Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted red cultivar in South Africa and the second most planted red cultivar in the Olifants River region. The cultivar is prone to vigorous growth with low yields. Excessive irrigation could accentuate these cultivar characteristics. Considering the foregoing, the aim of the study was to describe how Cabernet Sauvignon will react to climate, soil type (texture) and irrigation within the Lower Olifants River wine region to enable growers to make the right decisions regarding long term as well as short term cultivation practices. This study is part of a project carried out by the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij at Stellenbosch to determine the effects of soil type and atmospheric conditions on yield and wine quality of Cabernet Sauvignon in different grape growing regions of South Africa. Similar studies are being carried out in the Orange River, Stellenbosch and Swartland regions of South Africa. The Lower Olifants River region could be divided into three climatic regions. Furthermore, two climatic regions is evident regarding the formation of grape wine colour and aromas. Proximity to the Atlantic Ocean would play an important role in a cultivar establishment policy. The variation in stem water potential (ΨS) could be related to soil water status expressed in terms of matric potential (ΨM). In the case of sandy soils, ΨS decreased substantially more as the ΨM decreased compared to the sandy loam soils. The reason could be that the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in sandy soils decreased more rapidly as the ΨM decreased compared to the heavier soils. Thus could explain why the grapevines in the sandy soils experienced more water stress than the ones in the sandy loam soils at a given ΨM. Climate had a strong influence on grapevine water status with grapevines nearer to the ocean experiencing less water stress compared to the ones further inland. This was especially true for grapevines in the sandy soils. Vegetative growth and yield of grapevines in the sandy soils were more sensitive to water deficits compared to the ones in the sandy loam soils. For deficit irrigated grapevines in the sandy soils, vegetative growth and yield decreased by ca. 30% when ca. 55% less water was applied from flowering to harvest. Yield reduction were ca. 15% with no or very little influence on vegetative growth with ca. 80% reduction in water applied from flowering to harvest for grapevines in the sandy loam soils. The influence of soil texture on wine quality and style were evident under intensive irrigation as well as over different climatic regions. Overall sensorial potential wine quality of grapevines in sandy soils tended to be higher compared to the ones in the sandy loam soils. Deficit irrigation tended to increase wine colour intensity, irrespective of soil texture. Furthermore, deficit irrigation in sandy loam soils tended to increase wine fullness and the berry characteristics of the wine. Berry characteristics of wines from the sandy soils tended to be higher compared to the ones from the sandy loam soils. Too severe water deficits in sandy soils could be detrimental to wine quality. Climate tended to have an influence on wine style of grapevines in the sandy soils with wines produced further away from the ocean tended to have higher berry characteristics. Irrigation management could be a powerful tool to manipulate the grapevine in sandy soils. For grapevines the sandy loam soils in addition to regulated deficit irrigation, additional canopy management practices could be needed to improve wine quality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Cabernet Sauvignon is die mees aangeplante rooidruif kultivar in die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf. In die Olifantsriver streek is dit naas Shiraz, die tweede mees aangeplante rooidruif kultivar. Cabernet Sauvignon is bekend as ‘n groeikragtige skaamdraer. Indien oorbesproei word, kan hierdie potensiële nadelige eienskappe nog meer na vore tree. Die doel van die studie is om die invloed van die klimaat, grond en besproeiing op Cabernet Sauvignon se vegetatiewe groei, produksie en wyngehalte in die Benede Olifantsrivier streek te bepaal. Hierdie inligting kan produsente help om ingeligte kortsowel as langtermyn besluite te maak rakende die verbouing van Cabernet Sauvignon. Hierdie studie vorm deel van ‘n breër studie in die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf, gedryf deur die Landbou Navorsingsraad (LNR) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch om die invloed van atmosferiese toestande en grond op die produksie en wyngehalte van Cabernet Sauvignon te bepaal. Soortgelyke projekte word uitgevoer in die Oranjerivier, Stellenbosch en Swartland wynstreke. Die Benede Olifantsrivier streek kan verdeel word in drie klimaatstreke op grond van temperatuurdata. In terme van die ontwikkeling van druifkleur en aromas, kan die streek verdeel word in twee klimaatstreke. Die afstand vanaf die Atlantiese Oseaan kan ‘n belangrike rol speel in die ontwikkeling van ‘n kultivarriglynplan vir die streek. Grondwaterstatus, uitgedruk as die matrikspotensiaal (ΨM), kan aanleiding gee tot variasie in middag blaarwaterpotensiaal (ΨS) lesings. Die ΨS van die sand gronde verlaag vinniger soos die ΨM verlaag invergelyke met die sandleem gronde. Dit kan moontlik wees as gevolg van die verskil in die grond onversadigde hidroliese konduktiwiteit. Sand gronde se hidroliese konduktiwiteit verlaag vinniger soos die ΨM verlaag, invergelyke met sandleem gronde. Dit verklaar waarom wingerde in sand gronde by dieselfde ΨM, meer waterspanning ondervind as wingerde in sandleem gronde. Klimaat het ‘n invloed op die waterstatus van die wingerdstok. Wingerde nader aan die see het minder waterspanning ondervind invergelyke met wingerde wat verder in die binneland geleë is. Dit was veral die geval met wingerde in die sand gronde. Vegetatiewe groei en produksie van wingerde in die sand gronde is meer sensitief vir waterspanning as wingerde in die sandleem gronde. Tekortbesproeiing in die sand gronde het die groei asook produksie met ongeveer 30% verlaag deur ongeveer 55% minder water toe te dien vanaf blom tot oes. In teenstelling daarmee is die produksie van wingerde in die sandleem gronde met ongeveer 15% verlaag met geen tot baie min verlaging in die groeikrag. Ongeveer 80% minder water is toegedien vanaf blom tot oes. Grondtekstuur kan wyngehalte en -styl beïnvloed ten spyte van intensiewe besproeiing en klimaatsverskille. Sensoriese potensiële wyngehalte van wingerde in die sand gronde was beter invergelyke met dié van die sandleem gronde. Die wyne vanaf die sand gronde het ook geneig om oor meer bessie intensiteit te beskik as wyne vanaf die sandleem gronde. Tekortbesproeiing neig om die wynkleur intensiteit te verhoog, ongeag van grondtekstuur. Tekortbesproeiing in die sandleem gronde kan ook die volheid van die wyne verbeter, asook die bessie intensiteit van die wyn verhoog. Te hoë waterspanning in die sand gronde kan wyngehalte nadelig beïnvloed. Klimaat kan ook die wynstyl vanaf sand gronde beïnvloed met wyne verder vanaf die see wat oor meer bessie intensiteit beskik as wyne nader aan die see. Beheerde tekortbesproeiing kan as ‘n kragtige hulpmiddel gebruik word om wingerde in die sand gronde te manipuleer. Vir wingerde in die sandleem gronde, addisioneel tot beheerde tekortbesproeiing en normale loofbestuurspraktyke, kan ekstra loofbestuurspraktyke bv. die verwydering van sylootlote, dalk nodig wees om wyngehalte te verbeter.

Thesis (MScAgric (Viticulture and Oenology))--University of Stellenbosach, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cabernet Sauvignon, the most planted red wine cultivar in South Africa, is prone to vigorous growth with low yields. The aim of the study was to describe how Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines react to climate and irrigation within the Swartland region. Such knowledge would assist growers in decisions regarding long term as well as short term cultivation practices. This study was part of a larger project carried out by the Infruitec-Nietvoorbij institute of the Agricultural Research Council at Stellenbosch to determine effects of soil type and climate on yield and wine quality of Cabernet Sauvignon. The larger project was carried out in selected grape growing regions, i.e. Stellenbosch, Swartland, Lower Olifants River and Lower Orange River. Due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the study area in the Swartland region could be divided into two climatic regions for viticulture. Grapevines near Philadelphia closer to the ocean experienced less water constraints compared to those further inland near Wellington. Variation in stem water potential could also be related to soil water matric potential. Climate tended to have a more pronounced effect on the grapevine response to water constraints further inland than closer to the ocean. Vegetative growth, berry size and yield depended on water constraints experienced by the grapevines. In the warmer climate, severe constraints reduced yield. In the warmer climate, grapes started to ripen earlier than those in the cooler climate. Sugar concentration (mg/mL) was highest where grapevines experienced moderate water constraints. These seemingly balanced grapevines had the highest sugar accumulation, probably due to optimum photosynthesis and carbohydrate utilization. Low water constraints increased vegetative growth which could have been a sink for sugar loading. In addition to sugar loading, degree Balling (°B) increases could also have been due to a concentration effect where water constraints reduced berry volume. Therefore, °B is probably not a representative indicator of grapevine functioning. Anthocyanin biosynthesis, as quantified on a per berry basis, showed that sugar and anthocyanin could be co-regulated, with anthocyanin biosynthesis reaching a plateau when the sugar content per berry reached 200 mg/mL to 220 mg/mL. At véraison, the most intense grape colour occurred where grapevines experienced moderate water constraints, i.e. single drip line at Wellington and no irrigation at Philadelphia. However, at harvest grapes from the cooler climate tended to have more intense colour and higher phenolics, indicating that lower temperatures favoured anthocyanin biosynthesis. These results supported earlier findings that grapevine water status influences berry volume and dynamics of berry ripening. Water constraints tended to increase sensorial wine colour intensity, as well as wine fullness. Moderate water constraints at both localities resulted in the best sensorial wine quality. Yet there were indications that too severe water constraints could be detrimental to wine quality. Irrigation can be used to manipulate grapevine growth in warmer climates, but might be less effective in cooler climates. In warmer climates, moderate water constraints required to achieve balanced grapevine functioning can be obtained with single drip irrigation, but this might not be the case in cooler climates. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Cabernet Sauvignon, die mees aangeplante rooiwynkultivar in Suid-Afrika, is geneig tot kragtige groei met lae opbrengste. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om te beskryf hoe Cabernet Sauvignon-wingerdstokke reageer op klimaat en besproeiing in die Swartland-streek. Hierdie kennis sal kwekers help wanneer hulle besluite moet neem oor langtermyn sowel as korttermyn verbouingspraktyke. Hierdie studie was deel van ‘n groter projek deur die Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Instituut van die Landbounavorsingsraad op Stellenbosch om die effekte van grondtipe en klimaat op die opbrengs en wynkwaliteit van Cabernet Sauvignon te bepaal. Die groter projek is in geselekteerde wingerdverbouingstreke uitgevoer, nl. Stellenbosch, Swartland, Benede Olifantsrivier en Benede Oranjerivier. As gevolg van die nabyheid daarvan aan die Atlantiese Oseaan kon die studiegebied in die Swartland-streek in twee klimaatstreke vir wingerdbou verdeel word. Wingerdstokke by Philadelphia, wat nader aan die oseaan is, het minder waterstremming ervaar as dié verder binnelands naby Wellington. Veranderinge in stamwaterpotensiaal hou moontlik ook verband met die grondwater- matrikspotensiaal. Klimaat het ‘n groter effek op die reaksie van die wingerdstok op waterstremming verder binnelands as nader aan die oseaan. Vegetatiewe groei, korrelgrootte en opbrengs was afhanklik van die waterstremminge wat deur die wingerdstokke ervaar is. In die warmer klimaat het die ernstige stremminge opbrengs verminder. In die warmer klimaat begin druiwe vroeër ryp word as in die koeler klimaat. Suikerkonsentrasie (mg/ml) was die hoogste waar wingerde matige waterstremming ervaar het. Hierdie skynbaar gebalanseerde wingerdstokke het die hoogste suikerakkumulasie vertoon, moontlik as gevolg van optimum fotosintese en koolhidraatverbruik. Lae waterstremming het vegetatiewe groei verhoog, wat ook ‘n vraagpunt vir suikerlading kon wees. Benewens suikerlading kon verhogings in grade Balling (°B) ook moontlik aan ‘n konsentrasie-effek toegeskryf word in terme waarvan waterstremming die korrelvolume verminder het. °B is dus moontlik nie ‘n verteenwoordigende indikator van wingerdstokfunksionering nie. Antosianienbiosintese, soos gekwantifiseer op ‘n per-korrel basis, het getoon dat suiker en antosianien saam gereguleer kon word, en dat antosianienbiosintese ‘n plato bereik het wanneer die suikerinhoud per korrel 200 mg/mL tot 220 mg/mL was. By deurslaan het die mees intense druifkleur voorgekom waar die wingerdstokke matige waterstremming ervaar het, d.w.s. enkel druplyn op Wellington en geen besproeiing op Philadelphia. Teen oes was die druiwe in die koeler klimate egter geneig om meer intense kleur en meer fenole te bevat, wat aandui dat laer temperature antosianienbiosintese bevoordeel. Hierdie resultate ondersteun vroeër bevindings dat die waterstatus van die wingerdstok ‘n invloed op korrelvolume en die dinamika van korrelrypwording het. Waterstremming neig om die sensoriese wynkleurintensiteit te verhoog, asook die volheid van die wyn. Matige waterstremming op beide liggings het aanleiding gegee tot die beste sensoriese wynkwaliteit. Tog was daar aanduidings dat waterstremming wat te straf was, nadelig kon wees vir wynkwaliteit. Besproeiing kan gebruik word om wingerdgroei in warmer klimate te manipuleer, maar is moontlik minder effektief in koeler klimate. In warmer klimate kan die matige waterstremming wat benodig is vir gebalanseerde wingerdstokfunksionering, verkry word deur enkel drupbesproeiing, maar dit is moontlik nie die geval in koeler klimate nie.