Bon Cap winery in Robertson is again the first in the Cape to bring in grapes from the new vintage. Only three days into the new year they harvested chardonnay grapes for their sparkling wine - beating their own previous record last year by three days.

The reason for this early harvest of 2006 is, they say, mainly due to the warm climate of the last two weeks of December and the low crop on their young chardonnay blocks used for the vintage.

Owner-winemaker-viticulturist Roelf du Preez says they are 'cautionately excited' about the 2006 harvest. But there was 'some wind damage to the vines during and after flowering, as well as wind tipping of the canes that led to the formation of some "na trossies"' - little green bunches which had to be selectively removed to ensure harmonious ripening.

As to that early-picked chardonnay, winemaker Jacques Conradie is quite satisfied: 'Good acidity and low pH analyses showed that the grapes retained the essential characteristics for the production of quality Cap Classique'.

Winemakers and viticulturists in cooler areas, and needing grapes picked at a riper stage of development than those required for bubbly, are nowhere near the start of harvest yet, of course. But all are beginning to gear themselves up for the hardworking months ahead in the vineyards and the cellars.

Source: Grape News / 9 Jan 2006

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