South Africa Wine Technical Yearbook 2025

MAY

DURBANVILLE HILLS

Post-harvest reflection By Pieter Badenhorst

Unhurried reflection on how the harvest went and analysis of the data collected, can help a winery to formulate a winning plan before the next harvest to ensure that its cellar processes run better.

Analysis of processes as an example Question: D o you finish the day’s work at the cellar 100% ready for taking in grapes the next day, or is there still preparation that needs to take place in the morning? For example, are destemmers and crushers opened and cleaned after processing the last load, or is this action left until the next morning? Recommendations: Teams are usually tired late at night and in a hurry to get home. This is where mistakes and

incomplete work can occasionally occur. The best practice is to clean and get everything ready the evening before and not leave work to stand over until the next morning. Early in the morning, a meeting usually takes place with all the cellar personnel to hand out tasks for the day and perhaps also discuss the previous day’s activities. Try to excuse one or two persons from this meeting to go and finalise preparations still required for the day’s work, or even to make sure that the previous night’s tasks were completed as agreed.

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2025