Grapevine Phenology, Vegetative and Reproductive Characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv Chardonnay in the Cape South Coast Region in South Africa

Erna Hailey Blancquaert (), Emile Tomas Majewski, Sam Crauwels, Zhanwu Dai and Daniel Schorn-García
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Erna Hailey Blancquaert: South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Emile Tomas Majewski: South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Sam Crauwels: CMPG Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
Zhanwu Dai: State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Beijing Key Laboratory of Grape Sciences and Enology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
Daniel Schorn-García: South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: Climate change necessitates the exploration of new, cooler viticultural regions globally. Chardonnay is an early ripening variety which is subjected to temperature extremes. This study aimed to investigate the response of Chardonnay in cool climatic regions in the Cape South Coast region of South Africa over two growing seasons in 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 in three commercial vineyards. An evaluation of the climatic, vegetative and reproductive characteristics was performed. Seasonal variation was the biggest driver of the Growing Degree Days (GDD) at the sites. Overall, the 2021–2022 season was warmer than the 2022–2023 season, but the microclimatic conditions were impacted by the cultivation practices which were applied. The canopy density and total leaf surface varied between the different sites ( p < 0.01) and by season × site ( p < 0.05). Site and the site × season interaction were the main drivers of the environmental conditions and cultivation practices. Canopy characteristics impacted the sugar accumulation rate over the two seasons. Grape berry transpiration was impacted by the environmental conditions at the sites. Chemical composition varied with soil depth. From the results of our study, although Chardonnay is suitable for cultivation in the Cape South region, site-specific conditions impact fruit development and the quality at harvest.

Keywords: Chardonnay; South Africa; cool climate; vegetative growth; reproductive growth; transpiration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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