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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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The 2001 SA wine crop - small but good
With regard to grape and wine quality, the winemakers report from all the regions that the quality of this year’s wine is very good to excellent. This should be partial compensation for the small size of the crop. In general white wines are being described as complex and flavourful, while red wines are being singled out for exceptional structure, body and colour.
With regard to the production trends in the various wine districts (Fig 2), the Stellenbosch region is unique in reporting an increase in the 2000 crop. In all the other districts, the 2000 crop entailed a sharp decrease, particularly in the Orange River, which suffered most of all with a crop decrease of 36 %, while Malmesbury and Robertson experienced a decrease of 17 % and 15 % respectively.
The decrease in the crop occurred mostly with regard to white cultivars such as Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Colombar, while the production of red wine indicated a strong increase. The main reason for this is the extensive red wine plantings over the last 3 years, with a considerable amount of young vineyards now coming into production.
Some of the most important factors that impacted on the smaller crop are, inter alia:
The third consecutive warm winter resulted in serious cases of uneven and delayed budding, occurring in specific localities and particularly in cultivars such as Chardonnay.
Reasonably good, normal growing conditions occurred early in the growing season, but a very windy November, in the coastal regions especially, put a lot of stress on the growth of the vine and berry development.
Cooler nights in the ripening phase of early cultivars brought about ideal ripening conditions and resulted in early cultivars being pressed with excellent grape analyses and grape flavours.
Heat waves in February caused the tempo of ripening (the increase in sugar especially) to accelerate rapidly, which in turn caused many grapes / cultivars to ripen simultaneously, thus putting a lot of pressure on intakes in that period.
Once again the beneficial and cooler weather conditions in March caused late cultivars such as Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen under ideal weather conditions.
The season will also be remembered as one of the driest ever. On the positive side this means that it was an extremely healthy year, and hardly any problems were experienced with fungal diseases such as downy mildew and Botrytis. However, the absence of rain had a negative impact on certain dryland vineyards on soils with low water retention ability and where producers experienced water shortages.
The regional VinPro viticultural consultants report as follows from the various wine districts:
2001 HARVEST REPORT: WORCESTER
The total wine grape crop in Worcester is estimated to be at least 10 % smaller than the previous year. Various cellars report yields of 8 to 15 % less. This is the smallest crop of the last decade. The most important factors for the smaller yield could be the following:
The 2000 / 2001 season was characterised by abnormally low rainfall. The rainfall in the Rawsonville / Slanghoek area was approximately 60 - 75% and in the Worcester East area approximately 30 - 40 % lower than the long term average (LTA). Subterranean water supply and catchment dams are at their lowest levels over the past 20 / 25 years. Above average rainfall is needed in the winter of 2001 to ensure sufficient irrigation water for the 2001 / 2002 season. Certain irrigation boards have already implemented serious water restrictions, and if it does not rain soon, the water supply situation could decrease to a level of nil supply in winter. Average summer temperatures were approximately 1 - 3°C warmer than the LTA. The higher temperatures and absence of rain during the ripening phase played a role in the limited occurrence of fungal infections and in general grapes were delivered to the cellars in a healthier condition.
Initial grape analyses were very good in the first part of the pressing season, with low pHs and high acids. Some late cultivars struggled to reach optimal ripeness as a result of the exceptionally hot weather in March.
The small yields, improved vineyard practices and consequently better foliage protected the grapes more efficiently against unfavourable conditions. With optimal ripening as the goal, pressing occurred at a riper physiological stage so as to produce more complex wines. Cellars are increasingly trying to make vineyard wines and are pressing various blocks according to their individual ripeness profiles. Above-average wine quality is expected. Exceptional Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and premium red wines may be forthcoming from the Worcester area this year.
- Schalk du Toit
2001 HARVEST REPORT: ROBERTSON
The 2001 harvest will be remembered as the smallest crop in many years. Altogether no more than about 136 000 tons were pressed, which is 15 % less than the 2000 crop, and that was already a very small one.
Various factors, amongst which unfavourable climatic conditions, large sclae uprooting of non-profitable mass bearing cultivars which still produced well, the almost exclusive planting of low yielding noble cultivars and producers’ increased focus on quality, all contributed to this year’s light crop. The biggest impact was on the production of white cultivars, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc in particular, while Colombar was negatively influenced to a lesser extent. The total amount of red grapes pressed exceeds that of 2000 considerably, but the only reason for this is that young vineyards are coming into production for the first time. By applying quality driven practices to red grapes, production levels of older red wine blocks have remained fairly constant over various seasons.
The winter of 2000 was characterised by very hot days which played a determining role in serious cases of delayed and uneven budding in the high lying and traditionally warmer areas of the Robertson wine valley. The biggest influence was on Chardonnay in particular, as well as young vineyards where winter canes had formed cordons. The first part of the growing season, until the middle of January, was characterised by very cool, dry conditions, followed by very warm, dry conditions during the latter part of January and February. From the beginning of March weather conditions became cooler again, the nights in particular being very cool with widespread occurrence of dew. The dry season brought about very healthy conditions with regard to downy mildew and Botrytis, while late oidium was problematic in a few isolated cases. Producers who are dependent on conserved winter water and boreholes for irrigation experienced serious water shortages. This also contributed to the smaller crop.
In general grape analyses were very good, with low pHs in particular being rather conspicuous. The sugar content of the first grapes was considerably higher than usual, while the cooler weather in March resulted in very slow accumulation of sugar in the late cultivars. Grapes were very healthy and at this stage the quality of the wines looks very promising, while the colour of the red wine in particular is exceptionally good this year.
- Briaan Stipp
2001 HARVEST REPORT: LITTLE KAROO
The 2001 crop is down by approximately 10 % on the 2000 crop, which in turn was 25 % down on the record crop of the previous year (1999).
The light crop may be ascribed to unfavourable climatic conditions and a warm, dry winter in particular. The cumulative effect of the past three seasons’ drought could possibly have contributed significantly to the light yield. Furthermore there has been large scale uprooting of undesirable mass bearers, together with plantings of low producing noble cultivars. The older white cultivars, especially the production of Chenin blanc, suffered most and while Colombar was negatively influenced, it was to a lesser extent. The total amount of red grapes pressed in the Little Karoo was higher than in 2000 and is due exclusively to young vineyards coming into production.
The past season was characterised by a warm, dry winter. The average winter temperatures were higher than usual and the rainfall was low. Budding was fairly normal. The first half of the ripening period was characterised by cooler average temperatures. Although there were warm days from time to time, the night temperatures were relatively cool. Good rain occurred in January. The second half of the ripening period was characterised by very high temperatures. There were heatwaves and in places temperatures of approximately 45°C were measured. Light rainshowers occurred early in February. In certain areas of the Little Karoo, producers who depend on catchment water and boreholes for irrigation started experiencing serious water shortages as early as the beginning of January. The amount and quality of the water became a serious problem towards the end of the season.
Grapes pressed early in the season were not influenced by the heatwaves and displayed lovely flavours. In general the grape analyses also looked very good. The heatwaves that occurred at a later stage definitely had a marked influence on the crop. The acids started dropping and the grapes ripened relatively quickly. In some instances there were problems with sugar accumulation due to the cooler weather in March. A characteristic of the crop was that at the time of pressing, grapes had relatively high sugars without physiological ripeness having been achieved.
In general the grapes were also extremely healthy and the quality of the wine looks very promising.
- Willem Botha
2001 HARVEST REPORT : PAARL
This year’s total production was about 7% smaller than that of the previous growing season, but the quality throughout was considerably better.
In general white wine cultivars showed a slight decrease in production, Chenin blanc and Chardonnay in particular. Some co-operative cellars experienced a decrease of as much as 15% in production of Chenin blanc. The main reason for this phenomenon is the decrease in new plantings over the past decade and the progressive ageing of existing Chenin blanc vineyards. The lower production of Chardonnay seems to be the result of a warm winter, which caused uneven and delayed budding in spring. In the red wine cultivars the production was generally higher than the previous pressing season, Shiraz being the highest, followed by Pinotage and Merlot. Here a definite factor was the contribution of new red wine plantings that began to bear for the first time. The Cabernet Sauvignon bunches were light and in some cases had smaller berries, thus adding to quality production.
A characteristic of the past growing season was the exceptionally cool summer and the consistently cooler night temperatures compared to the previous growing season, resulting in decreased respiration levels. This in turn gave rise to higher total acids, lower pHs and much higher flavour and especially colour intensities. Although the temperatures increased towards the end of February, there was nevertheless no comparison to the previous season. The rapid increase in sugars caused by the relatively warm weather from mid February onwards caught a few producers unawares. An exceptionally pronounced cultivar character is found in white cultivars such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and early Chenin blanc that were pressed before the onset of the warmer weather.
Despite the excessively dry aforegoing winter and summer, the general appearance of the vineyards was very good, except for some dryland vineyards on shallow, heat reflecting soils, and some warmer areas that suffered a lot in the latter part of the summer. It seems, however, that the harmful influence of the drought may have been cancelled out by the past season’s cooler climate.
Disease pressure was low throughout, thanks inter alia to the good spraying programmes followed by the majority of producers, but in isolated cases oidium did cause problems. As in previous seasons, mealybug infestation occurred in the middle of summer and this problem should receive more attention, especially because of the influence it exerts on the distribution of leafroll virus diseases.
- J H van der Westhuizen
2001 HARVEST REPORT: STELLENBOSCH
This year the total crop in Stellenbosch is approximately 7% bigger than the 2000 crop, especially as a result of better production by the red cultivars. However, it remains smaller than a good, normal crop for the region.
White cultivars with low production were Chardonnay in particular, as a result of delayed budding caused by the relatively warm early winter, and Chenin blanc. The decrease in production of Chenin blanc may be ascribed to the advanced age of the plantings. In most instances Sauvignon blanc produced the same size crop and bigger than last season. Of the red cultivars, the biggest increase was shown by Shiraz, due to young plantings coming into full bearing. Merlot also showed a bigger increase in unit yield. An increased crop was also apparent in early Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, although the later Cabernet Sauvignon produced more or less the same size crop as last year. A late heatwave towards the end of February was largely responsible for this trend. The Pinotage crop was slightly bigger than last year.
A dry, warm winter was experienced for the third consecutive year. Soil moisture reserves were low, even at the start of the growing season. Even so the vineyards performed well, which may be ascribed mainly to the cool summer (cool nights in particular) growing conditions. Even February, the warmest month, was cool with the exception of the last part of the month when a heat wave occurred, lasting approximately four days. Throughout the growing season, with a few exceptions, there were very few desiccating southeasterly winds. Cool southerly and southwesterly winds kept temperatures low throughout. Towards the end of the season, drought symptoms became apparent due to a lack of soil moisture, even in the subsoils.
Grape quality promises to be exceptional for a range of cultivars due to the cooler climatic conditions. Excellent grape analyses were obtained, especially from earlier ripening Sauvignon blanc, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay also looks promising, although ripening of bunches was very uneven. This trend was also apparent in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is that grapes ripened fully with a higher sugar content (also cooler and drier climate). Wines are expected to be exceptionally flavourful and well-structured. In general it should be an outstanding year for quality, especially with regard to Sauvignon blanc, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- J Pienaar
2001 HARVEST REPORT: MALMESBURY
In the Malmesbury district this year’s crop was 16,7% smaller than the 2000 crop, which was approximately 2% bigger than the 1999 crop.
While the white grape crop showed a very large decrease, some cellars experienced an increase in the red grape crop. Of the white cultivars, Chardonnay and Chenin blanc showed the biggest decrease, especially in dryland vineyards. The decrease may be ascribed mainly to the warm winter and extremely dry conditions which prevailed in the region throughout the growing season. Uprootings of certain old white cultivars also contributed to the decreased size of the crop. Large plantings of red grapes, which are now coming into production annually, explain the bigger red grape crop.
From the time of budding unusually cold weather occurred throughout the Boland and West Coast regions. At the time of budding already the first signs of an unnaturally warm and dry winter could be observed in the widespread occurrence of uneven and delayed budding in many cultivars. Wind and dry conditions at the time of flowering resulted in poor berry set, followed by further losses due to enormous pressure caused by oidium.
Dew on the leaves in the early hours of the morning and the fact that maximum daytime temperatures were lower than usual during the ripening period, were largely responsible for the harvesting of such good quality despite the drought.
Due to the above-mentioned factors, and at the beginning of the pressing season especially, grapes were pressed with exceptionally high acid (for the warmer areas), low pHs and good sugars, which means that the quality of the wine grape harvest is above average. After the overbearing heatwaves which occurred from the second week in February, combined with the severe prevailing drought, acids were drastically reduced and there was a lot of sunburn. In many places vines discarded their leaves, which meant that very little reserves could be hoarded for the coming season.
In general winemakers are of the opinion that the quality of the 2001 white wines exceeds that of 2000. Red grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness and the wines were full-bodied with good colour.
- Johan Viljoen
2001 HARVEST REPORT: OLIFANTS RIVER
This year the total Olifants River crop is approximately 12% smaller than the 2000 crop, despite an increase in the total number of hectares planted to vines.
The biggest contributing factor to this trend is probably the replacement, over the past few years, of large numbers of mass bearers such as French, Harslevelü, Emerald Riesling, Clairette blanche and Hanepoot, particularly with red cultivars that are only now coming into bearing. Just like last season the production figures of Chardonnay, although marginally better, were once again disappointing. In general older Chenin blanc blocks gave smaller yields, while young blocks produced relatively well. While Hanepoot on the whole also produced less, many blocks still struggled to obtain sugars, probably because the growth in most of these cultivars was arrested at an early stage this year. Although Colombar budded very unevenly, resulting in uneven ripening, the decrease in this cultivar seems to be less than in the other white varieties.
The almost total absence of rain in the past season limited the occurrence of rot and downy mildew to an absolute minimum and very healthy grapes were delivered to the cellars. Late in the season oidium made an appearance on leaves and canes in particular, without any significant influence on the quality of the grapes. The entire growing season was characterised by very mild temperatures, the average daily maximum temperature for December being ± 4°C lower than in 1999 and for January ± 1,6°C lower than in 2000, while the difference in the average minimum temperatures was even bigger.
Grape analyses upon arrival at the cellars were good this year, the pHs being very low and the acids high, with relatively high sugars. The reverse was true of must analyses after MLF, however, probably indicating instability in the acids, consisting mostly of malic acid. The average quality nevertheless promises to be better than in the past, especially since the cooler conditions ensure better flavour retention, as well as particularly good colour in the red cultivars. Another factor that promotes better quality is the fact that this year the ripening periode lasted considerably longer than in the past, something that does not usually go hand in hand with a smaller crop.
In general the 2001 pressing season will be remembered for its pleasant weather, relatively low yields, few hitches and hopefully outstanding wines.
- Jeff Joubert
2001 HARVEST REPORT: ORANGE RIVER
The 2001 crop is 36% smaller than in 2000 and 47% smaller than the record crop of 1997. At some of the cellars the crop is up to 60% smaller than the 2000 crop. This is ascribed to the pervasive and extensive occurrence of the growth arrestment phenomenon, delayed budding and dying back of young vines.
According to records, some areas received as much as three to five times the normal average rainfall from the beginning of December 2000 to March 2001, accompanied by active regrowth after the harvest. The worst outbreak of downy mildew since 1976 also occurred in the area from the end of December 2000, but especially from the end of February 2001. This resulted in blocks discarding their leaves prematurely, only to start budding again on the tips. The situation was aggravated by severe frost during the first week of May. The leaves having died as a result of the frost, this was a completely unnatural way of forcing the actively growing vines into dormancy. This was followed by the intense frost of 20 and 21 July in particular, when the area’s coldest night temperatures in decades were recorded, as low as - 12 ° C. Budding was later than the previous season, since August and September were characterised by fluctuating temperatures and cold nights, but without noticeable spring frost. The above-mentioned conditions all caused the levels of the reserves in the vines to become so low that they could not handle the abnormal weather conditions, which then resulted in the extremely poor crop. Berry set in the various cultivars was very uneven and bunch size, bunch compaction and berry size varied a lot. The fluctuating temperatures, cold nights and low reserves status aggravated the problem.
As a result of the above factors, both the average amount of bunches and bunch masses were considerably lighter than normal. The intakes of Sultanas, Hanepoot, French and Kanaan were all reduced by more than 50%. The yields of the red cultivars fluctuated the least.
Only limited rainshowers and hardly any hail occurred in the course of the season. Midsummer was warm, with cooler night temperatures. The season was characterised by the absence of downy mildew and the occurrence of isolated cases of oidium. At the time of intake, the grapes were very healthy with high sugars and the quality of the wine promises to be very good.
The large number of vines killed by frost and the extremely poor growth are serious concerns, since many of these blocks, ranging in ages from 2 - 13 years, have to be replaced altogether. The lower price realisations and the poor drying grape crop exert enormous pressure on the cash flow of producers, with the result that essential replacement and future expansion have just about reached a standstill.
- Dirk Malan
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