Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global wine industry has shifted to a more adopted ‘consumer-preference’ production. Modern wine consumers are more knowledgeable and cultivated in their understanding of wine quality, value and style. The quality of red wines mainly depends on grape composition, the wine making process and the ability of tasters to recognise sensory attributes. The harvest date/stage has an influence on the grape composition, thus making the decision on when to harvest an important factor in the production of quality wines or different wine styles. The traditional indicators used in the wine industry to determine time of harvest are more related to the perception of taste and mouthfeel and give little indication of the style of wine in terms of aromatic profile. A new physiological indicator using berry sugar accumulation for the purpose of sequential harvest is proposed to assist the winemaker in producing wines with possible different sensory profiles. This indicator can be used in association with the classical indicators of ripening to affect the diversity of wine styles from a single vineyard or a group of vineyards. The wines could thus have different potential aroma profiles, depending on when the grapes were harvested. The main aim of this study was to assess the effect of performing sequential harvest using a physiological indicator on red wine’s sensory composition. This was done to study the possible relation between harvest time (e.g. fruit composition evolution) and the wine styles/sensory attributes across the different harvest times, thereby possibly increasing the diversity of wine styles. A theoretical berry sugar loading concept was compiled and displays a phase of rapid sugar loading starting at véraison followed by a plateau phase. Depending on whether grapes were harvested in the beginning, mid or end of the plateau phase of fruit sugar accumulation the wines could have different potential aroma profiles. Three main stages: fresh fruit (FF), neutral (N) or pre ripe and mature fruit (MF) has been previously proposed using the sugar loading concept and in terms of harvesting dates. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes form Eikendal Vineyards, Stellenbosch were used to make wines according to sequential harvest. Four harvest stages were considered, pre fresh fruit (Pre FF), fresh fruit (FF), mature fruit (MF) and over ripe (OR). The wines were tasted and analysed using two different sensory techniques. In both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, the PreFF and OR stages could be more easily discriminated than the two harvest stages in-between, FF and MF. The results suggested that the wines made from the FF and MF stages could not be distinguished from each other in general when the attribute citation frequency method or sorting tasks were performed. However, a trend could be observed for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines in terms of aroma attributes with attributes changing from green to ripe fruit during ripening using expert tasters. Relevant research should be engaged to refine sequential harvest in order to obtain more diverse wine styles from a single site or a group of vineyards. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreldwye wynbedryf het ’n verskuiwing ondergaan na ’n verbruikersvoorkeurbenadering in produksie. Wynverbruikers is deesdae beter ingelig en meer ontwikkeld ten opsigte van hulle kennis van wyngehalte, wynstyl, asook die waarde van wyn. Die gehalte van rooiwyn hang hoofsaaklik af van die druifsamestelling, die wynmaakproses en die vermoë van proewers om sensoriese eienskappe te herken. Aangesien die oesdatum/-fase ’n invloed het op druifsamestelling, is die besluit oor wanneer daar geoes moet word ’n belangrike faktor in die vervaardiging van gehaltewyne of verskillende wynstyle. Die tradisionele aanwysers wat in die wynbedryf gebruik word om oestyd te bepaal, hou verband met die waarneming van smaak en mondgevoel en gee weinig aanduiding van die wynstyl op grond van die aromatiese profiel. ’n Nuwe fisiologiese aanwyser wat gebruik maak van suikerakkumulasie in die druiwekorrel in opeenvolgende oeste, het ten doel om die wynmaker te help om wyne met verskeie moontlike sensoriese profiele te vervaardig. Hierdie aanwyser kan saam met die klassieke aanwysers van rypwording gebruik word om ’n verskeidenheid wynstyle uit een wingerd of wingerdgroep te vervaardig. Die wyne kan dus potensieel oor verskillende aromatiese profiele beskik, afhangend van wanneer die druiwe geoes is. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die invloed van opeenvolgende oes te toets deur ’n fisiologiese aanwyser op rooiwyn se sensoriese samestelling toe te pas. Dit word gedoen deur die moontlike verhouding tussen die oestyd (bv. ontwikkeling van vrugsamestelling) en die wynstyle of wyn se sensoriese kenmerke op verskillende oestye te bestudeer ten einde die verskeidenheid wynstyle potensieel te vermeerder. ’n Teoretiese konsep van druifsuikeropname is saamgestel wat dui op ’n fase van vinnige suikeropname wat by véraison begin, gevolg deur ’n plato-fase. Wyn kan oor verskillende moontlike aromatiese profiele beskik, afhangend daarvan of die druiwe aan die begin, middel of einde van die plato-fase van suikeropname geoes is. Drie hooffases is al voorheen voorgestel deur gebruik te maak van die konsep van suikeropname volgens oesdatum, te wete vars vrugte (VV) (“fresh fruit”, FF), neutraal (N) (“neutral”, N) of voor ryp (“pre ripe”), en ryp vrugte (RF) (“mature fruit”, MF). Cabernet Sauvignon- en Merlot-druiwe van Eikendal, Stellenbosch, se wingerde is gebruik om wyn volgens opeenvolgende oes te maak. Vier oesfases is oorweeg, te wete voor vars vrugte (VVV) (“pre fresh fruit”, Pre FF), vars vrugte (VV) (“fresh fruit”, FF), ryp vrugte (RV) (“mature fruit”, MF), en oorryp (OR) (“over ripe”, OR). Die wyn is geproe en geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van twee verskille sensoriese tegnieke. In die geval van beide die Merlot- en Cabernet Sauvignon-wyn kon die VVV- en OR-fases makliker onderskei word as die twee tussenin-fases, VV en RV. Resultate dui daarop dat wyn wat van die VV- en RV-fases gemaak is, oor die algemeen nie van mekaar onderskei kan word wanneer die frekwensie van kenmerkaanhaling-metode en sorteringstaak uitgevoer word nie. ’n Tendens kon egter waargeneem word vir Cabernet Sauvignon- én Merlot-wyn ten opsigte van aromatiese kenmerke, deurdat kenmerke gedurende rypwording van groen na ryp vrugte verander het indien ekspertproewers gebruik is. Verdere navorsing moet gedoen word om opeenvolgende oes te verfyn ten einde ’n wyer verskeidenheid wynstyle van ’n enkele area of wingerdgroep te verkry.

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.