Tuesday, 3 February, 2015
Orange River Cellars
According to Henning Burger, manager of viticultural services at Orange River Cellars, the hot weather does not lead to early ripening of grapes as is often believed.
“When it gets really hot, as in December and January when the Upington region experienced consistent temperatures in the late 30ºC’s and early 40ºC’s, the vine actually shuts down its growth and ripening cycle,” says Burger. “This means no photosynthesis and no jump in sugar levels. It was only when the temperature started cooling down, from 24 January, when the vines kicked into gear again and the sugars began to climb.”
Orange River Cellars’ harvests grapes for its five production facilities stretching along a 300km stretch of the Orange River. The facilities are Kakamas, Keimoes, Upington, Groblershoop and Grootdrink, each situated so as to receive fruit from the major wine-grape growing areas in the region.
“As could be expected, with this heat the vines and the grapes are very healthy,” says Burger. “And the farmers are looking forward to better yields than last year when we lost a lot of grape volume due to frost at the outset of the growing season.
“This year’s growing season - from bud-break and berry-set - saw temperate climate conditions without any unforeseen natural challenges. The result is what looks like a healthy harvest of just over 130 000 tons for the five wineries, although it’s early days yet and you don’t measure the weight of your grapes until they are in the cellar!”
Burger says that analysis look good with pH and acidity in balance and the grapes showing a lot of expression and character.
“The region’s two main grape varieties - Colombard and Chenin Blanc – are just improving in quality year-by-year, as last year’s Veritas Gold Medal for the Orange River Cellars’ Colombard proved,” he says. “But with the excellent Chenin Blanc being farmed in our region, there is no reason why the Colombard’s achievement cannot be replicated in the Chenin category.”
According to Burger, Orange River Cellars’ position as a major South African wine producer has been underscored by the decision to plant a further 200 hectares of Chenin Blanc in the region, as well as to increase the production of Muscadel by means of more plantings of Muscat de Frontignan.
“We have become known for Muscadel as I truly believe that conditions here in the Northern Cape allow us to produce the best Muscadel in the country,” he said. “With the increasing popularity of the Chenin Blanc category, Orange River Cellars is also adding to the diverse offering of top-quality South African Chenin Blanc.”
Burger says one of the changing features of the Orange River wine region is the acceptance by grape farmers that machine harvesting is the future.
“The challenge is that many of our vines are planted under T-trellising which makes use of the conventional harvesting machines impossible,” he says. “However, we have experimented with machines from Australia and this year two farmers are harvesting with machines especially built for T-trellising. Mechanisation will unlock further value for our farmers and increase productivity all round.
“However, it all comes down to quality fruit and good wine making, and both we do have.”