South Africa Wine Technical Yearbook 2025

FOREWORD

Advancing South African Wine through knowledge and innovation A resilient, competitive, and future-focused wine industry is built on a strong foundation of science, skills development, and innovation. At South Africa Wine, the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) department remains committed to ensuring that credible, relevant research is not only generated but effectively translated into practical solutions that support grape growers and winemakers across the diverse South African production context. The Technical Yearbook continues to play a critical role in this mandate. By compiling a year’s worth of research-driven technical articles into a single, accessible publication, it provides industry professionals with a consolidated reference to the latest scientific insights, technological advances, and best-practice recommendations shaping modern viticulture and oenology in South Africa. This year’s edition reflects the breadth and depth of research underpinning the industry, addressing both persistent and emerging challenges. The topics presented, including a series on winery wastewater irrigation, regenerative viticulture and cultural perspectives in wine aroma descriptions, once again span both vineyard and cellar. This demonstrates how targeted research can improve production efficiency, product quality, sustainability, and resilience in the face of climatic, economic, and regulatory pressures. By bridging the gap between academic research and on-farm or in cellar applications, the Technical Yearbook supports informed decision making and encourages the adoption of evidence-based research outcomes. It also stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of researchers, technical specialists, and industry practitioners advancing the South African wine industry. As we continue to strengthen a culture of knowledge sharing under the South Africa Wine umbrella, this publication reinforces our long term commitment to innovation, capacity building, and continuous improvement. Readers are invited to explore the insights, translate ideas into practical action and foster continuous learning in their own organisations and regions. Each step brings South African wine closer to a sustainable, adaptable and globally competitive future.

Gerard Martin Research, Development, and Innovation Executive South Africa Wine

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2025