According to Johan Gerber, the recently appointed general manager of Org de Rac, a cool spring and early summer has resulted in all grape varieties this year easing along slowly in the gaining of sugars and strive for phenolic ripeness.
“The cold, wet winter of 2020 paved the way for cool conditions in spring, with bud-break and flowering being later than is usually the case,” says Gerber. “Even here at the edge of the Swartland near the town of Piketberg where we are used to warm spring conditions, this year was mild end fresh,” he says. “Up until now we can literally count the number of hot days - 30°C and above – on one. This has caused the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, gradually picking-up sugar levels while at the same time maintaining high degrees of acidity. This latter point is just great news for any winemaker, acidity being such a vital element for capturing freshness in wines and in maintaining body and structure.”
Gerber says that the expected yield appears to be of average weight, with bunches of tightly-packed berries. “Despite the brief bouts of rain in spring and early summer, Org de Rac’s vineyards remained disease-free – largely a result of the organic methods of pest-control that are used on the vines,” he says. “Our vines have never known anything but the spraying of organic products and use of predatory insects to eliminate unwanted critters. This has allowed them to form a hardy resilience to diseases such as downy mildew, once again showing the benefits of organic farming.”
Org de Rac will be harvesting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for its Cap Classique wines within the next few days, followed by white varieties Roussanne, Verdelho and Chardonnay.
“One can never predict nature and climate, so who knows what lies in store for the next three months in the vineyards,” says Gerber. “But there is a solid foundation of healthy grapes showing good chemistry, and enough other signs to foresee a quality harvest on Org de Rac.”
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