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Optimal Grape Composition To Reach Specific Wine Objectives
Eben Archer
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Eben Archer
This programme endeavours to obtain a strategic advantage for the South African wine industry by grouping together the research projects that have optimal ripening as common objective, thus pooling together a critical mass of knowledge that collectively can contribute to the effective solution of this industry related problem. Results found under this programme would contribute to the further development of the diverse South African terroirs, and in so doing, enhance the international competitive ability of the country's wines.
This programme focuses on the quantitative and qualitative development of the various grape components and the use thereof as singular or compound indexes by which to determine the optimal ripening periods for the various product categories. Research done in this programme will address the influence of soil, climate and other cultivation practices, and in so doing, inevitably correspond to other Winetech programmes.
Objective Of The Programme:
- To eliminate, where possible, unnecessary overlapping of manpower and apparatus and therefore increase the affordability of the different research projects in this field. This would ensure that maximum information is generated via the existing infra structure.
- To enhance the scientific character of the research approach to the various projects by developing the best research protocol for each individual project.
- To monitor and use all components of grape composition (sugar, acid, pH, phenols, aroma, etc.) to compile an index of optimal ripeness for the different cultivars that can be used together with vineyard conditions to determine the appropriate harvesting time per wine style.
- To establish and sustain a pool of knowledge and expertise so as to ensure international recognition as world leaders in the area of optimal ripening.
- To identify deficiencies in existing levels of knowledge to be used as basis for future research projects or to make adjustments to existing projects.
- To depict these results in such a way that it would reflect the ideal vineyard in which optimal grape composition is controlled, and therewith make practical recommendations for vineyard design.
Current Structure Of This Programme:
The following projects are currently classified under this programme:
Projects that address the topic directly:
- WW 12/23: Determination of optimal grape and wine quality of Shiraz/99 Richter as affected by microclimate and seasonal variation in leaf and berry metabolism.
Project leader: Prof JJ Hunter
- Distell 1: Developing parameters to determine optimum ripeness in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Project leader: Prof MG Lambrechts
- WW 08/25: The determination of the phenol composition of South African red grapes and wines and the application to produce optimum quality wines.
Project leader: P Minnaar
- WW 10/14: The role of micro-organisms in the formation of bitterness in wines.
Project leader: Dr O Augustyn
- 2700/28: Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of the major South African red and white wine types.
Project leader: Dr L Joubert
Related projects:
- WW 08/19: Investigation into the effect of winemaking techniques on Pinotage wine style and quality and the development of procedures that will produce optimum quality wines.
Project leader: Dr J Marais
- WW 08/22: Investigation into the effect of viticultural and oenological factors on Chenin blanc wine quality and the development of techniques that will produce optimum quality wines.
Project leader: Dr J Marais
- WW 12/20: Effect of row direction on the physiological, viticultural and oenological performance of Shiraz/R110.
Project leader: Prof JJ Hunter
- WW 12/22: Potential evaluation of different climatic regions for vine cultivation by using temperature ranges for key physiological processes.
Project leader: Prof JJ Hunter
- WW-KB1: Secondary metabolism as a determinant of grape and wine quality.
Project Leader: Dr K Bindon
- WW-AS1: An investigation into optimum yield/vigour balance of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz in the Stellenbosch winegrowing area: crop load, vine vigour and ripeness level effects on grape and wine composition.
Project leader: A Strever
- WW10/19: Preliminary survey of glucose:fructose ratios in grape must from the Western Cape wine growing region
Project leader: Dr N Jolly
- WW-WDT 06/02: Characterizing different red grape cultivar clones in terms of certain wine parameters
Project leader: W du Toit
Programme Committee:
Prof E Archer (Programme Coordinator)
Prof JJ Hunter
Prof MG Lambrechts
Dr J Marais
Dr L Joubert
Dr OPH Augustyn
Dr K Bindon
Dr N Jolly
Mr P Minnaar
Mr A Strever
Mr W du Toit
Me A Oberholster
Me D de Beer
Mr G Baumgarten
Mr F de Villiers
Mr R Tredoux
Mr MP Botes
Mr F Viljoen
Mr JH van der Westhuizen
Mr CW Theron
Mr JH Booysen (EM: Winetech)
Mr E le Roux (Chair: Viticulture Committee)
Mr H Heyl (Chair: Oenology committee)
Mr D Saayman (Chair: Soil Science Committee)
Me I Waller (Chair: Vinification Technology committee
Dr G Loubser (Chair: Microbiology committee)
Dr V Carey (Chair: Terroir Programme Committee)
Prof J Burger (Chair: Vine Virus Programme Committee)
Prof F Bauer (Chair: Biotechnology Programme Committee)
Mr J Viljoen (Chair: Viticulture Forum)
Dr P van Rensburg (Chair: Oenology Forum)
Modus Operandi Of Program:
Members of the program will all assemble annually during October to discuss the previous season's operations and to identify possible changes that have to be made to them. During this meeting the following points should be addressed:
- Progress made with research.
- Problems encountered with the gathering of data during the recent season.
- Identification of deficiencies in data sets.
- Procedure protocol for the coming season.
- Protection of Individual proprietary rights.
- Results of notification protocol for the local industry.
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