Vinpro Technical Harvest Report 2026

Grape and wine quality

Dry conditions placed increased emphasis on irrigation management and scheduling. Although water allocations from the Brandvlei Dam were sufficient, evapotranspiration rates were considerably higher, requiring careful planning. An additional unforeseen challenge was the mobilisation of soil salts following the February rainfall, which further influenced irrigation strategies. Production trends Overall, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay delivered excellent yields. Although Chenin Blanc yields initially appeared promising, heavy rainfall in February led to increased incidence of sour rot and Aspergillus, which constrained total production and resulted in lower yields than initially expected. While Colombar produced notably smaller berries due to the dry summer conditions, improved fruit set led to a marginal year-on-year increase in yield. Early red cultivars, such as Pinotage and Merlot, followed a similar trend to the early white cultivars, with improved production compared with the previous season. In contrast, the March heatwave, together with reduced berry size, constrained production of the later red cultivars, with Ruby Cabernet, Shiraz and Durif all recording lower yields compared with the 2025 season.

Wines produced from early Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc showed impressive flavour profiles, with notably low pH levels and high

acidity in the must. During the mid-harvest period, limited availability of unaffected grapes following the rainfall placed pressure on cellars to receive fruit timeously and to keep lots separate. Late cultivars, and particularly late red cultivars, delivered grapes of excellent quality. Cellar capacity was fully utilised at most facilities, and producers were required to time the harvest with processing capacity. Overall, all red cultivars showed good colour development, and the expectation is that this vintage will yield excellent red wines. In terms of white wines, Chardonnay proved to be a standout performer, and producers are satisfied with how this cultivar responded to the warm, dry summer conditions.

Photo WO 1. Early véraison in Merlot.

Rainfall and relative humidity (4–12 Feb 2026)

0 20 40 60 80 100

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00

Rainfall (mm)

Relative humidity (%)

4 Feb. 2026

5 Feb. 2026

6 Feb. 2026

7 Feb. 2026

8 Feb. 2026

9 Feb. 2026

10 Feb. 2026

11 Feb. 2026

12 Feb. 2026

Rainfall (mm)

Mean relative humidity (%)

Figure WO 2. Rainfall and humidity from 4 February 2026 to 12 February 2026, as measured at the Scherpenheuvel weather station.

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