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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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Availability of grafted rootstocks in South Africa
Nico Spreeth, KWV Vititec, Paarl
KWV Vititec has entered into long term contracts with all important grapevine nurseries and although some of them establish their own rootstock blocks, Vititec still plays an important role in establishment and especially requires prospective nurserymen where producers are far removed from the traditional viticultural areas.
The viability of rootstock blocks far exceeds that of production vineyard blocks and the risk and input costs are also much lower. Breakeven of rootstock blocks occurs in year 4 (Table 1), compared to year 8 for production vineyard blocks.
We are concerned especially with regard to R99, Ramsey, 143B, P1103 and US8-7, volumes of which will fall short with regard to the contracted volumes at least until 2010.
Our biggest concern is the drastic decrease in production of R99. Currently ± 7.2 million (94%) R99 rootstock cuttings derive from blocks older than 8 years.
Most Ramsey rootstocks also derive from older blocks and 66% of the blocks are older than 10 years. The past 3 years’ plantings constitute one third of the production and sufficient sites are in the planning stages to replace the older blocks.
The number of 143B rootstock cuttings is currently experiencing a drastic decline, with a shortage of 973 000 rootstock cuttings being foreseen for 2008. This probably sounds impossible in view of the fact that 800 000 cuttings were destroyed in 2004 due to surplus production. Here too we are now increasing the maximum number of plants so as to be able to supply the shortages by 2010.
Fortunately Paulsen 1103 rootstock cuttings derive from younger blocks and more plantings are under way to supply the shortages by 2010.
US 8-7 rootstock cuttings derive mostly from young blocks and only 22% of the rootstocks come from blocks older than 10 years. Production is erratic, however, and Vititec still has to establish numerous blocks to be able to satisfy the demand.
101-14 shows no shortages, but only 22% of rootstock cuttings come from blocks younger than 5 years old. If the demand for red cultivars increases again, shortages are foreseen in 101-14.
Vititec is urgently looking for persons to establish rootstock blocks on our behalf under contract this season or during the 2008 season.
If you are interested, please contact Neels Engelbrecht on (021) 807-3020 or 083 309 7644 for more information.
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