Industry body South Africa Wine has partnered with the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, the Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa and Stellenbosch University (SU) to advance the prominence and economic viability of Chenin Blanc wine.

The collaborative effort between the organisations, called the Premiumisation and Value Growth of South African Chenin Blanc Wine, is being led by Professor Melané Vivier.

Chenin Blanc was chosen as a focal point owing to its widespread cultivation and growing reputation in the country. Additionally, substantial industry expertise in crafting high-quality wines from Chenin Blanc grapes makes it an ideal candidate for exploration, the parties note.

The partners will receive co-funding from the National Research Foundation, since it improves sustainability and innovation within the South African wine sector.

Notably, SU and the South African wine industry have a rich history dating back more than 100 years. In 1925, a viticulture professor at the university created the grape variety Pinotage for the industry by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut.

South Africa Wine research and development executive Gerard Martin says the association is dedicated to driving progress and excellence in the local wine landscape through proactive research and innovation.

“The economic sustainability of wine producers in South Africa faces significant challenges, necessitating value growth in bulk and packaged wines. This initiative is designed to tackle these obstacles head-on through multidisciplinary methodologies.

“With a key emphasis on striking a delicate balance between grape yield and wine quality, the project aims to ensure the profitability of South African Chenin Blanc wines,” Martin adds.

The partners will pursue a holistic approach in examining the sustainability of the whole Chenin Blanc value chain and work through five work streams including market and product intelligence, distinctive South African Chenin Blancs, production for profit, juice to wine and support systems.

INNER WORKINGS
The initiative is aimed at gaining comprehensive insights into various aspects of viticulture and winemaking.

A pivotal aspect of the project involves a model Chenin Blanc vineyard planted with 19 different trellising systems, generating scenarios ranging from very high to very low yields. This vineyard is a collaboration between SU and industry body Vinpro to establish the Welgevallen vineyards with financial investment having been made by Vinpro.

The Chenin Blanc vineyard represents all the trellising systems used across all the wine regions in South Africa, including irrigated and dryland systems.

Through rigorous experimentation and analysis, optimal microbial consortia, winemaking techniques and production strategies will be identified to enhance the premiumisation of South African Chenin Blanc wines across all price categories.

The project will build on previous Chenin Blanc research and will involve student bursaries as well.  

“Adopting a market-centric approach, the project endeavours to tailor grape production and winemaking processes to align with consumer preferences and market demands.

“Integrated data analyses, economic evaluations and demonstrated results will drive data-driven decision-making and foster industry-wide innovation,” says Vivier, adding that the various industry stakeholders aim to drive sustainable growth and differentiation within the industry.