A Technical Guide
for Wine Producers

RECENT ARTICLES   |   WYNBOER HOME

WYNBOER WORK PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY 2000

1. PLANNING AND PREPARATION

1.1. Short-term

  • Inspect baskets or picking boxes prior to harvesting.

  • Clean pressing bins and apply a layer of lead free acid resistant paint.

  • Inspect wagons if used for conveying grapes to the cellar.

  • Inspect and sharpen knives and pruning shears to be used.

  • Make sure that all vineyard blocks are numbered so as to record the production (tons, degrees sugar, acid and pH if available) of each one. A simple map of the farm prevents confusion.

  • Pressing bin or wagon must be marked with the block number.

  • Consult your winemaker regarding grading requirements for particular cultivars.

  • In early areas such as Orange River, Piketberg and Porterville, samples can be taken regularly from the vineyards to determine the ripeness of the grapes. In other areas note the degree of ripeness of early cultivars such as Chardonnay, Fernāo Pires and Pinot gris.

Financial

  • In considering the establishment of wine grapes, contact the agricultural economists at KWV Consultation Services for a detailed exposition of establishment cost and a break-even analysis to evaluate the profitability of the different options available.

  • Finalise bookkeeping activities of all financial transactions that occurred during the previous month. Compare the actual monthly expenditure with budgeted monthly expenditure for the current year as well as with actual expenditure of the previous year. In the case of irregularities, identify the cause and take the necessary steps to avoid recurrence.

  • For any enquiries regarding agricultural economics, contact Johan Truter (021 - 8073043 or 082 806 0428) or Paiter Botha (021 - 8073302 or 082 806 0429). An extensive range of agricultural economical services is available at a predetermined hourly rate.

1.2 Long-term

Plant material: should be ordered before the end of March. Consult your February edition of Wynboer, when it appears, for the announcement by the Vine Improvement Board regarding available plant material. We strongly recommend that you order your vines from a nurseryman who makes use of certified vine plant material.

Soil cultivation: Order seed for cover crop.

Soil preparation: Contact contractor and order lime and/or phosphate if soil analyses indicate a shortage to be supplemented during soil preparation.

Cultivar planning: If unsure about the cultivar and rootstock to be planted, consult your cellar manager and/or KWV Viticulture Consultant. Planting material should be ordered 2 - 3 years in advance.

Maintenance liming and post-harvest fertilising: Order requirements. Evaluate the vigour of the vines which can be used as a norm to determine the level of nitrogen application.

Trellising systems: Order poles and other material.

2 VINEYARD PROGRAMME

Irrigation: During this period of the growing season, the water requirements of vines are at their highest. Where supplementary irrigation takes place, another application must be given in January to prevent vines from suffering a lack of water and so producing grapes of poor quality.

In areas where irrigation is practised intensively, irrigation must be continued. In the case of early ripening cultivars and on deep fertile soil with high water retention capacity the quantity of water applied can be decreased gradually towards the end of the month to stop vegetative growth and induce a higher sugar content.

Foliage Management: Active vegetative growth during ripening is harmful to grape quality. Prevent active growing tips from veraison by lightly topping vines still growing at this stage. When vines are topped too severely the leaf: crop ratio is infuenced negatively which has a negative infuence on grape analysis.

Make a note of blocks which show over-vigorous growth, to make the necessary fertiliser adjustments.

Downy Mildew: In areas where the disease occurs in January, the control programme should be continued.

Oļdium: If the programme for controlling oļdium has been followed strictly, there should be no problem. If, however, serious problems persist, chemical control - taking into consideration the safety period of the chemicals - should be used instead of sulphur (dusting or wettable). The careful reduction of water applications on soil with a high water retention capacity can lessen the development of rot. In the case of late ripening cultivars and in late areas the control programme must be continued.

Botrytis Cinerea: The successful control of botrytis is, to a certain extent, based on preventative measures. The judicious removal of leaves around bunches improves aeration and diminishes the danger of infection.

Various chemicals can be used to control botrytis. In areas where botrytis occurs regularly every season, the first application must take place after flowering and repeated at intervals of 3 weeks until harvesting. In other areas the first application takes place when berries are pea size, followed by one or two applications before harvesting. Foliage control must be practised during summer to ensure success as spraying is of little value if the chemical does not come into direct contact with bunches. (See Wynboer Tegnies, No. 34, September 1989 p. 8-9. Strategie vir die beheer van Botrytis cinerea by wingerd.

Fungicides and Fermentation: The use of certain fungicides just prior to harvesting may have harmful effects. Take careful note of the safety periods of the fungicides used. If bad weather is experienced prior to harvesting consult your cellar manager or viticulture consultant service officer before spraying.

Development of young vines: Continue suckering and topping green shoots of vines which are still growing actively and vigorously in their second season. With the correct attention and care the desired shape of the vine can, to a large extent, be obtained before winter. Vines which have been grafted on the winter bud/green shoot method in November, should receive careful attention and the growing shoots tied regularly.

Harvesting of grapes: Bear in mind that the quality of the grapes must be as high as possible. Those parts of the vineyard where grapes ripened first during the previous season and which are prone to sunburn, should be harvested in good time. Start taking samples in time to ensure that harvesting take place at the correct sugar and acid content. Consult the winemaker of your co-operative about the grading system requirements for particular cultivars. The practice of harvesting according to the sugar/acid ratio is becoming increasingly popular.

Sampling: During normal years berry samples are preferred to bunch samples and the following procedure is recommended:

  • Take at least 200 berries per 1 000 vines.
  • Samples should be taken from as many vines as possible throughout the vineyard (at least 10 % of vines).
  • Do not take samples from vines at the end of rows or from outside rows.
  • Calculate the percentage of bunches exposed to the sun and sample in the same ratio.
  • Vary the position of sampling i.e. on both sides of rows, front and rear of bunches, as well as the bottom, centre and shoulders of bunches.
  • Take more berries from high producing vines than from poor bearers.
  • Take samples more or less at the same time of the day e g early morning after the dew has evaporated.
  • Keep samples undamaged in closed plastic bags in a cool place until tested (within 24 hours).
  • More berries must be sampled in cool areas and under dry land conditions where stress occurs, as well as in vineyards planted on varying soil types.
  • During years when the ripening of the grapes is uneven thorough bunch samples may produce good results.

3. VITICULTURE CONSULTANTS IN THE VARIOUS KWV DISTRICTS

For viticulture enquiries consult your nearest KWV Viticulture Consultant.

Paarl/Wellington/Tulbagh: Bennie Liebenberg (021) 8073018, 083 455 5197 or Gavin Taylor (021) 8073418, 083 455 5193.

Malmesbury: Johan Pienaar (021) 8870014, 083 309 7637, Nelius van Huyssteen 083 455 5198 or Bennie Liebenberg (021) 8073018, 083 455 5197.

Robertson/Klein Karoo (02351 - 3017): Francois Viljoen 083 309 7626, Briaan Stipp 083 455 5196, Leon Dippenaar 083 455 5194 or Stephan Joubert 083 650 5590.

Bonnievale: Hendrik Myburgh (02351) 3017 or 083 455 5195.

Orange River: Dirk Malan (054) 4612299, 082 495 7999 or Dricus van der Westhuizen 083 309 7625.

Stellenbosch (021- 8870014): Johan Pienaar, 083 309 7637 or Cobus van Graan 082 650 4404.

Worcester (0231 - 72795): Schalk du Toit 083 303 0530, Pierre Snyman 083 455 5191, Anton Roos 083 629 1735 or Hanno van Schalkwyk 083 455 5192.

Olifants River: Dricus van der Westhuizen 083 309 7625 or Nelius van Huyssteen 083 455 5198.

4. OENOLOGY CONSULTANT

  1. Planning and design of new cellars (50 to 5 000 tons). A total package in this regard is now supplied by the service from cultivar recommendations, costings, cellar design incorporating the latest cellar technology through to the design and management of waste systems.
  2. Upgrading of existing cellars to enable them to become internationally competitive.
  3. Latest production methods regarding different cultivars and wine styles.
  4. Recommendations regarding problem wines, adjustments and blends.

Eugene van Zyl can be contacted at 082 577 2758.

5. WINE GRAPE PLANTING MATERIAL

Enquiries regarding planting material can be obtained from KWV's Plant Improvement Division:

  • Clone information - Charles Visser (021) 8073036
  • Planting material purchase/availability - Marco Blom (021) 8073019.
  • Grafting and Nursery activities - Dirk Visser (021) 8073206.

Wynboer is incorporated in WineLand, magazine of the SA wine producers.

Subscribe to WineLand

Visit our sister sites:


South African wine farmers' representative organisation


Facts, figures, contact details and much more in the 2009/10 Directory

UP COPYRIGHT (C) 2000 WineLand