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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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Grapevine production for specific wine objectives when the economic climate is bleak
Hannes van Rensburg on behalf of the Western Cape Viticultural Discussion Group
Over the past two years the Western Cape Viticultural Discussion Group (WC-VDG) has been discussing viticultural production practices for specific wine objectives at a time when demand is small and the prices for grapes are low.
Various groups have investigated adjustments to practices for specific wine objectives ranging from super premium and premium to good wine and standard wine. This included long as well as short term practices.
Long term practices included the following:
Once all these aspects had been discussed and debated, the group came to the conclusion that it was not sensible to save money on long term practices or to neglect them. Once the wheel turns, errors or shortcuts taken in respect of long term practices cannot be undone. The producer will have to live with the mistake for the next 20 years at least. The conclusion was therefore that as far as possible producers had to adhere strictly to the theoretically correct long term practices.
Short term practices included:
As far as the short term practices are concerned, adjustments may be made on an annual basis. If income from grape prices does not permit, money can be saved especially with regard to the lower category wine classes. These short term practices may be altered or adjusted from season to season depending on the prices earned for the grapes. So for example pruning adjustments may be made to produce more tons per hectare. There may be fewer suckering and shoot management actions. Fertilisation, weed control, disease and pest control programmes may be scaled down within limits. Even irrigation is subject to savings. The biggest cost driver, however, is labour - approximately 45% of the total expenses. The optimal and effective management of labour remains one of the biggest challenges for grapevine producers. Mechanisation of practices and higher productivity by means of performance and/or incentive bonuses are options. If bonus systems are being used, there should be strict control over the quality of work.
A consequence of the above was to involve Gert van Wyk of VinPro to analyse the cost aspects. Viticultural practices of the top achievers in the VinPro Profit Plan were analysed. The question arose about what exactly they did, unlike the others, to keep afloat. In the strictest confidence, without identification, the achievers who fared well over the past three years at least were identified. Five or six producers from each of the various wine regions were identified. The WC-VDG compiled a questionnaire about what and how they do things. With the consent of these producers interviews were conducted by smaller member groups of the WC-VDG to take an in depth look at their practices.
Feedback from these groups may be summarised as follows:
The common denominator for success was high production or high prices, but preferably both.
Few or no managers and/or foremen played a role - the owner plays a bigger role in the day to day management of his business. Good labour management and diversification into other branches of farming, with little or no unutilised labour time as well as mechanisation featured prominently. Few contractors were used, instead they used properly trained permanent labour motivated by performance incentives - ±4 hectares per labourer. These top achieving producers are also good managers and keep detailed records of their activities, even at block level.
Long term practices were very good throughout. Low capital investment i.r.o. tractors and spray pumps with simplified trellis systems using shorter trellis poles and fewer strands of foliage wires. All such producers also have a regular vine replacement programme in place and the percentage division between old and young vines was better than that of others. The density of tractors and spray pumps per hectare was also lower than elsewhere. Economy of scale also played a role - ±80 hectares constitute an economical unit.
Short term practices varied and there were different practices for different price points. So for example different programmes for disease, pest and weed control were applied to lower price points. Vigorous blocks were trained on the trellis system in the first growing cycle and consequently started bearing a year earlier. Under irrigation conditions fertilisation was increased to obtain a higher yield per hectare.
Adaptability of these top achieving producers, based on profitability per block, means that production practices are adjusted to the price points of the grapes.
For successful and sustainable grapevine farming the producer should:
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