South African wine grape producers expect a good, but somewhat smaller, 2022 wine grape crop following a favourable and healthy season.
This is according to the first of four crop estimates to be issued by viticulturists and producer cellars, agricultural association Vinpro said on December 7.
“At this very early stage, the wine grape crop is estimated to be smaller than in 2021, but still larger than the five-year industry average,” Vinpro viticulturist manager Conrad Schutte pointed out.
Schutte’s team issues the crop estimates in collaboration with industry body the South African Wine Industry Information & Systems (Sawis).
“Producers experienced an excellent winter [owing] to sufficient cold, as reflected by regular snowfall on mountain peaks, along with consistent rain which supplemented soil water levels and contributed to a substantial rise in Western Cape dam levels,” Schutte noted.
He added that the collective dam level was at 81% by mid-September, just before the start of the 2022 growing season. In the wine grape cultivation areas of the Northern Cape, the water supply from the Vaal system also appears to be sufficient thus far.
In addition, the mostly cool spring and wet soil conditions led to bud break generally occurring 7 to 14 days later than normal; however, budding was consistently good and even.
Although the initial growth was slow owing to relatively cool conditions, Schutte said warmer weather in November accelerated the growth rate and most vineyards were able to catch up during flowering, which occurred about five days later than normal.
Earlier cultivars flowered well, but certain late cultivars like Cabernet Sauvignon flowered during cool, wet and windy conditions, which may have a negative effect on berry set.
“[Owing] to the nature of the wine industry's geographical distribution, variation in crop size is observed between the respective regions,” Schutte said, though he noted that the net decrease in the estimate is mainly attributable to vineyard uprootings, as well as below-average bunch numbers and sizes in certain regions and cultivars.
Regions where vineyards had mostly undergone flowering before the cold, windy weather mid-November, as well as those with sufficient soil and irrigation water and an absence of fungal diseases, can expect a higher wine grape crop than in 2021.
“The season looks promising, but a lot could change leading up to the harvest,” Schutte said.
The next crop estimate by viticulturists and producer cellars will be released in January 2022.