Technical Yearbook 2023

PHOTO 2. Sangiovese

PHOTO 1. Marselan

in processing and supplying these small orders of grafted vines. Wines made from these cultivars are tasted annually by winemakers and viticulturists in the region, and notes are made and stored. A record is also kept of basic production data. Production and tasting results are shared in table 1. Verdelho looks like a good option to make fresh and delicate white wines in a hot area and is very early. On red sandy soils where it is mechanically pruned, yields of 30 t/ ha and higher are possible. Vermentino performs well with its fresh citrus flavours and holding ability, but effective skin contact is required for good juice recoveries. The Tempranillo wines display well year after year with complex fruit flavours, and this cultivar is also an early alternative for Pinotage. The Carménère has proved itself by already winning medals at wine shows, but is a challenging cultivar. Low fertility means that long bearers have to be left on the vine during pruning, and like Merlot, Carménère is prone to green flavours. Marselan (photo 1) is currently showing stellar potential with its Cabernet Sauvignon-type of wines and very good yield. Its strong vigour does however mean that site selection is important. The commercial cultivation of Durif (Petit Syrah) has been very successful in the area for the last few years already. Its good yield, dark colour, spice and fruit character complement cultivars like Shiraz excellently. Sangiovese (photo 2) has a very good crop load potential and sweet fruit flavours like cherry which is conducive to light red wine styles.

The project offers a wealth of value and knowledge to producers in the region, and is only starting to truly gather momentum. In the future we may see more of these cultivars lending themselves to large-scale commercial cultivation. If this proves to be the case, and these wines are better suited to the region, perform well and add value to the region’s wine spectrum, the Gen-Z interplanting project will be partly to credit, together with Vititec, the producers and winemakers who made it possible. The project continues with new plantings of Assyrtiko, Tannat, Agiorgitiko and Piquepoul blanc that will soon start to produce grapes. The Gen-Z website, www.genz.co.za, is live and producers can view the clone, cultivar and rootstock trials active in their areas, as well as the information that is already available.  Reference https://www.wineland.co.za/gen-z-interplanting-project/

For more information, contact Gert Engelbrecht at gerte@vinpro.co.za.

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2023