Vinpro consultation services manager Conrad Schutte said after a later than normal autumn, following good cold conditions and the accumulation of rainfall during winter, and spring being cooler than normal, the flowering was relatively even in most regions. He said the season was also about one to two weeks later than normal and that varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon may have been affected by the recent rain.“Cold winter conditions coupled with decent rainfall laid a foundation for even budding, uniform shoot growth, and sufficient water in the soil profiles to support growth.“In September we experienced budding about 10 to 14 days later than usual.
“This can mainly be ascribed to wet and cold soil conditions. The tempo for growth increased when we started experiencing warmer temperatures in October.“Most vineyards are in the flowering stage, or just past flowering but we need to see how they set after the rain. The season looks promising, but a lot could change leading up to the harvest.
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