Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2025

Accumulated growing degree days (Paarl)

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

GDD (base temperature 10 °C)

0

September

October

November

December

2023

2024

Figure PA 1: Year-on-year comparison of accumulated growing degree days from September to December (2023–2024).

be removed. Figure PA 1 illustrates the higher cumulative temperatures expressed in terms of GDD during the spring of the 2024–2025 season, which contributed to stronger initial vegetative growth. Grape and wine quality Initial grape analyses were excellent, with high in lower acidity in those batches. Overall, the grapes were healthy, and both grape and wine colour development were impressive. The wines exhibit excellent cultivar character, with the Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz wines showing particular promise at this early stage. season, with excellent juice and wine analyses and fresh natural acidity. – Toit Wessels, Cellar Master, Ridgeback Wines “ Temperate weather conditions produced a beautiful, slightly larger harvest than the previous acidity and low pH levels. However, some of the later cultivars’ bunches had to remain on the vine longer to improve sugar content, resulting

Production trends The harvest began approximately 7–10 days later than the previous season, returning to more typical timing. A high ripening tempo was maintained from the outset, with Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinotage being harvested in relatively quick succession. Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon also reached optimal ripeness on schedule, requiring cellars to work efficiently during the mid-harvest peak to process all the grapes in time. However, the ripening rate slowed towards the end of the harvest due to lower night temperatures and the impact of leaf roll virus. Following a smaller 2024 harvest, the 2025 production shows some improvement. Pinotage and later red cultivars have shown improved yields, while Chenin Blanc yields were lighter due to fewer bunches per shoot.

VINPRO TECHNICAL HARVEST REPORT 2025 41