by Anél Blignaut | 1 Aug, 2018 | Oenology research, Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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’...
by Reckson Mulidzi, Philisiwe Augustine, Minette Naudé & Lourens van Schoor | 1 Jul, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Roleen Carstens | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Lucinda Heyns & Gerhard Pietersen | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Albert Strever | 1 Jun, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Dariusz Goszczynski | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Johan Fourie | 1 May, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Philisiwe Augustine & Philip Olivier | 1 Apr, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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...
by Philisiwe Augustine, Kobus Conradie & Philip Olivier | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
The effects of climate as one of the terroir attributes on wine style and quality are generally well understood, while there is much uncertainty concerning those of soil type. Introduction Researchers have reported that soil affects grape composition and...
by Hans Hugo & Rinus Knoetze | 1 Mar, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are common in South African vineyards and nursery soils, with M. javanica being the most common species. Soil fumigation and chemical control do not necessarily completely eradicate root-knot nematodes from the soil. Nurserymen...
by Hans Hugo & Rinus Knoetze | 1 Feb, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
The ring nematode, Criconemoides xenoplax, is one of the most common and abundant nematode species in vineyards throughout the Western Cape. Feeding by ring nematodes result in the destruction of grapevine root tissue and a stunted root system with relatively few live...
by Danie van Schalkwyk & André Schmidt | 1 Jan, 2018 | Viticulture research, Winetech Technical
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 (2015) statistics, 101 different wine grape cultivars are planted in South Africa....
