by Charl Theron | 1 Mar, 2018 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
Different factors play a very important role in the character that barrels impart to wine. Irrespective of the wine as such, the wood type, species, grain, origin of the wood and different wood treatments like the drying and toasting method or level play decisive...
by Santi Basson | 1 Feb, 2018 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
It is increasingly clear that there is a serious need for the transfer of practical, general knowledge to cellar workers. The Winetech study groups aim to transfer knowledge in a holistic manner and to increase productivity amongst cellar workers. Closer contact with...
by Charl Theron | Practical in the cellar, Practical in the vineyard, Winetech Technical
Increasing labour costs and labour problems have been major causes of vineyard mechanisation. It can however create other advantages and disadvantages and cellars must be prepared to receive such grapes and utilise it optimally. Manual labour will most probably be...
by Charl Theron | 1 Jan, 2018 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
Bottling is the final process before a wine reaches the consumer. It is consequently of cardinal importance to execute it in such a way that the wine quality is not influenced negatively, but also that the right wine will be in the right market at the right stage....
by Charl Theron | 1 Dec, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
Due to the time limitation and the production processes of the harvest, it is ideal that cellar equipment functions optimally and continuously without interruptions during the harvest. In order to realise this, cellars can apply a preventative maintenance programme...
by Charl Theron | 1 Nov, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Practical in the vineyard, Winetech Technical
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...
by Charl Theron | 1 Oct, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
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...
by Charl Theron | 1 Sep, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
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...
by Charl Theron | 1 Aug, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Practical in the vineyard, Winetech Technical
The “gewürz” in Gewürztraminer means spicy in German, but this is not at all the typical aroma of this grape, which is seen as the royal of muscat cultivars, although it is not so typical muscat as Muscadel and Hanepoot. It covers only 8 100 hectares worldwide and the...
by Charl Theron | 1 Jul, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
The way of barrel closing has undergone a revolution over the years. Initially sand bags were used, followed by a hessian cloth with a flat wooden bung, which was replaced by a formed wooden bung and eventually by silicone bungs. The barrel bung, however, remains the...
by Anél Blignaut | 1 Jun, 2017 | Practical in the cellar, Practical in the vineyard, Winetech Technical
Introduction Confronting Climate Change has for a number of years provided a freely available carbon calculator tool. Apart from supporting the fruit- and wine industries of South Africa with the use of the tool through training opportunities and direct support, we...
by Charl Theron | Practical in the cellar, Winetech Technical
Containers and wine cellars are practically synonymous, because neither can go without the other. Ceramic was already used as containers for the fermentation, storage and transport of wine during the Greek and Roman cultural periods. It does, however, appear that wine...
