Thiols in young South African Chenin blanc wine
In this experiment, we focused on both sensory and chemistry evaluation of very young Chenin blanc wines. On the chemistry side, 3MH and 3MHA were measured. On the sensory side, attributes from the labels and tasting sheets of the wines were compared to those...
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“Weed” species suitable for cover crop management in vineyards
Cover crop management is widely applied in the vineyards of South Africa. Introduction The cover crops are grown during winter and controlled chemically any time from the end of August (end of winter) in non-irrigated bush vines, to early October (spring) in...
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Impact of grapevine nitrogen fertilisation on YAN levels in the juice
When this theme is discussed winemakers and wine producers tend to ask the following general questions: How do we control the amount of nitrogen in the soil that ensues from fertiliser applications? Can the nitrogen in the soil impact on the YAN levels in the juice?...
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Reducing carbon emissions on farms with improved water management
Previous Confronting Climate Change industry trend reports have indicated that electricity consumption for the pumping of water is the largest source of farm-level carbon emissions. Irrigation of crops is a necessity in a water-scarce country and predominantly...
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New yeasts for the production of aromatic Sauvignon blanc
The aim of this study was to select and evaluate naturally bred Saccharomyces cerevisiae intra-genus hybrids for the production of wine with enhanced fruity and tropical fruit aromas, but low volatile acidity levels. Introduction Sauvignon blanc wine aroma is...
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Adjustments of Pinot noir winemaking
Some of the most expensive wines in the world are made from Pinot noir. These wines, however, differ considerably and are usually light in colour with subtle flavours. Pinot noir is also very sensitive for different vine diseases and susceptible to genetic mutations....
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Mentorship – how to know if someone qualifies as a mentor?
We all get advice from time to time from colleagues, friends and relatives. Even our children often have something to say about what we should do or not do! But how do we know when to consider someone as a mentor? Pondering this question, it is wise to look at the...
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Which carbon calculator to use for my farm or agri-business?
In South Africa and globally there is increasing pressure from retailers and consumers for the disclosure of carbon emissions of the products that they purchase. Introduction It is important for South African fruit and wine producers to comply with the market...
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Vineyard row orientation (Part 1) – canopy light and temperature
Climatic conditions, such as temperature, wind and humidity, and valley floor/edaphic conditions, such as soil water availability and drainage, often force the establishment of vineyards towards complex terroirs where aspect, slope, relief, erosion and execution of...
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Chenin blanc vs Sauvignon blanc – thiol levels in young wines
Thiols are recognised as character impact compounds with typical sensory attributes, such as “passionfruit”, “grapefruit”, “tomato leaf” and “gooseberry”, depending on the level at which they are present. Introduction In the field of science and technology, we are...
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Organic acids of MCC wines – a function of grape temperature prior to pressing
Maintaining the chemical composition of a wine is essential for the wine industry. Although the sugar-acid balance of a wine is of primary sensory importance, individual acids and oenological variables are equally important. Introduction Méthode Cap Classique (MCC)...
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PVGIS – a solar photovoltaic calculator tool to optimise light harvesting in viticulture
Several web-tools, available from the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) online service, are freely available for use in viticulture. The Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS ©European Communities, 2001 - 2017) was developed from solar...
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YAN survey of South African grape musts (Part 2) – the role of YAN supplementation
Due to the complexity of grape juice and yeast metabolism, it must be understood that a generalisation of the optimal concentration and composition of YAN cannot be made. Therefore, based on the trends currently observed in research, this article serves to present the...
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The global shipping of wine
Wine is a product that is consumed worldwide and, except for certain countries, also produced everywhere. Although the most wine is usually drunk in the country of production, consumer and industry demand exist to export wine to different countries. As a result of...
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Establishing the True Cost of the Roll
LEAFROLL IS AN OLD FOE. ECONOMIST PIETER VAN NIEKERK LOOKS AT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF VINEYARDS INFECTED BY #LEAFROLL. Many consumers unashamedly hashtagged our beautiful autumn vineyards, apparently unaware of the reality of virus infection. It’s like taking a selfie...
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Monitoring vine mealybug and its parasitoids
The aim of this study was to establish whether the yellow delta trap used for monitoring male mealybug numbers can also effectively be used to monitor mealybug parasitoids. Farmers use yellow delta traps (Figure 1a) to monitor male vine mealybugs (Planococcus ficus)...
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Lesser-known white wine cultivars (Part 2)
This article is a follow-up on the articles regarding lesser-known red wine grape cultivars that were published (Van Schalkwyk & Schmidt, 2016a & 2016b). According to Sawis statistics (2016), 106 wine grape cultivars are planted in South Africa. Chenin blanc,...
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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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