Nobody can make definite predictions on next year’s grape harvest at this stage of the season. But according to Talitha Venter, viticulturist at Backsberg Estate Cellars in Paarl, vineyard growth is fast and furious, which could lead to an early harvest.

After a stifling and dry summer, the winter months saw some low temperatures on Backsberg. “This was just what the vineyards need to replenish their reserves after the demands the growing and ripening season had placed on the plants,” says Talitha. “Like the rest of the winelands we would have liked more rain, but the cold spells cooled the soils sufficiently.”

Some warm days towards the end of winter, however, saw the hibernation ending abruptly. “We were almost caught unaware when the vines showed bud-break early, literally a few weeks earlier than usual,” she says. “Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, is a late variety and the vines were showing green in August, while Chardonnay was budding in July.”