Cabernet Franc |
6 -19 March |
 Production: +- 3 - 5 kg/ vine. Shoot mass: +- 3 - 4 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 230g. Berries: Blue-black in colour. Round and slightly larger than Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
Late mid season (18 - 26 March) |
Production: +- 4 -6 kg/vine.
Shoot mass: +- 1 - 2 kg/vine.
Bunch mass: +- 218 g.
Berries: Small, round and very black, giving wonderful colour to the wine. Lots of bloom. Skin tough and thick. Pips quite large which contributes to the tannin extracted during fermentation. |
Chardonnay |
Early (1-13 February) |
Production: +- 2 - 5 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 0,5 - 1 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 200g. Berries: Round, small, pale green to yellow. Thin, tough, transparent skin. Some partly wooded Chardonnays are used in most of the Cap Classique sparkling wines, and are also popular as a blending partner with Sauvignon Blanc. |
Chenin Blanc |
Late mid season (15 February - 3 March) |
Production: +- 7 - 10 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 1 - 2 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 303 g. |
Colombar |
Late mid season (3 - 11 March) |
Production: +- 6 - 10 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 1,5 - 2 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 279 g. |
Grenache Noir |
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Grenache Noir is Spain's most planted red variety. Grenache Noir produces great wines under hot, windy, dry conditions without trellising. This ensure a very low yield with concentrated wines. The popular Tavel and Lirac roses are made from Grenache Noir, but more often this variety is used as a blending partner with Shiraz. |
Malbec |
Early mid season (mid to end February). |
Production: 5 - 6 kg/vine (big variation between years). Bunch mass: medium size (250g). Grape: medium size (2,5g). Malbec are recommended in areas with colder climate. |
Merlot |
Early mid season (middle to end February). |
Production: +- 6 - 8 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 0,8 - 1,2 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 256 g. |
Mouverdre |
Late mid season |
Production: +- 5 - 7 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 300g. |
Petit Verdot |
Late mid season |
Production: 5 - 7 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 200 g. |
Pinot Noir |
7 - 18 February |
Production: +- 2 - 4 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 0,5 - 1,5 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 180 g. |
Pinotage |
Late mid season (8 - 18 March). |
Production: +- 4 - 6 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 1 - 2 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 224 g. Berries: Small and oval. Medium strong skin is blue-black in colour. The best quality grapes are grown on bush vines with a total yield of no more than 7 tons per hectare. |
Roobernet |
Late mid season |
Production: 2 - 3 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 220g. Grapes: 1,5 g (red juice). Ave: vigorous growth. Wine and growing potential - can be planted in all areas that are suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Ruby Cabernet |
Late mid season (5 -20 March) |
Production: +- 8 - 10 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 2 - 3 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 240 g. |
Sauvignon Blanc |
Early mid season (7 - 26 February) |
Production: +- 4 - 6 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 1,3 - 2,3 kg/vine. Bunch mass: +- 229 g. |
Semillon |
Ripens early mid-season and at optimum maturity, has good sugars and satisfactory acidity. |
Bunch: Conical, medium-sized and compact, with a tough peduncle. Berries: round, tending to slight oval, medium-sized. Berries very juicy and at full maturity have a slight grassy flavour. |
Shiraz |
Late mid season (1 - 3 March). |
Production: +- 5 - 7 kg/vine. Shoot mass: 0,9 kg/vine. Bunch mass: 260 g. |
Viognier |
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A hardy vine, Viognier does well in hot and dry areas. The best wines from this variety are intense, rich and certainly memorable. Viognier has taken a long time to reach South Africa, but there are now small plantings in the districts of Paarl and Stellenbosch. |
