Cultivar differences in susceptibility to esca trunk disease
Esca is a severe vascular disease of the grapevine for which there is no cost-effective cure. Vines eventually die because of deficient sap flow and must be replaced at a high cost. Researchers from France investigated whether there are cultivar differences in the expression of foliar symptoms and vine dieback
ENCOURAGING A LEARNING CULTURE AND CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Kachné Ross, Manager of the People and Skills Development department, reports on two recent training projects that have yielded profound impacts on the sector and the broader community: the South Africa Wine Cellar Assistants Programme and the Leadership Development Programme for Production-Level Managers. “Firstly, individuals from diverse backgrounds have gained crucial skills
MOEDI WINES: A JOURNEY OF PASSION, PERSEVERANCE, AND PURPOSE
In the bustling global wine industry, Moedi Wines has emerged as a beacon of quality, authenticity, and purpose. Founded by dynamic young black entrepreneur Lesego Holzapfel, this South African wine brand has carved out a unique niche and sets a powerful example of drive, resilience, innovation, and impact. We caught
Ken Forrester on all things Chenin
In celebration of Chenin Blanc month, we caught up with Ken Forrester, Director and CEO of Ken Forrester Wines and the chairperson of the Chenin Blanc Association. June is International Chenin Blanc Month (Chenin Blanc Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday); as a top Chenin Blanc producer, how
Unlocking the future of Pinotage
In a pioneering effort to diversify and enhance the iconic South African wine grape Pinotage, an ambitious research project is making significant strides in generating new clones through induced mutations. The ongoing project, led by researchers Prof. Melané Vivier of the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) and
Agri’s Got Talent 2024: call for entries
Now in its 11th year, Agri’s Got Talent (AGT) invites South African agricultural workers to showcase their exceptional talents and contributions to the agricultural sector by entering the 2024 season. More than just a singing competition, AGT aims to highlight the immense talent within South Africa’s farming community while recognising
Sustainability Seal: Pioneering environmental responsibility
The South African wine industry is renowned for its diverse, high-quality wines and sustainability commitment. At the forefront of this commitment is the Sustainability Seal, a unique initiative that ensures wines are produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Introduced by the Wine and Spirit Board in 2010, this seal signifies
Commercial yeast nutrients and atypical ageing
Yeast nutrients, or yeast derivatives (YDs) as referred to in the referenced article, are widely used in winemaking to enhance fermentation, provide essential nutrients, and improve the sensory qualities of wine. These commercial products are derived from yeast colonies grown in bioreactors, inactivated, and dried. The compositional parameters of each
Reducing stress with overhead sprinklers during heatwaves
Heat waves are common during most seasons in many grape-growing regions. They negatively affect the quantity and quality of the crop, especially during water shortage periods. Proactive irrigation before these heat spikes is an effective mitigating strategy, but it requires a lot of water in a short time, which is
Agricultural Commodity Approach wins silver at Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards
In a shining moment at the 2024 Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards, the Agricultural Commodity Approach to Farm Enterprise development took centre stage, securing the prestigious silver award in the category of ‘Best Collaborative Programme/Project’. This recognition highlights the innovative synergy between the public and private sectors, underscoring the
SEARCH TAGS
THE EVOLUTION OF WORLD WINE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION BY COLOUR – OIV 2023 REPORT
This report on the Evolution of World Wine Production and Consumption by Colour has been prepared by the Statistics Department of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). Over the past decades, the world wine sector has seen an overall positive production and consumption trend of white and rosé
Choosing commercial yeasts
The two most important considerations for optimal fermentation are, firstly, the yeast(s) ability to ferment to dryness in the given conditions without becoming sluggish or stuck and within the time frame required for process optimisation, and secondly, the sensory profile of the yeast. These two aspects go hand in hand.
Ageing on lees
For many wines, ageing on the lees is fundamental to their production, most notably in traditional-method sparkling wines and white Burgundy. Producers of the former tout the time spent on lees as a quality indicator, and many still wines call out their sur lie production on the label. What the
The Shiraz Times November 2023
On 8 November 2023, Shiraz SA held their 16th annual technical seminar. During this event, the first edition of the Shiraz Times magazine was launched. The magazine is a South Africa Wine publication compiled for Shiraz SA to support the cultivar association in their knowledge transfer and marketing efforts of
FACTORS INFLUENCING KNOWLEDGE UPTAKE BY PRACTITIONERS: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KNOWLEDGE
Various factors influence whether practitioners such as grape producers, viticulturists and winemakers will acquire new information. The previous two blogs discussed the influence of practitioners’ individual characteristics and the knowledge source’s characteristics. This blog discusses the characteristics of the knowledge itself and how it can influence knowledge uptake. The
confronting climate change (ccc) benchmark report 2023
CCC Benchmark Report 2023 The 2023 Confronting Climate Change (CCC) industry benchmark process builds on 2021 – 2022 datasets and provides a meaningful platform for the South African fruit and wine industries to improve their understanding of the use of fossil fuel-based resources and to reduce emissions over time. The
FACTORS INFLUENCING KNOWLEDGE UPTAKE BY PRACTITIONERS: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KNOWLEDGE SOURCE
Many factors can influence practitioner knowledge uptake and utilisation. The first blog in the series dealt with the individual characteristics of practitioners. This second blog discusses the characteristics of the knowledge source and how it influences knowledge uptake. The two most important factors are the credibility of the knowledge provider
Factors influencing knowledge uptake by practitioners: Individual characteristics
Introduction This blog is the first in a series of four blogs that delve into the factors determining whether practitioners (e.g. producers, viticulturists and winemakers) will engage with new information presented to them. ‘New information’ in this context refers to anything new to you. It is your first time hearing
Settling before red wine fermentation
Results from a study presented by Encarna Gómez-Plaza at Enoforum Web Scientists Conference 2023 revealed that settling red juice and adding the grape skins/marc back to conduct the fermentation can increase the colour and tannin content of the final wine significantly. In fact, the anthocyanin and tannin concentrations were not
Shiraz Technical Seminar 2022
The annual Shiraz technical workshop is one of the most important events for any producer of Shiraz. Apart from local and international speakers addressing a broad spectrum of viticultural and oenological aspects of Shiraz production, the tastings also cover exciting elements such as clones, terroir and international wines. The Shiraz
