Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

General remarks

The most notable challenging factor during the 2026 season was undoubtedly the rainfall recorded on 9 February and in the days that

Production trends Increased production was recorded across all major cultivars in this region, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disease pressure, particularly from rot, reduced production, and yields would have been higher in its absence. A large proportion of the Chardonnay crop, however, escaped the effects of the heavy rainfall, and it was this cultivar in particular that performed well. Warm growing-season conditions sustained accelerated physiological development, with harvest starting earlier than the previous year and also finishing earlier.

followed. Several producers in the region reported precipitation in excess of 100 mm. Producers acted swiftly to limit the development of rot through leaf removal and targeted spray applications, particularly in affected Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc blocks. Healthy grapes had to be selectively sorted, which further slowed the pace of processing.

Photo KSK 1. Uniform bud break observed in Chardonnay in Elgin.

Photo KSK 3. Botrytis-infected Sauvignon Blanc bunch removed during harvest in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to ensure quality.

Photo KSK 2. Above-average fertility in Chardonnay already evident at the pea-size berry stage in Elgin.

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