Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

Summary It was a good, average season for the region, with several familiar challenges, including rainfall during the harvest period and instances of late frost, hail and heatwaves. A notable feature of the season was the moderate spring conditions, which brought the ripening windows of early and late cultivars closer together. This had a positive impact on wine quality, as grapes were received earlier, thereby largely avoiding the effects of rainfall that commenced in late February and the impact of associated downy mildew challenges. For grapes received thereafter, careful selection and separate processing were critical to limit the impact of Botrytis rot. Expected wine quality for this vintage ranges from average to excellent, with early intakes in particular producing exceptional young wines.

Photo NK 2. Good production and vineyard health in Colombar prior to the rainfall during the harvest period.

One thing is certain: we work with very high-quality grapes in the Northern Cape. If we were able to process them on a smaller scale, the premium for the effort invested would certainly be reflected in the wine. – Hennie Huskisson, Winemaker, OWK “

LANDZICHT

Natasja Combrink | 072 658 6903 | natasja@owk.co.za

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