Weather hits grape harvest but quality of wine gains

Despite adverse weather resulting in a smaller grape harvest than usual, South Africa is producing some outstanding wines this year, according to listed company Distell, which accounts for a third of South Africa's total wine production.

Erhard Wolf, the executive responsible for grape and wine supply, said yesterday that heavy spring rains, strong winds, unseasonal hail storms and a 10-day heatwave had combined to make the 2010 harvest "one of the most labour-intensive and logistically demanding vintages in recent memory".

These weather conditions had resulted in a wine crop between 12 percent and 15 percent smaller than usual. But sophisticated data from weather stations, research and "an extensive team of viticulturists working across Distell's own farms and in close concert with supplier growers" had resulted in high quality.

"We can expect to see some exceptional results from this year's harvest, especially pinotage and chardonnay, but not confined to these two varietals," Wolf said.

The humid conditions late in the picking season had resulted in the growth of botrytis fungus, which resulted in grapes of "rich and exquisite intensity" for the production of noble late harvest dessert wines.

Wolf said Nederburg Edelkeur was an example of a botrytised noble late harvest wine that had attracted an international following.

Close vigilance of weather conditions and careful planning ensured that grapes could be harvested at their best by working at dawn, at night and at weekends.