South Africa has two world-renowned wine research institutes, the University of Stellenbosch and Nietvoorbij, also in Stellenbosch. The South Africa Wine Research, Development, and Innovation Team has recently presented its “2024 Research Book”.
This publication describes strategies and initiatives at these two research institutions to help ensure the South African wine industry’s economic viability and market growth. Reading about various research projects dealing with pest and disease control, grape and wine quality improvement, climate change adaptation, water efficiency, soil health, and sustainable production methods is fascinating.
A project is about increasing financial/economic sustainability. Many South African growers find it difficult to make their business profitable. Grape growers and wine producers must receive a price for grapes/wines that is financially sustainable.
For the project, they have chosen to study chenin blanc, the most cultivated grape in the country. The grape is used for quality wines, and it can also, under certain circumstances, cope with high yields.
The research includes 19 different pruning methods to study grapes from very low to very high yields in terms of physiology, nutrition, maturity, etc. and through various types of fermentation to determine the best techniques for the different yields with the idea of premiumisation for all the categories.
Read more: 2024 Research Book (e-book)
Travel: Come on a wine tour to South Africa with BKWine. 2025 tour soon to be launched.
See: See pictures and videos from South Africa 2024 in the wine tours Facebook group.
