Harvest news from Winecorp

Thursday, 11 March, 2004
Linda-Louise Roosenschoon
5 winemakers, 2 viticulturists and 5 student winemakers on a 24-hour schedule
Frans Smit, our Group winemaker, has the challenge of selecting the best grapes across a variety of farms to fit in with his philosophy of creating the finest wine possible. Standing, overviewing the intense activity at the cellar, he is very happy with the harvest to date. He said that it has been 'on average an excellent year with outstanding prospects for our red wines'.

From the 1st of February our winemaking team are on a 24-hour schedule with 5 full-time winemakers, 2 viticulturists and 5 student winemakers helping out and gaining valuable experience, assisting in the vineyards and the cellar. All are closely supported by Frans to ensure gentle handling and impeccable viticultural practice. They have the opportunity to use a number of cutting edge tools and techniques, including the new 1 000-liter open fermenting tanks and our vibrating sorting table.

Our white wine harvest has been smaller than normal, but with pockets of outstanding high quality grapes. 98% of our white harvest has been completed, with Chardonnay being first at the cellar on 26th of January, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Viognier. The red cultivars, Pinotage, Shiraz and Merlot have been harvested with Shiraz and Merlot showing exceptional fruit characteristics. We eagerly await the arrival of Cabernet Sauvignon during the next two weeks.

Frans has recently harvested a range of new cultivars, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Monvedre, Sangiovese, Barbera and Nebiola from the farm Nooitgedaght. These grapes will be used to introduce new and interesting blends – another first from Spier. Our harvest will be completed by the end of March and our total of grapes that we have pressed will be 3 800 tons. A mammoth task, attended to with extreme care and diligence.

We are celebrating our successful harvest with a range of activities. All guests to the estate can sample the Pinotage and Chenin grapes and the wines at the restaurants on Spier. For our younger visitors, we offer grape stomping every weekend until the end of March. A perfectly messy, entertaining way to spend a Saturday!

Please join us in celebrating the Winecorp harvest in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

Issued by: Linda-Louise Roosenschoon for Winecorp
Tel: +27 (0) 21 881-3690
Email: linda@winecorp.co.za