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2006 Harvest shows early promise at Winecorp
30 January 2006  by Erica Meles Public Relations
Healthy, flavourful fruit with yields on the smaller side of average are early indications of an excellent harvest at the Winecorp vineyards for 2006.
Warm, even temperatures have produced outstanding results in the white grape vineyards, with Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc showing particular promise. Says Group Winemaker Frans Smit, ?Our Chenin bush vines in the Darling region are producing fruit of exceptional flavour ? the best I?ve seen in the last ten years. Our Sauvignon Blanc is also sampling well in terms of flavour profile. Unless a sudden heat wave hits, we?ve every reason to expect the best.?

White Winemaker Eleonor Visser concurs, and points to a particularly healthy harvest. ?The yields this year are not enormous, but what we?ve got is very good,? Eleonor says. ?There?s strikingly little sign of sickness in the vines, in the form of rot or vineyard pests. Our ripening period has been longer than usual, albeit a little uneven ? but we?ll counter that when we sort the fruit.?

The ripening phase in the red grape vineyards has also been protracted, with harvest expected to occur some 10-11 days later than usual. Attributed by Frans to a long, wet winter and a cool, even pre-ripening season, the slight delay in ripening can translate to flavoursome fruit, owing to smaller yield and berry size and therefore flavour concentration.

Says Viticulturist Johann Smit, ?The flavours, acid and pH levels are looking very good. There?s a strong prevailing wind which is causing some concern, but all of our cultivars, both red and white, are shaping up to be superb. If the temperature holds in the high twenties I think we?ll have a vintage of note.?
 
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