Fusion of wine, fynbos, cattle, sheep and passion
PaardenKloof in the Overberg is one of the best practical examples of biodiversity where white and red cultivar wines, different fynbos species, Nguni cattle, Dormer sheep and personal attention form one great biodiversity family. Since 2001 Mohseen Moosa, a formal...
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Potassium polyaspartate – the most effective additive for tartaric stabilisation
The focus of the recent European research project at Stabiwine, was the ‘Use of biopolymers for sustainable stabilisation of quality wines’. This research project lead to the discovery of a molecule with interesting stabilising properties, a first in both the...
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Can yeasts be used to prevent protein haze?
Winemakers add bentonite to prevent protein haze in white wines. Although this treatment reaches its goal, it also leads to volume losses and sometimes a decrease in wine quality. The question is: are there alternatives available? Protein haze – some background...
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Tips for saving water
Unless we see some decent rainshowers in the coming months, the challenge for agriculture will be huge. The Western Cape was declared a disaster area on 22 May this year as a result of the worst drought in 113 years. Combined dam levels amount to 27,4% (4 August...
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Sauvignon blanc – role of phenotypic plasticity in cultivar typicity
Grapevine cultivars are remarkably adaptable to their environments and responsive to production manipulations. This adaptability is (scientifically) described as phenotypic- or metabolic plasticity. You might not have heard these terms before, but they underpin the...
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#WitluisMustFall
HOW? Mealybug transmits leafroll virus. Leafroll reduces yield, grape and wine quality, and it shortens the lifespan of vines. We can never win the battle against leafroll disease if we do not deal with mealybug. We have the means and know-how at our disposal....
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The role of acetaldehyde in wine quality
Acetaldehyde is usually associated with its negative impact on wine quality. Although it is mainly formed during alcoholic fermentation it can also occur in wine through other ways. Its formation is influenced by different factors, which need to be noted by...
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Grapevine versus pathogen – an ongoing battle
If you hear terms like “defensive structures”, the “arms race”, “decoys”, “triggers”, “signals” and “reinforcements”, you might think that a military battle strategy is under discussion. These battle-related terms are, however, also characteristic of a largely unseen...
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Sensory evaluation of mouthfeel in wine
Sensory panels often avoid the evaluation of mouthfeel sensations in wine, since it implies (for many non-wine experts) complex, and abstract concepts. However, mouthfeel is an important dimension of wine quality, and it is, therefore, necessary that these properties...
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Resolutions adopted by OIV
The 15th General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), which met on 2 June 2017 in Sofia (Bulgaria), adopted a total of 22 resolutions. Decisions on viticulture and the environment In the field of viticulture, the OIV adopted a...
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Guava tree and cat’s pee (Part 4)
Thiols in SA's top performing wines and the effect of sensory interactions. Interaction with other wine components The Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition, presented by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa and sponsored by First National Bank, is the...
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Oxygen management during winemaking
The first spontaneous reaction of winemakers, when air or oxygen during winemaking is discussed or mentioned, is its negative association with the oxidation or browning of wines. The correct oxygen control can, however, have various advantages and contribute...
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Trichoderma pruning wound protection – when after pruning is it best to apply?
Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of early and late pruning on Trichoderma spp. wound colonisation. Impact of grapevine trunk diseases Grapevine trunk diseases, namely Eutypa dieback, Petri disease and esca, Botryosphaeria and Phomopsis dieback...
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Incorrect weed management during grapevine bud break decreases grapevine performance
This study emphasise the importance of controlling weeds chemically during grapevine bud break. Experimental background Two weed management practices were applied, as described in Table 1. The trial was conducted over four seasons (2009/10 to 2012/13) in a...
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Guava tree and cat’s pee (Part 3)
Techniques can be used to increase thiols or ensure preservation. Harvesting methods New Zealand winegrowers use mechanical harvesting as a norm. This is probably out of necessity, however, as luck would have it, it is by far the harvesting method delivering...
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Facts about the echalas training method
Introduction Echalas, also known as ‘staked vines’ or ‘stok-by-paaltjie’, is mostly used in the wine producing regions of Côte-Rôtie in France, Priorat in Spain and Mösel in Germany. It is not exactly clear when the first echalas vineyard was planted in South Africa....
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What makes an award-winning South African Chenin blanc wine?
The main aim of this study was to elucidate the sensorial descriptors linked to the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Challenge 2016’s award-winning wines, as well as some chemical analyses performed on the wines. We also included a few wines that scored the lowest marks at...
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Trellising practices and trellis systems for mechanical pruning – lessons that have been learnt
Correct trellising practices and trellis systems for mechanically pruned grapevines are very important. The most important aspect of mechanically pruned blocks is for the trunks of the grapevines to be upright. This is more crucial for mechanically pruned grapevines...
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