications of using this natural material extend beyond the cellar. By Bernard Mocke The commercialisation of oak barrels started when the Roman armies and traders of old replaced clay amphorae with oak...
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Guidelines for making compost using winery solid wastes
This article gives guidelines that can be used by wineries or composting plants to make compost using wine filter wastes, together with grape and vineyard materials. The guidelines are based on results from scientific field composting trials that were conducted over a...
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The rental of barrel space
For a long time wood has not been the only material used for barrels, but it has become an integral part of winemaking. The role of wood changed from a container material to a complementary contributor to the flavour and taste of wine. Different types of wood, the...
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Something wicked (smelling) this way comes …
An alternative strategy for winemaking from smoke-affected grapes. Please excuse the poetic licence used in Mr Shakespeare’s quote above, but the point needs to be made strongly. If smoke-affected wine is bottled as soon as possible and marketed for early release,...
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Can young vines be protected against leafroll infection by applying systemic insecticides in the nursery?
There is a great need in the South African vineyard industry for a control strategy to minimise the spread of leafroll, especially in newly planted vineyards. Previous research by Prof Gerhard Pietersen has shown that the life span of a vineyard can be greatly...
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Thiol levels in dry South African Chenin blanc wines (Part 2)
In this study, 65 commercial dry South African Chenin blanc wines were analysed for their thiol concentrations. Trend exploration The analysis of the 65 commercially-available dry South African Chenin blanc wines yielded important information regarding the thiol...
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Crop control can reduce quality
A respectable grapevine yield, in combination with optimally ripe, quality fruit, is of paramount importance towards the goal of sustainable grape farming. Crop thinning is applied widely in the industry, due to a belief that a lower crop load will always lead to...
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Proving the aetiology of two important grapevine viral diseases remains a challenge
Grapevine leafroll (GLD) and Rugose wood (RW) are two diseases of great concern for grapevine industries worldwide. GLD causes degeneration of phloem cells, preventing the translocation of synthesised carbohydrates from the leaves. The disease delays maturation and...
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Thiol levels in dry South African Chenin blanc wines (Part 1)
In this study, 65 commercial dry South African Chenin blanc wines were analysed for their thiol concentrations. Introduction The importance of thiols to Sauvignon blanc wines around the world has been established and, in recent years, investigations have extended to...
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Capital expenditure of wine cellars
Although planned maintenance can lengthen the lifespan of cellar equipment considerably, the capital expenditure planning of cellars still remains one of the most important financial management aspects of wine cellars. Even if maintenance can postpone capital...
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The Smart-Dyson trellis system for grapevines
The effectiveness of grapevine canopies depends largely on the distribution of the shoots on the trellis system. Introduction With increasing pressure to recover higher yields per hectare, the number of bearers per running metre is being increased all the time....
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Why wine smells like wine
The research suggests that the ‘wine’ character that distinguishes wine from other beverages, and also allows consumers to identify a product as ‘wine’, is entirely due to the metabolic activity of yeast.
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CoolCheck-list for water efficiency
Here’s a list of practical things that can be done to optimise the water consumption on your premises related to cooling.
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Weeds that can spread vegetatively when controlled mechanically
Uncontrolled weeds may reduce crop yield by as much as 80%. Introduction Weeds that are difficult to control frequently do not depend on above-ground seeds alone to spread, but can also re-establish itself by means of rhizomes, tubers and subterraneous flowers...
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South African Chenin blanc styles description as perceived by local experts
The experiment presented here was designed to test the ability of experts to distinguish between various styles of dry Chenin blanc wines and describe them in two different sensory exercises, a free and a directed sorting. South African dry Chenin blanc wines are made...
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Flash Détente technology
The use of thermovinification to prevent the negative results of rotten or unripe red grapes has also been applied in South Africa since the seventies. The primary aim was to shorten the period of skin maceration and prevent potential browning as result of rotten...
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