South Africa Wine Research Projects 2026

2. VITICULTURE RESEARCH COMPLETED PROJECT

ASSESSING THE DROUGHT TOLERANCE OF SELECTED GRAPEVINE SCION CULTIVARS UNDER DRYLAND CONDITIONS IN THE SWARTLAND REGION

P04000207 Dr Carolyn Howell, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch Project is co-funded by the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Project completed: 2025

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: To ensure the sustainability of South African viticulture amidst increasing water scarcity, this study evaluated the performance of alternative drought-tolerant scions under dryland conditions. This research, which began in 2018, monitored soil and grapevine water status. The researchers identified significant differences in vegetative growth, yield and wine characteristics between eight white and nine red cultivars grown under dryland conditions, confirming that specific varieties can maintain high yields without sacrificing wine quality. Grenache noir, Macabeo, and Piquepoul blanc emerged as high-yield leaders, while cultivars such as Arinarnoa, Durif, Grenache noir, Marselan, and Pinotage demonstrated superior overall yield and quality. Chenin blanc, Macabeo, Marsanne, Piquepoul blanc and Vermentino showed moderate performance compared to the other white cultivars. Ultimately, the adoption of these climate-resilient scions offers the industry a strategic path to long-term viability and a unique competitive advantage in the global market.

SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2026

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