South African wine industry adapts to 2024 harvest challenges

Published May 20, 2024

Tridge summary

The South African wine industry overcame various climatic challenges during the 2024 harvest season, including frost, heavy rainfall, floods, and strong winds, to produce 1,099,051 tonnes of grapes from 87,848 hectares. The harvest saw a 7% decrease from the previous year, but the dry conditions during harvest are expected to result in high-quality wines. Despite the challenges, the industry's commitment to value growth remains strong, with a focus on reinvestment and collaboration. The total wine harvest is estimated at 857 million liters, with early cultivars having lighter yields and later red cultivars showing improvement. The industry is optimistic about the overall quality of the wines, particularly the full-bodied red wines and fresh white wines.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The 2024 harvest season in South Africa has tested the resilience of its wine industry, with producers navigating various climatic challenges. Despite facing frost, heavy winter rainfall, floods and strong winds, the dry conditions during harvest are said to promise wines of ‘high quality’ for both domestic and over 120 international markets. “Excellent winter conditions in most wine-grape growing regions raised expectations for the harvest,” said Dr Etienne Terblanche, Vinpro consultation services manager. “However, the most significant impact of the spring conditions was the prolonged wet soils, which directly affected root systems and access to necessary plant reserves. The summer trend was markedly warmer and drier than the previous year, adding another layer of complexity to the harvest. One of the standout aspects of this season was the exceptional sanitary condition of the grapes – a rarity in rainy harvest seasons and a testament to the industry’s resilience and ...

Source: Harpers