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...
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)...
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,...
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’...
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...
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...
What causes leafroll virus? [Fact sheet 1.1]* • Leafroll virus is caused by leafroll associated virus -3 (GLRaV-3). Other types of leafroll associated viruses exist, but are seldom found in South Africa. [* This number indicates which number IGWS fact sheet can be...
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...
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...
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...
In wine production, it is important to know the best climate and soil type combination for each cultivar in order to get the best out of each terroir. Introduction While the role of climate as one of the important terroir attributes on wine style and quality is...
