Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

Grape and wine quality

Grapes harvested before mid-February were of exceptional quality. Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay wines are showing promise, with balanced acidity and tropical flavour profiles, whereas wines from white grapes received after mid-February are less expressive. Red cultivars such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon display excellent colour It was an excellent year for the Tulbagh Valley, with good yields, low fungal pressure and high-quality wines with strong concentration. – Dirk Swanepoel, Managing Director and Winemaker, Swanepoel Wines “ intensity and body.

Photo PA 2. Young vineyards that received limited water supply during the growing season showed early water stress during the ripening window, as illustrated by this Shiraz in Wellington.

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