A Technical Guide
for Wine Producers

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Wynboer Tips for December

PLANNING

  • Make arrangements for soil preparation (take soil samples and book contractors) in January/February.
  • Make provision for labour requirements during the harvest.
  • Check that wine press/mechanical harvester is in good working order.
VINEYARD PROGRAMME

Irrigation

  • Monitor soil water status and vineyard's reaction to irrigation scheduling.
  • From pea berry stage - moderate moisture stress on vigorous vines and large berry cultivars.
Disease control
  • Persist with preventive control programme of oidium and downy mildew in particular.
Pest control
  • Monitor mealybug and ants and control where necessary.
Vine development
  • Complete the formation of cordons (green shoot method) and top for the development of bearer shoots.
  • Crop control of young vines (first bearing) is very important - no bunches on weak shoots (<50 cm shoot length).
  • Fertilise where growth is not sufficient.
Canopy management
  • Regular tipping actions are required to control growth and prevent shoots from falling over.
  • It is very important to pick up foliage wires and position shoots timeously.
  • If canopy above bunch zone is too dense, leaves should be broken according to the leaf-breaking principle.
  • Remove green and poorly coloured bunches at 80% veraison for high quality wine goal.
  • Also remove gleanings ("na-trosse").
FINANCIAL

Contact Gert van Wyk for information about:

  • Viability, cost and profitability analyses.
  • Presentations on the economics of wine grape cultivation, industry overview, etc.
  • Budgets and financial planning in the light of production cost, establishment cost and other industry parameters.
  • Participation in the production plan/study groups.
Compiled by: VinPro Consultation Service
For more information contact Annamarie van Onselen at (021) 807-3027.

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