Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

Climatic and viticultural trends

Conditions during the flowering period were ideal, with a moderate climate and low disease pressure, all of which contributed to good fruit set. Consequently, the fertility of early cultivars, namely Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, was promising in terms of bunch numbers and berry set. As the dry summer season progressed, pressure increased on runoff-dependent water sources, and producers were required to manage irrigation resources more conservatively. Nevertheless, restrained and moderate canopy growth also reduced water demand, and despite limited water availability, producers achieved excellent yields. Harvest commenced approximately seven days earlier than the previous year, and despite perceptions, the rate of ripening remained broadly comparable to long-term trends. Most cellars in the region initially focused on Sauvignon Blanc, followed by Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, which were received later than normal. General remarks

The post-harvest period was favourable, characterised by warm and dry conditions. Vineyard canopies were healthy and

functional overall, and it was expected that sufficient carbohydrate reserves were accumulated and stored. May was slightly warmer than usual, although temperatures declined significantly from the beginning of June, and chill units began to accumulate accordingly. Rainfall from 1 May to 31 August was lower than the long term average and considerably less than the preceding above-average wet seasons (178 mm in 2025 compared with 355 mm in 2024, as measured at the Bothasguns weather station) (Figure BK 1) . Nevertheless, precipitation was still sufficient to replenish farm dams through runoff water. August was particularly dry; only 22 mm of rainfall was recorded in 2025, compared with nearly 100 mm in the preceding year. The accumulation of chill units was comparable to the previous year, with approximately 530 Infruitec units recorded for both 2024 and 2025. There was therefore no concern regarding adequate dormancy release, and the use of dormancy-breaking agents was not required. Vineyards exhibited earlier-than-normal bud burst; early cultivars preceded normal timing by approximately seven days, while mid- to late season cultivars were consistent with the norm. Budding was uniform, and by flowering, the vineyards maintained this accelerated pace.

From September 2025 to January 2026, only 20.8 mm of rainfall was recorded at the Bothasguns weather station (Figure BK 2) . This season

delivered one of the driest spring and summer periods in recent years, with rainfall levels substantially below the long-term average of approximately 90 mm. The absence of summer rainfall reduced disease pressure; however, untimely rainfall and resulting high

Monthly rainfall for May–August (2024 vs 2025)

100 150 200 250 300

0 50

Monthly precipitation (mm)

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

2024 2025

Figure BK 1: Year-on-year comparison of rainfall for May to August (2024 vs. 2025), as measured at the Bothasguns weather station.

VINPRO TECHNICAL HARVEST REPORT 2026 15