Promising harvest
2007-03-22
GOOD growing conditions that preceded the current harvest have so far helped this year’s wine grape crops to not only weather some unusual conditions, but to produce generally outstanding quality grapes.
But the crop will be between 5% and 10% down in the Stellenbosch, Malmesbury and Paarl areas, says the chief viticulturist of Distell, Dirk Bosman.
Commenting on the crops that have been well over halfway harvested, Bosman said a cold winter had enabled the vines in virtually all growing areas to go into proper dormancy, an important prerequisite for good fruit quality. Good rains had also boosted soil moisture levels.
“By spring and well into early summer, water reserves were sufficiently high to see the dryland vines through the drier than average months of November, December and January.
“In the case of vineyards receiving regular or supplementary irrigation, the dams were full enough to meet their water requirements.”
He said the prevailing milder temperatures in the weeks leading up to the harvest did not retard ripening of early varietals.
The harvest had started early and the heatwave at the end of January had accelerated picking in some areas.
He added that the rain and cooler temperatures that followed the very hot week in late January countered the potential stress to the later ripening varietals and “quality has in no way been compromised.
Bosman said cooler than average temperatures in February had slowed the ripening process and concentrated flavours. He was also confident that phenological ripeness was being achieved at lower sugar levels.
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