Project Number
WW WDT 12-02
Project title
Investigating the leaf to fruit ratio (source-sink) and bunch microclimate (training system and canopy manipulation) effects on South African red wine phenolic composition and evolution
Project leader
Wessel du Toit
Institution
Stellenbosch University. Department of Viticulture and Oenology
Team members
Du Toit, W J
Strever, A E
Deloire, A
Project description
Grape yields in red wine production have been a topic of investigation for a long period of time. In some South African wine producing areas, yields are often low, leading to small profit margins. The yields may be improved by the interaction between training system, pruning system and canopy manipulation, but the effect it has on wine composition and quality, especially during ageing, needs to be investigated. Winemaking experiments are often performed on small scale, but it is not clear if this is reflective what would happen in a commercial set up. The main aim of this project would thus be to investigate the long-term effects of the interactions of the training system, pruning system and canopy manipulation on development of South African red wine’s composition and quality. Another aim would be if small scale experiment performed on, this can be applied to commercial scale winemaking. The targeted marked segments for these experiments would be premium, super premium and icon wines.
Article
De Beer, P, Strever, A, Du Toit, W J. 2017. Shiraz wines made from vines with different training systems, Wineland, Mnth Jun
Shiraz-wines-made-vines-different-training-systems